There is pattern and meaning hidden in the objects in our lives. Yes, of course, the parts and pieces that make up a kitchen are there for a purpose. And we routinely change and arrange our living spaces. When we do that we consider things from functionality to color to fengshui. But decorating your home isn’t what I’m talking about. I’m suggesting that we, as poets, begin to see poetic meaning within the forms surrounding us. That we pay attention to the layers of meaning in the objects we see in our world. That we begin to feel and understand the mists that rise from object landscapes.
Consider this grouping of objects: the clothes basket, which sits on the chair that has a hat slung over the back. Beyond that, it’s the chair that went with the dining room table you grew up with, so, in essence, the clothes basket holding the objects with which you cover yourself with is perched on the object where your father or uncle or aunt sat for Thanksgiving dinners. And the hat, a black Stetson, came from New Mexico and your blue-eyed grandmother looked stunning wearing it.
So, the poem from all of this could be something like:
Woven wicker seat holds remnants
of lives rich as warm Southern gravy
spreading now into shirts, socks, shorts,
memories of times spent - threadbare
now, yet crowned with the glory of heritage
like a stunning black Stetson showing
off her turquoise band cinched tight.
What just happened here? (Ok, hold on, this exercise does make sense…) I looked at a random collection of objects and opened myself to whatever thoughts occurred to me. I remembered something about form, function, history, and purpose. I then wrote about those affects rather than purely describing a chair, clothes basket, and hat.
Look around and give this approach a try - just be open to what comes to you. Initial thoughts may seem nonsensical, but I bet enough of the “spirit” of these things begins to materialize for you to start writing. The wonderful part of this kind of writing is who knows where it comes from and where this particular way of looking at your world will carry you. Enjoy :-)