When hiking into Forest Park trail projects each day, you’ll often find me pausing to thumb a line or two of poetry into the Notes app on my phone.
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Forest Park’s trails are resplendent with inspiration; what better metaphor for any of life’s journeys than a trail? What better way to keep your finger on the pulse of the natural world, and allow it to inspire you, than interacting with it every day? For me, working in Forest Park is a job— but it’s also a source of solace and a character in the background of most of my recent poetic work.
As a poetry student through the Independent Publishing Resource Center, I’ve been so encouraged by surrounding myself with a community of writers since September 2019. Since the pandemic was announced and our class is on hold, I’ve met with some of my classmates via video chat to explore writing prompts, share our work, and exchange feedback. As I practice physical distancing, this creative social engagement has been a great way to get my mind off the news.
Today, I’d like to share a similar opportunity with you by inviting you to engage with the outdoors from the comfort of the indoors (or on a neighborhood walk!).
Although Forest Park is open, we’ve been hearing reports of very crowded trailheads and busy trails. So if you’re planning to write about Forest Park I encourage you to explore it through the lens of memory, values, seasons and relationships, rather than from a present experience on trails where social distancing might be difficult.
To get the juices flowing, here is one poem from my shelf:
Landscape
Isn’t it plain the sheets of moss, except that
they have no tongues, could lecture
all day if they wanted about
spiritual patience? Isn’t it clear
the black oaks along the path are standing
as though they were the most fragile of flowers?
Every morning I walk like this around
the pond, thinking: if the doors of my heart
ever close, I am as good as dead.
Every morning, so far, I’m alive. And now
the crows break off from the rest of the darkness
and burst up into the sky— as though
all night they had thought of what they would like
their lives to be, and imagined
their strong, thick wings.
Whether you have never written a poem before, or you— like me— frantically scrawl a line whenever inspiration hits, here are some prompts to get you started.
Prompt #1: Using Others’ Lines
Begin with one of the following lines:
“Every morning, so far, I’m alive. And now” — from Landscape by Mary Oliver
“A place which the flying birds do not reach,” from An Excursion to the Dragon Pool Temple on Chung-nan by Meng Chiao, translated by A.C. Graham
Using one of these as a jumping-off point, write for as long as you can without stopping or rereading your work. You can always go back and make edits later.
Prompt #2: More-Than-Human Relationships
Think about one plant that you have a positive relationship with.
This could be the mint in your tea, the oak you climbed on as a kid, or maybe every Doug Fir you’ve met on the Wildwood Trail.
Write into this relationship. You could write a thank-you poem or an ode; write about you and the plant from a third-person observer; or write from the perspective of the plant.
Prompt #3: A Sense of Place
Recall one of your favorite places in nature: it could be Forest Park, a favorite childhood water hole, or a local street lined with verdant yards. Set a timer for 5 minutes and write as many descriptive words and phrases as you can about these places. Try to touch on all of your senses.
It’s important not to judge this list, but instead, write them down as soon as they come to mind. Then, use at least 4 of those words/phrases in a free write.
Be sure to share your work with us so we can continue to stay inspired by Forest Park. You can email your poetry to thegreatindoors@forestparkconservancy.org
Happy Writing!