Friday, May 6, 2022

Friday Writings #25: Let’s Rewrite

The other day, when Rommy graciously hosted my “Upcycled Words” feature, since I was being not-so-gently smacked around by a ruthless cold, I spent some time searching for previously discarded prose or poetry or thoughts, to reuse in a piece of higher quality than the original. The task took me all the way back to the first poem I ever wrote, which was undeniably terrible. I remember the incident and feelings that inspired the piece; and after several re-readings, I could see how my once poetry-hating muse tried (unsuccessfully) to share said situation and feelings in a poetic way. But the result was… dreadful.

I spent most of the day in bed, feverish and headachy, thinking about that appalling piece of writing… and what it might look/feel like if I rewrote it. That last bit is what inspired today’s optional prompt. If you wish to accept it—and I hope you do, my dearest poets and storytellers—I would like you to take a poem or story you wrote many years ago (preferably, one that wasn’t exactly awesome), and rewrite it. Please post both the original and the edited versions.

If your muse isn’t in a rewriting mood, do link a piece of your choosing. Let it be new or old, fiction or nonfiction, short or longish (prose pieces should be 369 words or fewer). Add the direct link to your post; one link per participant. After you share your words, visit other writers and see what their muses have chosen to delight us with. 

next week, Rommy will invite us to share poetry or prose inspired by the phrase, “stay curious”.


photo by hannah grace, on Unsplash

24 comments:

  1. How about that! I started thinking about this last week with the advanced notice of the prompt – and ended up rewriting MY very first poem.

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    1. At first, I was going to rewrite my very first poem, too. Then I couldn't stop laughing, and decided that one I wrote a few weeks after my first would have to do. I'm so very curious about your first poem!

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  2. Have a good Friday friends

    much💛love

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  3. Hi there Magaly and All,

    Good Morning and Best Wishes from the UK. I trust this finds everyone well.
    You find me in a somewhat frustrated and overwhelmed state, stuck right in the middle of trying to sell my house and make a move down to the south coast work!
    As a result of which I have not been able to make your regular spot on a Friday. But at last this week, at the fourth time of asking, I have found the personal space and time that allows me to both post and read all you inspired work too today – Hooray!
    Here then is my latest offering - The Spark’– a somewhat defiant new poem for Springtime, only just published on the website this week.

    Tough times for us all to live through and witness right now, though this our creative exchange and kinship helps keep us warm. Looking forward to some of that right now….

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    1. The times are rather difficult, indeed. And the fact that said difficulties make our personal issues even harder doesn't help. A poem of defiance will be just the thing.

      Best of luck finding a buyer for your house!

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  4. Dear Maria, don't know about others, but just wanted to let you know I'm having trouble leaving a comment on you page, even though I am signed in with Google - so just wanted to say to you that I especially liked your second piece on Dutch Corner 'The Key to Living' For me, your message here is very much on point and where I'm coming from too... Great!

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  5. I guess the issue might be at my end then? Same with yours Jae Rose, but no one else's posts so far? Yours has such a beautifully measured and resonant close and I also especially liked: "Against mastery
    Perhaps there will be..." Very telling, I thought. With Best wishes Scott - just realised I'v posted all my previous comments as Anonymous! I'm having a bit of a morning technically, it seems...

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    1. I think it's at your end, yes, Scott. Hope you get it sorted soon, and also all the other stuff you're being overwhelmed by just now! Great that you were able to come and join in here anyway, and may it be easier for you to do so in future.

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  6. Still struggling technically at my end - I am signed in OK with Google, but it still doesn't seem to like the URL of my website, for reasons I don't understand, as it is accepted everywhere else - Doh! So just want to add how touched I was by LA Taylor's touching comparative piece I've just read after being out for much of the day.

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    1. That is very strange. Hope the issues is resolved soonest. 🤞🏽

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    2. Google's "updates" are just dysfunctional all round. They blocked my comments on another Toad's posts, they blocked Magaly Guerrero's comment on mine, and I still can't use the link widget here, although I am now seeing link widgets at another blog where I never bother clicking on the links.

      I think it's something to do with Captcha. Where I live, all Internet access goes through Mountainet and Mountainet generally blocks Captcha. There's an option, if you open the Task Manager, to enable *some* Captcha. This fixes some web site problems but not the ones within Blogger/Blogspot.

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  7. I didn't rewrite as I had worked on a mixed media collage and this was on my fingertips after reading about Audrey Hepburn.

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    1. How exciting, Margaret! I love mixed media. Can't wait to see it.

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  8. Someone let Rosemary know I've tried four times to leave a comment on her post but I'm not seeing it - them. Anyway, I loved her child's view of leaves as violin shaped. I think she still retains that way of looking at the world and it shows in all her work.

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    1. Debi, I can't see my comment on her post either. I'm sure that it's just that she hasn't approve them yet. She's probably busy.

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    2. Hi, Debi. I have now come home from several hours away and found all your attempts to comment. My settings should have you see, when you go to post a comment, that it will be moderated and not appear immediately – but there seems to be some Blogger glitch which now has a different message appear, to the effect that ReCAPTURE is in place and Google's Privacy Policy applies. Neither useful nor entirely accurate! And nothing I can do fix it. I'll put a notice about comment moderation in one of my side bars instead. And I have now answered your lovely comment, at my blog.

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  9. Good day, Poets & Storytellers!

    Thank you, Magaly, for suggesting such a prompt. After going through some of my really old writings, I didn't know I had been an angry young man once. Of course those I cannot share, but I am rewriting one old piece that is not so offensive. You all can tell me that I should not do the rewrite in the first place. :)

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    1. Ha ha, I was a very angry young woman in my twenties and even thirties! It's not the kind of poetry that has a long shelf life.

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    2. Oh, goodness, I'm laughing so hard. It seems that I, too, was a very angry young woman. Hence I ended up not sharing my first impulse.

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    3. That kind of poetry has a short shelf life. Your friends move away from you or the authorities took notice. But seriously, a poet should be angry at least once, to open up his eyes to the world. :)

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  10. Good morning - I saw this comment from 2017...but only recently. A reader condemned me for writing poetry...here is my response.

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    1. Condemned for what? The mind boggles! Can't wait to see your response.

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    2. How intriguing, Brother Ollie. Can't wait to read!

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