The Poetry in a Quote

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Over in the Garden, Susie wanted us to write a poem based on a Joan Didon quote.

"Joan Didion (born December 5, 1934) is an American author best known for her novels and her literary journalism. Her novels and essays explore the disintegration of American morals and cultural chaos, where the overriding theme is individual and social fragmentation. A sense of anxiety or dread permeates much of her work.[1]"


I selected this quote:

“I don't know what I think until I write it down.”
― Joan Didion




Words connect dots
among green stars
peat moss n' damp daylight
"I don't know what I think until
I write it down."
tears spill down n' across page
crosswords
leave soul's aperture
waking 
heart's labyrinth
my gray
garden
plants
 seeded beds
waiting for perennial
mood to 
thaw.

©Ella Wilson
 
 
 

Comments

Alex J. Cavanaugh said…
I think you captured it well. Seeded bed of words.
April 13, 2015 at 6:58 PM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
When I look back at some of my poems, I am amazed what my inner self knew that I did not consciously know........that appeared in my poems. So this quote appealed to me too but I went with another. I resonate with the green stars, the peat moss and the cross words leaving soul's aperture. LOVE your closing lines. Spring will soon melt away all the wobblies. LOL.
April 13, 2015 at 7:11 PM
Rosemary Nissen-Wade said…
Yes, we may not consciously know, but some time the seeds were planted.
April 13, 2015 at 9:36 PM
Jim said…
Liking this, Ella, even though I don't garden. The "my gray
garden plants seeded beds waiting for perennial mood to thaw" is a lot of us. Be patient, words will come and grow.
..
April 13, 2015 at 10:22 PM
Gillena Cox said…
Nice imagery Ella

Thanks for stopping over to read mine

Much love...
April 14, 2015 at 12:50 AM
colleen said…
Words connects dots is a great lead in line for this. I also like to think of them as stars.

I have said something similar to Ms. Didion, that I write to synthesize what I'm learning at the time and use poetry as a form of therapy, like taking my pshyic blood pressure.
April 14, 2015 at 6:54 AM
Hannah said…
I love the likening of moods to garden, Ella...this is emotive and beautiful!
April 14, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi, Ella,

Nicely written.... I do enjoy your poetry.

I hope all is well!
April 14, 2015 at 7:46 AM
Grace said…
I hope your mood thaws and that your garden will bloom again of spring & colors ~

Hope you are well Ella ~ Have a good week ~
April 14, 2015 at 4:12 PM
Outlawyer said…
Hey Ella--the crosswords had a strong double meaning for me here! One gets pretty tired out by all the grey. Thanks for the clever poem. k.
April 14, 2015 at 6:47 PM
Other Mary said…
I like the way you have taken Didion's quote, "I don't know what I think until I write it down." and expand it to knowing our selves and our feelings too. I know that is true of me as well. And as nearly everyone has said, you've chosen images that express this so well.
April 15, 2015 at 3:20 AM
Susie Clevenger said…
So often we don't know we are actually fertile ground where life plants seeds to grow into art. This is a beautiful poem inspired by a quote. Thank you so much for taking part in the challenge!!
April 15, 2015 at 6:25 PM
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