It’s such a great song.  A song that embraces the vicissitudes of life. But does, letting go,  mean giving up? It can. Or it can simply mean, not now. There are a lot of things I have let go. This “LETTING GO” business isn’t always easy.  I mean…knowing when to hold ’em and knowing when to fold ’em is sometimes hard, we’re not talking about laundry…

Well, we could but I don’t want to talk about old dirty socks or worn out shoes or shirts  that have been hanging around in the closet for a quarter of a century.  Of course, I’m not dismissing having a clean house. In fact, having a clean house can actually help in letting go of some of our other baggage. How many of us sometimes become mental hoarders. We have so much traffic running around in our heads, without having the capacity or lacking that intuitive ability to either filter or direct it in a positive way. It’s not always easy being a HUMAN BEING.

I would never consider myself a prolific writer. I don’t write everyday. I may think about it but don’t do it. I’m a procrastinator. I’ll make every excuse in the book, although I can’t put it all on work anymore, I’m retired.  But it’s been almost a year and I just haven’t had the urgency to write anything. Yeah…I let go alright and to add on another excuse: I DON’T HAVE ANY DEADLINES. I don’t have an audience chomping at the bit waiting for me to produce.  In fact, if there are a few people out there who do read my post, I’m grateful.

A lot can happen in a year, and my life (like everyone else’s) has been full of creative activity but one of the driving forces for me to write now is that I don’t want a year to go by without posting anything. August would be a year. So, yes, I did in fact give myself a deadline, a self imposed one. But I still don’t feel pressured enough where I feel I’m missing out on a big paycheck or risk losing thousands of subscribers. So for the few of you who read this blog, THE DEPARTMENT OF POETIC LICENSE, I’m very grateful and sincerely hope that you take away some valuable nuggets that you can use and also find comfort  in whatever you are going through in life you’re not alone.

My self-imposed dead-line (as you may notice) to finish a blog before a year had passed; well, a year has come and gone, and while I have sometimes wondered why I haven’t been able to be more disciplined when it comes to writing. I can probably come up with a litany of excuses and go down that rabbit hole of could haves, should haves  and if’s, which in reality is simply called “PROCRASTINATION” or perhaps, ” PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS”.

At this point in my life, I sometimes feel like a surfer; I wait with my surfboard for that big wave of energy, then I time it just right and jump on my board and ride it until I can’t anymore. I know that next wave will eventually come.

Letting go isn’t always easy.  But if we learn anything; it is good to know that we don’t have to continually beat ourselves up with all of those : would haves, should haves and ifs. All we have is this moment, A SNAP SHOT IN TIME.

I want to pass along a nugget that I read from a publication, “LIFE IS LIKE A CAMERA, JUST FOCUS ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT, CAPTURE THE GOOD TIMES, DEVELOP FROM THE NEGATIVES, AND IF THINGS DON’T WORK OUT…JUST TAKE ANOTHER SHOT.”

UNTIL NEXT TIME. STAY FOCUSED, BE WELL, AND LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!

The post LETTING GO… appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

My last few rounds of golf was not pretty.  I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately. You know when your buddies tell you to pick up a three foot putt, they can feel your pain. They know. Why? Because THEY like most golfers have been there before. When we hear professional golfers refer to golf as ‘ a tough game.’   They also know that the game can be feast or famine. But watching this malnourished golfer struggling was perhaps like watching a wounded bird (what a visual paradox), and wondering if it will ever fly again, or possibly get eaten.

As I stood there admiring the great shots my partners were hitting I realized that I really like playing with these guys. We keep each other encouraged. We laugh at one another, laugh at ourselves. Of course, we want to play well, but we’re not hot shot competitors. That’s what keeps me coming back, not just the golf but the whole experience; the camaraderie, the beauty of the course, being outdoors and taking in the splendor of nature.

One of my closest friends (Reggie) plays golf but he hasn’t actually played in years. He bought an OCCULUS and decided he wanted to play golf. He explained to me that, like chess, it is possible to play against people in other states even other countries. Something I knew nothing about.

This one particular day he played against a guy who whipped him like Mike Tyson. He told me that the guy seemed a little perturbed that he wasn’t any competition. The guy told him to next time check out the person’s handicap before hand. In other words, STAY IN YOUR OWN LANE.  DON’T COME OUT HERE AND TRY TO HANG OUT WITH THE BIG BOYS AND GIRLS!

