In this edition, we turn to the enduring wisdom of a highly respected modern poet, Mary Oliver, to extract practical advice for those dedicated to developing their craft.
What a treasure trove of poetic wisdom is in this piece, Tom. This resonates with me most strongly in two areas. 1. Slow down and observe. Focus on one item and write about its many facets. I think of seashells I used to find on the beach. The texture of the sand against the shell and how the light plays off each one. 2. The rewrite and refinement of a poem. The most crucial part of the poetry writing process, I have found. Some days, I catch so many mistakes that I question how alert I am as a person overall! 😅 Always surprising and always needed - you are so right. A great article, Tom!
Hi Laney, thank you. I have a special liking of Mary Oliver and in my early days I studied her style and intonation , and my first paid writing job writing poetry for a college English literature course was based on the guidance gleaned from Mary's work. Appreciate your input.
You are so welcome. It’s a great piece! Very helpful. In fact, I am going to buy that book upon your recommendation. Will chat with you about it as I go through it!
What a treasure trove of poetic wisdom is in this piece, Tom. This resonates with me most strongly in two areas. 1. Slow down and observe. Focus on one item and write about its many facets. I think of seashells I used to find on the beach. The texture of the sand against the shell and how the light plays off each one. 2. The rewrite and refinement of a poem. The most crucial part of the poetry writing process, I have found. Some days, I catch so many mistakes that I question how alert I am as a person overall! 😅 Always surprising and always needed - you are so right. A great article, Tom!
Hi Laney, thank you. I have a special liking of Mary Oliver and in my early days I studied her style and intonation , and my first paid writing job writing poetry for a college English literature course was based on the guidance gleaned from Mary's work. Appreciate your input.
You are so welcome. It’s a great piece! Very helpful. In fact, I am going to buy that book upon your recommendation. Will chat with you about it as I go through it!