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Sally Eslinger
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THE ADDRESS OF POETRY 3

Blog Posted by Sally Eslinger: 1/8/2021 11:10:00 PM

THE ADDRESS OF POETRY -3

In 1983, I quit writing altogether.  In 2019, a new friend, a poet named Charlie Cooper, asked me why I’d quit.
Well, to answer him, I wrote a poem, a poem about writing poetry.  This is it:
POETRY II

Poetry can be a wretched torture.  It
Commands a dive into the depths
Of the emotional-intellectual-spiritual soul
In order to conceive to climb then
Its mountains, peaks:
Consumption.  Communion.  Voice.
——————————————————c) sally Young eslinger 2019
Writing it opened the floodgates.  I could no longer deny writing poetry, and it would not be denied or held back.

Can you share here some lines of a poem you’ve written about what writing a poem is like for you..........



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Richards Avatar
Carrie
Richards
Date: 1/15/2021 8:25:00 AM
My own experience with poetry is most often sparked by a prompt, or contest. It often seems as if putting together a puzzle, and I love the challenge. From one poem this is how it happens: "Beginnings, middles and ends, are jumbled in reflection. Exploring new directions, from the dormant sections of my mind. Stumbling over phrases, as the puzzle pieces play. I watch the words tumble into something unintended, Unfolding, exploding and falling into orderly chaos"
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/16/2021 9:43:00 AM
I am delighted by yout answer, Carrie, (which will probably fit blog 5 PROCESS)but I still would like to hear more about contest catalyzing your inspiration to write. Anyway, I gasped as you spoke of “watching” as the words moved around into the plates. That, to me, relates being in the midst of a pure processing of inspiration ...Also you referred to “the dormant sections of your mind” which for you is one ADDRESS OF POETRY! I am not sure The isn’t the sub-conscious, but I really like how you termed it. Please keep in this discussion. You’ve its to add. Nice meeting you!
Strand Avatar
Brian
Strand
Date: 1/15/2021 3:45:00 AM
These days Sally I only write if inspired by some prompt or other ,happily they continue to happen .Long may it be so
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/16/2021 9:50:00 AM
Brian, yes! Blessings for your prompts from theADDRESSES OF POETRY Will continue. In the poem above I wrote that writing poetry can be a torment BUt not writing it when oneIS a poet can be a stay in purgatory. Hugs, Brian...
Eslinger Avatar
Sally
Eslinger
Date: 1/13/2021 5:19:00 AM
Reply My poem says poetry C A N B E a torture. It doesn’t say It IS one. The poem also says that after the depths there comes a CLIMB resulting in a communion and VOICE, meaning, Contued writing, which may not be easy either but it wil go on. The Voice must speak. Silence does not benefit our world. Civilization needs its poets to work, to share, to help the world SEE. This discussion is door-opening. Since I lack readers &poets near me, PoetrySoup has greatly brought me valued friends to share these many thoughts so dear to my being. ADDRESS OF POETRY 4 I thin will start Source questions!
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Strand Avatar
Brian
Strand
Date: 1/12/2021 1:27:00 AM
Sally,this where I am at as of now with my Open form style...( from extracts in a recent posting thereon).."an apperception of poetic elements imagery, assonance, rhythm,sound symbolism of an intuitive of the self conscious in a crystallised convergence of the moment ...according to mood, essentially fluid and inherently variable... "
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/12/2021 9:37:00 PM
Brian, 1st, perhaps you’ve no idea how much I admire your work! 2nd, unless I misread, you are digging DEEP! Right? I guess that’s ok if it doesn’t make you want to quit. Theworld needs yr pen.reply
Dietrich Avatar
Andrea
Dietrich
Date: 1/11/2021 2:04:00 PM
I just typed in "writing poetry" and though I know I have more profound lines than this, here is a stanza from a poem, and it describes how I approach poetry(in warm weather at least): In spring or summer, I’ll be having fun just sitting with my pen beneath the sun on my patio writing poetry. There is where most likely you will find me.
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Dietrich Avatar
Andrea
Dietrich
Date: 1/11/2021 1:58:00 PM
Very nice blog! I would have to search through my poems to find a line on how I described it. It's easier just to say this: it's more like a writing exercise for me. Challenging my head to put the words to convey my emotions in the best way I can do it according to the poetry's form,syllable count, rhyme, rhythm, etc. I guess I am not usually an emotional person, so it's hard for me to relate to it being something like you described as a wretched torture. If it were this way for me, I would not want to do it! Variety is the spice of life when it comes to poet personality types!
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/12/2021 9:52:00 PM
Well, I did go back to poetry cause I am born to poetry & just had to. I went too deep cause that’s where my themes were. Yr approach sounds more zen to me. Great way to go ,
Watt Avatar
John
Watt
Date: 1/11/2021 10:57:00 AM
From 'Write Me': Put down your laptop / Your magazine / Your briefcase / Take a long walk on a quiet day - / And write me / I am your story. Lovely poem and thoughts, Sally. Thank you for this blog and opening the door for others to share their story. I'm glad you're writing again ~ John
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/12/2021 10:02:00 PM
John, I want to hug that poem you held forth here! How kind. How true. There are so many characteristics dressing what our voices want to say, & to whom we want to speak.Glad yr words R here
Marcum Wong Avatar
Connie
Marcum Wong
Date: 1/10/2021 3:56:00 PM
Taken from ‘A Poet’s Gift‘ A poet writes to share a secret depth Of feelings within their soulful breast. They write to grasp onto immortality, To be remembered beyond their death. At least that is one of the reasons I write, to leave a bit of me behind for my children and theirs to remember me. Blessings xxoo
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/12/2021 10:15:00 PM