I couldn’t help but feel his pain as he licked his wounds. ” Hey, doesn’t this guy know that we all had to start somewhere.” I told him. Then I thought about it, maybe he had a point. Perhaps, next time he should check. It can be a bit discouraging to be out of your league. Some of us are what I consider late bloomers. I didn’t even hold a golf club in my hands until just about my mid-thirties, which was when I was introduced to this game.

It’s been an enjoyable ride, a lot of ups and downs but more ups than downs. But overall I count my blessings; at least I’m physically able to swing a golf club. There are some people who, perhaps, used to play but can’t anymore due to physical limitations. However, there are some who defy the odds. Why? Because they love the game too. And like me, they realize that the real competition is within one’s own self. My aim is always to get better but not at the expense of having a good time.

When I was a ranger at Delaware park golf course (a municipal golf course located in Buffalo, N.Y.),  I used to see a guy playing with one arm. He was right handed and had no left arm (no prosthetic). Guess what? Every time I watched him hit the ball,  it went straight as an arrow. He had such a smooth swing. Okay, I’ll come out and admit it-I was a little jealous.

So, if we are struggling with our game, have NO FEAR, it will come back eventually.  As it has been put, ‘PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE.’  We’ll never improve if we aren’t patient with ourselves. It’s a process. Put in the time. Practice the right techniques. Then trust the process.

One thing I do know is that whatever your handicap -there is always room for improvement and even professional golfers have to sometimes exercise patience. Why? Because they (like the rest of us)  have no other choice.

UNTI NEXT TIME. STAY FOCUSED, BE WELL. AND LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!

The post EXERCISING PATIENCE appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

We are sure you have heard of the phrase, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ So, does that mean one word is worth one thousandth of a picture. Perhaps. If the journey of walking a mile begins with the first step; then writing one thousand words begins with the first one.

photo by Pixabay

Now this may sound absurd but the only goal we really want to achieve with this blog is to write ONE THOUSAND WORDS.  That’s it. We don’t really want to teach you  anything. We don’t want to educate you. We just want you to read further.  Sounds rather selfish, doesn’t it? But if you read this without having any expectations, then you just might get something out of it. What? Only you will know.  So let’s see where this journey takes us.

Many years ago, when I was in my mid-twenties, I was a member of an improvisation performance group called, the Improv Poets. The founder of the group was a rather eccentric, cosmic and lovely woman named Ludmilla.  Ludmilla had acted in an off Broadway play when she was younger (she was twenty or so years older than us) with the legendary actress Claudette Colbert. She actually had a picture of the two of them rehearsing a scene.

If there was ever someone who was an example of RAW,  ‘in your face’ creativity, Ludmilla was it. We took our raw improvisation performances to many different venues including bars. Basically, any place that would accommodate us. It was Ludmilla’s idea that we rip pages from a thesaurus and arbitrarily hand them to members of the audience. Whoever she picked was allowed to pick any word off of the page. Then we would perform based off of that word.

I Don’t mean to sound like a ‘Trekey’, but these performances took me to places I had never gone before.  We fed off of each other’s energy. I would spout off  words, any words that came to mind, while another members (one guy was an actor) would act out as if we were doing a play and Ludmilla would dance. She had the build of a little ballerina. One of the things I found most amazing was how she would just stop dancing and stood still like a mummy for minutes at a time. And this was even before striking a pose was in ‘VOGUE’.

When the audience applauded at the end, I wasn’t quite sure if they actually liked it or just appreciated the fact that we had the guts to do something like that-especially IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. Either way, when I heard them clapping, it was enough for me, my prayers were answered.

Half way there already. My how time flies.

Getting back to Ludmilla. This petite woman (who was originally from Ukraine) was not only fascinating to me but she also had a commanding presence.  Her accent never completely left her and when she spoke she elongated her vowels in such a way that every word would linger in the air as if in a bubble. She taught us how to also use silence and stillness as part of the performance. It wasn’t necessary to move and talk all the time; you can still make a statement.  She taught us that sometimes less is more. One time I summoned enough courage to ask her, “how can you stand there and do nothing for so long?”  “Oh but I am doing something-I’M BREATHING.”

