Process Notes:
The prompt for day three at NaPoWriMo asked poets to “write a poem predicting your own death — at night in Omaha at the Shell Station, in an underwater Mexican grotto after a dry spell.” It was an interesting process. I’ve revised it a dozen times, and it may see some revision yet (no piece is ever entirely finished!). It feels like a hopeful piece to me, if not a bit unrealistic. Maybe it is in hope’s nature to grasp at straws?
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A prayer for Earth
I will die on the high plains of central Montana
when lightning strikes my sternum.
Jolting me rigid
its power will transform my energy
into dancing molecules
that will never think of me again.
Perhaps one day they will bounce their way to Bahrain
joining millions of misplaced molecules
set free before mine.
Together, let them rise into something other
something that will shift equilibrium,
and appease our quaking mother.
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Thank you to Writer's Island for providing a place to post every day this month, and always on Saturdays.
14 comments:
And thank you for this wonderful piece of writing. "Lightening strikes my sternum", made me sit up quickly and straight. Good piece, thought provoking and mystical in scope.
Elizabeth
It's a wonderful thought that our deaths will somehow help the earth to survive.
Brenda, I love where this prompt took you. "Lightening strikes my sternum" is a great line. I wrote to this prompt yesterday myself, but it is still in its editing stage.
Pamela
I love the idea of the body being recycled (it's why I'm an organ donor).
I agree: no piece ever is entirely finished. It's the poet's curse.
Great piece - got me thinking.
dancing, mindless molecules. I love it.
love it...thanks for sharing
"When lightning strikes my sternum.
Jolting me rigid"
That one line is like a brain-movie! Fantastic. It reminds me very specifically of a couple of poems I've wrote in the past.
I also love the dancing molecules.
Phew! I can't stop thinking about all those molecules.
Nicely thought through!!
I like the image of those "dancing molecules that will never think of me again." Excellent poem!
Lovely writing, thinking that one's death will cause something which contributes to the 'greater good.'
Oh, I like this.
Hopeful for me was just going to sleep, which sounded like a pretty dull poem, so I skipped that prompt, but you have nailed it.
“Together, let them rise into something other” – I love that line. I like your take on the prompt, how thought becomes action, moving into something larger than yourself. It is beautiful and full of hope. (I finally figured out how to leave a comment).
Oh, I love it! The idea of molecules that "will never think of me again"... that's going to haunt me for the rest of my life. Brilliant.
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