Those who regularly read this blog know that I’ve spent a lot of time not having much to write about. Yet, each night, I’d try to free write for 5 minutes even if the notes just said things like: man it was a long day, I totally have nothing to write about, Do you think anything is good on TV tonight?
I haven’t been waiting for inspiration (if she exists she is very, very fickle) instead I just sit there and play with words and sometimes all that waiting, yet still working, pays off and you do find yourself starting to write something that might be a keeper especially when you do the most important thing I think a writer should do (besides writing): reading.
A few days ago I started a new book of poems that has been on my Goodreads list, sadly, for longer than I’d like to say. Imago by Joseph O Legaspi. From the first poem I was enthralled by Joseph’s voice and I felt that urge to write after reading his Poem for my Navel because I remembered a segment on NPR about scientists who were tracking bacterial colonies in belly-buttons (navels) and my mind started thinking about all the people I know in the Navy as well as my lack of fondness for oranges (navel or otherwise). Not all of these divergent thoughts appear in the poem, but the different denotations and connotations of just that one word (and in general how well Joseph’s poem is put together) made me want to do more than journal; I wanted to draft a poem.
So I did.
Here is maybe the second version of the poem. First typed version. – And for those who don’t know I pretty much start all my writing without linebreaks so I’m not sure this will stay prose-poem like.
And the poem is now gone as I work on revisions-
I will take this poem back down pretty soon, but I’ll try to leave it up for a week so we can chat about it and so maybe you can tell me about works that make you want to write. Isn’t that what started it all? Wanting to connect with the beautiful words that we read?
And if you don’t think that is enough of a prompt. You really should look up the word navel and/or Imago 
I like that whole thought process
Also went over and read the unicorn/zombie piece, and remember you had it on a poem share once! Which brings me to, at first glance I thought you sent the orange guy above packing, but now he may just be coming through 
Gives me an idea for my own piece, about how we would get fruit in our stockings, but mom never really served them up all that often. Hmmm I work in a similar way, just write lines, like on receipts or whatever I can find if I am out, then string things together. And formalize down the road.
I’ll be back…
E
Your idea about fruit is a great one! Ya know, I don’t remember eating a lot of fruit as a kid either except maybe apples. You make me want to ponder that more . . .
One single word often inspires me as well. I receive a “word of the day” email, and if I don’t immediately know the word (which is often–word of the day would be pretty boring if the words were easy!) I look at the definition, wherein my mind is in the habit ( I guess) of attaching people, things, places, images, situations and such to this new word. An example would be, believe it or not, the word “imago” . I saw this word, *had* to know the definition, and ended up writing a poem called” Maybe its Imago” –sometimes the poem is more abstract, but the process is the same. Other times a line will just pop into my head, and I can’t stop thinking about it until I write it down. Lately I’ve been lacking inspiration, but found a quick and funny way to get the juices flowing a little–I realized my “smart phone ” logs words from posts, texts, email, etc, and then *anticipates* words as I’m writing. It’s fun to play around with this, and see what the phone comes up with. Of course I’m also reading a lot and would be very happy if I could finally check out my Amazon shopping cart!
I LOVE that you HAD to look up the word
I seem to have a similar process of needing to add meaning and metaphor to the words around me. I’m finding myself a bit obsessed lately with Jewish history so everything I watch or read seems to be going through that filter. Wonder what my smart phone thinks of that . . . . I should ask it.
Well . . .this is just great!
In so many ways! I loved your poem immensely and am so excited just that you wrote it. And then as you go through your process of free writing (which I’m not doing) and reading ( which I’m also not doing) , well no wonder! I’m sitting here waiting for poems to drop on me. haha! So, I need to do something about that. 
This is what usually inspires me and probably why I have such trouble. I tend to write from what I see or experience and when my days are much the same . ..well, that makes writing hard! I have to really look at what is around me!!! See something more in it all somehow.
Last week we were driving through a rural area and everything was kind of brown and gray. No snow or sun. Then these orange triangle reflectors stood out to me, on the back of parked farm equipment . . .the only bright thing for miles! So I tried to write about it in haiku, then as a quatern, but eehhh . . ..You have encouraged me to go back, free write about it, maybe read something about farming and give it another go! Thanks Jessie! Good boot camp!
Oh thanks, Debbie! Free writing is the only way I can really write lately although everyone once in a while a form will give me the freedom to tackle a topic I’ve been struggling with. Just letting the ideas come out without telling them they have to be a poem can be so rewarding. I think you have a potentially great topic and I can definitely see why you thought of going haiku at first. Can’t wait to see what you come up with
Hey, I really like the peppering with semicolons and colons, Jessie.
I love it, actually. Awesome what good old grammar does.
I’m usually just looking for parsing help and the dramatic intent,
and this mix fits the bill for me really well. The wider poem does have
the distinct advantage of letting you put more in. The rhetorical
style fits well, too.
Less contents still is great with short breaks, but this is
well-matched form+function.
Thanks, Jim! For years I struggled with grammar but teaching it has really helped me understand it on a new level. I can really play with it instead of letting it torture me. Finding the form to fit the item you are writing about is at the heart of it,isn’t it? You put it oh so very well
Come teach my classes!
You so just gave me another idea for ‘Torturing Semi-Colons’ he he
Oh Elizabeth . . .hahaha!