Like in the movie, Forest Gump, ” life is a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re going to get.”  The DPL is like a box of chocolate. Each blog is its own entity. We’re like literary rebels who sometimes break the rules. Rebels with a cause. Whether we write in the first or second person our focus is to be THOUGHT PROVOKING, INSPIRING, MOTIVATING AND ENTERTAINING. We have incorporated hyperlinks to magnify the experience. So if a post has a blue hyperlink please click on it. We want you to get the full experience.

We want you to continue to have a sweet tooth and read as if you are eating a box of chocolate. You can even take a bite off of each one, put it in the back in the box, go back and finish it later. Please feel free to share. There is plenty of chocolate to go around.

Our goal is give each writing a life of its own. This blog format allows us to make changes. So, it is possible that the next time you go back and read again, it could be slightly changed or tweaked. That’s the beauty of this blog format, unlike print.

If you are reading this blog for the first time you may wonder, ‘why isn’t he talking more about poetry.’  Although I do consider myself a poet and a writer, but by not holding the reins so tightly, the DPL has morphed into what it is.

We feel creativity is like water. It is pliable and takes the shape of whatever container it is poured into. It can also, when frozen, become a solid: ice.  But it is still water. In Whatever form we may appear, our primary focus always comes back to writing. We want to be an inspiration.

So, don’t hold on to those reins so tight. Keep your mind open. Loosen that grip. RELA X. Let it flow. SMILE.   A smile   can be worth more than a thousand words. Your smile has the power to light up a room and connect with people without saying a single word. You may not have anything to smile about but smile anyway.  You might be thinking. Why does it matter whether I smile or not? I’m wearing a mask (during the pandemic) so people don’t know whether I’m smiling or not. Smile  anyway. We don’t always have to see it, to feel it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyHoohNyYkw

We started writing this post not knowing what to write about. Our only goal was to write a thousand words and here we are. Just about there…

If you feel the need and have enough time to count and make sure we reached our goal. Well, that means you have a lot of time on your hands. Which means you certainly have time to write… so pick up that pen or tap at that keyboard and GET ‘ER DONE!

REMEMBER. THE JOURNEY TO A THOUSAND WORDS BEGINS WITH WRITING THE FIRST ONE.

The post ONE THOUSAND WORDS appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

PHOTO BY PIXABAY

The last few months have been challenging not only for me, my wife and family, but for all of us as we undergo this global pandemic. The coronavirus (COVID 19 ) . I underwent a sickness back in January just as we began hearing of the coronavirus, before we had any known cases in the U.S. As I was sitting there watching the news and shaking uncontrollably with a fever and chills, the media was talking about this coronavirus pandemic. My mind began racing with fear.  I didn’t know what was going on with me. It couldn’t be possible I came in contact with anyone who had this virus. Or could it?

I was supposed to watch my granddaughter the next day so I immediately called my daughter and told her not to bring her because I didn’t know what was going on with me. As it turned out I had a bacterial (not viral) infection around my kidneys. It wasn’t contagious. I was hospitalized for three days and given antibiotics through an IV.  I had to take antibiotics (pills) for 14 days afterwards. As of this writing I’ve been okay since. But this pandemic hit close to home when one of my siblings told me that she tested positive for the virus and was sent home from the hospital to quarantine for 14 days.

To paraphrase a  word that perhaps some of us may have thought to be overused, ” this is an unprecedented event.”  This disease has ravaged our country and the world. We are living through this and  there is no playbook, no COVID 19 disaster owner’s manual so to speak. We must do what we can to stop the spread. We must become warriors and protect ourselves and each other.   Stay at home and if we need to go out for food or medicine,  we also need to social distance.  And of course, make sure we wash our hands and wear a mask.

Socially and economically our lives have been turned upside down. This invisible enemy has taken a lot of lives. It doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can become a victim; no matter how rich or poor, young or old, no matter what ethnicity. I know I not only speak for myself when I say, ‘ our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those who have lost love ones and also anyone who has tested positive for the virus. Because of this disease people can’t  be together, to hug, to love and comfort each other and grieve in the normal way that we are accustomed to.  Millions of people across the country have lost their jobs or have been furloughed because businesses had to close, children and college students are doing their work from home, some parents are working from home. People have postponed weddings, family reunions and school graduations have been put on hold and rescheduled for later dates.