Connie, yes that’s ONE push to write & 1 reason I quit. I didn’t have family or friends who wanted to read my work. I was getting published but couldn’t SEE OR HEAR those responses. That’s why I switched to visual arts: responses are immediate I even like critical responses cause the work has involved the receiver. I don’t create for my own self.
Watt Avatar
John Watt
Date: 1/11/2021 10:36:00 AM
Connie, I second that thought. My most treasured possession of my mother is the writings she left behind, and I wish to give that gift to my children. Whether they perceive my poetry as a 'gift' or not remains to be seen! Loved your poem and comment ~ John
Bordner Avatar
Justin
Bordner
Date: 1/9/2021 5:07:00 PM
Its like writing with fire...J.A.B.
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/12/2021 10:26:00 PM
Yes, indeed! And then there are all types and forms of fire, from pleasant in fireplace in winter to consuming CA by square miles, to sent along with the Holy Spirit, etc. love your point.
Roper Avatar
Eve
Roper
Date: 1/9/2021 9:22:00 AM
I too have been placed in that emotional state, but it just helped me to keep writing. The pain I carried was released in the words that I wrote on paper and it made my emotions calm. I tend to be inspired more by photos or paintings , I am an artist. I love to pour my feelings in what I see, the colors the emotions that run in me when I see a photo or painting I am attracted too. Death only inspired me to finish what I started and want to finish. A poem written by me: I walk through in sullen silence, sadness, In tears, down the hall and forsaken rooms. Chime. A text note on my phone from my son, Good morning mom, how are you? I love you. 11/7/2019 "Blessing of writing to change the spirit."
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/9/2021 11:24:00 AM
Your response I find to be a beautiful story I am an artist too a draftsman, can’t paint to save my life. My work’s a lot on FB. Did pastels when notwriting those35 yrs. Meditatewhen draws brds.
Pachecho Avatar
Connie
Pachecho
Date: 1/9/2021 3:43:00 AM
There we were starring, eye to eye. We were both lonely and heartbroken. He was poetry, and played hard to get. I mounted a charge to win his affection. I labored, sweated and exhausted every twist and turn. When I won his affection, and sang his tune, a song was completed. I no longer loved poetry. For me this is so true and it's all been for fun.
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/9/2021 11:34:00 AM
Wow! How courageous I feel wimpy & was. My quitting writing wasn’t all poetryHad moreto dow/nonfiction boo& agent troubles. But wish you weremy sister then would’ve made a diff. Fine Poe!
Radice Avatar
Gary
Radice
Date: 1/9/2021 3:26:00 AM
Sally, what an interesting blog. I've only been writing poetry for just over a year now but the following lines lifted from a couple of my poems sum up my 'good days' and my 'not so good days' when attempting to string words together: Good Days: "Don’t let this door put you off what’s inside It lacks love at the end of the day. Great journeys begin in the gardens beyond: Turn the lock. Turn a leaf. Write away." Bad Days: "I'm lost behind the dunes some days Before stumbling into view To ride the tide or catch a wave Like would-be poets do." Cheers - Gary
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/9/2021 12:26:00 PM
Hi, Gary! Quite a scope of emoti& on approach to stances for writing! I havewritten 1abt doors but was scared to approach them.haha like your stances better. Now older I feel more in control
Edmonds Avatar
Beryl
Edmonds
Date: 1/9/2021 2:36:00 AM
Sometimes Sally poets are at a loss for verse, then as happened to you something opens the floodgates and here comes the words... Poetry is a tranquil balm, Healing for one’s frangible heart. A symphony of peace and charm, The tempo climbing up the chart. Healing for one's frangible heart, A roam through undiscovered land. The tempo climbing up the chart, Led from the palm of the poet's hand. Belle
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/12/2021 10:51:00 PM
Belle, the lovely words you have just set here ARE in tact calming & lots of reading & writing of poetry is. Lots of my poetry & inspiration can get to pitches of emotional response touching levels of passion that reliving in the writing makes difficult tho calming when writing is completed few operas are peaceful. Symphonies too have tension
La France Avatar
Constance
La France
Date: 1/9/2021 12:37:00 AM
Sally, I understand where you were in 1983 and stopped writing it happened to me in 2012, I just stopped, it was like I had no more words to give but a near death experience changed all that, in my hospital bed recovering, I started writing again, and it flowed out of me. I have always used writing to release my emotions, my grandma gave me a journal as a child, and said to me, "write it dear heart, write it for the world to read" and I did and I do, often starting my poems with "I will turn back the pages of my life" I am sure you heard the saying that" a poet must suffer to be good", well that is so true in my case. I have written about grief and sorrow, and life experiences _Constance
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Eslinger Avatar
Sally Eslinger
Date: 1/14/2021 10:47:00 AM
Constance, SO, TOO much to say relative to your wlife story. In 2018 while undergoing surgery I passed into a 7-day coma. 6 mos later had a mystical vision abt Christ walking me out of the coma. 2 mos after that I met Charlie who asked me why I’d quit & for whom I wrote the above poem, which opened the floodgates for my voice to seek verse w/its squelched passions, that have not stopped. What a gift to u, your grandma saying what she did. Until recently, & til PS, my writing life has been completely alone. In youth my mom laughed at my poetry & told me to go to my room & draw. No feedback, no support, no audience, no verses come...the words & feelings dive Deepintohiding & pulling them up to life becomes a wretched torture sometimes. I wrote daily for 22 yrs. I have no family caring about it, not even my Jim. In 1983 when I quit, I tore up all those journals. No one cares...but for God and as he made me a poet, that I am. Hugs for you, Constance.
La France Avatar
Constance La France
Date: 1/9/2021 12:39:00 AM
Sally, I really like the poem you wrote also that came from your heart and soul _Constance

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