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Suzanne Delaney

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Suzanne is a Retired Registered Nurse certified in Med/Surg. She began writing poetry in 1998. Since retiring she has participated in poetry groups both in the Community and on-line. She is originally from Australia, has lived in the Hawaiian Islands for most of her adult life and now lives on the mainland US. Her poetry is a mixture from all these places. In her writing she has explored many forms but finds ease of expression mostly in free verse. Her poems are included in an Anthology "A Bridge to ALL Nations."with other poets from Connie's site: Poetry for Thought. One of the greatest joys in her life was to be contacted by Carol Mays, a fellow Souper, to publish an Anthology together, titled, " Poems of Nature, Enchantment and Mystery, available in Paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Here is a link.

https://www.amazon.com/Poems-Nature-Enchantment-Mystery-Carol/dp/B086MN2K6X

Suzanne has three poems included in the PS It's Poetry Anthology and three poems in PS: It's Still Poetry - An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry from Around the World also available on Amazon and most recently, three poems in "Radiant Vereses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry.". https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNWGWTFZ

and is also a regular Contributor to Old Mountain Press Anthologies with poems accepted in the 10 most recent publications.

http://www.oldmp.com/anthology/booksinprint.htm

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A Shortage of Solitude

Blog Posted by Suzanne Delaney: 1/26/2016 11:48:00 AM

I came across this article about how we are involuntarily faced with boredom
during a power outage. I have experienced it myself and found it quite annoying.

http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2011/08/31/hurricane-irene-reunion-with-boredom/

( read above, and come back )

My question is how do you achieve the quietness and solitude needed for writing?

I first began writing poetry after a course in meditating for stress. I find now I don't have to go into a meditative state but I won't force a poem either . I often take the idea for a poem and let it sit
in my mind until something comes forward. My other creative outlet is papercrafting incorporating collage and mixed media. I get into a zone with that but I do enjoy solitude with nature.
Share your thoughts with us.

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Suzanne
Delaney

Date: 1/26/2016 8:23:00 PM

Thankyou for all and keep contributing...a thrilling first for me. A blog that ran hot.

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/27/2016 11:23:00 AM

That's great Brian: Off for a peek.

Brian Strand
Date: 1/26/2016 11:25:00 PM

I posted my first Bantu couplet here on PS this morning thank you Suzanne for the pointer thereto to this enigmatic short form.Have a good day.rgds Brian

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 1/26/2016 8:07:00 PM

Suzanne, do you "quill" paper, ever? I've seen some lovely artwork at my daughter's school and remember quilling as a young teen... the attention and work... I can't remember being bored. I have always written or read when time was available. I love art. The article was interesting and we have never experienced a large power outage, but eleven years ago, I spent a month in palliative care with my father, NO TELEVISION. No computer, no tablet, no iphone, on smart phone. Now, we did have a portable stereo... so I guess that we did have some technology. But we played backgammon and worked on the crosswords he loved, crazy 8 card games, we talked, we read, wrote. I was never bored. Sad, yes..

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 8:21:00 PM

Thanks Cyndi: I do quilling and make Australian wild flowers using quilling techniques. It is called quilling because nuns invented it in convents using feather quills to twirl strips of paper around. It does require patience, Regarding quiet time that is wise to be in the moment. Observe and participate and write later,

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/26/2016 8:19:00 PM

PS. I just realized I fibbed. I find tax time highly boring. I find most television tedious. Line ups sometimes bore me, but they make a good place to think up poetry (unless a young child is in tow, in which case bored is not the word that "I'd" use. ")

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/26/2016 8:13:00 PM

Lovely blog. Interesting topic!

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/26/2016 8:12:00 PM

When I was working full time, I wrote in the evenings. Sometimes, I can write in cafes and libraries.. but loud places, thumping music and the such... no, I can not write when the pulse of life is pounding. Then? I am enjoying life, too. Listening... watching... experiencing what is going on around me. It makes me a better writer to be in the now.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/26/2016 8:10:00 PM

As far as quietude, I must wait until my girl is asleep... I read another wonderful article by a writer... oh, who was it??... grrr at my memory... and she said that she knew to never try tear herself in two. When her children were home. She was with them. When they were at school. She could be attentive to her writing.

