Welcome to Verse First, where simple notions prompt amazing poems.
Today's notion?
The Function of Freedom
After you post your work on your website, use Mr. Linky to share it here. Leave a comment below if you like, and remember to support fellow poets by visiting and commenting on their work.Today's notion?
The Function of Freedom
In "Bird by Bird," Annie Lamott's seminal instructions on writing and life, she quotes Toni Morrison when she says, "The function of freedom is to free someone else."
Lamott goes on to say, "... if you are no longer wracked or in bondage to a person or a way of life, tell your story. Risk freeing someone else. Not everyone will be glad you did. Members of your family and other critics may wish you had kept your secrets. Oh, well, what are you going to do?"
Lamott goes on to say, "... if you are no longer wracked or in bondage to a person or a way of life, tell your story. Risk freeing someone else. Not everyone will be glad you did. Members of your family and other critics may wish you had kept your secrets. Oh, well, what are you going to do?"
"Get it all down. Let it pour out of you onto the page. Write an incredibly shitty, self-indulgent, whiny, mewling first draft. Then take out as many of the excesses as you can."
Write it all down, then carve away every excess. That, poet-friends, is your assignment this week.
GO!
I look forward to reading your unflinchingly pared-down poems. ~ Kim
Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.
..i'd like to share an old poem written a few months back... about a tiny kitchen companion though not exactly lovely i guess.... smiles... thanks Kim...
ReplyDeleteI love Annie Lamott's Bird by Bird (and now want to reread it). Thanks for the wonderful prompt, Kim.
ReplyDeleteA BIT CONFUSED ...WHAT TO WRITE...HOPE YOU LIKE IT!
ReplyDeleteI've linked to an old one (2007) which was written like that. Whether it would free anyone else I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm linking to a recent post. It's a photo I took of graffiti on a water tank, and I added a short comment. I have an entire series titled City Scenes, and other pieces that reference freedom and our potential for losing it. I'll be showing part of this series here in Rochester in September, and will also give a talk and presentation. Freedom is something that we don't think of as fragile, and here in this country, we have the luxury of thinking that way. We must be more mindful and aware.....
ReplyDeleteI am going to think about this today, Kim. I should have something written by tonight. Stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteNew and old together. Thank you for reminding me. I could have approached freedom on many levels, and chose to go with a highly personal one.
ReplyDeleteThis prompt came at a great time - I was looking at a photograph of a Latin saying and just needed your push in the right direction
ReplyDeleteAnother great prompt, and I have a ton of material on freedom having freed myself from impossible situations at least eleventy hundred times! I look forward to reading all the results. I wrote before reading any, so as to not be influenced........
ReplyDeleteFreedom is a subject near and dear to me, Kim. I have posted my poem....and tonight I will visit all who have posted before me.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteI really look forward to Wednesdays, as Verse First is so engaging with its prompts:)
I must echo the comments left by Sherry Blue Sky...I loved her 'eleventy hundred times.'...I thought of freedom in so many ways too.
I have posted the result of my afternoon and evening of contemplation!!
Eileen
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI have to thank Mary for contacting me, to advise me that my poem link was incorrect at Link( 16 )I have corrected this as at Link (17)
Thank you Mary for advising me...I think the sun is setting upon my energy!!!
Eileen:)
Taken care of, Eileen. Mary is a Godsend, isn't she? I'd be in a world of hurt without her.
DeleteFellow Poets~
ReplyDeleteI spent my day hiring contractors, making storage and moving arrangements and packing fragile items. Business dinner tonight, so may not get any of your gems read until tomorrow. Looking forward to your work and the reward of reading it.
~K
Well, i have tried to free myself and therefore others too!
ReplyDeleteFreedom sometimes comes with being able to express your deepest emotions, my poem is what that would feel like.
ReplyDeleteGood prompt.
ReplyDeleteMr. Linky dissappeared. I'll come back later to see if more names appear.
ReplyDeleteIt's there now, Susan!
DeleteI've been away for a while (traveling the country in a beat up old van!) Can't wait to see what everyone's been writing here!
ReplyDeleteUgh I wrote an epic purging poem for this and just missed the link. Oh well its here if anyones is interested....
ReplyDeletehttp://damn-edge.blogspot.ca/2013/06/the-bondage-of-self.html
Sam~ Glad you posted the link here. I encourage you to share it in the Poetry Pantry, too.
DeleteI love the idea of the function of freedom is to free someone. Quite a different perspective but a liberating one. Some amazing posts this week.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete