Has anyone else found scissors inspiring? Never thought I would but as my favourite Professor said, the scissors chose me – I didn’t choose the scissors. Very Zen.
To encourage you, here are the first & final versions of a poem written after 10 minutes of Scissor contemplation & manipulation…
1st Version:
Cutting into my life.
Sharp edges that define.
Cruel severance.
Pointed.
Cold steel ‘ shiny, hard, distant.
Cream/grey plastic
warm, smooth, closer.
Why is?
Unnatural – closer?
Cut/pain ‘ endings,
Death/severance ‘ no going back.
No return ‘ finality.
Blades slicing together
teamwork ‘ severance.
Teamwork – blades;
actually touching.
Wiltshire Staysharp,
a warning of actuality;
‘THIS IS WHAT I AM’
engraved,
scoured into the hard steel,
un-erasable,
undeniable.
Circular pivot – the turning point;
the axis of action.
Inspired by these original words – I linked them to my (then, 2002) romantic dilemma: a man I loved 28 years before, contacted me on the net in 2002 – only I’d sworn never to be fooled by love again!
You sever my reason,
shape my feelings with your
steely blades of perception.
You use the twin edges
of measured analysis
and practical application,
to rotate on my axis of impatience,
defining our new existence
with that swinging efficiency
of open – closed action.
You manipulate me
with metal precision,
held in a warm moulded grip.
My paper reality
waiting for words
that define an Us.
Frances Macaulay Forde © 2002
Here’s My Challenge:
Get a group of writing friends together & tell them to bring something odd.
If no friends willing, do it by yourself… I still use this exercise to kick-start a writing session & have loads of bits and pieces on my study desk.
Pile the odds & ends in the centre of the table (or desk).
With eyes closed, mix them up & hover a hand over them.
Still keeping eyes closed, pick one thing & take 10 minutes to write about it.
Please share your results in my comments – I’d love to read them.
@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #POEM:ShearLove #Poetry #PoetryChallengeNo1 #WorkshopWriting #Writing #Poems #PoetryPostcards #FMF:PoetryPostcards
Perth Words... exploring possibilities. 