Weekly Scribblings #32: I Am Explaining A Few Things

Hello and welcome to another exciting round of Weekly Scribblings. Can you believe it's August already? The rain has been falling steadily without letup since the last few days. Outside the leaves and flowers droop under the weight of the droplets. My heart is heavy but persistent, and around this time of the year I am reminded of poems by Neruda.

Pablo Neruda was born on 12th July,1904, in Parral, Chile. His poems can be described as subtle and elegant, as well as being vigorous and original which brings focus upon themes such as nature, love, politics, and human condition. As I was browsing online, I came across one that completely blew me away:

I Am Explaining A Few Things

You are going to ask: and where are the lilacs?
and the poppy-petalled metaphysics?
and the rain repeatedly spattering
its words and drilling them full
of apertures and birds?
I'll tell you all the news.

I lived in a suburb,
a suburb of Madrid, with bells,
and clocks, and trees.

From there you could look out
over Castille's dry face:
a leather ocean.
My house was called
the house of flowers, because in every cranny
geraniums burst: it was
a good-looking house
with its dogs and children.
Remember, Raul?
Eh, Rafel? Federico, do you remember
from under the ground
my balconies on which
the light of June drowned flowers in your mouth?
Brother, my brother!
Everything
loud with big voices, the salt of merchandises,
pile-ups of palpitating bread,
the stalls of my suburb of Arguelles with its statue
like a drained inkwell in a swirl of hake:
oil flowed into spoons,
a deep baying
of feet and hands swelled in the streets,
metres, litres, the sharp
measure of life,
stacked-up fish,
the texture of roofs with a cold sun in which
the weather vane falters,
the fine, frenzied ivory of potatoes,
wave on wave of tomatoes rolling down the sea.. (Read more here)

Your Challenge today is to write inspired by the title of Neruda's poem. Feel free to address the current world situation, or perhaps delve into a memory of your own. Challenge the reader, surprise us with humor and wit, go solemn and dark or perhaps tender and romantic. The possibilities are endless!

We at Poets and Storytellers United offer the chance to share both poetry and prose (i.e. stories, essays, articles) the prompt will remain open until next Wednesday. Also, if you opt to write prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer.

Good luck composing your masterpieces! I look forward to reading what you come up with. And lastly, please visit and comment on your fellow writers. Have fun!💘

Writers' Pantry #31: Here comes August!

Red flowers, José Alejandro Cuffia, Unsplash

“Caught in the doldrums of August we may have regretted the departing summer, having sighed over the vanished strawberries and all that they signified. Now, however, we look forward almost eagerly to winter's approach. We forget the fogs, the slush, the sore throats an the price of coal, we think only of long evenings by lamplight, of the books which we are really going to read this time, of the bright shop windows and the keen edge of the early frosts.”― Denis Mackail, Greenery Street 

Greetings everyone! Hope you are safe and well! This is Sanaa and I am back with another exciting Writers' Pantry this Sunday. 

As seasons come and go, avenues change their colour palettes-- we are led to deliberate everything we have experienced so far as we approach Fall, swirling specks of golds and reds; there is much journeying ahead. 

The harshness of Summer sun is ebbing, and although I seldom travel these days it's a relief to know that daytime won't be such a hazard. The wind blows the hair around my face and while the season brings a hint of uncertainty; I embrace it. Soon, it will be time to fold lighter clothes and bring out sweaters, scarves and jeans. Overthinking, at the end of the day will kill our peace; affect our thoughts and day to day activities. It's best that we roll with the punches, for now.

Announcements and Reminders: 

The topic for next Weekly Scribblings is "What makes you smile?" Rommy confesses that she is not a fan for sticking her head in the sand and pretending things are all sunshine and roses when they aren't but she also knows that without stopping to celebrate the good stuff, no matter how small, it's harder to drum up the motivation to move towards a better tomorrow. She would like us to write about things that make us smile.

Rosemary enlightens us about violence against women in Wild Fridays #30: Moonlight Musings. She shares poems from a site called "Hidden Hurt," and addresses the issue in Turkey. It's always interesting to read the discussions that take place in the comment section, to learn what each and every one of us feel when it comes to matters of importance. Do scroll back and check it out in case you have missed it. Your feedback means the world to us.

Remember,  you have one whole week to participate in prompts now. Just keep in mind that some people may have moved on to their next project after a couple of days, so entries posted later might not receive many visitors.

For now, I invite you to share your entry as Poets and Storytellers United welcomes both poetry and prose (i.e. stories, essays, articles) feel free to link anything old or new and relish in the work of others. Also, if you opt to share prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer. 

