Wow. What a difference a month makes, huh?
On the final Friday of February I ran on a busy trail, met friends at a coffeehouse, attended a political event.
Today — the final Friday of March — I’ll be at home in my very little bungalow, trying to work in that way we all try to work now, getting out to walk or pull weeds when I can, listening to my spouse and grown kids on their various conference calls and Netflix parties.
I know we’re hearing a lot about how people aren’t doing things right in response to this utterly devastating global health crisis, but what amazes me is how well people are doing. How schools closed and kids came home, how shops shuttered, how we stopped seeing grandparents first and then co-workers and then friends. How we are finding our humanity, our tenderness, our senses of humor. How, oddly, we’re deepening connections.
Poetry has been all about that forever, of course. We’re just clunky people and it takes us awhile to catch up. So. Here we are. I started last week posting online poetry prompts for teachers, librarians, parents and kids suddenly in the midst of a distance learning experiment they didn’t expect. My first lesson was on writing gratitude etherees. Then, just last night, I posted another one on cinquains.
Now it’s Poetry Friday, and my Poetry Sisters and I have a prompt to attend to. It’s a loose one — “classic” — no particular topic or form. So I built on the work I’d been doing for my video and I wrote some cinquains. (OK, they’re not technically classic and certainly not ancient — they were first seen around 1915 — but I used the word “classic” in that conversational way we do, so I think it counts? Anyway…)
In my video prompt I suggested folks use the form to explore things they’re a little afraid of, things that worry them or that they don’t like. I know this sounds glass-half-empty, but we’d done gratitude the week before and, hey, a person’s got feelings, right?
So as much as I’d like to say I used this exercise as an escape, here are my Novel Coronavirus Cinquains for your reading pleasure.
Classic
Quarantino =
Sourdough starter and
Clorox in toilet paper tubes
on Zoom
Classic
Disinfectant=
Wash your hands while singing
It’s the End of the World As We
Know It
Classic
Social distance =
Next door, across the street
Over the phone but still right here
Hi, friend
Classic
Insomnia =
Why can’t I catch my breath
Am I sick or well? Am I safe?
Oh, moon
Classic
Optimism =
We can do this, come back
Like wisteria vines in spring
Bloom. Heal.
For more classics, visit my pals here:
Laura
Sara
Tanita
Tricia
Kelly
Andi
Rebecca
And you can find all the Poetry Friday posts at The Opposite of Indifference!
Enjoy, and please friends, be safe and well.
I so enjoyed your etheree prompt. I wrote two and shared them for PF this week. They aren’t gratitude…more silly. But, they were fun. I will check out your video for cinquains. Yours make me smile…even though there are some just sad, weird bits like being on the phone with someone right next door. I’m enjoying my family too. We had to move my daughter out of her freshman dorm room yesterday. It was fine…all very business like and efficient. I was sad at the ending of her first exciting year away from home. Thanks for your poetry…and the connection of it.
Oh, Liz, I love these! Starting them all with “Classic” makes them perfect for cinquains and gives them such a nice rhythm. My fav is the insomnia one, and I barked a laugh at the disinfectant one. Well done, my friend:>)
Oh, Liz. These are all… perfect. Since I just started my sourdough starter again, that made me laugh as well.
Instead of singing “It’s the end of the world,” I’ve been singing They Might Be Giants’ “You’re older than you’ve ever been, and now you’re even older…” It works to make me laugh every time.
Love these cinquains, Liz! I want to find your post about etherees since that is something I have never tried. Thanks so much!
“Like wisteria vines in spring”
Bloom. Heal.
I adore these lines.
I think you’ve done a fine job with these cinquains.
Like you and Tanita, I’m also singing, but my song is 3rd Planet by Modest Mouse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsnELWjsCsA
Thank you for prodding us along this month.
I heard about your etheree prompt today while reading another post, Liz, & plan to try it soon. It’s nice to see so many different ideas of writing shared, but it is a little overwhelming, too. I love the cinquains, like others, the beginning ‘classic’ sets the tone. I laughed at the one about wisteria. My brother has a gazebo surrounded by that vine, claims that it blooms all the more when he beats on it with a stick! Your cinquain, his advice – survival’s happening! Thanks & best wishes to you to continue good health & lots of writing!
The insomnia cinquain is my favorite, too (oh, moon). Here’s hoping for sleep, clean hands, and friends we can talk to one way or another.
I too have been touched by how well people have been doing, in general. I find comfort in people’s resilience. These are great. I especially love “Oh, moon.”
Liz, I really enjoyed your teaching videos on the Etheree and Cinquan. I think your gentle style must be so encouraging to kids. I was so glad you used “Thanku Poems of Gratitude,” and read your etheree from that book.
SO happy to have more LGS to share with my students! Your classic insomnia is so me. Every ache and pain makes me terrified that I’m sick and I’ve sickened others. My classic optimism is the buds on my clematis. The fresh chives I used in scones this afternoon. Thank you!
These are just perfect. I can’t wait until the connections we are deepening start blooming like those wisteria vines.
Liz: I love your optimism and I’ve felt mostly the same. People quietly doing what they need to. Doing well. I hope that continues. Thanks for your prompts… I must admit I feel a little overwhelmed with prompts at the moment, but I will get back to them. Enjoyed the cinquains very much. Thanks again.
Wisteria is one of my favorite spring flowers. Healing. Love your collection of cinquain. Thanks for your video tutorials. I’ve done a few, too. I had to get over my initial nerves and just.do.it. Do you want to take a line for the Progressive Poem? I have two dates left.
Liz, I left a comment last week, but I don’t see it…. I especially love the image of wisteria coming back because you know, when it comes back it really COMES BACK, with a crazy growth spurt and flowers everywhere. I’m holding onto that.