During this challenging time there are so many people who have become our heroes. The people who are essential to our safety and provide those things that we need to sustain us. They are now the ones on the front lines. Our first responders, health care workers, police, firefighters, correction officers (out of sight but not out of mind), food industry workers, utility workers, truck drivers (who help supply the stores ), sanitation workers, people who are making ventilators or parts for ventilators and so many others. One of those that we may overlook are the morticians and their staff as they deal with the mounting death rate of this insidious disease.  The aftermath of which some communities have looked like battlegrounds.

This pandemic has brought out the best in some people. This evidence of love has been manifested in many ways. People are making masks and supplying them to health care workers, family and friends. People are helping their senior neighbors, dropping off food and other necessities for them.  Businesses are making and distributing much needed hand sanitizer. Even the media (like some of our leaders and politicians) have been doing their best to present the FACTS NOT FEAR of this CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. Some stations have even left us with relaxing imagery (like waterfalls and beautiful landscapes) to help us get through these stressful times.

There are other heroes who are putting out positive messages on INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and FACEBOOK, words of INSPIRATION and HOPE that we so desperately need to hear. There are HOLLYWOOD celebrities (actors and musicians) who are still providing us with music and entertainment to get us through this dark time. But I ESPECIALLY get pleasure and a sense of hope and encouragement from the thousands of everyday people (the ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE ‘ to borrow a title from a  JOHN LEGEND song), who are performing music, singing and doing dances on TIK TOK.  People who are helping to heal us while also relieving themselves of pent up boredom and relieving us of ours. Then there are the DJ’s across the country who are providing hours and hours of non stop music. One of those  dedicated DJ’s is DJ NICE who has a following into the hundreds of thousands and has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES. You can find him on INSTAGRAM and YOU TUBE.

We have witnessed what this disease, this COVID 19 ,can do and has done. The battle isn’t over yet. Although we’re not used to willfully holding ourselves hostage in our homes; the goods news is at least we can make needed trips to the grocery store, pick-up take-out food and medication. And of course take social distancing walks in the park. I heard from a friend ( a dog owner) who said that after about the 4 or 5th walk of the day, her dog starts to look at her with contempt. Even the dogs are starting to feel inconvenienced.  About the only thing I could think to say to her  was , ” I hope both of you are staying hydrated.”

It is uncertain if our lives will ever return to the normal we once knew. But one thing is certain. We have evidence. We have  witnessed what many people can do and have done. We have seen the random acts of kindness, love and generosity.  And like this disease, that is invisible and highly contagious; so is love and compassion. Perhaps, this pandemic may cause us to realize what’s really important to us during this surreal and seemingly apocalyptic time. The simple things in life.  Finding TIME  for self reflection, finding TIME to bond and appreciate family and friends, finding TIME to do projects around the house, Finding  TIME to write, paint, create…TIME that we never seemed to be able to find before because we were too busy. In  a circumstantial way, I believe TIME may have found us.

Either way here we are. We’re in this together and we’ll get through it together. I am determined to move into the future with a positive sense of hope yet cautious optimism. Life may be different after this pandemic. How different? It remains to be seen. All we have is this moment right now. As it has been said, ‘tomorrow is always a day away,’  I choose to take one day at a time and make the best of what time I have, be an asset to humanity.  And if I do my best for today, then maybe I’ll have a better tomorrow. This is what I want to focus on. This is what I want  my mind and heart to feel and to see clearly, with 20/20 VISION.

BE WELL AND STAY SAFE

The post THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS UNSEEN appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

photo by PIXABAY

 DOORS. Open doors, closed doors, automatic doors, revolving doors, garage doors, doors with handles, doors with knobs.  You probably already know by now that the DPL is going to attempt to weave some metaphorical screws into those doors. Put some handles and locks on the doors. Get keys made for you. NO. WAIT A MINUTE.  You have to do that yourself. While this might have started out like a home improvement project; we’re going to take a little detour  through the doors of your imagination. Wait a minute again. How are we going to do that? It’s YOUR IMAGINATION. The DPL just can’t barge into your mind. We’re not the thought police.

