snails on the fence -...................seed pods ripen
In the garden this morning I was thinking about the Writer's State of Mind that Becca talks about this week in Write On Wednesday. In some senses I am very much in that state of mind when I'm gardening, I'm observant but my mind to some extent does wander beyond the tasks at hand. There was lots to see in the garden today, a beautiful lace wing, some small moths, lots of harvest spiders behind the buttercups (which have already inspired this poem), a lovely snail on its back, retracting its body into its shell - a future poem perhaps and the ripening blackberries which are more likely to inspire jam than a poem. I also planted some shade tolerant wildflower seeds which hopefully will grow and inspire at least a blog post next Spring!I do find being in nature to be a great place to inspire the writer's state of mind. Whenever we go for a walk in the countryside or a park, I am constantly coming up with haiku, which I need to stop and write in my diary.
I try though to constantly be in a writer's state of mind, open to ideas and inspiration. I've had ideas for poems in business meetings and in night clubs, watching films or doing the washing up. So you never know.
15 comments:
snails on the fence. :) nice. makes me smile for some reason.
it is a state of mind, a trance, a groove--good post
This is true about ideas and inspiration and being in nature.
Crafty, the feel of the dirt and sweat on your face and back, and then, looking and seeing what you've created is a great feeling that comes from gardening. And unlike poetry where I'm sometimes unsure if I used the right word--a bloom of wild flowers, even buttercups, gets it right every time.
Peace,
geoffrey
Being with too induces us to write. I know that feeling very well.
I dream of having a garden someday so that I may reach that meditative state, productive in more than one way. Seeding and weeding, body and soul feeding.
i have always been intrigued by your intuitive inspiration where nature is concerned.. tho i live in the country,, and i am surrounded by raw rural beauty,, i seldom see it,, and even when i do, it fails to inspire... i really enjoyed this as i am a more structured writer,, and i would love to have the freedom of inspiration i feel you are talking about here...
It's interesting to me that you mention being inspired to write haiku after a walk out of doors. Sometimes I think that creativity is nurtured both by an encounter with something new, and by having a familiar form that you enjoy working in. Other people, walking out of doors, might be inspired to take photographs, make a collage, or, finding mushrooms, make an omelet!
Lovely post. Thanks!
beautiful hanging out w/u in your garden... the sounds and motions that we might have missed if we weren't listening... thank you... it is a wonderful thought provoking prompt of becca's and enjoy reading everyone's responses
Why am I not surprised that gardening would be the doorway to your writer's state of mind? And such a beautiful one it is, too :)
I am such a hopeless gardener, although I love to be outdoors in my yard, hearing the wind in the trees, and the chorus of bird song. It is one of the things that always inspires me.
Thank you for sharing this lovely post!
I love the idea of gardening but in reality, it has never worked for me. But something just clicked as I read your post, the key for me is to just write. I think a lot while I watch a movie, and a year ago I pledged that I would review the movies I found interesting as soon as I got home, while it was still fresh and for the most part, I've kept my pledge and that's a factor, the inspiration and then the doing.
Bonnie
Delighted to have found your blog! ... (through Becca's writing on wednesday).
Is that your garden in the photos? Lovely whoever's it is.
You are so right Juliet - nothing like nature to inspire one totally and immediately. Your wonderful poems and talent reflect nature's beauty in so many ways.
I take a tiny hand held recorder with me now on a daily walk in the woods and get all kinds of thoughts recorded for later listening.
I often quit what I'm doing in the garden, grab the camera and chase after a butterfly or patiently wait for that bird to fly over again or get down on my hands and knees to follow a snail :)
Thanks for all the comments folks!
anno - I'm also inspired by nature to make collages, I often collect feathers, leaves etc.
Bonnie - I do something similar with movies too...
mistlethrush - the photos are of the path that leads from our part of the backgreen to the communal area.
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