Automatic Writing
Muddied, like the certain brackish river water
laden with broken branches, swirled silica,
the crushed styrofoam something colored yellow.
Gray clouds hesitated overhead, as I can,
and me there, thinking
of those spiritualists after yet another war.
People were seeking, and they provided–
knocks on tables, automatic writing.
I sat there sinking. The air, thick
with something about to come.
If I were to put my pen to paper then–
the drift of car across the Valley View Ferry
could have taken me downriver
and toward the poem I meant to write.
18 thoughts on "Automatic Writing"
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Yes.
Thanks, Coleman. I love the idea of a metapoem and was interested in combining that with my scribbled drafting
Oh, this is wonderfully mesmerizing, Shaun. You take an interesting topic to such a fresh new place.
Thanks, Nancy! I had a list of things that were on my mind and the ideas of a meta sonnet, and this is what came from it somehow :p
Shawn
a nice sonnet
well constructed
while seeming spontaneous
what a great image at the end
Thank you, Jim. I’d ride the ferry back and forth all day if I could get a poem out of it–
Fascinating concept. And really precise language/detail to illustrate it. The volta is great – well composed piece
Thank you, Jason! It was a bit of an experiment/construction project for me.
the certain brackish river waters, people were seeking and they provided–knocks on tables, automatic writing
beautiful language
Thanks, Manny! There were a little bit of sound experiments in there for me!
Sets the tone well:
Muddied, like the certain brackish river water
laden with broken branches, swirled silica,
the crushed styrofoam something colored yellow.
and love:
The air, thick
with something about to come.
Thanks so much, Pam! I honestly want it to rain–just a bit.
These short moments are so luxurious in your work.
Thanks, Sam. I want to try and write longer things, to push myself outward–that’s something I would love to learn
The images here are so immersive! And I feel that poems, or perhaps writing in general, has a way to spill out in the way it wants to and is meant to rather than how we would like. There’s a beauty to that force though, that words can have their own will.
Thank you! I love what you said. When I find myself surprised by something I write, I tend to lean into it more and more.
Wow! Love this!
Thank you, Jerielle!