Week 52 words from @ninthwavedesigns: acorn, interpretation, visualise, palpitations and stone.

visualise an acorn

with its elvish hat

deep within that tiny seed

lies a whole tree

waiting to sprout

my heart had hardened

turned to stone

but even granite can weep

first came the palpitations

then a crack in the surface

finally, release

what you make of it

is open to interpretation

~~~~

Here are the words and my poem for the fifty-second week of the 2019 Poetry Challenge.

Week 52. Did someone say week 52? I can't believe it's finally here. I did it people! I haven't hit celebration or nostalgia yet, I'm still at disbelief. Hard to believe it's the last week and this is the last time I'll be posting a poem for the 2019 Poetry Challenge. 

Writing this poem, I thought eek! when I read the words. So disparate and not what I would normally use in a poem, which is the whole point of the exercise after all. On the morning I wrote the poem I looked at the words, freaked out again and went to fold papers while listening to a podcast. When I came back to the words this poem began to take shape. The first stanza, then the last and finally the middle.

As I was writing this poem I was also collating the other 52 poems and my thoughts on the process into a single document. It was interesting to chart my journey from start to finish and see where it had taken me. Early on I was naturally full of enthusiasm and thinking a lot about the process, my thoughts and feelings. As time went on, I could see my energy flagging and my involvement with the challenge became perfunctory. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could carry our initial enthusiasm for things right through until the end? Of course everything has its season, even enthusiasm and the other emotions are also valid and part of the process.

It was wonderful to read through the comments because it reminded me of my initial excitement and gave me the cue to really enjoy the process of writing this poem. To focus on the words and the beauty of playing with language. Time to write is a luxury I have eked out for myself. As I write this I am sitting at the kitchen table and the sun has barely risen above the horizon. My daughters are still asleep so I can write uninterrupted.

I am so pleased I have returned to this method of expression, to this craft. Thank you for joining me on this journey and for your encouraging messages.

(I'm not the most subtle person on the planet and have always preferred direct action to navel gazing. That way lies morbidity and depression.)

A huge thanks also goes out to the 52 lovely people who sent me 5 random words and helped me in my quest to become a better poet. You know what they say - it takes a community to grow a poet. Well actually I just made up the saying but I believe every last word of it.

If you want to join the 2019 Poetry Challenge it's your very last chance. Write a poem using this week's words and head on over to Instagram and post it. Be sure to tag me and use the hashtags #2019poetrychallenge and #livepoetsclub.  

Happy writing!