Tuesday, August 22, 2017

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!

Monday, August 21, 2017

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!