[stylist] November writing prompt on gratitude: poem

[Robert Leslie Newman]

Aine

I appreciate a pros poem. I admire your guts to reveal your feelings - those
you felt - those you thought your coach felt - how you processed your read
on the coach's perspective - and your final tribute, that what your coach
did for you could not be expressed by words. (Anyway, thanks for the poetic
journey!)


-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aine
Kelly-Costello
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 2:07 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] November writing prompt on gratitude: poem

OK, I was debating whether to post this or not as it's sort of...  
personal, I guess, but it seems like everyone is pretty friendly here so I
may as well give it a go.  :) It was a poem I wrote for my swim coach a
couple weeks ago.  I'm retiring from the sport, after going to the
Paralympics earlier this year.  Without going into great detail, we could
say London didn't go as well as I'd have liked.  At least in my main event
(100 back) I did come 6th, but not quite in a personal best time.  Anyway,
it's pasted below and attached.

?

Look

You watched as thousands of tiny floppy forms learned To coordinate their
arms and legs and fingers and toes Endlessly, as they earned Titles of
tadpole and dolphin and shark.
You encouraged hundreds of them.

You watched as two of the sparks of life you love Slowly surpassed the work
ethic expectations of their peers To become multiple record breakers, they
learned fast To refine their own art and teach others.
You were always there for both of them.

You watched as you were handed down
Three athletes with a "disability", and as we Insisted on attempting to
prove our aquatic agility To anyone who might listen.
You always listened to all of us.

You watched as my hand touched the wall, the abrupt end To the main race of
my career, with me Not wanting to settle for 6th best And admit defeat, nor
celebrate success.
You comforted me through all that fuss.

I wish you hadn't watched
As the final event I'd ever do
Left everything good for the next time that wouldn't eventuate, I felt like
I let the whole world down and somehow All you said was not to talk about
it.
I couldn't grasp how anyone could say that And not be ready to kill, so I
asked and found out I'd upset you more for thinking you'd be forever mad.
Now I know You'd forgive me even that.

You have no choice but to watch
As I read you this poem, and I realise
I've thought of 5 full stanzas, but have yet To work out how to thank you;
you're one of a few I can never repay.  To my relief though, I did at least
surmise You'd have forgotten the debt, anyway.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Kuell" <ckuell at comcast.net
To: "Stylist" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 6 Nov 2012 08:35:55 -0500
Subject: [stylist] November writing prompt

Hello, fellow writers.  Sorry about the delay, but we lost power and cable
(hence no telephone) and heat during the storm, and didn't get it back until
yesterday, seven days later.  And, just in the nick of time, since it's 22
degrees out right now.  We had some limbs and trees down, and 2 phone poles
snapped in half on my street, but compared to many people, we got off
relatively easy.  Which brings me to this month's writing prompt.

I think an appropriate theme for this prompt is 'gratitude'.  We all have
much to be grateful for, and I'd like you to write a poem, essay, memoir
piece or short story with the idea of gratitude in mind.  Any length, any
style--I urge you to be creative.  For instance, I might write about a town
called Gratitude, North Dakota...

This is not meant to be a race.  If the muse hits and you hammer out
something today, that's great.  But, if you are like me, it may take a week
or two to write something, and then another week to edit and revise it.
Part of the reason to do a prompt is to get your creative juices flowing,
but also to practice your craft.  Post your responses by December first,
although if you need a few extra days you won't be penalized.

Finally, as people post their work, I urge everyone to read them and give
constructive feedback.  We all want to be supportive, naturally, but I hope
we also want to grow and improve as writers.  This happens in several ways,
firstly by writing, but also by reading with a writer's mindset, always
thinking--what works in this piece, and what doesn't? You will be amazed at
how analyzing others writing improves your own.  But, I also caution you to
look at the writing, and not the opinions expressed.  For example, if
someone writes that Sarah Palin should really be president today, I disagree
with the sentiment, but my feedback should only relate to the writing.  Look
for pacing, point of view, tense shifts, run-on sentences, clunky sentences
or phrases, and so on.  And of course, mention the things you liked about a
piece--great imagery, solid dialogue, awesome symbolism, etc.

Good luck, and again, it's a broad theme and there's no right or wrong way
to approach it.  The most important thing is to write something.

chris




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