When Stooping to Secure it – Writing Prompts

Because what is the joy if you go alone

(from Osho ‘Courage’)

Joy is wild

part adventure

part starlight

part peace

she needs to expand

like breath

to be soft like single tears

to be hard like torrential rain

Joy glistens

content that in the shade of learning

is the thicket of alone

necessary

but alone is not forever

Joy is

so heave into the darkness

let joy’s laughing fingers tickle you home

when stooping to secure it*

my head hit an edge

an edge

of your love

at once a gaping trauma

pumps my blood

into the bowl of your

cupped hands

we stare at the crimson

ponder the spectrum of loss

I pass you the lock

I meant to secure to your heart

you toss it out the open window

pull thread from your soul to suture my wound

*from ‘The Poetry of Emily Dickinson’

Two poems each prompted by a line in randomly picked in books of poetry. In other words, each prompted by a lick of magic. Thank you Laura C. for joining me in the world of playing with poetry.

The Timed Writing Prompts:

Pick a poetry book. Look at the number of pages of poetry. Choose a number between 1 and the number of pages in the book. Choose the first line of poetry on that page. Use that first line as the first line of your poem. Put your timer on for three minutes. Write a poem in three minutes.
Pick a poetry book. Look at the number of pages of poetry. Choose a number between 1 and the number of pages. Go to that page. Estimate how may lines on the page. Choose a number between 1 and the estimated number of lines. Use that line somewhere in your poem. Put your timer on for four minutes. Write a poem in four minutes.

Spread love. Be kind. Peace.