This week’s prompt is: Spend some time with the poetry you avoid.

This became a somewhat circular exercise for me. I read the prompt on
Monday, then set it aside. Wednesday is the day I write my snapshot
poem for PoetryEtc — and I didn’t want to do it.

I didn’t want to do anything, but I especially did not want to write. So I did: tidy the livingroom; cook a meal; watch the television. Finally, I decided to just go with the resistance, and write about it. The result
did qualify as a snapshot, so I sent it off to PoetryEtc. After some
internal debate, I posted it here — but it didn’t really seem to be a
poem, so I decided not to link it to Poetry Thursday.

Then I looked at the prompt again: avoid.
I decided that maybe this did qualify, and linked it. And, my goodness.
Probably the most comments I’ve ever had in such a short time. Even a poem from Mary — perhaps this will inspire a new poem dance?

Resistance
is a big, dark, powerful thing. Even today, I am feeling stubborn about
doing this post, pushing for every word. My mind is on politics (I put
myself to sleep last night thinking up sarcastic political slogans) and
interior design — when I’m in this kind of mood, I entertain myself
with mindless Home & Garden television. Perhaps these diversions will lead to blog posts, when my resistance subsides.

In the meantime — is there poetry I avoid?

Not really. I’m willing to give most anything a try. I’m not a fan of Language Poetry,
though. I’ve been – justifiably – accused of ‘living in my head’, but
poetry is for me an emotional, even physical, thing, and Language
Poetry is too abstract for me. I might enjoy it, intellectually, in the
moment — but after reading or hearing it, there is nothing left.
Nothing sticks with me — no images, no ideas, no feelings.

Still, I’m always interested in what can be done with words.

Unless I’m trying to do it.

While feeling resistant.