Our mission, as has been previously stated, is to stimulate your imagination so that you will at least find a key to fit and unlock the door to your imagination. Everyone has an imagination; the ability of forming new ideas or images or concepts of external objects . In short, the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful. So if you are reading this blog, feel free to use any part you may find helpful enough to lead to a story or poem.

As writers we have to live everything, meaning we have to absorb everything around us. We don’t necessarily have to keep it but we have to absorb it.  Everyday is a new day. There are no ordinary moments. STANDBY I’m going to switch over from “we” to “I.”  Well, tell you what, we’ll alternate. We have a license to do that.

Doors are meant to either keep people out or keep people in. When doors are closed we should either knock or ring a bell.  It could be that we’re outside of someone else’s home, in an office building, the neighborhood library, wherever. We should not reach for that handle unless we are granted entry. I approach closed doors with cautious optimism. No matter how bad I have to go to the bathroom. I still have to knock. There  might be someone using it who forgot to lock the door. This is basic DOOR 101:  NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING.

Then there are times when I’m spoiled. I go to a store or building and when I get close enough the doors slide open automatically. Very convenient. When I go to the bathroom; I move away from the toilet it flushes. Very convenient. I hold my hands underneath the soap dispenser and soap comes out. Very convenient. I hold my hands underneath the faucet and water comes out. So very convenient!  Then I go to the paper towel dispenser. All I have to do is wave my hands and a paper towel come out. WOW!!!  I AM JUST SO WONDERFULLY OVERWHELMED with all of theses conveniences. I don’t have to touch anything. That’s great!  MAKES MY LIFE EASIER.

I somewhat got lulled into being a little too spoiled; when one day I went to use the bathroom, washed my hands , then started waving my hands (like martial artist) in front of the paper towel dispenser. Nothing came out. I kept waving and waving my hands getting more upset. When I heard a voice behind me say, ” you have to turn the knob on the side.”   ” Thanks, ” I replied embarrassed.

Sometimes those doors in our mind don’t open automatically. We need a key to unlock them. Or. Sometimes it may be as simple as turning the handle or knob and ‘VOILA!”  So, get your key out if you need it. Turn the knob, open every door. EXPLORE.  The mind is a vast land of opportunity. Embrace the beauty. Stand in the WATCHTOWER above and look out at the SEA OF POSSIBILITY.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO STAND IN THE SUN, THE WIND AND THE RAIN. FEEL THE ELEMENTS.

Because right now this MOMENT IS MONUMENTAL, You will never see another like it. I know this might sound a little weird but I can feel you breathing this very minute. We can feel you. We are just that close. You and I.

So, we thank you again for riding with us. Time to drop you off . ” Now which house is yours?”

“DO YOU HAVE YOUR KEY?”

The post DOORS appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

photo by pixabay

This is not meant to entice you into doing anything rash or criminal. If that is the case; well, then money would be the root to evil. Of course it is true that we need money for our basic needs. And it is also true that some people are so driven by the desire to have money that they will do practically anything to get more of it. Their greed exceeds their needs.

The DPL does not give out financial advice. We want to keep this blog interesting and find various topics and ways to stimulate, ways to encourage, the POET and WRITER in you. And if you’re not either, we still want to also encourage you to keep reading the DPL’s blogs. You may find some, little morsel or nugget to stimulate you in one way or another.

So, getting back to the money issue. Having money, even lots of it isn’t evil. But being in love with having it; well that’s a different story. However, we do need it, we  got to have it. If it were not so;  then why has M…O…N…E…Y   been the subject of so many songs like “LOVE? “

There have been  many songs written about money. “Money” by Pink Floyd. “Money” (That’s what I want) by Barett Strong. “Money Money Money” by ABBA. “For the Love of Money” by the O’Jays. “She works hard for the Money” by Donna Summer. “Money can’t buy me Love” by the Beatles. Just to name a few.

EXERCISE #1  Write a poem or song about money. It can be from your view point of having too much or not enough, or even having enough. Living from the bottom to the top and in between. How do you feel about money and status in your neighborhood or in this country? Does having more money mean having more freedom or happiness? Go ahead. Let’s see what you got. You can even write that poem on a blank check if you want?

Exercise #2   Write a poem, short story, or a song about living in a futuristic utopian society. A society where there is no money, no currency as we know it. How will we acquire things? How will we pay our rent or mortgage, our food and clothing.  How will we get around ?Will we have cars, bicycles or a mass transit system? Or will we just call an uber?

