April 23, 2012

Poetry with Feet

With the weather back to spring temperatures here in California and more rain predicted for this week, I found a poem I wrote about a month ago. This was about the time I started taking walks every morning. I've found that a walk in the morning, even if it's only fifteen minutes, gives me a chance to take care of myself holistically, focus my thoughts for the day, and get ready to write.

Morning walks are especially fun on those days when rain is blustering on the horizon, like a little boy full of energy, but it hasn't quite come into itself yet. The air is full of wind and electricity, and in spring, all the flower scents blow everywhere and the green comes out to shine. On one of those days, I went for a long walk, wearing my rain jacket but only occasionally needing it. A poem started to form in my head (and of course I forgot my Moleskine at home) but I repeated it out loud to myself, tinkering with the sounds of the words until the neighbors probably thought I was crazy, to keep it fresh until I got home.


And now I'm going to get brave and share it with you: the first poem I've put up on this blog.


Nomad

I walk shadowless under a sunless sky.

Sun’s brightness swallowed in
filmy grey envelopes,
 distant hills erased,
painted out in white.

I am rainchased,
windswept,
a petal blown on a gust,
a wave whipped across a pond.

I drink in the smell of sweet freesias
and sharp spicy rosemary,
I caress fragile budding leaves,
I see silver shreds flapping in the wind.

I walk under rain, but I am not wet;
I wander abroad, but I am not lost.


What interesting thoughts have come to you while walking? 

10 comments:

  1. Lovely poem, Alina! When I'm walking, I start off thinking about my writing but I usually end up thinking about some inner personal struggle that I'm going through at the time. Thinking of a poem would be more fun, though. :)

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    1. That's true for me too. Sometimes I spend my walk thinking about e-mails, planner, stress, craziness...so that when I get home I can actually focus on writing :)

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  2. Great post and poem :) I'm reminded that I haven't gone for a walk in a long time, and I probably should. It's always a good time to think and dream about stuff.

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    1. Thanks, Mike! Walking is my new favorite complement to writing. So good for the mind and creativity :)

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    2. It really is. I've gotten a whole short story idea from walking before. I still need to write it sometime.

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    3. Please do! And then you can post it on your blog :)

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  3. Your poem is lovely. Thanks for posting it. I especially like the stanza that begins "I am rainchased/windswept..." Such a cool image!
    And yes, walking is where I work out the kinks. Something about keeping the puppy pointed in the right direction helps me sort out whatever plot I'm working on.
    ;)

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    1. Isn't it fun making up words? Almost as fun as keeping cute puppies in line :)

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  4. When I lived in San Francisco, walking was a favorite past time. The weather is so right for it there. I walked for miles. Now, living inland, walking doesn't hold the same inspiration as before (most of the time too hot or too cold). Now, my walking consists of walking the dogs and is more about paying attention to pick up their business, and less about inspiration. But, I'm glad you shared your picture and poetry. Loved,'swallowed in filmy grey envelopes.'

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    1. Thanks Cora! Yeesh, I see the temperature reports inland and I can understand why walking isn't the most fun thing in the world. You should head for the coast sometime--the fog keeps it cool in the mornings :)

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