Writing Prompt #2
Snow days and short poems
After our snow days in mid-January, I found myself seeking out winter poems. These two by Linda Gregg and Tess Gallagher stood out to me. They are intimate and captivating and both poets accomplish a lot in a small amount of space.
Part 1: Write a short poem or short paragraph reflecting on a moment inside during winter. Be as specific as possible. What happened, what small routine or chore did you observe? Maybe your poem is also called “Winter Love,” and if so make sure to cite Gregg (after Linda Gregg).
Part 2: I love the small journey that Gallagher takes us on in this poem. She is making a simple choice, but it also has large implications. Either way, think of a choice you had to make outside during winter. What was the action and how did it make you feel? How did you interact with the natural world or did that choice make you come inside? Write a short poem or paragraph about what happened. Be as specific as possible.
(This may or may not be a winter poem..Gallagher does live in WA where there is snow on certain mountains year round.)
Sometimes the best short poems come from writing too much and then whittling away to find the heart of the poem. I find that short poems are deceptively hard to write!
Good luck and happy writing!
xoJessica
