For The Sunday Whirl poetry prompt: Wordle # 148
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/
safe, support, virus, party, fail, court,
frame, later, mind, tricks, brave, wages
and for Poets United: Poetry Pantry #189
http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/
Courting Disaster
Not a virus, more like bacteria attacked
by antibiotics, her frame of reference
failed to support athletic mind tricks
that were supposed to wage war against
all conflicting or contradicting parties.
Germ of idea was slowly losing battle.
Shrugging, shaking head, she’d strategize
later, when she felt brave once again.
Elizabeth Crawford 2/16/14
Notes: Sometimes the words, with a mind of their own, decide where they want to go and refuse any effort to be moved elsewhere. When I looked at the list, several things immediately came to mind: virus and antibiotics, frame of reference, failed to support, mind tricks, and contradicting parties. These refused to be moved or altered. So left it alone, and went off to sleep and do other things. When I returned on Saturday, the words held their ground, caterwauling when I tried to do something different. Benched the whole thing again, but finally gave in on Saturday evening, very uncertain about whether or not it really made any sense at all (pretty sure the antibiotics had won the war). Finally, while preparing this post, I realized this piece was written to explain the process of writing this poem. Gotta laugh out loud at all of it. The image is one of my hand drawn pen and ink doodles, digitally manipulated just to see what would happen.
Best of all, the song came to me before I finished laughing. Made me laugh even more. You’ll find it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBoYZqmcZuc
Soul's Music 
It’s funny how these words take on a life of their own, start demanding this and that, and pouting if we don’t listen to their wishes. Mine is at http://miskmask.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/white-sail-thoughts/ and also took the lack of support line.
LikeLike
A clever use of metaphor was produced by your subjection to the wordle words. They are unruly for me, too, but my result is not so well formed!
LikeLike
The wordle words bring us through to uncharted territories. Felt the same way. Otherwise one never would have thought of taking such a direction. Well crafted Elizabeth! And nice image created!
Hank
LikeLike
I know that feeling in those last two lines! I thought this was a hard group of words this week! Your picture turned out well – I like all the squiggles!
LikeLike
There was a radio programme about William Burroughs on last night here and one of his cut ups was ‘words are a virus’..i think you nailed it!
LikeLike
Those words can be very demanding at times… I’m glad you stuck with them.
LikeLike
Your process notes pretty much explained what happened for me….
LikeLike
The words always lead me in the oddest directions. It’s fun to just go with it and see what the outcome is. This poem is a good example of doing just that.
I’m sorry Belva, but every time I try to reciprocate to your comments by visiting your site, it demands a google account and then refuses to accept my info…I enjoy your thoughtful comments and feel distressed that I am not allowed to return them. I agree that it is fun to simply follow the words and some of the surprises they present. But, I also must say that I enjoy the challenge when they fight back when I think I know a better or easier path.
Thank you so much for continuing to visit,
Elizabeth
LikeLike
haha! I reread it after reading your notes. It is a wonderful metaphor for its own creation. Love it!
LikeLike
Ha, the birth of a poem described effectively through those notes. Gotta say, I loved the notes more, which I must also add is in no way is intended to disrespect the image and the poem you made, both of which are lovely too.
LikeLike
sometimes they have a mind of their own…and maybe even know what is best for us when we do not…like viruses can too….working in our bodies to build our immunity even as they tear at us…
LikeLike
Interesting philosophic piece here, Elizabeth. Yes, sometimes one has to wait until the RIGHT time to strategize! Smiles.
LikeLike
Following where the wordle words lead seems like an exercise in connecting the dots of the unconscious! I love where they took you and your process notes are so reassuring to me.
LikeLike
Yes, Elizabeth, your use of metaphor is quite good here. I only used 3 or 4 of the words, sometimes, they simply won’t make a whole piece of writing for me. I enjoyed the process notes as well. Thanks for checking in on me, it means the world to me.
Your friend,
Pamela ox
LikeLike
your right about words … sometimes they have their own rhythm and direction which you can’t change…
LikeLike
Yeah, i agree. I think all poets build upon the germ of an idea. Even i defer writing till i get some clarity. A nice crisp read.
LikeLike
Well done on both, Elizabeth, and thank you for putting up your background notes…I love hearing the thought processes poets/writers have that go into their art. These are very fine.
http://thepoet-tree-house.blogspot.ca/2014/02/just-simple-working-girl.html
LikeLike
I enjoyed your process notes as much as the poem, and recognize the circulatory way some poems stand their ground…….
LikeLike
It is always fun to see where one or two words in the collection take us. I must confess virus and wages moaned a bit but but gave in eventually; so like you I struggled through. I too liked your process notes.
LikeLike
It helps us be more creative, dig deep and spew out those words. You did a great job,as always. ☺
LikeLike
It’s wonderful to follow words where they lead us….nicely done
LikeLike