free verse
dismisses regimental rhyme
overrules page forms
lets accentuals loose
liquid quicksilver
lava flow
- but no-
dry dip-pen scratchings
scuttle like crabs off sandpaper
scatter almost scatologically
cerebration, constipation
Try Harder! - now there's the strain
bumbling stumbling block
I just - must - let - go

35 thoughts on “As a bird”

1. Oh, man do I ever love this:
   “dry dip-pen scratchings
   scuttle like crabs off sandpaper”

   Those crabby, crabby words. More of these than birds for me, lately. Well done, Laura. Such strong images here.

   1. I think I could hear Eliot’s dry brain in a dry season – liberating prompt De

2. I too love the scuttling crabs. The words do truly run away from your brain just when you need them most. The images are strong and sure.

   1. they either run or refuse to come!

      1. Yeppers. It is a shame they do not make word pots along with the crab pots.

3. I love the way you have described those words that run across the paper.

   1. sounds matter much to poetry I think so thank you for that

4. Wonderfully flitty dance with words…sums up perfectly the frustration of trying to find flow when trying never works.

   1. so true Paul – must keep taking a step back from effort

5. LOVE this….and yes, sometimes that poetic muse is sooooo hard to come by….and if we just let loose, it pops in place. Especially love these lines
   “dry dip-pen scratchings
   scuttle like crabs off sandpaper”

   1. Maddeningly elusive is the Muse – but she did give me those lines!

6. Oh, this is sublime! Like the others, I adore your scuttling crabs! The whole poem is a rock wrapped in silk, falling on my head!

   1. Fabulous free-falling comment – thank you

7. I love this, Laura! I especially like:
   ‘dry dip-pen scratchings
   scuttle like crabs off sandpaper
   scatter almost scatologically’ –
   wonderful sound effects!

   1. Thank you Kim – it’s the sound of frustration 😉

      1. 🙂

8. Nice line: “bumbling stumbling block”

   1. just how it feels much of the time

9. Love thisl Especially how the last line you realize it’s not necessary to try harder, just freer.

   1. freeing expression I think is a point between effortful and effortless –

      1. So true!

10. Ahah! I like your take on this, Laura. Completely summarizes the journey of a writer.

    1. thank you Maria – the take took me here!

11. words / thoughts like scuttling crabs! And the photo is intriguing.

    1. a little tangential is the bird but thoughts fly or scuttle – too often right away!

12. Lot’s of fun here – scuttling crabs, constipation – and I could hear the instruction – ‘try harder’. Very nice. Thank you.

    1. – thank you and welcome – it was a common childhood prompt I recall and written on school reports

13. I know that feeling. L love how the scratchy crabs create the sound of a scratchy pen, and I like your bumbling, stumbling block. Lots of lovely wordplay.

    1. thank you Sarah – wordplay is the last reminder of fun 😉

14. Scatological. Another word learned from your blog. Wonder where and when I will be able to use it 😀

    1. Use with caution!!

       1. This sounds wonderful read aloud.

          1. That is good to hear! Thank you Rommy

15. I like that you wrote about free verse and the way you wrote it. Very creative!

    1. thank you – it was a spontaneous flight of fancy!

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