Day 31 SOL 16: Shifting to Poetry

"One learns by thinking and writing, and by talking about writing - but primarily through writing."      ---Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook (p. 17)

Today one door closes another one opens, as today I step from the month long Slice of Life Writing Challenge with Two Writing Teachers into a month of writing poetry for April's National Poetry Month celebration.  I'm looking forward to spending some time writing poetry.  This is my third year to join poetry bloggers in a month of writing (thanks, Mary Lee, for the nudge and inspiration).

Many moons ago I was talking about poetry with a friend and poet.  We were discussing poetry and I was lamenting that poets seemed to have a style.  I'm always trying to figure out my style.  Do I write for children or adults?  Do I write about small things or moments?  What type of poetry feels right when I sit down to put words on paper?  Without skipping a beat, my friend commented, "You're a narrative poet."  She said it so quickly that I had to pause to consider her words.  In a sense she was right.  I'm not sure I've found my place in poetry yet, but I'm going to use this month to try it out a bit.  As Mary Oliver says, "One learns...primarily by writing."

I considered a theme.  I'm looking forward to Mary Lee's writing around old photographs and Amy VanDerwater's quest to Wallow in Wonder.  There will be a myriad of other poets choosing a lens for celebration.  I can't wait to see what the month has in store for me ---- and kicking off Poetry Month on a Friday is more cause for celebration.  I did consider a theme, but I've decided I'm going to spend the month working on the craft of poetry and see where it takes me.  While I don't plan to have a theme (of course, who knows what will happen), I do plan to focus on narrative poetry and improving my craft in free verse poetry.  I've gathered my mentors:

• Mary Oliver:  A Poetry Handbook
• Georgia Heard:  Writing Toward Home
• Susan Wolfridge:  Poem Crazy
• A stack of poetry 
• Links to poetry bloggers (listed in sidebar)

I'm looking forward to the switch to writing poetry.  I know it will focus my attention on smaller moments, on word selection, on the rhythms of a poem, and on the significance of a line.  There's something comfortable about poetry.  On the days when I struggled to find something to write about during March's challenge, I could ease the stress by thinking about poem.  So here we go....another crazy month of writing.  Who's in??

For the month of March I will be participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge hosted at Two Writing Teachers.  It has been a busy month of writing, commenting, and learning with this community.  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!  Stop by today's link up to join the conversation or find some great reading.