Detroit and Broadway, Buffalo, NY
Photo from Amy LV's Collection
Students - Today's poem grew from meandering. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the verb meander this way - "to follow a winding or intricate course." The course I followed began with just writing in my notebook, letting one idea lead to the next. At some point, I remembered the old photograph you see above and went to find it. When I did, I remembered that it was taken in January, did the quick math (2026-1896), and realized that it was taken 130 years ago! This is old. I took a photo of the photo and zoomed in on my great grandfather's face.
George Richard Ludwig, 1896
Photo from Amy LV's Collection
Ah! If only I could bring him back to life. If only I could ask him some questions, learn about his dry goods store, now long-gone, learn about my grandfather George C., learn about this time in my family, in Buffalo, in America. But I cannot. Still, though, I can study the faces in the photo. And I can imagine. I can imagine what he might say to me. From this photo, in which he stands proudly in front of his growing shop, I believe he says to build. And while I will not build with bricks, I commit to build with words. For him.
This week, if you are uncertain where to begin with your writing, consider meandering. Just write and see where your pencil leads you. Or begin with a photo. Ask someone in the photo a question...in your mind or on paper. Listen to what this person tells you. See, the advice you receive from a photograph-person may also be advice from your deepest self.
Remember that your poem need not rhyme or follow a special pattern. Your poem wants to be you, a reflection of you, a photograph of what you feel and believe and think right now.
AI cannot know what you feel and believe and think. Feelings and beliefs and thoughts are slow and come from within. Meander. Take the long way.
Thank you to dear Tabatha of The Opposite of Indifference who set up such a delicious December poem swap. I was matched with darling Robyn-who-I-wish-I-could-see-every-day. She generously gifted me with magical earrings and an ornament based on one of my ghost poems as well as a poem that, well, I would be honored to hear as a ghost at my own funeral. You can read the poem and see what I sent to Robyn at her blog, Life on the Deckle Edge. Thank you, friends!
Jan is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at bookseedstudio with a song and some thoughts about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.
And while it's a bit late, Happy New Year! I have been thinking about you and wishing you all of the goodnessess that can come in time. Each of you is strong and full of light, and I wish you discovery and hope in the days and months that lay before you.
xo,
Amy
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Oooh, I love the last two lines, Amy!
ReplyDeleteTabatha's poem swaps are such a delight. I haven't participated in quite awhile, so I may need to remedy that this year. :)
I love that you wrote from the family picture, Amy, and understand the wish to go back and ask questions, learn more. But, this time, as you wrote, he's "alive again", now for us visitors, too! Happy New Year back!
ReplyDeleteAmy, such a lovely post! AS someone working on my ancestry, I really related to your poem inspired by the photo. You captured the scene so well and I found the explanation about why we see your grandfathers face and not others is so interesting, Meandering really fostered a lovely poem! Your post has such a positive spirit throughout it. Thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteCathy
Thank you for sharing this advice, Amy. Meandering is a great way to start, as are family photos. Peace and love to you this new year.
ReplyDeleteAmy, meandering is such a wonderful word and action to use during writing. I never thought about it in the way your described so thank you for that. the end of your poem is a good example of what your great-grandfather might say 130 years ago. In my mind I finished the line. Build words-yes I thought the same thing as you. It follows that this thought/advice would follow you as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI sit at my desk with both pairs of grandparents' photos looking down on me. They remind me to be grateful that their lives led to mine. Here's to the meandering...and to the building.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, wonderful Amy, with appreciations for your great-granddad's appearance here from 130 years back & the poem that came to you from his eyes looking at his great-grandgal. Sharing your meander is catalytic! Our short entry hall is lined with group photos of both my hubby & my family way back, I realize now reading your post, even back to our parents' grand parents, so, the great-grands, which for some reason I've never thought of that way. I've only ever pulled a poem out of one & that was decades ago before I learned any iota about poem making. You have lit up my neurons dulled by world troubles neurons. Wishing you serene travels this winter with your presentations & lots of fun with your young audiences the entire year.
ReplyDeleteyour fan, jan
Sage wisdom: Build something. When we feel lost and unable to make a difference, build something. Thank you, Amy.
ReplyDeleteI also have great-grandfather and great-uncle builders in my history--though no photos. But I have a table and some stories and also Hamilton College! I love the digression in your poem about photography--it's so hit or miss what we have left from that predigital era. Makes it the more precious, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love old photographs! It always strikes me, thinking about the people in that moment, especially the young people, feeling like they had all the time in the world, as we all do at that age!
ReplyDelete