For a Whirling Wordle of Sundays
http://sundaywhirl.blogspot.com/2011/05/wordle-4.html
Words for today are stop, substituted, textured, rural, brandishing, slurping, bridge, salty, filtered, infusion, eke, chimney.
Inhale Then Sigh
Infuse Brenda’s words
into conscious awareness,
then stop.
Leave them to soak
over night, to macerate,
while I dream of escaping
through gate in rural landscape,
where slate bridge curves
above slurping turgid waters.
No substitutions will be accepted,
as I valiantly brandish pen. But,
these strange textures refuse to filter
through chimney of imagination,
and salty tears of frustration leak,
as I eke out a path in mind field
of obstacles she has created.
Elizabeth Crawford 5/15/11
Notes: True experience, except I exaggerated about the tears just to get the word salty in here, lol. Are you feeling just a bit guilty Brenda? Hope so. The words wouldn’t come together for me today, except in protest form. Sorry.
Soul's Music 
This was not easy! You are right! But you did well!
Still recovering from a week of coming and going, Annell. And have to run again today. I think I just got obstinate and cranky, lol. It happens sometimes. Thanks for the encouragement, I needed that,
Elizabeth
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No guilt here, Elizabeth. You should know by now that I love a good protest poem. LOL It is interesting, because in past wordles I’ve used a theme, or sounds to link the words. This time I chose the words for their individual interest. Definitely there are connections to be made between the words, though…and you did it quite well. Perhaps you should explore your protest voice more often. haha! That’s my (no I’m not guilty)getting punchy. 🙂 I love “the minefield of obstacles.” Thank you for your perseverance. My enjoyment of your piece says it paid off.
~Brenda
Brenda, sometimes while just writing down the words in a list, one will jump out and say, “Here, I go right here and then he goes there,” etc. Last night as I wrote the words down, all I heard was “slurping up Brenda’s words.” And I assure you, there was dead silence after that, lol. Then this morning nothing would come together except this and in my head all I could hear was, “I sorry, really, really sorry.” And I intentionally used the words mind field, because if these words had exploded, I might have found something far more relevant to say. However, I’m glad you enjoyed. Maybe it will be better next time?
Elizabeth
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You and me both, Elizabeth. I wrote two silly poems this morning and then went out to lunch thinking I’d try again. Now I’m too full to think, so will post them anyway.
But, it has to be said, you’ve done a brilliant job with yours, and I bow in admiration.
ViV
Ahh Viv, there we go with that word brilliant again. And I can’t even curtsey back to your bow, cause I’d probably never be able to stand up again. I’m going out to brunch for my sister’s birthday and the temperature has dropped below fifty again. I just might stay cranky for the rest of the week. Does not bode well for the poetry, even given Brenda’s enjoyment of my protest. Thank you for your kind and generous words,
Elizabeth
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Sometimes a little thought is a good thing. I often have a word tumbling ’round my head for a bit, sleep on it, and then…like magic the words flow. Nicely done.
True Renee, but this time all I had was the slurping word and it wasn’t going anywhere. Decided to go with how I was feeling in the moment, and that seemed to at least give the words a chance to go somewhere. I like the magic, love it when it happens, but sometimes it is just the work of using what you have and trusting it to take you to the outcome. That’s actually a bit of magic in its own right. Thanks for stopping and sharing your thoughts,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, it is somewhat of a comfort to know that you had a hard time, also 😉
I was thinking it was only me. You know misery loves company:)
I rolled those words round and round, and where I ended up is indeed a strange place.
Sorry about the weather, it is hot as h*** here. I wait for the evenings, and the coolness it brings. Wish I could send you Northerners some sunshine and warmth.
Pamela
Happy birthday to your sister!
Thanks Pamela, it was a nice party and I left early. The weather has just been so strange of late, and far from dependable. And I don’t mind at all that you found some comfort in my tangled experience. I certainly like what you did with the words. And glad you enjoyed mine,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, I had a hard time with the words also. “Chimney” was the hardest one. “Slurping” a close second. Anyway, you did well with this challenge nonetheless.
And I really liked what you did, Mary. History, a story line, and poem with vivid images. I couldn’t seem to get past the slurping, lol. I still find it hard to believe we are both doing these wordles and looking forward to them. Glad we talked and thanks for your kind words,
Elizabeth
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You did so well with this, Elizabeth. You have a braver heart than I do, hee hee………well done. Loved it!