Pierre Bamin,

And now, without further ado, let us dive into the Pantry! Looking forward to grabbing a cup of coffee and reading you all! See you on the trail! 💝

Wild Fridays #30: Moonlight Musings

Poems and Stories of Domestic Violence

 

These anonymous poems came from a site called Hidden Hurt: Domestic Abuse Information. They were sent in by women who have experienced such violence.

I chose to address that issue today because it's been highly visible on Instagram this week – women posting black-and-white selfies, accompanied by the words, 'Challenge accepted!'  

Here is our Sanaa's Instagram photo for this purpose:

 As well as 'Challenge accepted!' she says:

Standing in solidarity with Turkish women! For more information please Google "Femicide on the rise in Turkey."

So I did, and here is the link.

In brief, the report says the numbers of Turkish women killed by men who supposedly love them has risen – and the protests sparked by the most recent case have met with police violence.

The challenge apparently began with photos of some of the women killed and the slogan, 'Say no to violence against women,' and women were posting pictures of their own faces in solidarity with the Turkish women's protest, as Sanaa has done. Like a 'Chinese whisper' the message became diluted into one about women empowering women, a worthy aim but not quite the same. Sanaa and others have been pointing out the original intent.

It's one of the many issues of our time which urgently needs addressing. The poems I found are not by Turkish women, but sadly it is of course happening everywhere, and in much the same way.

As I said, the site these poems came from is primarily an information site for those who need it, but it seems to me it also does a service in providing a platform for women to express their feelings and detail their experiences. There are also many very affecting personal stories. And there is a notice that 'Domestic Violence – Prose' will be coming in the near future. Presumably that means fictional stories. A section on Healing from Abuse will also be coming.

I picked poems I thought shining examples in poetic as well as emotional terms. Some others could be dismissed as doggerel – but I wouldn't call them that. Their genuine eloquence makes up for any clumsiness of technique due to inexperience in writing poetry. I think it doesn't matter anyway in this instance. If these women want to continue making poems, they'll improve (poetically) in the doing, as we all do.

Even more important is that these writers have found this way to release their own hurt. (Something we in this community know very well, as we turn to our wordcraft to help us through whatever trials and traumas may come.) Not only that, they are providing a voice for others, and a way to show the other visitors to the site that they are not alone.

I've sometimes raised the question here as to what use is our writing, in terms of what does it do for the world at large. I don't recall that I've ever discussed what it does for us. Perhaps this never occurred to me as necessary; I'm sure I took it for granted that we all knew already. I am not the only one here who frequently notes publicly how lucky we are in times of trouble to have our writing to sustain us. But after all it's worth pausing a moment to reflect on this.

It has been found that people who are institutionalised (prisoners, long-term hospital patients ... ) seem to turn naturally to poetry as an outlet. I'm quoting this fact from memory and don't have statistics, but once upon a time I used to conduct poetry workshops in prisons, so I have reason to believe it. Many such poems have been published in books, and are often excellent as well as moving.

The personal stories already posted at Hidden Hurt are even more heart-rending, and in general very well written. Perhaps they were edited by site staff; I don't know. Very likely it is that, without the writers trying to conform to verse patterns, their authenticity is clearer – and authenticity is a good basis for any writing. You can read these stories for yourselves at the link, and probably everyone should – if you can bear to; they really are horrifying, albeit told without drama. (No need to sensationalise facts like these.)

In my offline life I mentor a group of women writers who have been through various kinds of major trauma, including this kind. The group is a subset of Village of Women, under the auspices of one of the local Neighbourhood Centres. Some of their stories and poems have been published. Several are on the VOW website (which exists to show other women in the community the possibilities available through that Neighbourhood Centre) under the heading Her Story, where you can read them. Please note, these are stories not only of trauma but of triumph. The women began by recounting the terrible things they had been through, which was therapeutic, and then moved to using their writing to document their new life narratives. Here is one brief tale – and yes the name is a pseudonym. These women could still be in serious danger if they were able to be found by former partners.


Claire’s Story

After 50 years of marital abuse, I was meeting a friend for lunch when I had a meltdown. Ordered by this strong-willed friend, I landed in hospital.

Lying there the first night, I knew that I couldn’t back down this time and slink back to the house (it had never been a home), to numbing abuse and – as I’d thought a few days before – "just sit in this house for the next 20 years until it’s time to die".

A moment of clarity came during the night. "I’m never going back to that house!" Not a panic attack, just a great sigh and my body softening in relief.

An amazing chain of events led me to Pottsville…everything moulding and fitting together like a beautiful jigsaw.

I came to the Neighbourhood Centre to put in a Centrelink form…too exhausting to drive to Tweed*…then picked up a leaflet about VoW. "See Cath," it said.

