There’s been a lot of talk about freedom of speech and what exactly that phrase means. This post is NOT about politics or constitutional law. It is, however, about the power of words.
Normally during the early weeks of January I’d be telling you about my plans for the new year – goals, planning systems, etc… My New Year post will be coming soon. But in light of recent events, I wanted to share something a little more meaningful right now.
History Unfolding On the Pages of My Notebook
Writing has always been my go-to when I need to reconcile thoughts. Whether it’s a burst of creative energy spent on a new story idea, a curiosity that leads to a non-fiction essay, or simply jotting down random ideas in a notebook, writing helps me process what I think and feel.
The last few weeks have been difficult mentally and emotionally for all Americans. As I’ve watched the news and followed social media, and even temporarily muted some friends’ accounts, information overload took hold. After a while, I had to turn off the news and apps so I could think about everything going on. That ‘s when I turned to my pen and notebook.
When I sat down to try to write about what I saw unfolding, I could only see the splashes of images and words stuck in my head. That required something more than jwriting down a simple account of events.
Power of a Poem’s Words
I don’t write a lot of poems. I’ve always been more of a longform writer. I greatly admire poets, however. In many ways, writing poetry takes more skill and craft than a short story or essay.
Poetry gets its power from strong imagery and carefully chosen words. And while those are important in longer works, the narrative arc of a full story allows the writer more flexibility. With a poem, though, every word and image must make an impact. Poems can re-create the beauty of a sunset or the smell of fresh baked bread. Poems can also make us feel passion, heartbreak, loneliness, and fear. Poems capture images and events in ways traditional narrative cannot.
The practice of writing a poem, especially about such significant events, helps me focus my thoughts and emotions. But more than than, writing an occasional poem helps me become an overall better writer.
After several days of trying to find the right words for the images in my head, I finally put pen to paper and wrote a new poem. Hope it helps, inspires, or does whatever you need it to do for you.
Cherry Blossoms In Winter
Cherry trees line the walkways
Silent in the winter chill
Waiting for their glorious return
They look hopeful despite the cold
Their empty branches
Reaching through the January sky
Biding their time until the warm spring breezes
Wake them from sleep
When the season changes and
Stirs new blossoms to life
Across the Potomac a different world unfolds
The bleak mid-winter gray
Shattered by angry shouts and raised fists
A citadel under attack
Voices of the Fathers whisper on the wind
A legacy reignited on a now dark Broadway stage
The one who sought to reunite
A land stained red with only American blood
Looks down from his marble chair
A house divided once again
Ghosts linger along The Wall
Their names forever etched in stone
Soldiers forged in fire stand on a manicured battlefield
Fighting an invisible enemy from long ago
The Statue of Freedom gazes east
Towards the rising sun
Tears in her eyes as a new day dawns
But she has been tested before
Battered by wind and lightning
Challenged by friend and foe
She stands above it all
Waiting for the return of spring
When the cherry blossoms will bloom again
- Melanie Glinsmann (2021)
** Do you write poetry? If so, how has it helped you process thoughts or create images?
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