Ecliptedness

I love it when people throw out a word that sounds really cool, even if it's not real, when they have something big to say and no other word fits the bill.  Ecliptedness was created by a co-worker yesterday when trying to describe how well the eclipse themed cookies depicted the many stages of eclipse the sun would experience during the event.  

Although we laughed about it at the time, today, I can see how words can come to be.  We shared this word with everyone who came into our office kitchen while we were there and they all thought it was very descriptive and appreciated the creative use of language.  This was not just due to excitement over the big event, it was true admiration.

Inspired by this new word and the eclipse itself, I have been thrown back into writing poetry because I cannot help but get these poems out of my head and onto paper.  Now, of course, I have to share them.  They are also giving me me more works to include in my book of poems because they can be included in my overall theme of nature and/or seasons.

The first poem I'll share was born of my impression of the glowing crescent Sun as a mischievous Cheshire Cat grin.

~

Celestial Grin

Like the Cheshire Cat,

The Sun grinned

Hiding behind the Moon

Like a frightened child hides behind her mother’s skirt

Showing only a partial face.

~

www.nemy.com

Take a good long look at this eclipse photo from yesterday. Now close your eyes and imagine the Cheshire Cat.  He has just been harassing you about your tardiness or drinking too much coffee, none of which is his business, and has faded from sight, leaving only his grin to further annoy you.

Disney Cheshire Cat Grin

I'm certain you can see why this image came to me yesterday while watching the Sun disappear behind the Moon.

The next poem I'm going to share features something that I never expected during the eclipse. While I knew the light would be different, I never expected shadows to be altered. Here is my poem about the Sun's nap.

~

Suns Summer Slumber

The Sun took a nap yesterday

K L McClune 2017

Hiding behind the Moon like a shy child

It drew a shadow blanket close under its chin

As the cover was drawn

Familiar shapes distorted

Leaf shadows transformed from round drops

To slim crescents

The golden glow of pavement

Paled against the black and gray shadows

Lifted the silvery arcs

Cradling them with soft edges

Under cover, a small Sun sliver shown

Like the glowing arc of a mischievous grin

The Sun teased us with evening at mid-day

Its warm rays cooled, it’s light diminished

Upon waking, the cover retreated, slowly

Like a curtain drawn in anticipation of a show

Golden light returned and shadows deepened,

Warmth was restored and the Sun emerged refreshed

~

I've written more, but I'm actually hoping that you might share how you were inspired by the eclipse and what you created as a result.  Please leave me a comment and let me know how you've been inspired to be creative by the eclipse.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day!

Compiling a Book of Poems Post #2

Editing, editing, editing.  I've been editing poems for my book and going back over all my poems multiple times since my last post.  After I made a list of the poems I consider "Complete" I put them into categories to see what kind of material I had to work with.  From this exercise I determined that most of my "Completed" work had to do with the seasons or nature in some way.

This prompted me to look through all my work to see if I could find any other poems about nature or the seasons to bolster my book.  I added a number of unfinished poems to my list and brought my total to 63.  Of these poems, 30 are about nature or the seasons.  Most of these new poems need some editing or rewriting.  This is what I've been doing for the last week or more.

By the way, I'm by no means finished with this part of the process and am still determined to put a book together.  Now I'll be focusing on more poems with nature and the seasons as themes.  I'd like to have approximately 40 poems for this book.

In the process of editing and completing some of my poems, I've come up with some nice pieces and want to share some with you.

Autumn Gusts

Leaves dart across the ground

Like schoolboys chasing a ball

They flip and turn and spin

Like tumbling gymnasts.

Frantically, leaves fly

Like birds rising from a lake

Pushed by Autumn gusts

High into the air.

Color splashed branches dance feverishly

Like teens at a concert

Arms waving in the air

Moving in one rhythm.

I found myself practicing the use of metaphor and simile trying to get this one just right.  This next poem has a very different feel.  This rewrite about a heavy Spring snow is very different from my original, but I do like this version better.  

Spring Snow

Frozen crystals dance easily

Weightless

Swirling

In a dervish.

Thick, like fluff, they fall

Recklessly

Tossed

In a wind.

Landing, they join, cling in close

Layering

Combining

Like a mantle.

Heavy, pressing down, young limbs bend

Sagging

Droopy

Bowing down.

Brightened, the crystals sparkle in sunlight

Glimmering

Melting

Dripping down.

I started this post months ago and have sadly not worked on editing poems since that time.  Life derails me sometimes which is frustrating.  Many things are happening around here.  However, I have been inspired to write about the Sun and Moon today because of the "Great American Eclipse."  

Yes, the eclipse was almost complete for those of us in the greater Denver Metro area.  I'm going to be working on a few new pieces to add to my collection for this book.  I think they'll add something special.  

So, I'll leave this post for now on the editing theme and hope that you enjoy these two re writes.  I promise to have a few new pieces for you soon that highlight the celestial bodies involved in today's spectacle.  

Have a splendid day and keep writing!