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| Baby at Play, by Thomas Eakins, 1876. |
I fear expectations that I write extraordinary
poems for year’s end and for the new year, too,
creating blocks on blocks and more so.
Building with blocks instead of ideas—
with concrete objects instead of abstract—
I start with roads, add shoes, tires, brakes and drums.
And next thing I know I have Rodas and Rhodes
on straightaways, and they don’t hesitate
to shoo off anything that tires or breaks.
The drums' beat keeps builders
moving so fast
It’s a blast dropping, breaking active verbs,
characters and unmotivated plots.
Whew. Playing with blocks
is most dangerous
when inside the house, brain, heart, threshold of
fear, window sills and medicine cabinets
where I store my preferred
daze and numbness.
Whew. That was
before. What if I wrote love
instead of fear? Then how could blocks be near?
sometimes expectations are blocks which inhibit freedom of thought....
ReplyDelete"What if I wrote love
ReplyDeleteinstead of fear? "
I love that.
The same quote hit me that Mama Zen noted. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI like the use of blocks in your poem and so appropriate with the picture
ReplyDeleteha. that danger though is not a bad thing...its a little wild to let go and let the blocks become what they will and not what we force them into....smiles.
ReplyDeletemerry christmas susan...and thanks for the card.
i hope your day is full of love and light.
Merry Christmas everyone.
ReplyDelete"...I have Rodas and Rhodes
ReplyDeleteon straightaways, and they don’t hesitate
to shoo off anything that tires or breaks."
This part made me think of Helios flinging equipment, ha! My brain took Rhodes to Colossus of Rhodes.
Love to fear gives a totally different slant and makes for the better. A lot of thoughts had gone into this. Great write Susan!
ReplyDeleteHank
I like the energy of writing blocks upon blocks ~ I think when you are in a writing frenzy, you just keep churning and moving on,not caring where its going ~ Happy Sunday Susan ~
ReplyDeleteOh but if they are not blocks but limbs on that tree we want to create?... so many thoughts went through my mind when I read this Susan
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome...the last two lines are especially wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI never liked blocks, they always seemed so rigid . . .
ReplyDeletebuilding, transforming, and writing through love. Fear is one of the pieces of the love puzzle, I think. And blocks, one part of the creation. Thought-provoking poem, Susan.
ReplyDeleteWhat if I wrote love instead of fear?
ReplyDeleteNow you're truly on to something!!!!!
Oh, the depths we explore when we are brave enough to pick up the blocks and use them. Loved this poem, Susan.
ReplyDeleteI too love the question about writing love instead of fear--- just outstanding Susan!
ReplyDeleteI like very much the idea of writing love instead of fear! I think this can make all the difference in the world in one's poetry!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo for your poem. Cheers to writing love!
ReplyDeletelove the closing lines.....
ReplyDeleteThe idea of writing from love is a beautiful one =) I tend toward a darker muse myself but sometimes I turn around and see my husband sitting beside me and I cannot but write from love
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the blocks in positve and negative ways. Seeing a writing opportunity and the excitement which overflows...Then those empty days when blockage seems to stall everything...Both the impressions created by Rhodes and roads. Both journey awarding:)
Happy New Year,
Eileen