Some of our beliefs about money may differ. But as long as we are living our lives to the fullest; doing the things we need to do in order to become better human beings and good stewards of our planet, then we are successful.

The DPL wants you to remember that, it’s not so much as “what’s in your wallet,” as much as ,”what’s in your heart.”

A Spiritual Math

                              A gateway opens inside my heart                                                                  water turns to wine                                                                                        money in my hand, I wonder                                                                        If I have enough to enter                                                                                                                                                                                                      “Count!” I hear a voice say                                                                            “How much to enter?” I ask                                                                          “I don’t want your money! I just                                                                      want you to come inside and feel                                                                                                                                                                                        BREATHE and COUNT

The post MONEY, MONEY, MONEY…MONEY!!! appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

Our deepest fears are what holds us back. We humans are complex beings. Or is it that we can sometimes complicate the simple things. In our emotional world, we are always dealing with our feelings, about ourselves, how we feel about others and how they feel about us.

The Fear Factor

Many of us have heard of the acronym for the word FEAR (False, Evidence, Appearing, Real). However, it is natural to have a healthy sense of fear. It is what keeps us grounded. We know there certain things we should not or can not do for fear of bad consequences that may result from our actions which could cause harm to ourselves or others. But when fear paralyzes, gets in the way, of us pursuing our dreams, goals on aspirations; then it becomes a problem, the enemy. It won’t allow us to get anything done. We become trapped, stagnate.  It starts to tell us we’re not good enough, that we’re not worthy enough, that we’ll never be successful, and on and on, until it beats us into the ground, into submission. That is fears’s mission. It must be eliminated. A good friend shared an inspiring song called, ‘FEAR IS A LIAR’ by Zack Williams. It helped me. It must be payed forward. It is our responsibility to help spread hope.

The toolbox

We must always have our toolbox available. A toolbox of positive people that we can talk to, our faith in a God of our understanding (if we choose), our faith in our ability and perseverance. If you’re on Facebook or twitter etc., there are many people who always have a positive message and are willing to give up pearls of wisdom. Follow them: of course, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Michelle Obama, Steve Harvey, Les Brown, Tony Robbins, Eric Thomas (E.T.) to name few. There are many others. Your mother, father, school teachers, siblings and friends; anyone could be a conduit for a positive message that may provide something we need to hear at just the right time. TED TALKS is another source where people also share their EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH and HOPE on a variety of topic

Write down your fears. What are you afraid of? ?What is holding you back from your full potential? What is holding you back from living, from loving, from writing? Writing our fears helps us to face them. Getting them down on paper can be a little scary at first but at least you have released them from the compartments of your mind,

We’re not saying that having a positive frame of mind is going to exempt us from whatever atrocities that may come our way; but at least we will hopefully be mentally balanced enough to bounce back  if we get knocked down. As it has been said, ‘If you fall try to land on your back because as long as you’re looking up. You can get up.’  We, the DPL,  only want the best for you. We would rather see you sail on a sea of positivity rather than drown in a negative one. Having a positive frame of mind will not only make you a better human being, it can also add years onto your life. You will feel healthier, more vibrant. You will be able to take your writing to a whole different level, Keep your eye on the prize.  And do yourself a favor:  DON’T FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DON’T WANT!!!

Get Ready For The New Voyage

So are you ready to sail on this adventure. We promise it will be as interesting  and as exciting as you’re willing to make it. Who knows where your imagination will lead you on this voyage. Don’t forget that pen and paper. You may go searching for the pirate’s treasure with a parrot on you shoulder telling you to, “WRITE! WRITE WRITE! ” Remember, you’re the CAPTAIN.

ARGHH!!!

Now what de ye say we go!  LET’S SAIL!!!  Dere might be some GOLD ‘en dem dere hills!!!

The post WRITE YOUR WAY TO NEW VOYAGES, appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

Let’s just say you were dropped somewhere in a dense woods. There you are with a backpack that has a few days rations of food and a bottle of much needed cold water on one of the hottest days of the year. Alone with no cellphone, no GPS, no map or compass. Not that either would be of any use anyway because you don’t no where you are.

