Before going to bed last night I decided I would go to Cups Coffee this morning and buy a latte. I ache inside for the small businesses struggling to stay in business so it was my way of supporting them. When I bought some food supplies yesterday I noticed they were open. They now have the shop completely quarantined, primarily taking call in orders only. I was able to step inside the front door, order my drink then step outside and wait for them bring it outside. That’s when this image was seen. Drink for the day was a matcha latte with lavender syrup. Much prefer honey rather than the lavender. I heard a new for many of us yesterday, we’re now called quarantiners. And, yes, Websters has that name in their dictionary. 🙂
I started working on a photography book well over a year ago where I intended to include excerpts from my journals along with some of my favorite images, primarily to leave for my children and grandchildren. About three months ago I read what I’d written, thought it was sh*t, told myself I’m not a writer and put it down. Well, this quarantine time beckoned me to look at what I could do with the writing. I’m not sure what but something happened. A clear mind maybe, but it began morphing into a style of writing I’m not used to. I’ve read several names and styles of writing called prose, poetry, haiku, poetic prose, poetic journals, and a bunch more. Anyway, I’m having fun with it. My last post had my feeble, and first, attempt to write in some form of poetic prose on this site.
12 Comments
Joe
Keep up with the writing and the journaling, Monte. The grandkids will appreciate it, maybe not right away but at some point they will.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Joe. The desire to write is because of the busy lives many do not take the time to sit and listen. Reading will allow them to read at their convenience.
Cedric
Glad to hear your idea is coming together Monte. I have no doubt it will be well received and long appreciated.
Monte Stevens
Thank you! It’s interesting that I’ve not told many people. A fear someone may hold me accountable? I want to know about the haiku and poetic prose writing as I seem to enjoy it. Have ordered a couple books by Mary Oliver and Rainer Marie Rilke as both wrote in that style. We’ll see what happens.
Cedric
Rainer Marie Rilke is a good choice. I am also a fan of Charles Bukowski, a poet my son got me onto and who’s style is radically different to what most would classify as poetry but which is incredibly engaging and strangely relatable. Anyway, have fun with it Monte. Poetry is where the craft of writing becomes art.
Monte Stevens
Thank you. I looked into Bukowski as he was listed along with Rolke and Oliver as writes using the poetic prose style. Could be a couple books of his I’d like to read. Which one did you read?
Cedric
Love Is A Dog From Hell is a good one (reputed to be his best). He tends to be raw but profound in ways not often seen in poetry, and be warned, not without some profanity, though I have always found it somehow contextual, if you know what I mean. After all, poetry is art in written form so should not be bound by moral standards. IMHO 🙂
Monte Stevens
Thanks. I attend meetings where some people have no way to articulate in english, only profanity.
Tom Dills
This is a good opportunity to revisit past intentions and create new ones. Your book sounds like an excellent project. And remember – your children and grandchildren will not critique your work. They will treasure it.
Monte Stevens
Yes, this extended time at home will produce some great stuff as creatives turn towards action rather than dreaming. I know a couple of my kids and a couple of my grandchildren will want to read what I think about life and the experiences of my life.
Mark
I like the idea of leaving a blog behind in printed form. I have often thought about what happens to all the time I spent over the years when website dues are no longer paid for, and everything turns into a 404 error. Maybe that in itself is poetic. I don’t have kids, so I doubt anyone would even care to have it.
Monte Stevens
Just leaving some written form of our legacy, however distorted our perspective is, is a gift to the world. I also have thought about how I could put in paper form some of the things I’ve written along with my images. This may just be the ticket.