My writing group has decided to explore a book on writing poetry this summer. We chose The Practice of Poetry edited by Robin Behn and Chase Twichell.
I have been thumbing through and randomly choosing an exercise to try. On pages 51-53, Susan Mitchell’s exercise is titled “Experience Falls Through Language Like Water Through a Sieve.”
We write poems about what we can’t articulate, but feel pressured to say, which is why poems use language in unusual ways…And often, metaphor and simile may be a poet’s only means for capturing experience in its rich complexity.
Susan Mitchell in The Practice of Poetry, pages 51-52
She explains that when we use metaphor, we often write ahead of our understanding. When I write poems, I connect to a deeper part of myself, one who I don’t know as well, one who reveals more of myself to me.
In this exercise, I read one of the suggested poems Milkweed by Philip Levine and decided to use its form to inform my own.
Remember how
we sat in a field of clover
picking handfuls of white bursts
tying stem to stem
to make crowns, bracelets,
necklaces. We’d promenade
among the pine trees
overlooking Purple Creek,
curtsy,
loop our arms,
do-see-do
through those carefree
days of summer
that meant nothing
to anyone, even us.Yesterday I walked my dog
through a field of clover.
While he stopped to sniff
and leave his scent, I watched
the clustering blossoms
sway and bow
to the coming
of a summer shower.–Margaret Simon, after Philip Levine, all rights reserved
I love this: “write poems about what we can’t articulate, but feel pressured to say,”
This poem is such a good description of what it feels like to have a good memory.
I really connected to your words, Margaret, when you said: “When I write poems, I connect to a deeper part of myself, one who I don’t know as well, one who reveals more of myself to me.” While I am still very new to writing poetry, every time I do, this is exactly what happens. Thank you for your post!
The like the idea of seeing the clover “sway and bow/to the coming/of a summer shower.” It must be fun to work together in a poetry book, Margaret.
Yes! I love that quote about writing poetry to say what we aren’t yet able to articulate. I find that to be so true within my own writing. I often turn to writing (and reading) poetry when I am trying to make sense of things.
Like Dani, I really love your lines, “When I write poetry…” Some big truth here. And I was just talking to a friend a couple of days ago about making necklaces and crowns out of clover. I love this!
I’m still gaping at “Experience Falls Through Language Like Water Through a Sieve.” What a great line. I love your poem, too. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
If you haven’t read TRAIN I RIDE by Paul Mosier, put it on the top of your TBR. I think what the book says about reading and writing poetry (it comes late in the book, be patient) really resonates with this post!
Ordered it on Amazon. Thanks.
You’ve done a wonderful job evoking “those carefree/days of summer,” Margaret. This exercise brought up a painful memory from high school that definitely revealed “more of myself to me.” Never underestimate the power of poetry!
I hope you will share your poem with us.
You captured the change in time and movement handsomely Margaret, it parallels with Philip Levine’s “Milkweed.” It’s curiously interesting how our memory is triggered by different plants from earlier times in our life.
Margaret, what a lovely poem of memory. I really like how you expressed what writing poetry evokes in you. I’ve had that happen to me with writing too and lately have also experienced it in my Bible journaling (choosing images that, when I research and look into them a bit more, I find add a whole other dimension to understanding). Our minds are multi-layered and complex. Sometimes we do well to listen to what we’re trying to tell ourselves.
[…] Summer is a time to kick back and relax, but for teachers it is also time to work on projects we don’t have time for during the school year. This summer, I’m excited that my critique group and I are reading The Practice of Poetry and completing the writing exercises as a way to build our poetry muscles. Our first “assignment” was “Experience Falls Through Language Like Water Through a Sieve” by Susan Mitchell. (You can read Margaret’s thoughts about this exercise here.) […]
Oh boy that is BEEEEEEEEautiful, Margaret. I’m now lobbying to join you in your use of this book, which I happen to have picked up a couple of months ago. I could really use the structure this summer. Is your group closed?