So here’s the the next challenge I’m participating in with {W}rite-of-Passage…
The directions are:
The writer is the person who is standing apart. – Page 97 Bird by Bird.
“Think of those times when you’ve read prose or poetry that is presented in such a way that you have a fleeting sense of being startled by beauty or insight, by a glimpse into someone’s soul.” – pg 99.
This, today, is the ultimate challenge. To not see the filth or the reason but the objective reasons from within.
Alright. First of all, can I state for the record that I love Anne Lamott more than life? Her book Bird by Bird should be required reading for anyone who wants to write.
Secondly, I was scared out of my gourd to write this. I had something that came to me immediately and I’ve been fighting it away ever since so I pretty much decided that if I am fighting it, I need to do it.
To give a little bit of background, I have been writing out my “life” story (it’s been a colorful one so far) because I will be sharing it next month with a group of moms. The purpose is to illustrate how my faith was born and how it began to grow (and continues to grow for that matter).
Writing about it all has been very freeing to me as I have found some things brought to the surface that I thought I had dealt with. I hadn’t.
I had not really let myself cry about some things I needed to cry about or hurt over some things I needed to hurt over.
While writing this little tale, I did allow all of that to rise to the surface.
Exhausting.
But liberating.
For some reason, this came to me in the form of a haiku. Not sure that I’m exactly following the above directions but I love directions like these because obscurity allows for some freedoms and nothing is better to a writer than freedom. Huh. That’s the theme of this little haiku here…
I see a mirror. While looking in the mirror, this haiku came to me:
Release and be gone.
The caged bird sings because of
Freedom in the heart.
Bit by bit, we let it go until it merely becomes a piece of who we are but doesn’t define who we are. Release and be gone.
I absolutely love this! It is brave. I look forward to hearing more of your story.
I posted your award today. Thanks again, for such a sweet gift.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..CR: On Love and Awards =-.
Thank you, Tracy! Bravery is my new thing…:) I’m going to start posting my story in installments starting later this week. And of course, you are welcome. I love your blog and your candid writing about faith.
I agree with Tracy, it’s always a huge leap of faith to post poetry. Best of luck writing the rest of your life story; memoirs dig up lots of unprocessed stuff, don’t they?
.-= Julie´s last blog ..In My Bedroom =-.
Um, yes, Julie. They most certainly do. :) It’s time though.
Thanks for reading and for commenting!
Simple but says so much! I look forward to hearing more about your ‘faith journey”. Mine is quite the tale as well. The challenge when telling the tale is finding the words that really reflect your experience. Hard but worth it!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Working mom trying to fit it all in! =-.
Ah. Now I’m curious. I love to hear people’s stories. I’m starting to post mine in installments starting this week. Love your blog, Kathy. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for commenting!
Certainly a sound observation, and a nicely written haiku.
Mmmm… a haiku.
Lovely.
Thanks, Laura! I love to write them. All kinds of fun for us writer type nerds…:) Thanks so much for stopping by!
We are Renn. people too! Excy is an architect/artist/rodeo rider/mustang sanctuary owner and I am a former model/writer always learning something new – hammered dulcimer etc. on. Stop learning you wither away. You quoted from the best — L B knows her stuff…..
Ah, so good to know there are others out there! Love the varied interests…
Thanks so much for reading and for commenting as well!