Ahh but you found that wonderful image to work with, Sherry. You are not finished with the traveler and I’m glad you discovered a way to bring her back to the fore,
Elizabeth
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Not to worry Elizabeth, the chimney of your imagination is puffing well. The words assembled meaning and process well.
Lol, Irene, think sometimes that most of it is smoke, and I steer clear of mirrors. Thanks for the kind words,
Elizabeth
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I loved this Elizabeth 🙂 and was surprised how powerful the description ‘above slurping turgid waters.’ was.
Thanks Susannah. Sometimes, when I’m writing, another word sticks its foot in and refuses to go away. I find that when I actually listen to them, they often work quite well. That’s what happened here. Glad you enjoyed,
Elizabeth
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This was a clever one, Elizabeth 🙂
Really not so clever Tilly Bud. When I feel blocked, I usually write about writing. I could easily create an entire volume of poetic metaphors for writing, all from my files. It works for me and tends to unblock whaterever is stopping the flow. But, thanks for thinking that, lol,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, there is a fine history of protest poems. Thanks for acknowledging how hard this can sometimes be. I identified with “No substitutions will be accepted”; I try really hard to use the words as they are and not to change them. Your maceration came up with something quite fruitful. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun).
Richard
Richard, I laughed at the pun. I’m doing a new word a day on my sojournal site, and macerate was one of them. It just sort of slipped into this piece and I was happy to see it, especially after struggling with the slurping thing. I kind of feel proud that it came out so easily and fit so well. I must be learning something, yes? Thanks for taking a look and I have to admit, the no substitution line is there because I just didn’t know how to use the word otherwise, in that moment. I don’t think I’ve ever done a wordle without changing the tense or form of at least a few of the words. I admire your strength of will to do that.
Elizabeth
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I like (and Like) your protest poem, Elizabeth. Sometimes all we can write about is how difficult it is to write about something. 😉 Good use of the wordle words.
Thank you Bonneypoet, it is a devise I have reverted to perhaps too many times, so don’t feel the exhileration of coming up with something unique or that stretches my abilities. It does work, but doesn’t hold a candle to the trip down memory lane that you afforded this reader.
Elizabeth
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LOL! in the end you got your poem. The last stanza is perfect.
When I go blank quietone, I usually start writing about writing. It gets me on the page and the wheels start turning, squeakily, but they do eventually move. Glad you enjoyed,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth…I loved your angle on this one! I have to say, I really enjoy the wordle prompts. Mostly because I like making the rounds to read everyone’s efforts! It’s fun to see/read the familiar words in a new and different setting. And, in reading your comments, I find it interesting what you said about words sort of letting you know they “go right there” when you make your list. It’s similar for me…as I read the list, it’s almost as if I can visualize them moving around into place to tell me their story! (I sometimes wonder if it’s a spatial thing that lets my mind work that way.) And then I fill in the words around them! Anyway…here’s a link to my (delayed) attempt this week: SURRENDER. Now…off to catch up on some more reading/commenting! ~Paula
Paula, I think you could be right about the spatial thing, but also believe it is something that happens when using the prompt circuit regularly. Training the mind to think in certain ways, without thinking about training at all. It just happens. Although I’ve heard the words whisper for years, they have gotten much more clear and even persistent in the months I’ve been doing the circuit. I love it and it makes me feel more alive than I have in years. Glad you enjoyed and I like what you did with the words as well,
Elizabeth
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Thank you for your kind words shared on my blog, Elizabeth. Interesting that the prompt circuit may have a way of training the mind. I’ve only been writing since mid-December, so I don’t have a long history of writing to compare to…but I can say that I enjoy the process of writing to the prompts. I, too, enjoy the challenge of using the prompts! Thanks again for the visit and your kind words! ~Paula
Hi Paula, I’ve been doing the prompts for just under a year, although I’ve been writing for over thirty. The prompts gave me focus and reawakened my love of poetry and language, which had languished because of other responsibilities. The prompts can be addictive, but they often seem like a mind signal that says, “Okay, you just hit the creativity button.” And the comments and other responses are a constant parade of inspiration. Can you tell I’m a fan, lol? Hope you continue and look forward to seeing more of you and your words,
Elizabeth
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love your poetry talent here,
keep entertaining!
You Rock!
Thank you, Jingle,
Elizabeth
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