Wednesday, July 29, 2009

In the groove

I'm in week one of my writing hiatus. No, I'm not taking a break from writing. I'm taking a break from pretty much everything so I can write. This is something I've wanted to do since I was about seven years old, but never made space for in my busy life. Or busied myself so much that when downtime came around, I was too exhausted to do anything but eat and sleep. Finally getting a chance to devote myself almost exclusively to writing for a few weeks is scary. And exciting.

There are a couple of projects on the table for the month of August. I've been asked to help co-write a film script in Portuguese; the potential backers want to see a completed draft by September. I'm also working on a poetry collection and some short stories. It's great to be back in the groove, playing with words, letting them take over and surprise me when I read over the pages a few hours later.

So, here's a poem I wrote (and am currently revising. Good poems must be nibbled at until they are pared down to perfection. But the first drafts are fun too!):


Be perfect
never leave a dirty dish in the sink
or let a complaint stain lips
that know only prayers and holy kisses
kick a stove and stub your toe
and really mean “Glory!”
instead of something more earthy and cathartic

Be perfect
honestly enjoy the company of the unwashed
turn the other cheek for a hearty beating
never get irritated, lose your temper
snap at a shopgirl or the clumsy waiter
cry over spilled wine
on your hair shirt.

2 comments:

LeAnne Hardy said...

Ooo. That hits us perfectionists where it hurts. May this writing time be both refreshing and productive.

--jenna said...

Thanks LeAnne! I love seeing your comments...