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Spring Reguvenates & Inspires

I return with haste to this place of reflection on the poetic verse. A great lapse of time precedes this return after several months of distraction dealing with the realities of life and the great time commitments that it all demands.

We seem to so easily lose sight of those things most important in our lives. Sure, I have to make a living outside of my world of poetic muse. Poetic writings generally do not bring on a torrent of cash flow from its renderings so I must take care to attend to the more mundane of life's tasks in order to put food on the table.

Still, I venture back as I may to share my thoughts on poetic composition as frequent as time will allow. We who author poetic verse share a sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction that perhaps many do not understand nor acknowledge. That's ok though. We all embrace our own preferences whether it pertain to food, clothing, our occupation, travel, song, personal well-being, what we read etc.

For some of us the arrival of season brings with it such a refreshing sense of renewal and awakened energy, and a welcome sense of creative flow as I turn to things poetic once again. There is so much about spring that inspires one to write...the budding trees and flowers, warm breezes caressed by new scents of the season, cleansing rains that wash away winter's spoils, the shrill chirping of birds in song.

The arousal of one's senses at this time of year, especially sight, hearing and smell cause words to flow easy on the page. One can never overuse written observations of such things of beauty and calm. The following verse was inspired around this time last year, among many other verses, that will share their place in my upcoming books:


Billy Goat Rise

High on a mountain ledge billy goat stands
Gazing the grandeur his perch does behold
Towering pines and crystal clear streams
Emerald rivers with rapids rush by

A tufted white beard trails from its chin
And squinting dark eyes shade a glaring sun
Bantering chatter announcing its place
Guardian of the trails, vigilance keeps

Scampering passively, lord of the slopes
Grazing, then moving on, upward it climbs
Careful it steps among rocks and tree stumps
On its way to the summit, billy goat rise



Like the goat, I bask in the balm of this springtime reprise.

Don MacIver
Copyright 2007

Poetry; More On Inspiration

As a writer I often get the same question asked of me...what inspires you to write?

Inspiration takes on many forms and comes from many places. Quite simply inspiration to write poetry comes from everyday life occurrences. Sound simplistic? Not when you consider the endless array of themes one may draw upon to write about. You could neatly package these themes into a limited selection of broad categories but the topics remain endless.

Each and every day and every moment therein brings something distinct, unique, momentous, happenings right before our eyes or at some great distance around the globe and those events, however seemingly insignificant or epic in proportion, are the makings of the thought processes that evolve into a poetic piece.

Just think of historic events that had impact over people around the globe. September 11, 2001 - although this date came about over five years ago its significance is enormous and our recall instantaneous. Close your eyes and go back to 9-1-1 and you should readily see some of the darkest, most horrific images of your lifetime....explosion, dust, terror in the streets, death, decay, ruin, fire, dense and billowing smoke, tears, sorrow, grief.

War, terrorism, innocent lives lost, destruction. Again, the list is endless. Of course there are an endless number of joyous or positive occasions and subjects to write about too. The birth of a child, a sun-filled day, fragrance in the air, two lovers uniting, the beauties of nature etc. etc.

When these events occur around us or appear before us, if we feel any sense of reaction or emotion...we have inspiration. A writer of poetry must draw upon their basic and innermost senses of realization in order to truly experience the occurrence or subject and translate those senses, emotions or observations into poetic verse.

The key to poetry is in the wording or phrases that paint a picture in the reader's mind. You have images or thoughts in your own mind which clearly define and envelope your subject to the point of vivid sensory perception...now release that striking perception through words felled upon the page that will allow your readers to experience the same visions you see, the same senses and emotions you are experiencing. When you have achieved this pictorial imagery in words you will have captivated an appreciative reading audience.

Credibility plays an important role in the creation of poetry that will truly move the reader. If you have written of an event in your own life that has had a tremendous impact on you, then you are much more genuinely inspired to write about the subject and the piece will be a much more compelling read.

Understand too that what may inspire you may not be an inspiration or interest to every reader. Still, write of those things that you have had a great sense of emotional reaction to and you can be sure that your poetry will strike at the very heart of your readers.

