This is a wonderful synchronicity considering I've just finished putting together the manuscript for my next poetry book, all loosely themed around ideas and events that "sparked" something in me, and that I will hope will spark things in other people. If you're on to that idea too, then maybe I'm on the right track! Thank you for this piece.
Smiling reading this comment, Tom!! Congrats on getting another book up and running :) You're definitely on the right track. Would love to hear more about your process of bringing a poetry book to life.
For me the poems generally come before the book. I’ll write pieces as I go through life, publish some here on Substack as I finish them or submit them to journals/mags, then when I have a big bank saved up I generally think “it’d be nice to have some of these all in a book together”. I think about what themes are alive for me at that time and look for poems that relate to that theme. That’s how my other books came together, and it worked for them!
Sounds like we both see it similarly, Tom! I love to process life through poems with no outcome in mind. If a book comes together, happy days. If not, no time is wasted because you enjoyed the act of writing a poem.
I'm curious about submitting your work to journals/mags. Not something I've explored. I'll send you a message if it's okay with you. Would be great to chat.
The Poem, comes to life in the ether of one’s heart. It must come out, in its own form, of ta own will…. Simple to me does not exist in poetry. This in reply to your video statement but also to this poem in particular.
When a poem sticks with me, sits beside me and speaks to me of things unseen yet seen in the moment I can only exhale my gratitude for the vulnerability of the poet, following the pebble down the mountain.
Niall, with your poem today I am thinking about these creative seeds that keep coming to me. I try to honor them in the moment, because I have learned that they will vanish if I ignore them. I jot down key phrases or words to jog my memory if these come to me during a time when I am unable to fully expound on them.
Exactly, Jeannie! Do what you can to capture them and most importantly see them through if you can. At least from my experience, I have found those intuitive sparks have led to the greatest progression and impact in what I'm doing.
The match is arcing when I run it across the flint.
I simply need to build and maintain a fire with it.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Now, where's that lighter fluid? 😂
Lol, throw fluid on the fire Joe and run with that spark :)
This is a wonderful synchronicity considering I've just finished putting together the manuscript for my next poetry book, all loosely themed around ideas and events that "sparked" something in me, and that I will hope will spark things in other people. If you're on to that idea too, then maybe I'm on the right track! Thank you for this piece.
Smiling reading this comment, Tom!! Congrats on getting another book up and running :) You're definitely on the right track. Would love to hear more about your process of bringing a poetry book to life.
For me the poems generally come before the book. I’ll write pieces as I go through life, publish some here on Substack as I finish them or submit them to journals/mags, then when I have a big bank saved up I generally think “it’d be nice to have some of these all in a book together”. I think about what themes are alive for me at that time and look for poems that relate to that theme. That’s how my other books came together, and it worked for them!
Sounds like we both see it similarly, Tom! I love to process life through poems with no outcome in mind. If a book comes together, happy days. If not, no time is wasted because you enjoyed the act of writing a poem.
I'm curious about submitting your work to journals/mags. Not something I've explored. I'll send you a message if it's okay with you. Would be great to chat.
The Poem, comes to life in the ether of one’s heart. It must come out, in its own form, of ta own will…. Simple to me does not exist in poetry. This in reply to your video statement but also to this poem in particular.
When a poem sticks with me, sits beside me and speaks to me of things unseen yet seen in the moment I can only exhale my gratitude for the vulnerability of the poet, following the pebble down the mountain.
So so beautiful.
Thank you for these words Michelle Marie :) I'm grateful that the poems connect with you as much as they do with me.
Niall, with your poem today I am thinking about these creative seeds that keep coming to me. I try to honor them in the moment, because I have learned that they will vanish if I ignore them. I jot down key phrases or words to jog my memory if these come to me during a time when I am unable to fully expound on them.
Exactly, Jeannie! Do what you can to capture them and most importantly see them through if you can. At least from my experience, I have found those intuitive sparks have led to the greatest progression and impact in what I'm doing.
Keep on inspiring and encouraging us🙏⭐️
I will get there!
You absolutely will and that is available to you in every moment!
Beautiful!!
Thank you Dawn-Reneé :)
You're welcome!