You decide that just sitting there and waiting for someone to find you is not a viable option. Action is needed.  So you put those vocal cords to work. “Help!!! Can anyone hear me!!! ”  No answer. And that was your football stadium voice. If there was anyone else out there they certainly would have heard you.  You begin walking  not really knowing what direction you are headed.  Everything looks the same- green leaves, tall trees and vines that are grabbing at your ankles making it difficult to walk, tripping you, slowing you down. But from going, where?  No where fast. You’re in unfamiliar territory.

Now you must tap into all of your senses. Like an animal your senses must be heightened. The sense of sight, smell, touch, and hearing will be summoned to the test. There is no time for panic. No, wait. Yes, you are getting scared. Who wouldn’t be. It would be night fall in a few hours and you’ve seen many horror movies about what happens to unfortunate people lost in the woods, especially at night. Usually, when they began running from whatever they see, hear or think they hear; they trip over something or someone and sometimes even their own feet.

STOP, LOOK, WHAT’S THAT SOUND

But that’s the movies. And why are you thinking all of those wild random thoughts anyway? FOCUS and keep the FAITH. You must keep fighting those bothersome mosquitoes. Keep those feet moving.  Keep moving and listening. What’s that sound? Could it be a car or cars in the distance?  LISTEN…

You follow the sound like an arrow moving toward the center of its target. You are the arrow. As you get closer you know that there is a road on the other side of that steep hill. It’s so close you can taste it. After tumbling down several times bruised but not broken, you get up. Pulling on tree limbs for balance with determination ,you climb. It is almost as if you can feel an invisible hand on your back helping to push you up that hill.

There it is – the road. You finally made it.  But there is still more work to do. Which direction are you going? Where are you? Where are you going?  What are going to do when you get there?  If you’re not sure- it’s back to the WOODS again.  REMEMBER where you came from. You were lost and almost out of water. You didn’t have any bug repellent  and those mosquitoes almost ate you alive. Do you want to go through that all over again?

Geometry 101

Many of us know about geometry. The fact that the closest distance between two points is a straight line. But life happens whether we have a map or an app. There will be detours along the way. As long as we know where we want to go, trust and believe in ourselves, and  willing to tap into that guiding light, a loving higher power that is far greater than ourselves, then there is always hope. We also cannot be too proud to accept (if we need)  a helping hand from people who both love and support us.

Keeping the FAITH, HOPE and DETERMINATION we will inevitably hear that voice – “YOU’VE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION.”

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The DPL would like to take this time to read you your rights- you have the write to remain silent. It’s okay. Don’t put your hands behind your back. You won’t be arrested, put in the back of a police car for having nothing to say. Sometimes there is nothing to say. We are at a loss for words either to write, speak or both. We have a right to be silent. Silence is golden. Silence can be quiet or it can seem so unbearably loud.

The mind working overtime.

Loud because of those many thoughts running through our minds. Perhaps that’s why some of us are afraid of being silent for too long. We rather stay busy because if we stay still and be silent; we might get carjacked by some of those not so good memories we’d rather forget. So when they do pop up, and it’s bound to happen, we need to lock all of our doors. We meet them where they are. We deal with them but we don’t give them the keys to the car so that they can joy ride in it. It’s not theirs-they don’t own it and they don’t own us.

Poets need the sound of silence. We have the right to be silent, and a write to remain silent for as long as we need in order to allow time for silence to write us. Silence is a poet’s natural element. It can give power to what is written or spoken. It can give pause to the reader or listener to allow time for the words to incubate and fulfill their mission. Line breaks and stanza breaks make room for silence.

At a Poetry Reading (Is silence golden?)

A poet  demonstrated the power of silence when she shared her last poem of the evening. It was titled, ‘All There is to say About Nothing,’  She stood there looking at the page, occasionally glancing up at the audience, then looking back  down at the page. We waited with anticipation like little children. Moments passed  by and she still said nothing. You could see people  nervously moving in their seats wondering what was going on, wondering when she was going to speak. The silence lingered like the fragrance of apple blossoms.

That’s the sound of silence.

 Then she simply said…thank you. The place erupted with applause. People stood to their feet. A very clever demonstration of the usage of silence. After the poetry reading she explained that  she wasn’t sure if it was  the longest or shortest poem she never did write. The irony of it all is, although I loved her other poetry,  that particular one is still the most memorable.  All there is to say About Nothing…  she said nothing and I heard it loud and clear.

