Slowly, over these past weeks, I’m beginning to understand that making babies and making things out of words are very similar processes.
Since September 2011, I’ve sent three books out into the world. And I’ve also been busy making a baby.
And I’m finding that babies, like poems, won’t be rushed. They find their full form when they’re ready. Until then, you carry them around inside you, gently loving them into being.
Saying ‘I’m going to make a poem about XXX today’ doesn’t work. (Or at least, it’s never worked for me.) And babies don’t know anything about externally imposed ‘due dates.’
I’ve gradually learned to focus on sinking into the writing, rolling the words around, writing and writing without knowing exactly where I’m going, letting the shape of things emerge in their own time. My baby seems to have a similar kind of idea.
In the meantime, I’m delighted and truly proud to have some of the poems I’ve ‘birthed’ in the past year featured on Michelle’s delicious blog, Peony Moon.
If you love contemporary poetry, Peony Moon is a must-visit. In addition to being a very talented poet herself, Michelle generously features an amazingly inspiring array of poets from around the globe on her blog pages. It’s a wonderful place to discover new writing and fresh voices. Thank you so much, Michelle, for having me.
