To Write Poetry, A Reminder To Myself

 To Write Poetry, A Reminder To Myself

Make a “to do” list and throw it away. Write poetry instead.

Daydream daily.  When you come back, write down where you’ve been.

Write down your sleeping dreams. Interpret what they mean.

Take a walk.

Meditate.

Get out of your head and into your heart. 

Be present.

Listen to the waves of your breath.

Get into your body.

Get out into the natural world.

Feel what’s in front of you, the sound, the sight, the motion, the texture.

Get interested in others.

Be compassionate.

Listen to understand.

Be gently honest, transparent. See what response that evokes in another. 

Imagine their loves, their losses, their fears, their joys.

Then take a chance and check out if you were right by asking them. 

Notice the light in your loved one’s smile.

Hang out with two-year-olds and ninety-two-year-olds.

Allow yourself to feel mad, sad, glad, scared, bored.

Cry at a beautiful piece of music or smile at the look on a baby’s face.

Remember that being inspired is being totally alive, so get lively.

Get out in nature, and, like indigenous storytellers, get anthropomorphic.

Amuse the muse.  

Look for the light, the laugh, and the love.

Look for the mystery, and attempt an explanation.

Describe the indescribable as best you can.

Read. Read. Read.

Read what poets interest you.

Get a poem emailed to you daily, Poem-A-Day, from the American Academy of Poets.

Get what makes them work for you, or doesn’t work for you.

Write. Write. Write. 

Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite.

Gotta get it right!

Write your emotional autobiography.

Distill it into the beautiful language of your life.

This will be poetry.