Silence can  benefit us if we use it wisely. However, we are poets and writers, we know we can’t be quiet for too long. So if you’re reading this and you have a brief  tip for our readers on what helps stimulate your writing process, please feel free to post it in the comment section of this blog.

 We appreciate you and encourage you to listen to your inner self. Continue to polish your craft.  Don’t be afraid of silence. It will give you nothing and everything in return. If you JUST LISTEN…  TO IT’S POWER!!!

                             THANK YOU

The post You have the Write to Remain Silent appeared first on Department of Poetic License.

We live in a world that is accelerating at a pace that some of us find hard to keep up with. Everything has to be quick, done fast. NOW!!! RIGHT NOW!!!  Why should I have to wait ? And why every time I decide to do something every body else wants to do the same thing?  Go ahead and make the turn! What are you waiting for!  Come on!  I’m late for work!

Most of us can relate to that or other instances where we were in a hurry and left the house at the last minute. Times when we acted out of character, lost our patience. We’re only human. Patience is indeed a virtue. It is needed more and more in this ‘all about ME’ driven society of increasing anger, aggression, and yes, impatience. PARDON ME BUT WHY ARE YOU IN MY WAY?

Unfortunately, there are so many angry people who are lost. They channel that anger and hatred into violent acts against random people who have nothing to do with their situation. We may or may not ever get to the point of holding hands and singing  Kumbaya; however, we can find healthy ways to channel that anger and rage into something positive and wholesome. Thoughts and feelings come and go. We don’t have to act on those contrived thoughts of hurt and destruction, nor allow our minds to be held hostage by them. Writing can help you to let go.

Does it sound like the DPL is recruiting. WE ARE. If you’re not already a writer, think about it. The world needs more POETS and WRITERS.

So we humbly ask you, unless you’re being attacked, to lay down your sword, your weapon and be brave enough to pick up a pen.  If you are angry or on the edge of doing something you may regret, release that anger through that pen. Some of the best poems, raps and essays have been born out of anger, irritability and discontentment.  Be BRAVE. USE THAT MIGHTY PEN!  Show us how tough you really are. You have to tough to be to be a writer, it can be rewarding , but it isn’t always easy to bring out what’s deep inside.

For these upcoming exercises we would prefer you use a pen or pencil, however, if need be type on the computer. In fact, even though we are communicating with you via the internet; we write all of our drafts long hand, pen (pencil) to paper. Then we transfer it to the computer. But for some of us, like a potter with clay, it seems as if something magical happens when we hold an ink pen in our hands. We become transformed into something greater than ourselves. Yet we still remain humble because we know the craft of writing  is a gift we must nurture.

EXERCISE #1

    Write down how you’re feeling this very moment. If you’re happy. Write why you are feeling happy.  If you are sad. Write why you are feeling sad. If you are angry. Write why you are feeling angry. You may feel a kaleidoscope of emotions, good, bad or indifferent all at once. Just write. Be patient with yourself and just sit there until you are ready to write. Be determined. Get it all out. Don’t worry about syntax or if it sounds right or makes any sense. Just write. Write like your life depends on it. Write until you can’t any more. You can always come back  and work on it again.

EXERCISE #2

   Write a gratitude list. Write down ten things you are grateful for and why you are grateful for them. See where it leads you. You will possibly find, like most of us, you have a lot of reasons to be grateful. You will realize that you matter.

EXERCISE #3

 Write a letter to someone you know. Yes. The old fashioned art of letter writing, not texting. If you’re not comfortable writing to someone else. Write a letter to yourself and mail it to yourself. This may sound ridiculous but interestingly enough you just might impress yourself. You may or may not want to tell someone about this one.  They may not get it. But who cares you’re doing this for you, not them.  (For more on letter writing check out Poets and Writers Nov./Dec. 2018 issue  The Art of Letter Writing, A Forgotten form, by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes , pw.org)

Let us not forget that the pen is mighty. It has truth and the power to write our wrongs. As long as we LET OUR WORDS BE THE VEHICLES OF POSITIVE EXPRESSION we will feel better knowing that we have done our part to spread GOOD VIBRATIONS.

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