LINES FOR THE DAY

The Lines For The Day project was inspired by Lia Leendertz. She has followers of her newsletter write in with their impressions of the day where they are, and she combines them into a Poem of the Month.

I suggested something similar to the writing group - and it kinda died! But, I kept on with it.

Let's face it, we all have an experience of the day. And there are certain socially acceptable ways we describe it to each other. But, how would a writer - who was interested in finding new ways to express the everyday - describe it?

It reminds me each day that I am a writer. A feeling found in the morning might sit in my head all day until I find the best way to describe it. That searching for the right (but different) words is good poetic practice.

And, sometimes (but more often than if I wasn't doing the exercise) those ideas inspire a larger piece of writing.

This morning, I was on my way to the dentist. I stepped out the car and heard loud birdsong. That became, "The birds are singing like it's the first day of spring." Then, because of the sort of day it was, I added, "But, really, they are just making the most of the time between showers."

Then, with my Francis Gay hat on and an eye to The Friendship Book, I wrote, "The birds are singing like it's the first day of spring. Actually, they are simply making the most of this spell between the showers. Which made me wonder how I spend the time between the "showers" in my life. Do I spend them waiting for the next shower? Or do I sing?"

In return for that upbeat, philosophical piece, I was drenched by sleety rain when I left the dentists!

Your Line for the Day can be philosophical, meteorological, humorous... It can be personal, abstracts, creative... It can be whatever you want it to be. Today. And tomorrow. And the next day.

If you want to make them into a Poem of the Week, or Poem of the Month, do let me know how that goes.

Lia Leendertz