The more I talk to poets, the more I feel that these poems, the ones that are in essence written by the realisation our voice demands to be heard regardless of the emotional response, are also the ones that build emotional resilience.
Looking back at pieces in the last two years which I would consider gifts, it was the images and where they sent me back to, how they made me feel about the story they told that made me accept that what mattered had finally lost its emotional power.
I can also accept that I struggle to have that clarity when emotion supersedes my ability to rationalise it. Only by dealing with how my heart lives within those moments does it become possible to sublimate their history into a response.
Thank you for breaking your process open so we can see the emotional resilience that created them ❤️❤️❤️
HI S, I was thinking about our conversation around your poem and how to have those conversations with myself in terms of digging down into what I really need to write about, following the trail of the image to get to the good stuff etc. I am also slightly worried I'm going to get completely sidetracked mining my notebooks for this stuff, but it also feels like something I can really learn from as well...
It's not a sidetrack. Finding out more about yourself is never that. I think these are the spaces in our lives where we are able to reconcile terror with learning <3
Also, the best discovery inevitably comes from interaction :D
Thank you so much for this, Kim!! It’s absolutely the best way to “learn” from another poet. I also love your take on what the gift is, and how it works in crafting a poem. I look forward to other “deconstructions” and think whatever poem calls to you will be the best one for us to learn from. x
A fascinating post, Kim. Thank you for sharing your insights and knowledge. In future, when I have written a poem and drafted and edited I'm going to look at the parts I cut out for evidence of another kernel - I've never thought about this before - I usually just discard what doesn't make the final edit! Also, a recent workshop I attended used your poem as a prompt. In response I wrote a poem which only needed a small amount of editing - this is very rare for me, so thanks for that also!
Thanks for this, so much to think about. Interesting too, how we remember where we were and what we were doing when we wrote certain poems. Late night is my best time too, after sometimes having an idea in my head all day. Can't wait for the next post in this series
Yes, late night only works for me now with prose. I feel too tired to walk the tightrope of poetry at the end of the day now...so have shifted to morning...
Thank you so much Kim, this is a brilliant post, I really appreciate it, especially the part about listening to what your draft has to say. It’s so interesting that it was the images that were the gift. I’m looking forward to your next post about this. Thank you for the book recommendation too xx
Hi Ann thankyou! I feel like the old me did these things without knowing what I was doing, working by instinct. I was thinking about how to access that instinctive part again :)
I think you still work with your instinct but now you are more aware of your process your relationship with your instinct is different. Keep playing and mining that good stuff - it’s inspiring for us all ❤️❤️🤗🤗
The more I talk to poets, the more I feel that these poems, the ones that are in essence written by the realisation our voice demands to be heard regardless of the emotional response, are also the ones that build emotional resilience.
Looking back at pieces in the last two years which I would consider gifts, it was the images and where they sent me back to, how they made me feel about the story they told that made me accept that what mattered had finally lost its emotional power.
I can also accept that I struggle to have that clarity when emotion supersedes my ability to rationalise it. Only by dealing with how my heart lives within those moments does it become possible to sublimate their history into a response.
Thank you for breaking your process open so we can see the emotional resilience that created them ❤️❤️❤️
HI S, I was thinking about our conversation around your poem and how to have those conversations with myself in terms of digging down into what I really need to write about, following the trail of the image to get to the good stuff etc. I am also slightly worried I'm going to get completely sidetracked mining my notebooks for this stuff, but it also feels like something I can really learn from as well...
It's not a sidetrack. Finding out more about yourself is never that. I think these are the spaces in our lives where we are able to reconcile terror with learning <3
Also, the best discovery inevitably comes from interaction :D
Thank you so much for this, Kim!! It’s absolutely the best way to “learn” from another poet. I also love your take on what the gift is, and how it works in crafting a poem. I look forward to other “deconstructions” and think whatever poem calls to you will be the best one for us to learn from. x
Thank you so much. I have loved the poem and the collection. It is a privilege to read this further insight into how it came to you and was made.
Thankyou so much Linda!
A fascinating post, Kim. Thank you for sharing your insights and knowledge. In future, when I have written a poem and drafted and edited I'm going to look at the parts I cut out for evidence of another kernel - I've never thought about this before - I usually just discard what doesn't make the final edit! Also, a recent workshop I attended used your poem as a prompt. In response I wrote a poem which only needed a small amount of editing - this is very rare for me, so thanks for that also!
Hi Lisa, absolutely! Never discard anything, but also I'm realising what feels like a dead end at the time might in fact be a path to another poem :)
Thanks for this, so much to think about. Interesting too, how we remember where we were and what we were doing when we wrote certain poems. Late night is my best time too, after sometimes having an idea in my head all day. Can't wait for the next post in this series
Yes, late night only works for me now with prose. I feel too tired to walk the tightrope of poetry at the end of the day now...so have shifted to morning...
Thank you so much Kim, this is a brilliant post, I really appreciate it, especially the part about listening to what your draft has to say. It’s so interesting that it was the images that were the gift. I’m looking forward to your next post about this. Thank you for the book recommendation too xx
Hi Ann thankyou! I feel like the old me did these things without knowing what I was doing, working by instinct. I was thinking about how to access that instinctive part again :)
I think you still work with your instinct but now you are more aware of your process your relationship with your instinct is different. Keep playing and mining that good stuff - it’s inspiring for us all ❤️❤️🤗🤗
This was a really interesting read, with much food for thought. Thanks for sharing Kim.
Thanks Clare!
Fascinating and helpful- thank you for sharing Kim
Thanks Charlotte :) so glad you found it useful!