Fun With Words

As part of the retreat here this week have been different workshops today's was entitled 'Fun with Words' where we ended up creating some poetry. Poetry is not something I'm used to reading or (very often) creating, sometimes words can come out in a way that could 'at a push' be called poetic. Today in simple ways we were tasked to create poems the first (below) was a joint effort with 3 of us taking it in turn to write a line, so the poem did not take the form you might have expected of gone in the direction you envisioned - a liberating challenge! These poems aren't meant as examples of great poetry just results of our 'fun with words'.

The Table

The table always sat in the corner.

Once part of a magnificent oak tree

Ancient oak giving itself in practical service

Felled from a far flung forest

Functional and well loved in this family home

the centre-piece for family meals and conversation.

The table sitting purposely in the corner.

We played around with Haiku, a Japanese origin of poetic form which you cane read about more here. It follows a strict form (which we were given a little flexibility with). Apparently traditional Haiku poems are related to nature and the seasons. Here's my attempt!

         Breath in deep the air

         quick expel the CO2

         Shame about the pollution!

My final offering comes from the encouragement to go and take notice of something, making connections as we wish, looking, seeing and being led in our thoughts from that object: (I've accompanied it with an image but I need to say its actually a different gate not the one that sparked these 'thoughts/poem in progress'...)

The Gate

The solid wood crossed and braced

Strong, structure, safe: secure

A path beyond but sign that says ‘beware!’

‘I am the gate’ a man once said

Its meaning people consider

‘The entry to a new way’ some articulate.

Gates mark public/private

Keep closed they often say

What then of the human gate man?

... Shall we open or should we ignore?