Join me for a bridge and poetry walk on Saturday, June 5

I'll be sharing poems as part of the 2010 bridge walking series on Saturday, June 5. It would be most lovely to spend a historic Portland morning with you!

The event will be led by Sharon Wood Wortman, author of The Portland Bridge Book, and leader of waterfront bridge walks for Portland Parks & Outdoor Recreation since 1991.

About a mile long and easy-paced, each walk includes a tour of the Oregon Dept. of Transportation’s Traffic Management Operation Center and the tower and bascule pit of the Morrison Bridge. See eight bridges in all.  

Registration not required. Begins at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of NW Second & Everett (steps of the Northwest Natural Building). Ends with lunch (extra $) in Chinatown. $16 for adults, $10 for children.

Bridal, by Sage Cohen

The pond drifts its corsages
along the withered wrists
of trees fallen too soon
The broken vow folds
its paper wings.
No boat, no confetti, today
the leaving falls away
to a float of daisies.
Each opens her hungry yellow
throat to the rain’s staccato,
trodden banks, the simple
untamed thrill of hope. 

***

Here are two bridge walkers modeling the principle of the cantilevered kiss (photo by Marilyn Johnston).

Supporting the Divine, by Sharon Wood Wortman

A kiss is like a cantilever bridge—
Two lips meeting in the middle,
Air jumping up and down
(vortices exciting the molecules);
tension and compression
at such an angle two hearts
can safely walk hope across
no matter how many miles
or old the ground.

Comments

[Katherine Brown]

Dear sage
I don't have perfessional writting experiance and I'm dyslexic. But, have always had a thirst for writting! When I was a child I would spend hours writting (trying to) write novels, poems and/or short stories.... I have a few life journeys I have experianced and blossomed from the past few years and I would love to verbally sketch a picture out for people to hear! But, I don't know how to get noticed, where to go to get heard or even if my love to write would actually be percieved as a talent by others....? And,would dealing with dyslexia get in my way for being taken seriously by publishers since it is very difficult for me to use the skills one needs for spelling, punctuation and forming a paragraph? I diffenetly don't meet the expectations of our educational system when it comes to writting and fear that publishers might have the same.But, I have the vision of imagination and self expression that it would take to mold a verbal picture..... Do you have any advise that could help me with this thirst (goal) of mine? Thank you!
kat

[Sage Cohen]

Hi Katherine,

If you love to write, then by all means, write! And a great way to get started sharing your work with others might be at open mic readings where you dont have to worry about what your poems look like on the page. And if youre serious about publishing, you can team up with a great friend or editor who will make sure your work is publication-ready! When there is passion and a writing practice, anything is possible!! Have fun, Sage

[Kalen]

Hi,
I was browsing through your book today at a Bookstore and whipped out my moleskin to do the "Try This!" on p.16. As I was doing it I realized it made a little poem on its own. I've never written a poem before. XD Needless to say, I bought the book.

Hair like unwound barbwire (Her hair was a mess.)
Roses smell of racial rage (I hate the smell of roses.)
He'd slash his wrists,
if she was death
to meet her now. (He couldn't wait to see her again)

Less than five
young sage stops the world.
Meditation in the sand,
recess will never end. (The preschooler wasn't ready to leave the playground when recess was over"

Unwavering focus,
but never sustains. (You always change your mind.)
Transparent moon,
in a bright lit sky,(The moon is full)
practice, practice, lest I die. (I refuse to give up.)

May I solicit some criticism or advice? Thanks!

[Sage Cohen]

Hi Kalen,

Thanks for letting me know about your exciting leap into poetry! What surprising imagery you have created! If you are having a good time, my hope is that you will continue to write and discover what might be possible for you in poetry...Seems like youre off to a most inspired and inspiring start...

[Kalen]

*pulls hair out!* Help!
Is there a better place to put this like a forum or something or can I just post here?

I just read the 13 ways to see a blackbird chapter and I'm going bonkers.
What if I can't touch, feel, smell, interact with, or whatever what I want to write about? What if I don't know what I want to write about? I know what I like, but I can't necessarily do all those things in that chapter. What if I like ideas? Writing? Reading? Chess? Mental things? I can't touch these things. Sorry for the vent! XD

Should writing poetry be difficult and frustrating?

[Sage Cohen]

My invitation is to use whatever prompts, tips and suggestions work for you -- those that are fun, inspiring and evocative -- and ignore the rest. Many of the exercises are specifically designed to get you writing about things that you cant touch using sensory language -- to help you find new possibilities in your language and your imagery. So, the point is to be leaping beyond the literal -- if and when you are ready to do so.

[Kalen]

Thanks so much for the advice. It was kind of late at night and I was being too literal. haha. I'm back on track.

[Sage Cohen]

You got it! Welcome back! : )

[Nursing clothing]

Oh wow!! How Sweet!! =) Hmmmm very nice!!