Cath walked in the door, we sat and chatted a little, and she invited me to join the Writers’ Group which was starting in five minutes. Another few pieces fitted together.

I learnt not just about the support and acceptance in this group, but about the other activities this remarkable bunch of women do. I am being gently encouraged to participate too. There’s a feeling of belonging.

I was looking at a blouse label and I thought it said WOSH…yes, I thought, I can now live maybe 30 plus years in WOSH…"With Out Shit Happening". Thank God for the Village of Women.

– Claire de Lune

*The nearest actual city, with a Centrelink office rather than branch.  (Centrelink is where one registers for unemployment benefits.)

 (Claire also writes the most beautiful nature poetry and takes wonderful photos of the natural world.)


Material shared here is presented for study and review. Poems, photos, and other writings and images remain the property of the copyright owners, usually the authors.

Weekly Scribblings #29: Writing about food

Waffles by Megan Savoie ~ Unsplash

Hello and welcome to another exciting round of Weekly Scribblings! Many writers have indulged in writing about food over the decades, be it vegetables, or something sweet et al. The simple detail of food can concentrate emotion unto the page, evoke memories and send one down nostalgia lane. Following are a few examples:

The Emperor of Ice-cream                           

by Wallace Stevens

Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

Take from the dresser of deal.
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

Meditation on a Grapefruit 
by Craig Arnold  

To tear the husk like cotton padding       
a cloud of oil
misting out of its pinprick pores
clean and sharp as pepper
To ease
each pale pink section out of its case
so carefully      
without breaking a single pearly cell
To slide each piece into a cold blue china bowl
the juice pooling      
until the whole fruit is divided from its skin
and only then to eat
so sweet.. (Read full poem here)

This Is Just To Say 
by William Carlos William

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

Your challenge today is to write while inspired by food. Add finely chopped prose i.e. 369 words or fewer, a pinch of metaphor, diced liaison or try your hand at worldly seasoning. The choice is yours! The platform is open until next Wednesday.

Good luck composing your masterpieces. I look forward to reading what you come up with. Please do visit others and remember to comment on their work. Also, enjoy this musical inspiration by First to Eleven. Have fun!🍰

Writers' Pantry #28: The rain is like my heart

Andre Benz, Unsplash

"I set out to find my peace in the skies and the tulips, in the howling of the winds in the rain under the shed and it was right there residing within me." ― Suyasha Subedi

Greetings everyone! Hope you are safe and well! This is Sanaa and I am back with another exciting Writers' Pantry this Sunday. 

Here comes the rain, steady and soft, falling from a sky of white velvet. It comes as a relief after the sweltering heat of months gone by. That's right. It's Monsoon season here in South Asia which runs through until September. Rain here, is nothing short of a boon, a celebration of sorts as people begin to gather together on the streets to indulge in mouth-watering dishes such as pakoras, (fritters)  roasted fresh bhutta, (corn) jalebi, (funnel cake) samosa, (savory pastry) masala chai etc. Following are pictures in respective order for your viewing pleasure:

Rain continues to inspire writers, artists and musicians around the world. The gusting wind carries its drops in wild vortices one moment and in diagonal sheets the next; I am reminded of "Horses and Men in Rain," by Carl Sandburg and "Kiss the Rain," by Billie Myers on occasions like this. Of course, everyone feels differently about the rain. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Announcements and Reminders: 

The topic for next Weekly Scribblings is "Seeing Things." Rommy would like us to shape our artistry around the phrase "seeing things," and to know what comes to mind when we read or hear that expression. She would like us to explore these thoughts in a new prose or poetry piece.

Rosemary continues to touch our hearts with "Wild Fridays #27: Thought Provokers - Australian Indigenous Voices." Do scroll back and check it out in case you have missed it!

Remember, you have one entire week to participate in prompts now. Just keep in mind that some people may have moved on to their next project after a couple of days, so entries posted later might not receive many visitors.   

For now, I invite you to share your entry as Poets and Storytellers United welcomes both poetry and prose (i.e. stories, essays, articles) feel free to link anything old or new and relish in the work of others. Also, if you opt to share prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer.

Pierre Bamin, Unsplash

And now, without further ado, let us dive into the Pantry! Looking forward to grabbing a cup of tea and reading you all. See you on the trail! 💘

Weekly Scribblings #26: Pavement

"Under the pavement the dirt is dreaming of grass." — Wendell Berry

Pavement. A seemingly mundane, commonly used word. I mean what could possibly be interesting about a raised, paved or asphalted pathway for pedestrians at a side of the road unless... unless it's a phrase? 

                                                           Chasing Pavements

Should I give up

Or should I just keep chasing pavements?

