 IN SEARCH OF INSPIRATION
By the word inspiration, I mean arousal of the feelings - an awakening of the mind to profound and fresh thought patterns, whether by divine or natural influence.
Having looked at the word epiphany and discussed its vital place in poetry, last month , I found myself thinking about those occasions when , in vain , I longed to express myself in verse. Often I would sit for hours, fruitlessly scrabbling around in the recesses of my mind for something to say. Eventually I would become frustrated, bang my desk , and then go for a walk outside...
It has been said that a change is as good as a vacation. Im not sure that I completely agree with that saying, however, I have often found change to be quite conducive to inspiration. The changing of my surroundings did not always serve to bring me moments of truth, but it certainly altered my train of thought, and relieved a great deal of my frustration. The writing of a poem can be extremely challenging - a "draining" experience for the soul, but what a sense of release arrives when a decent draft is at last on the page!
Since the days of desk banging and brisk walks, I have discovered that there is a myriad of ways to find inspiration.
The following, are some of the techniques I have found useful.
PRAYER
I like to pray before beginning any creative writing experience because , as a Christian , I desire Gods influence upon my thought. I believe in the importance of committing a writing project to His guidance, before even starting to write. There is much written in the Bible that attests to the importance of praying for divine guidance. Here are just two of many scriptures that come to mind as I am writing this:
Proverbs 16:4 - " Commit your works to the Lord and will establish your thoughts.";
Jer.33:3 - "Call unto me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know."
If God can reveal wonderful things to Jeremiah, will He deny the prayerful poet?
GETTING ALONE WITH ONES THOUGHTS
Avoid distractions when trying to write poetry.
NOISE
Get away somewhere where you can be quiet, or USE noise to your advantage , e.g. inspirational music. Cacophony, or unpleasant noise , may be detrimental to ones cause. I doubt many poets find it beneficial to write whilst having to endure unpleasant noises. Sometimes, however , the active and determined mind can tune out undesirable sounds.
Conversely, loud and unpleasant noises may in fact add to inspiration - see the poems that Wilfred Owen wrote in the trenches during the First World War. Writing about a subject that is inseparable from a particular noise, albeit the noise is unpleasant , may be enhanced by subjecting oneself to the sound for at least part of the writing project.
TRAINING ONESELF TO BECOME OBSERVANT
No poem is going to be worth reading if it doesnt say something that shows that the poet has observed something about this life and then drawn a conclusion about what he saw. To become observant, one really needs to take an active look at life and the things that surround oneself - trying to imagine why people make certain faces , and decisions. Why are things as they are? What is it that is so beautiful about this life - or so hideous, as the case may be? To be able to notice things may often require just slowing down a little and taking some time away from distractions.
A NEW VISTA
A walk on the beach always serves to inspire me, perhaps because of the calming effect of the sounds of the breakers and the gulls. It is easy for me to relax and get my thoughts together in such an environment.
" Get thee to a high place!" It seems that Jesus and many of the Biblical prophets were inclined to climb mountains on a fairly regular basis. Often they would pray there and meet with God. I guess they were able , in that way , to get alone with God and with what was on their minds , away from the many distractions on the lower ground.
There is something inspiring about looking down at the world from a high place. I dont know exactly what it is that is so enrapturing about seeing things from, as it were , a birds perspective , but perhaps it is akin to flying , because , In a sense , it lends one wings and the accompanying sense of freedom. Writing poetry has everything to do with allowing ones imagination to be freed of inhibitions like anxiety , and other pressures in life , so that one can concentrate on what one really wants to say.
PICTURES, PHOTOS, PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, ART GALLERIES SCULPTURES BOOKS - reading about topics that one is unfamiliar with serves to broaden ones knowledge and can bring much opportunity for new, inspiring thought.
GOING FOR A DRIVE, PERHAPS A ROAD TRIP
The constantly changing view of a scenic drive can be very inspiring. I doubt Ill ever forget the experience of driving from New York to Arizona. The changing, contrasting landscapes did a lot to make me think deeply about the beauty and wonder of Gods creation.
A VACATION TO A PLACE YOUVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE
It doesnt have to be out of state or even a foreign country, although I have found such great change to be the most inspiring. A trip to the library or bookstore may be all that you need to spur the steed of your imagination to a wild and exciting gallop. Perhaps, at the end of the ride , youll find a poem waiting to be written ...
READ OTHER POETS THOUGHTS ON INSPIRATION
Find out how they get it. For example, see Chapter 1 of Jay Bugejas book, "The Art and Craft of Poetry".
SMELLS / AROMAS
Sounds kooky? That aroma therapy stuff really can help create a sense of inspiration. The senses are all marvelously intertwined, and the sense of smell is an amazing faculty when it comes to the power to generate thought and emotion. To cite a personal example: my beloved, late grandmother, always comes to mind when I smell certain fragrances - particularly her favorite perfume , Royal Secret. Of course, along with my memory of Grandma, come a whole host of other closely related memories. I dont find that kooky or remotely spiritual , just emotive , and therefore very useful for poem writing.
What comes to mind when you smell the scent of cedar , green pine needles or freshly cut sod ?
LIGHT A CANDLE
There is something emotionally stirring about lighting candles - it sets a mood, particularly the kind that caters to romantic thought and behavior. If it were not so, why do restaurants still do it? Who doesnt love the sense of mystique in a burning candle, or the intrigue in the fluctuation of color in the glowing coals of a cozy fire in the grate?
READER RESPONSES
Dear Readers
If you wish to respond to this and any of my other articles and / or poems , please feel free to write to me at my e-mail address : thandiwe@bellsouth.net
God bless
Christian E
Bibliography :
How to Write a Poem , copyright 1996 , by Margaret Ryan , ISBN 0-531-11252-7How To Interpret Poetry , copyright 1995 , by Laurie E. Rozakis Ph.D. ISBN 0-02-860309-5 The Art and Craft of Poetry , copyright 1994 , by Michael J. Bugeja ISBN 0-89879-633-4 A Poetry Handbook , copyright 1994 , by Mary Oliver ISBN 0-15-672400-6 Conversations On Writing Fiction , by Alexander Neubauer The Elements of Style , copyright 1979 , Allyn and Bacon , by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White ISBN 0-205-19158-4 NEXT MONTH : DESCRIPTIVE TECHNIQUES , FOCUSING ON THE SIMILE
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