Brian
Strand

Date: 1/26/2016 3:57:00 PM

Thanks Suzanne I googled bantu and will try it .the definition is worth recording..a 2 liner, each line a complete idea, the second line contrasting,but complementary description or explanation, often a metaphor,of the image in the first line.

Brian Strand
Date: 1/26/2016 11:27:00 PM

I have given it a go and posted my first attempt theroat this morning here on PS.

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 4:05:00 PM

Thanks Brian Should be a fun exercise for developing metaphoric skills.

Harry
Horsman

Date: 1/26/2016 3:54:00 PM

Hi Suzanne, interesting question, for many years i worked alone on night shift in an office in New Zealand,,and my inspiration came always at 4am in the morning.. i would scribble everything down, and organize it into some form of poetry later,in fact i had a large bag with heaps of sheets of paper all full of words lines and rhymes, then i would go through each one, taking sometimes a little from each..This 4am aspect is a story on its own,,but even today in retirement i'd love to be able to recapture those early days, or should i say innocent days especially regarding my poetry....

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 4:03:00 PM

Tee hee Harry: There is the case for solitude.....some say trauma or a life changing event brings out. hidden poetry but I say too much angst doesn't always pass for good poetry.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 1/26/2016 3:11:00 PM

Hi, I don't have time to read the article, but would like to comment since this has happened to me a few times (once being out of power during the 1989 earthquake in S.F. and other times just power outages in my small town). As long as I have a source of light, I am fine. I read or I get some paper and pen and start writing. Thanks to Soup, I always have plenty of "themes" I am playing around with. Some of them take a while to gather steam, but eventually they seem to come!!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/27/2016 6:34:00 PM

yes, we are a rare breed INDEED

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 3:19:00 PM

Thanks for commenting Andrea: From what I am gathering, we poets are a rare & lucky breed in that we know how to entertain ourselves

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 3:15:00 PM

That is an excellent thought, Brian: I used to keep a journal/ notebook with me and write down random thoughts as they came- even out doing the shopping. I haven't done that in quite a while. A good exercise is looking at images and comparing them to something else. I think in Africa they are called Bantus.

Brian
Strand

Date: 1/26/2016 1:46:00 PM

Suzanne I don't need either,(being able to concentrate come what may)The main thing is to capture the image,thought, word whatever etc that causes the inspiration.(eg the winter scene that tops yr link is the kind of thing I refer to).As Lin says below is to note it at the time especially if it is during the night or some other busy time.Inspiration is such an ethereal happening that can dissolve so easily,one has to do something about it there and then.Interesting topic I like to know what prompts peer poets to take up their pen.rgds Brian

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 3:17:00 PM

My reply did the leapfrog to the above answer. Here is a link to writing a Bantu. http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-genre/horror-by-writing-genre/how_to_create_haunting_imagery

Frederic
Parker

Date: 1/26/2016 1:19:00 PM

I think that if you write about things your passionate about it doesn't matter if it's quiet.On the other hand if you are writing about things that you may have an opinion about it may take quiet to sort out your thoughts, but generally speaking writers write when they feel a need to express something no matter the place or noise level.It is like most things everyone has an approach that works for them..if you need quiet than that works for you, others may need noise..there is no set pattern.Every writer has moments when the writing comes easy and moments when they walk away because it is hard..

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 3:06:00 PM

Yes Frederic...you are right about the level of passion to bring about reverie. Sometimes we retreat to fight a greater battle later on.

Lin
Lane

Date: 1/26/2016 12:04:00 PM

I guess I'm fortunate by not needing quiet and solitude for writing. Random thoughts come unbidden to my mind and therein lies the beginning of something that needs to be written down. That can be quite annoying when it's 3 a.m. and I don't feel like rising for pen and paper, but if I don't, by morning it'll be gone. ~ The only distraction I have when I'm trying to write is the pesky meowing of my kitten who wants my attention. I could tune her out, but she's more important than the next line of a poem. ~ Like you, after I think I've finished a write, I let it sit, then go back and look at it with fresh eyes for editing. A fun blog.. thanks!

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 1/26/2016 3:03:00 PM

I am with you on the 3am thing. Must be closely linked to the "dream state" We need to put up a sign on the bedroom door. No Muses allowed ...at least not until I am awake.lol

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A Shortage of Solitude

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