This was helpful, thank you! I name my poems after finishing writing, I couldn’t write them the other way around. My last ones are called ‘bleeding flower’ and ‘I am not the author’, what do you think about those?
I'm so glad it was helpful! And your process is exactly right.......let the poem tell you what it wants to be called.
Those are fantastic titles! They work in two different, very effective ways. 'bleeding flower' is immediately visceral and visual; it creates a powerful, concrete image that's full of emotion. 'I am not the author' is more conceptual and mysterious; it makes me lean in and ask questions, which is a wonderful way to hook a reader.
Both show that you're already thinking about how a title can open a door for the reader. Great work!
Thank you for your feedback Tom, I appreciate you! The magical thing is that all my poems (sounds like a lot but it’s now 4 or 5 is total) just come to me, without me necessarily wanting to write poetry.
We think our job is to "write," but so often, our real job is just to get quiet enough to "listen." The poems are already out there, and they choose you, not the other way around. Your only task is to be ready to write them down when they arrive.
It sounds like you're a wonderful listener. That's a true gift.
This is the perfect example of the magic in action, Merveye!
You took a mundane piece of information, the clocks changing, and listened to the echo it created inside you. And look at the beautiful result. You've reframed darkness not as an absence of light, but as a presence, a companion you can welcome.
That final turn, "Hello darkness / The pleasure is mine," is just fantastic. It completely shifts the power dynamic. Thank you so much for sharing the poem and the process behind it
Thank you Tom! Your comments and knowledge helped me tremendously 🙏🏼 Another reader asked me if it’s an Emily Dickinson and I didn’t know her or her work, so I looked her up and it made my day! I’ve reshared the poem just now in a post and added some, because I feel it would be a shame to let it get lost in the void of notes. I wanted to ask you what you think about explaining poems? I haven’t until now and I’m not sure if it adds or takes away from them. What are your thoughts on that?
I've never intentionally thought about how to title a piece of my writing. I mostly, quickly write something before I hit publish. But this has given me something to think about. This is another great article. do you think it's worth going back through and retitling your published work?
Thank you so much, Franky! I'm happy it gave you a new lens to look through. Your process of adding a title quickly at the end is what most people do, so you're in good company!
That's a really interesting question about retitling old work. My feeling is this: I'd treat it like a painter deciding whether to touch up an old canvas. If a title feels like a genuine missed opportunity, or if it actively misrepresents the poem, then absolutely, go back and give it a title that helps it shine! But if it's just "okay," it might be better to let it be a snapshot of your process at that time and carry the lesson forward into your new poems.
After having two spinal surgeries in a year, I've had time on my hands. I have had time to write and upload 11, journal/diary pages into Google Docs. I've found myself editing and remastering some of my writing, with a new perspective and new eyes. Honestly, it has been so enjoyable. Your articles have inspired new ways to look at my poetry prayers and Dear Diary entries. I have been writing 5 days a week 6-8 hours a day for almost a year. I think it has saved my life, not to be too dramatic.
Franky, thank you for sharing that. It's incredibly powerful.
And please know, saying it "saved your life" isn't dramatic at all. It's the absolute truth of what writing can do. When the body is in a season of healing and limitation, writing becomes the place where we can be limitless. It’s not an escape; it’s a form of active, essential repair for the spirit.
The fact that you're going back to "edit and remaster" your own story with new eyes is just beautiful. You're not just documenting your life; you're making sense of it, finding the threads, and weaving them into something stronger. That is some of the most important work a person can do.
I'm genuinely moved to hear that the articles have played a small part in that journey. Keep going. You're doing something amazing.
That's the absolute best feeling, isn't it? When you read something expecting a simple tip and instead find a whole new way of looking at your own work.
It's the same magic that happens when you start writing a poem about one thing, and it surprises you by revealing what it's really about halfway through. I'm so happy it sparked that for you
This was helpful, thank you! I name my poems after finishing writing, I couldn’t write them the other way around. My last ones are called ‘bleeding flower’ and ‘I am not the author’, what do you think about those?
I'm so glad it was helpful! And your process is exactly right.......let the poem tell you what it wants to be called.
