Tag Archives: writing workshop

The merry month of May

A small part of me is relieved to have official respite from the enforced discipline of the NaPoWriMo challenge, but I chiefly feel wistful that this most convenient excuse to put aside things other than writing has come to an end. Now I really do have to address all those deferred duties (ugh!), but I intend to maintain the daily habit of writing.

I will most certainly not post every day, though. It’s great motivation, but it’s not truly sustainable, either for me or for my readers. It stands to reason that I’ll continue to post regularly because I’ll continue to write regularly (this post grew out of my notes and reflections on the month’s activities), just not every day. You’re welcome. [wink]

Besides, I have other things to do during the month of May: welcome my eldest home from college, see my youngest through the end of her school year, teach a writing class (here’s a link if you’re interested), attend family graduation events, and…

…get ready for June, which is Lexington Poetry Month! Yes, my daily writing goal will get a nice boost from my local writing community. I plan to take part in that month-long writing challenge as well as various other poetic activities around town. Information on the 2016 celebration hasn’t been posted, but next week is the release party for the 2015 anthology, & Grace. (I’m ditching a Very Important Board Meeting to attend — shhh, don’t tell anyone!)

Stay tuned!

NaPoWriMo, Day 16

As I mentioned at the beginning of the month, I’ll be leading a writing workshop in May – Saturday, May 14, to be exact. I’ve led past workshops at the library, but this time I’ll be at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, another wonderful resource for the community. If you’re local or just curious, here’s a link for more information:
http://carnegiecenterlex.org/adult-class/writing-with-tarot/.

Today’s poem was prompted by the Nine of Pentacles from the Crystal Visions Tarot. (Click here to see the card.)

Time and this garden

It is always twilight, maybe dawn. Spring flowers carpet
the ground, and apples hang on the branch, so ripe

they perfume the air. Nests burst with hatchlings, and adult
birds gather for migration. Nothing is settled but nothing

truly changes. Everything is in the process of becoming
something else.

 

NaPoWriMo 2016

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Welcome, global readers and poets!

Workshop poetry: Tarot de Paris

Wednesday night I facilitated a writing workshop at the library, “Creative Writing with Tarot.” Sixteen of us sat down with pen and paper and let ourselves get creative, with tarot cards for inspiration.

During one of the three-card spread exercises, I came up with a short poem for each of the cards I drew from the Tarot de Paris.

paris veilThe Veil

naked she stands above the moon
draped with light and her own
fragrant hair

paris sun

 

 

 

 

The Sun

the king is a fool who thinks
he is a god
the king is dead
long live the king

paris stallion of airStallion of Air

the moon’s horse cleaves
the night with chalken
hooves, its crystal breath
an icy cloud

 

 

 

(All images from the Tarot de Paris by J. Philip Thomas.)