By focusing on a singular life situation you will find a vast array of directions you can take the subject to with a poetic piece. Take romance for instance...clearly one of the most written about subjects today in poetry or any other genre of writing. Just think of the enormous number of topics that come from this one word association. Think of the emotions that are experienced during any form of romantic encounter or relationship.

One of the most important things to remember about writing poetry is that if you write about the human experience, however good or bad, your readers will relate....and when they can relate to the point of experiencing some kind of strong emotional reaction, you are sure to draw those readers back to read more and more of your later writings.

This is the magic of poetry, the magic of inspiration.

Copyright 2006, Don MacIver at A Poet's View Blog

September 11; Pausing To Reflect

As we approach the anniversary of the tragic events that unfolded on a beautiful day in New York City five years ago it is a time to pause, a time to reflect, a time to remember the terrible loss of lives, the inexplicably violent and horrific, mindless acts that led to that saddest of events, the falling of the World Trade Centre.

At middle age, this tragedy stands alone in my mind as one of the most horrific events during my lifetime and clearly one that will remain in memory indefinitely...with great sadness.

As a Canadian who has relatives of American citizenship, and one who has shared many wonderful moments with friends south of our border, it grieves me deeply to recall not only the events of that day but the apparent reasons for this mindless attack.

The intent of this post is in no way an effort to politicize this journal, rather simply a personal reflection, a tribute if you will to those lives lost...and their loved ones left behind to mourn their passing.

As an author of poetry I write of my observations of a wide variety of themes, many reflecting happiness, but also some verse touching upon those events in our lives that have a profound impact on our emotions, our sense of being, our dignity, our humanity.

We seem to live in increasingly troubled times and our attempts to rationalize what occurs in our world are sometimes an enormous task. The events of 9-1-1 are remembered at the anniversary of this tragic day five years ago. For this writer the memories are re-visited very often.

For yet another moment I pause to reflect....
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SEPTEMBER 11 BRINGS SADNESS AND HOPE


Long will we remember this fateful day of terror in the skies, death in a horrible way. So tragic and senseless, never again we pray.

For those who perished and their loved ones.


Horrific images recount the scene
Shimmering towers collapse to the street
Precious lives lost in a moment of hate
Painful memories relived on this day

With sadness we pray for those left behind
Grief-stricken parents, a tormented spouse
A child to raise whose parent is gone
Shaken by nightmares to last a lifetime

City blocks ashen, smoke billowing long
The World Trade Centre, symbolic, now gone
In tribute we pause for the heroes that day
Whose own life met peril, rescuers' fate

Hope and renewal live on in our dreams
Standing united against evil things
Blessed are those who fell silent this day
Our heads bowed in prayer, remembering you


Copyright 2004 by Don MacIver

Poetry With Purpose

Writing poetry is many things to many writers. For some, putting one's own personal thoughts, opinions, observations in published form serves a deeply personal purpose. It is a means to convey a message from close to the heart, one-on-one or one to the masses.

Still, others see poetry, as many other genres of writing, as an opportunity to establish presence in the world of authors, to share their writing talent for support and critique, and to develop as a writer by learning the craft from the pen of another.

Whatever the reasons for an individual writing, there must be a focus on purpose. What do you as the aspiring, or established, writer wish to accomplish with your writing? Establishing purpose means establishing goals. Spend some time in advance of composing a piece to decide what you want your reader to achieve or benefit from viewing your writing.

When I first started to write poetry it was for reasons of a highly personal nature. I wrote poetic verse to communicate deeply personal feelings I had in a relationship with my partner. Writing later became a means to reflect what emotions I was experiencing as they related to the loss of a loved one. With time my writing embraced my observations of an infinite number of themes, virtually everything that surrounded me locally to what was happening around the globe.

For some, writing becomes highly politicized, a grandstand or platform, a rant, whimsical muse, pondering, an indepth examination of one's subject and one's self, a celebration, a grieving, a form of therapy or exercise of the mind and soul.

When I write I begin with a focus on the big picture, the overall message that I wish to convey. Once that image is firmly ensconced in my mind then and only then do I move on to set out the various components of the article that will serve to paint that total picture in the reader's mind...I have established purpose.

Once the purpose or objectives for the piece are clearly defined it is much easier to craft the writing in a cohesive manner, easily followed and understood...and hopefully appreciated or otherwise found to be useful in some way to the reader.