Even if it leads nowhere

Or would it be a waste?

Even If I knew my place should I leave it there?

Should I give up

Or should I just keep chasing pavements?

Even if it leads nowhere (full song HERE) 

"Stand on the highest pavement of the stair- Lean on a garden urn- Weave, weave the sunlight in your hair." — T.S. Eliot. 

"Misunderstanding is my cornerstone. It's everyone's, come to think of it. Illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement under our feet." — Barbara Kingsolver. 

"On the pavement of my trampled soul the steps of madmen weave the prints of rude crude words." — Vladimir Mayakovsky.  

(all images above have been borrowed from Pixabay)

Our challenge today is to write while inspired by pavement. You can draw inspiration from the music video by Adele and the quotes that I have shared with you above. Use it as a metaphor, a phrase, an idiom or even as imagery. Let your muse decide which direction it wants to go into. 

We at Poets and Storytellers United offer the chance to share both poetry and prose (i.e. stories, essays, articles) the prompt will remain open until next Wednesday. Also, if you opt to write prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer.

Good luck composing your masterpieces! I look forward to reading what you come up with. And lastly, please visit and comment on your fellow writers. Have fun!💘 

 

Writers' Pantry #25: Summer Solstice

Anne Nygard, Orange concrete, Unsplash 

"The beauty of that June day was almost staggering. After the wet spring, everything that could turn green had outdone itself in greenness and everything that could even dream of blooming or blossoming was in bloom and blossom. The sunlight was a benediction. The breezes were so caressingly soft and intimate on the skin as to be embarrassing." ― Dan Simmons, Drood.

Greetings everyone! Hope you are safe and well! This is Sanaa and I am back with another exciting Writers' Pantry this Sunday.

Summer arrives in her own time, wafting gently in on a Spring wind and wakening with the type of warmth that flows directly to the core. You must have guessed by now that I have a thing for beautiful buildings and landscapes! Guilty as charged. On my balcony, I enjoy the breeze, the sunset and sometimes the misty rain. I fill whatever space which isn't occupied with potted plants and love the riot of bloom afterwards. 

I find pleasure in simple, everyday things. Cooking for instance has become a new past time around the house along with playing online Tambola with friends. Because at the end of the day, we each have to ensure our nerves are calm and at rest. The pandemic is still very much prevalent throughout the world and hearts are aching due to bedlam and chaos. But, we have each other! So, let's not lose hope at the moment. As Albert Schweitzer wisely stated; "At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

Announcements and Reminders: 

The topic for next Weekly Scribblings is "Well, That Was Unexpected." Rommy would like us to shape our artistry around the word "unexpected." She says that we need not use the word itself but should atleast incorporate our thoughts and feelings around the idea of the 'unexpected,' into our creation.

Rosemary enlightened us with "Wild Fridays #24: The Living Dead," where she features Archibald Macleish and his famous poem Ars Poetica. Do scroll back and check it out in case you have missed it. It's an absolute feast for the intellect!

Remember, you have one whole week to participate in prompts now. Just keep in mind that some people may have moved on to their next project after a couple of days, so an entry posted later might not receive many visitors.

For now, I invite you to share your entry as Poets and Storytellers United welcomes both poetry and prose (i.e. stories, articles, essays) feel free to link anything old or new and relish in the work of others. Also, if you opt to share prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer.

Pierre Bamin, Unsplash

And now, without further ado, let us dive into the Pantry! Looking forward to reading you all with a some refreshing lemonade. See you on the trail! 💘

Weekly Scribblings #23: By Means Of Music

Definition by Loui Jover ~ Pinterest

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” ― Victor Hugo

Hello everyone and welcome to another round of Weekly Scribblings! Music has always been my means of inspiration, whether the days are sunny or dipped in pewter clouds. The past few days have been heart-wrenching with the riots in US. I strongly feel that this is the time when we need to soothe our nerves the most and so, I am back with a playlist which I hope will appeal to you.  

A Playlist Compiled for the Heart:

For today's challenge, I want you all to draw inspiration from the YouTube Playlist above. Pick a song that appeals to you and let your muse run free. You could be inspired by the title, the lyrics or just the emotions that the song evokes. Please do mention your choice somewhere in the post and remember to give credit. 

It's like a dear friend of mine once said, "Do the things that keep you calm. Meditating or listening to music or whatever you do." We at Poets and Storytellers United accept both poems and prose (i.e. stories, essays, articles) the prompt will remain open until next Wednesday. Also, if you opt to write prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer.

Good luck composing your masterpieces! I look forward to reading what you come up with. And lastly, please visit and comment on your fellow writers. Have fun!💘