Skip to main content

The Power of Words


Poetry has always provided a way for me to more fully participate in life. It is a siren song. I respond to it with a barely concealed passion. I listen to my world and share what I have discovered.

Poetry floats in the air surrounding me- or so it feels. It is an impulse I respond to willingly. This intangible urge to connect brings forth the words.

Words have always gained my attention quite effortlessly. To take possession of them and apply them with deliberate and considered purpose has filled me with excitement all my life.


All The Worlds I Live In


All the worlds I live in

All the worlds I see

Won’t fit into one mouthful

When words spill out of me

Sometimes they’re words of fire

That emerge with spark and flame

Sometimes they’re gentle whispers

My worlds are not the same.

©Alan j Wright



It's Poetry Friday!

This week our host is Michelle Kogan. Michelle's post focuses on 'birthdays' and she presents a number of poems and artistic works to highlight this special, once a year day we all get to celebrate.



Labels:

Comments

  1. Denise Krebs29 May 2021 at 02:07

    Wow, what a perfect description of a life. We are all multi-faceted and don't want to be reduced to one type of poetry or one of anything. "My worlds are not the same" either. Such beautiful words and lines like:
    "Won’t fit into one mouthful" and both "words of fire" and "gentle whispers"
    Thank you. I needed this poem today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright30 May 2021 at 17:02

      Thank you Denise for your keen observations. I am always pleased when someone feels a sense of connection to the words I share. Your generous response is warmly received.

      Delete
  2. Janice Scully29 May 2021 at 05:43

    Thank you for sharing this poem about words. A "riot" of words? Your briefcase is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright30 May 2021 at 17:05

      Thanks Janice. The suitcase is my 'Poet's Suitcase.' I use it to house samples of my poetry collection when visiting schools. It originally belonged to my grandfather.

      Delete
  3. michelle kogan29 May 2021 at 10:53

    I really connect with your statement at the beginning, and what a noble endeavor to "I listen to my world and share what I have discovered." Thanks also for your powerful poem of words and worlds, so much said in so few words. And that fun suitcase!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright30 May 2021 at 17:08

      It pleases me to hear of your connection to my introductory words. Those beliefs have been honed across a lifetime, so they were well rehearsed prior to committing them to the page. Glad you liked the poem as well Michelle.

      Delete
  4. Linda Mitchell29 May 2021 at 21:23

    Alan, I love this poem! I simply must share it with my students...I want them to get caught up in words and poetry just like this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright30 May 2021 at 17:09

      Thanks Linda. It pleases me that you wish to share my words with a wider audience. I hope the passion spreads.

      Delete
  5. mbhmaine30 May 2021 at 10:00

    Your word excitement is palpable ! Your briefcase is amazing! Thanks for sharing both.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright30 May 2021 at 17:13

      Thanks Molly. Glad it shone through. That'Poet's Suitcase' has become totemic to my identity as a poet. It is my suitcase of surprises when I visit classrooms with poetry treasures.

      Delete
  6. Alan j Wright30 May 2021 at 17:10

    So pleasing to hear.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Carol Varsalona31 May 2021 at 22:32

    Alan, I love that you compared poetry to a siren song. Your muse moved you to write a reflective poem. Alan J. Write speaks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright1 June 2021 at 15:05

      A siren song indeed Carol... The muse is powerful when allowed to whisper in your ear. When we allow ourselves to indulge in some considered reflection, we allow ourselves to be informed. We should be happy to go there. Thanks for your comments. They have prompted me to continue this important process.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Life Cycle -A football poem by Bruce Dawe

This poem by Australian poet Bruce Dawe epitomises the unique connection sporting tragics have to their preferred football teams, -an almost tribal allegiance. Each season supporters stare down the twin imposters- victory and defeat. They remain both loyal and hopeful of eventual triumph. This poem refers specifically to Australian Rules Football, but it's themes are universal. I share this poem on the eve of the 2017 Grand Final to decide the Premiership for this football season. My team, the Richmond Tigers have reached the play off to decide the ultimate victor. They have not contested the Grand Final match for 35 years. My hopes fly with them. This poem links two of my great loves -football and poetry... Life Cycle When children are born in Victoria they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots, having already begun a lifetime’s barracking. Carn, they cry, Carn … feebly at first while parents playfully tussle with them for possession of a rusk: Ah, he
Post a Comment
Read more

Poetry Friday: The Safety Pin Poem

Poets not only write poetry, they also read poetry. In order to be able to write poetry, one must read it. Lots of poetry in fact...  I want to share a short little poem by Valerie Worth. I bought Valerie's book, 'All The Small Poems And Fourteen More,' while living and working in New York, some time back. It remains a personal favourite.  I love the way the poet shines a special light on everyday objects, transforming them into something unique and worthy of attention. Her close observations elevate her poems into the special category.  Each poem in the collection celebrates earthly wonders. From eggs to garbage, from potatoes to pockets, each object is given special attention in the form of short poems employing keen observations.  Valerie Worth demonstrates through her poems she totally understands the saying-'ideas exist in things.'  The poem I have chosen to share with you (one of my personal favourites) is titled, 'Safety Pin'. S af
23 comments
Read more

Opposite Poems

O pp o s ite P oem s In his book, ' How To Write Poetry,'  Paul Janeczko presents the idea of opposite poems. Paul suggests they could also be referred to as antonym poems. This is wordplay and it's fun to try. Here are some examples Paul provides to help us see very clearly how these short little poems work. I think the opposite of chair Is sitting down with nothing there What is the opposite of kind? A goat that butts you from behind Paul Janeczko You will  notice the poems are written in rhyming couplets. They can be extended so long as you remember to write in couplets. Paul shows us how this is done. What is the opposite of new? Stale gum that's hard to chew A hot-dog roll as hard as rock Or a soiled and smelly forgotten sock You might notice that some of Paul's opposite Poems begin with a question. The remainder of the poem answer the question posed. Opposite poems are a challenge, but it is a challenge worth trying. Not e
26 comments
Read more