Those are fantastic titles! They work in two different, very effective ways. 'bleeding flower' is immediately visceral and visual; it creates a powerful, concrete image that's full of emotion. 'I am not the author' is more conceptual and mysterious; it makes me lean in and ask questions, which is a wonderful way to hook a reader.
Both show that you're already thinking about how a title can open a door for the reader. Great work!
Thank you for your feedback Tom, I appreciate you! The magical thing is that all my poems (sounds like a lot but it’s now 4 or 5 is total) just come to me, without me necessarily wanting to write poetry.
That's the best-kept secret of writing, isn't it?
We think our job is to "write," but so often, our real job is just to get quiet enough to "listen." The poems are already out there, and they choose you, not the other way around. Your only task is to be ready to write them down when they arrive.
It sounds like you're a wonderful listener. That's a true gift.
That’s exactly how it feels, it’s magical! Like yesterday I was reminded that the clock will go back this weekend and it got me thinking about darkness, like does she care she’s always there and a poem came up ✨ If you feel like checking it out: https://substack.com/@merveye/note/c-169878551?r=23kpys&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
This is the perfect example of the magic in action, Merveye!
You took a mundane piece of information, the clocks changing, and listened to the echo it created inside you. And look at the beautiful result. You've reframed darkness not as an absence of light, but as a presence, a companion you can welcome.
That final turn, "Hello darkness / The pleasure is mine," is just fantastic. It completely shifts the power dynamic. Thank you so much for sharing the poem and the process behind it
Here’s the post: https://open.substack.com/pub/merveye/p/poem-emily-darkness-dickinson?r=23kpys&utm_medium=ios Wish you a wonderful Sunday! ✨
Thank you Tom! Your comments and knowledge helped me tremendously 🙏🏼 Another reader asked me if it’s an Emily Dickinson and I didn’t know her or her work, so I looked her up and it made my day! I’ve reshared the poem just now in a post and added some, because I feel it would be a shame to let it get lost in the void of notes. I wanted to ask you what you think about explaining poems? I haven’t until now and I’m not sure if it adds or takes away from them. What are your thoughts on that?
I've never intentionally thought about how to title a piece of my writing. I mostly, quickly write something before I hit publish. But this has given me something to think about. This is another great article. do you think it's worth going back through and retitling your published work?
Thank you so much, Franky! I'm happy it gave you a new lens to look through. Your process of adding a title quickly at the end is what most people do, so you're in good company!
That's a really interesting question about retitling old work. My feeling is this: I'd treat it like a painter deciding whether to touch up an old canvas. If a title feels like a genuine missed opportunity, or if it actively misrepresents the poem, then absolutely, go back and give it a title that helps it shine! But if it's just "okay," it might be better to let it be a snapshot of your process at that time and carry the lesson forward into your new poems.
Very inspiring and motivating..
After having two spinal surgeries in a year, I've had time on my hands. I have had time to write and upload 11, journal/diary pages into Google Docs. I've found myself editing and remastering some of my writing, with a new perspective and new eyes. Honestly, it has been so enjoyable. Your articles have inspired new ways to look at my poetry prayers and Dear Diary entries. I have been writing 5 days a week 6-8 hours a day for almost a year. I think it has saved my life, not to be too dramatic.
Franky, thank you for sharing that. It's incredibly powerful.
And please know, saying it "saved your life" isn't dramatic at all. It's the absolute truth of what writing can do. When the body is in a season of healing and limitation, writing becomes the place where we can be limitless. It’s not an escape; it’s a form of active, essential repair for the spirit.
The fact that you're going back to "edit and remaster" your own story with new eyes is just beautiful. You're not just documenting your life; you're making sense of it, finding the threads, and weaving them into something stronger. That is some of the most important work a person can do.
I'm genuinely moved to hear that the articles have played a small part in that journey. Keep going. You're doing something amazing.
Good advice I got a lot more out of this piece of writing than I thought I would. And I love it when that happens.
That's the absolute best feeling, isn't it? When you read something expecting a simple tip and instead find a whole new way of looking at your own work.
It's the same magic that happens when you start writing a poem about one thing, and it surprises you by revealing what it's really about halfway through. I'm so happy it sparked that for you