Thursday, June 27, 2013

Challenging

I can't believe we are almost at the end of the Our Lost Jungle Thirty by Thirty Challenge. Thanks to Khara House for the prompts and words of wisdom. I liked the inspirational quotes that were part of each prompt post.
 
Khara designed this challenge to help foster habits of creativity. For me, it has reinforced the motto-Don't think. Write!
 
When I started responding to prompts, I tried to think my way to the poems. Now, I write my way to them. I just start writing down words-rhymes, synonyms, antonyms. A phrase or sentence will pop up. Before long, I hit upon the word or fragment that gives me the idea I want to pursue. I even tried putting 10 minutes on a timer and was surprised how often the idea came to me within just a few minutes.
 
Sometimes the result is a completed poem, sometimes it's a fragment that I think has potential and sometimes it's a dud. No matter the result, the best part of responding to prompts is seeing where the words lead me.
 
I'm looking forward to the next Our Lost Jungle Challenge. I know Khara's working on it!

The following poem was in response to the prompt-Sentiment.

Triggers
 
I sat in the car
listening to the music,
tears running
down my cheeks.
It reminded me
that you would
never grow old and
that you were the
one who helped me soar.
 
I don't need the songs
to think of you; but
when I hear them,
I'm taken back in time.
So, I sit in the car
and listen.


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6 comments:

  1. Michelle, my experience exactly. A high school marriage(1968), divorce, remarriage, one child and six years later(1974)he was dead, suicide. Sometimes, when songs of that period come on the radio I'm transported back and the tears flow.

    Thank you for what I've never put in words.

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    1. Music is so powerful. Thank you for sharing your story, Debi.

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  2. I think we can all understand this one, Michelle. Beautiful.

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  3. Thank you, Sabra. Music is a universal language. I guess its impact is universal, too.

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  4. Gosh Michelle I do that all the time. Especially with something beautiful like La Traviata or Lakme. What is it about music? On the other hand, I can't carry a tune in a bucket. :)

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    1. I have a quote from composer Maria Schneider: Like dreams are a way to process your psyche, music is a way to preserve and share memory.

      I can't carry a tune either, Veronica, but I love to listen.

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