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| "Unsure of the Next Step" by Ariel Dovas |
"...language can carry us to understanding, and connect us to things that matter in our lives. For those of us who trust poetry and the power of linkage that poetry gives us, it's a way of sitting quietly with words and letting them lead us somewhere."
– Naomi Shihab Nye
The above quote by Naomi Shihab Nye was taken from an interview with Bill Moyers. She goes on to explain how the power of words—of poetry—is not born from proclaiming things, but from discovering things.
"Words can give us something back if you trust them."
– Naomi Shihab Nye
Earlier this month, Naomi asked TLD readers to trust the process of poetry. She challenged us to write letters to ourselves (not necessarily in standard letter format) in which we ask some questions that we don't have to answer.
The challenge was a doorway to discovering ourselves . . .
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| "Old Stone Door of Perception" by msutherland1 |
through the writing of our own poems, of course, but also through reading and connecting with others' poems. The questions in these poems resonated far beyond one individual experience. By paying attention to each others' stories, we were able to recognize our shared humanity.
My sincere thanks to everyone who shared glimpses of themselves, and most of all to Naomi Shihab Nye for inspiring this beautiful collection worth pondering.
Scroll through the poems below, or for best viewing, CLICK HERE.
If this challenge has got you thinking about the letter you might write to yourself, post your poem with questions on our September 2018 padlet by Sunday, September 30, 2018, and I will add it to the wrap-up presentation.
Alternatively, you may enter the giveaway by commenting below. Comments must be received by Monday, October 1st. If you contribute a poem and comment below, you will receive two entries in total.
The winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced next Friday, October 5th, when we reveal next month's interview and ditty challenge.
Good luck!
So many rich voices in this prompt from Naomi Shihab Nye, thank you Naomi and thank you Michelle for sharing her with us.
ReplyDeleteThese poems are beautiful and reflective... we can learn as much about a person from the questions as from the answers... and it leaves space in the poem for the reader, which is a lovely thing to do! Thank you, Michelle, Naomi, and all the poets! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks to Naomi for offeriing a challenge that brought such varied responses, all wonderful. And thanks to you, Michelle for a lovely start to the season.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection of poems! Thank you to you and to Naomi for her challenge and to all the writers for their words and their questions.
ReplyDeleteSo many great questions! So many great poetic responses! Thanks to Naomi and Michelle for inspiring them.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I just came home from Florida and am refining my thoughts for your Ditty Challenge. Thank you for another great challenge to reflect upon. I will post my PF blog with the poem soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle, for your inspiring thoughts and Naomi's gift of poetry to the world.
DeleteI have so enjoyed the poet response to this month’s challenge. I think so of the simple poems — spare in word count— really made me take notice of the questions. I’m drawn to them and find myself looking to prune some of my wip-s. Thanks for a great month of thinking and writing.
ReplyDeleteI have only read have of the poems so far but they are all amazing and so full of deep thought that we have all faved I'm glad mine wasent the only one like that well look forwared to read all of them this weekend Thank you both for this amazing chalange looking forward to this next mounth
ReplyDeleteHey, why *can't* I see my eyes? Fun collection, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteLots of great questions! I'm glad I managed to slip mine in before the challenge expired!
ReplyDeleteSo many profound questions and me asking about fruitflies! Oh, well.
ReplyDeleteDiane -- I thought your poem was so clever and thoroughly enjoyed it!
DeleteMe too, Diane. Do not discount the lure of fruitfly poetry!
DeleteQuestions, questions, questions. What a great, fun way to express all these different ideas. Thanks for this wonderful collection.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful challenge -- so enjoyed reading all the responses. Lots to ponder, reflect on and be inspired by. And no, I did not miss the one about apple pie. :D
ReplyDeleteHaha! Of course you didn't, Jama. ;)
DeleteWhat an inspiring and powerful challenge, I slowly read through the responses so I could absorb them all!
ReplyDeleteA lovely collection, and such a great prompt.
ReplyDeleteThis powerful collection left me questioning myself, but in a good way. Thanks for the challenge, Naomi, and thanks for facilitating the sharing, Michelle. =)
ReplyDeleteThese are all powerful poems. Thank you -- and Naomi -- for inspiring us and collecting them. I have been pondering questions all month, but haven't yet gotten anything down. If I manage to write it today, I'll add it. Even if today slips through my fingers, I will be coming to it eventually.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and Naomi for inspiring this wonderful collection of poems.
ReplyDeleteThis has been a rich month for this DMC. Thanks. I loved them all.
ReplyDelete