Deeply listening to what is within and around us changes us. ~John Fox
I’ve tried to write to the sound of music.
It doesn’t work for me.
I create better in silence.
Although there really isn’t such a thing.
It’s when I’m silent that I hear the sounds of silence.
Silence makes you attentive to the tiniest sound underfoot, helps you hear the pulse of your heart . . . If God were to show up and speak, like he did to Elijah after the wind died down and the silence ensued, you might have a chance to hear God’s voice. Unfortunately, we’re culturally primed to avoid silence. ~L.L. Barkat in God in the Yard, p. 82-83
When I’m silent, I hear things like:
- The pit-pit-pit-pitta-pit-pit-pit of ice melting from the eaves.
- The song of the chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
- The distant whoosh of traffic like wind through trees across a mountain peak.
- The rumble of a tractor pulling a load of firewood.
- A nearby CAW-CAW.
- The creak-creak of the vinyl-covered porch ceiling.
- The slurp of steaming tea.
- A rooster’s crow.
- The flutter of birds’ wings as they come and go from the feeders.
- The hum of the fridge and the whir of the wood stove fan.
And I’m attuned to my heart thumps, the scent of hyacinth and wood smoke, the way the light dances on snow peppered with sunflower seed hulls.
You can tell when a poet has been a good listener, because the poem is more likely to capture the essence of a thing, more likely to reproduce its voice and the heart of its rhythms . . . ~L.L. Barkat in God in the Yard, p. 84.
Playing with poetry helps me practice writing tight.
But I have to be still with heart tuned.
What David pulled from the depths of his soul on silent nights, are poetic truths so raw, ebullient, furious, and sorrowful, that we can taste the truth of his experience. ~L.L. Barkat in God in the Yard, p. 86
Listen to the sounds of morning silence using all five senses, L.L. suggests. Then write down what you hear and put it together into a simple poem. Don’t worry about form or meaning.
So I gave it a try with what I listed above.
Breakfast is Served
Sun spreads
golden on
table white
chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee
seeds, please
flutter, flop, chirp, nod
melodies in surround sound
breath mingles
with steam of tea
the gang’s all here
breakfast is served
on a sunflower
morning.
Do you create better in silence or noise?
If you write mostly prose, have you tried writing poetry?
God murmurs in the silence of unexpected places. Poetry can be one of those places. ~L.L. Barkat
I listen to classical music while writing my inspirational historical romances. The composers’ pieces transport me to the past.
Good point, Keli! I know a lot of writers listen to great movie scores, too. Sometimes I tend to get lost in the music. Maybe I need to immerse myself in it before I write to get in the mood.
Love the little poem at the end.
Interesting thought that writing poetry lets you practice writing tight.
We fed the birds and counted species for Cornell’s Project Feederwatch in Pennsylvania for nine years.
I saw bluebirds again the other day! I didn’t think they were here in the winter. And I’m sure the blackbird had red wings. He left before I could focus the camera. They usually come with the robins.
And with poetry–you can write a little more than a tweet. 😉
Sandra, I LOVED this post!! And LOVE the final words of your poem: “breakfast is served on a sunflower morning.” My soul breathed deeply of your words this morning and I’m grateful.
Cindee
Welcome, Cindee! Thanks so much. Grateful for the opportunity to get to know you.
I have to get up very early to hear the sounds of silence at my house. But when I do–it is fantastic.
Those early, early mornings can be such a blessing.
I need silence when I’m writing but sometimes have classical piano playing very quietly while revising. It’s in silence that I communicate best with God because I can hear those “sounds of silence” that make my heart respond.
Poetry helps me focus on the nucleus of a thought. Some of my preliminary novel notes are even in poetry although those words usually lack the magic of your kind of poems. I’m not a real poet, or even a big fan of poetry in general, but I love playing with words that ‘cut to the chase’.
Love classical piano. And harp music. So soothing.
Words are so much fun. 🙂
This is so marvelous. I do believe the silence has been speaking into your writing. More and more and more.
The poem is delightful. 🙂
🙂
it depends on what is being created.
but, mainly i like quiet, especially when it involves writing words.
moods of music come once in awhile, and the music has to fit into what
my mind will like.
there is a lot of music that my mind and nerves won’t put up with now.
but, there is some that fits just right at the right time.
as i get older, quite becomes more of a friend.
Yes, I think I appreciate–and need–the silence more these days.