Let Nature Be Our guide

​October’s workshop, Let Nature Be Our Guide, focused on nature’s power and influence over us. From Annie Dillard, Thoreau, The Farmer’s Almanac, and poems of Linda Pastan and Tess Gallagher, writers explored their imaginations and memory in poetry and prose.
 
Also featured this month was the work of a local photographer, Jan Branscome, who travels miles and spends hours, searching out places which speak to her to capture with her camera. After lunch, each writer chose a photograph to write about in any style from imagination or memory. Writing from an image can spark a writer to capture a moment.

I was delighted to have such generous writers together on the AWA marathon, Writing Across the World, to benefit those who wish to be facilitators, but need assistance in the expense. It was an added boost of community to have Jan’s work. For the next few weeks, I'll offer writing from this day. As in all AWA workshops, all writing is considered fiction.

I offer one of Jan’s photographs with the corresponding poem by Kris Davis who lives locally and enjoys exploring the world of science and nature.

Thanks to Jan and Kris.


Silhouette
 
I want to shut out the words I can’t discern,
that nonetheless command my attention.
I want to forget that P. died,
that I need to find words to comfort
his children, who were his victims.
I want to curl up and sleep, not put on a gown and heels,
make small talk at dinner, hear a talk about grief.
 
I want only this moment,
when dusk whittles the palette to orange and black,
when the heron softens her neck
to settle her head against her body,
when she pulls her slender leg up into her feathers,
becomes a silhouette against light on water.