Daily Nourishment for December 3, 2024: The Bones and Skeletons of Language
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 40 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 10-15 minutes
Poetry is “the bones and the skeleton of the language. It teaches you, if nothing else, how to choose your words.” - Rita Dove
Pause.
Take six deep breaths with a six-count inhale and a six-count exhale. Then give your attention to your body. Where do you notice imbalance, pain, tension, energy? Can you breathe into those places and try to release anything you’re holding on to?
Prompt.
Set a five-minute timer and begin collecting words to use for a found poem. Collect words from mail stacked on your kitchen counter, email, text messages, notes, book titles from any books nearby, whatever. Find at least 30-40 words.
OR
Make it Advent: Collect words that you associate with Advent or words from various Advent resources—book titles, song titles, song lyrics, essays, poems, Instagram posts, etc.
Practice.
Set a timer for eight minutes. Then write all of the words down. Play with the words, rearrange them, put some together, and see what happens next.
Don’t worry about writing a perfect poem. Play and give attention to any connections that emerge and surprises that appear.
Want More?
Read “How to Write Found Poetry” by Leah Umansky in The New York Times
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Workshops, Gatherings, & Resources
—Advent Resources: Throughout Advent, I’ll include a new resource each day. For today, here’s a website I recommend that has so much Advent goodness: Art & Theology
—Become an SDW Insider: (Free) Weekly emails, behind-the-scenes updates, reminders for free SDW Co-Writing sessions, early access to gatherings and retreat registrations, occasional offers and gifts, bonus resources, and more. Email Charlotte at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com to be added to the SDW Insiders.
—New Resource: Parenting with Art® Lectio Divina Cards Information about ordering these cards can be found in my Books + Spiritual Direction + Retreats & Gatherings email newsletter . To stay in the loop on all of my work, writing, book recs, and more, subscribe to that weekly newsletter at charlottedonlon.com/subscribe.
Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.
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