This morning I decided it was the perfect day to write a poem about coffee. It was the time of day I like to write sunrise poems, but the sun is rising later and later so I am awake and writing long before the first hint of light begins to show itself to me
I have written several coffee poems. They are always well received. One of my friends carries my very first coffee poem in his wallet.
Today, however, nothing floated into my hands and off the tip of my pen. I took a gulp, closed my eyes and thought, “Bitter”. The next thought was, “When did I decide I like this stuff?” I scolded myself and thought, “A more original word for bitter” and in floated “Acrid”.
Hardly the stuff for the poem I wanted to write.
Those words do match my mood lately.
Ironically, or not, this realization makes me laugh.
Then I thought, “What does coffee do that makes us decide to like it?”
I thought, “It makes a fun percolating sound. It wakes us up when we are tired and need a jolt awake.”
I decided to visit one of my favorite “friends” for poetic inspiration: the thesaurus.
First I looked up BITTER: my favorite word combination the thesaurus offered was this one: Dire vexation. I like that – it sounds so utterly romantic. I can imagine Dudley Do-Right riding into town to rescue the fair maid shouting, “Dire Vexation, can’t I get a decent cup of coffee?”
Everyone needs coffee before work begins, yes?
Then I sought out synonyms for percolate. When I was in college my coffee maker was actually an old fashioned percolater. I enjoy coffee maker sounds a lot. I found when I researched what I have written about coffee, I mention several times how much I love this sound. Interesting.
Here are my favorite words for “Percolate” ~ note not all are coffee related. To me, this makes it even more fun: Seep - drip – dribble – drain - amble – dawdle - meander - stroll – wander
Finally I found words that are synonymous with alarm. I found, among others, tintinabulum, carillon, peal, rouse and stir up.
My poem has not yet magically come to life, but I did scoop up some words and images for some word-love later. Perhaps it will be poetic, perhaps it will be prose-oriented.
I am guessing it will bring a smile to some faces and perhaps you will carry what I write in your pocket some day.
Right now, I am giving myself space to not be attached to the outcome, I am simply enjoying the process, even if that means giggling about word combinations that strike me as funny.
It is better than doing and writing nothing.
Do you get stuck in the “thinking about” writing or taking action in another way?
What would happen if you moved forward in a simple way (like opening the thesaurus) to have fun rather than worry about the result?
I have my guesses but I will look forward, instead, to hearing from you.
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© 2011
Julie Jordan Scott
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