Poetry Surprise

One reason to study poetry is to enrich all of your writing. This year, I’m attending a couple of poetry workshops in order to learn about structure. The first workshop used Structure & Surprise: Engaging Poetic Turns, edited by Michael Theune. My practice poems are pushing me toward considering turns and surprises thoughtfully. Both concepts important in writing prose stories as well. My piles of poetry rejection letters show a new view is needed. I’m looking outward and finding surprise in my poetry and prose stories. Now, on to the next workshop with more confidence . . . writing is an on-going journey.

Early version:

PAPER VERSE

by Linnea Heaney

Blank years, tossed into

lost corners, forgotten,

scattered words, wasted
seconds to be rushed out,
paper verse, wads crushed—
only my spilling thoughts left.

Revised version:

PAPER VERSES

by Linnea Heaney

Blank thoughts

thrown, crumpled, toward waste basket
while seconds ticked on—now,
view transformed as paper verses flow
out, dashing words down,
spilling laughter, memories about.

STRUCTURE & SURPRISE: ENGAGING POETIC TURNS, edited by Michael Theune (Teachers & Writers Collaborative, 2007).