The empty calendar of my summer has filled up leaving less time for writing. The cure for not getting exercise is to sign up for a class. So the cure for my lack of time to write was to sign up for a class.
At a local museum, The Hilliard, my friend Clare was offering a 3 hour writing workshop. I know from experience with Clare that she offers lots of empty space for real writing. We discussed our writing practices and our familiarity with ekphrastic writing (writing to an image). Then she sent us into the museum to the show of John F. Simon’s work.
I was immediately drawn to the piece in the photo above. It’s large, probably 5-6 feet across by 3-4 feet in width. The title of the work is Moment of Release. I love how the title really doesn’t dictate the interpretation. I gave in to this freedom to explore and released a poem.
Moment of Release
This collection
Margaret Simon, (c) 2019
of energy
stored and sealed
into a protective sheaf
will one day open
the well
spilling contents
of a life–
rain it down
like a delta flood
releasing
to a renewable
Source.
My advice to you is don’t wait for a workshop. Grab a writing buddy and head out to the nearest museum or gallery. If you take pictures, ask permission first. Gather words, images, sounds on the page to transform into a poem or prose. The poem I shared is only one of four I wrote in the hour we were given. I plan to give myself permission to take another artist date this summer. What about you?
Reflections on the Teche 
“empty space for real writing” – this reminds me of Ralph Fletcher’s, Joy Write, where he calls for what he calls Greenbelt Writing – wild, free and full of exploration and discovery! I also LOVE how you went into a museum, saw a piece and immediately were called to write – the poem is beautiful. I was a consultant at the Yale Center for British Art Summer Visual Literacy Institute and this is exactly what teachers had time to do – it was powerful. like your slice! It is a reminder to us all that we must explore the role of art in our classrooms. It can be an entry point for many writers! Thank, thank you for sharing!
I love to do this with kids. It’s a great way for them to connect to the art in a meaningful way.
I love this idea and am going to go to our local art museum this week with my visiting teenage grandson…with notebooks in hand. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this idea. Great poem to go with the art work. I bet the artist would appreciate reading it. 🙂
Love seeing you make sure that writing is a part of your busy days. You inspire me with, “spilling contents of a life” and, “renewable resource”. I saw somewhere recently…”writing is proof of thinking” isn’t that the truth!
I admire you, Margaret, for making sure that you make time to write. I’m still waiting for summer to kick in, but I know how quickly free time can fill and how easy it can be to fall out of writing. Thanks for sharing your ekphrastic poem and the fascinating piece of art that inspired it, along with your art date suggestion.