Copyright 2006 Don MacIver

In Tribute; A Mother Lost

It is with fond memories and sadness that I take pause here from my usual posts to dedicate this space on this date to my mother, lost three years ago to a battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Courageous and dignified to a fault, mom was the type of person most people aspire to personify, kindly, demure, caring, understanding, absent of attitude and malace that so ofter become characteristic of humanity today.

In the few days that followed mom's passing I reflected not only on her life over the nearly eighty years that she graced this world with her presence, but also upon how I could possibly pay tribute to this dear soul in an endearing, loving and deserved fashion. Unexpectedly I happened upon the idea of writing a poem.

I wanted to convey what mom's life had meant to me for so many years, how profoundly her tireless love and affection over the years had affected me. How could I embellish upon this kind and gentle person's life, achievements, passions and so much more, sufficiently, and at a time when my own emotions were torn between the mourning of her passing and celebration of her life?

After careful consideration and great deliberation I embraced the notion of saying a lasting, memorable and loving goodbye in a way that I was most comfortable doing so...written in poetic verse.

So without further belabouring what follows is a poem I penned in what seemed my darkest hour, a poem for you mom. With love, your son.

A MOTHER LOST

Fairest one that passed beyond
Who gave so much, return for not
Rise up to meet your own long gone
Embrace your peace that is your due

What grace and caring ways you’ve shown
Now gone from us, but memories embraced
Meet the heavens your faith did hold
And shine upon us, save our souls

Be blessed for all that you did give
Tireless love and tender care
To dedicate your life to those
Who cherished all you had to share

Your partner ever will miss you now
His heavy heart and sorrow shows
A lifetime shared with one so fair
You’ll meet again, the time you’ll know

Beloved by all that you did know
Tender moments gone we won’t forsake
Stay in our hearts forever more
We that were loved by an angel

In loving memory of a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend
Lois Lenore MacIver, December 28, 1924 to August 7, 2003

Copyright 2003, Don MacIver, Victoria, BC, Canada

Poetry: A Personal Message

When I first sat down to explore the world of writing poetry I had no idea where this journey would take me. Unsure even of the reason to write in this genre I soon became acutely aware of its relevance to my own personal life and experiences.

Writing poetry sets itself quite apart from other forms of writing, whether fictional or non-fictional in content. Poetry is so much a reflection of the author's own personal observations, emotions, perceptions. In a fashion poetry is cleansing of the writer's soul.

The one thing that sets poetry apart from other writing genres is its deeply personal origin. Those day to day experiences, many which have a very profound impact on the writer, are imbellished upon, drawn as a picture, before their reading audience in such a way as to move the reader to experience similar or parallel emotions toward the subject matter...thus compelling the reader to want to read more and more of the same author's works.

Many new or aspiring writers may not wish to expose their innermost thoughts or feelings through personal accounts in their writing however by doing so their reading audience will have a much stronger sense of relating to the subject because it bares such strength in credibility.

One of the key elements of any good written piece, poetry or otherwise, is the presence of believable content. The best way to hold a reader's attention is to captivate their imagination with a message or story that the writer has actually experienced. With fictional pieces this is of course not a critical issue however when writing about subject matter that involves the human experience it is much more moving, much more compelling when it is obviously a personal account.

For those readers who have had a similar experience in their own lives they will see through a fabricated story or accounting in a second if it does not ring true to the subject matter. It is so important that the poetry writer reflect upon those subjects that he or she has personally observed or experienced. In third person accountings there are numerous subjects which can be written about that will be well-received too but for those subjects that involve deeply personal emotions or experiences stick to the issues that you as the writer have personally been exposed to directly.

If you subscribe or post to public mediums such as internet forums or discussion groups it will quickly become evident just how powerful an impact personal accountings can be. Your feedback will be swift and equally emotional or understanding.

Of course the writer must acquire the word composition skills to generate such emotional responses from their readers. That comes with a lot of painstaking practice, editing, critique from fellow writers and reading enthusiasts, and a willingness to change the structure or content of your writing in response to the feedback that you receive. After all, although writing may well be for personal reasons, if you are seeking recognition and any degree of commercial gains from your writing endeavors then it will be ever more important that you exercise flexibility when it comes to receiving and accepting suggestions for improvement.

No-one learns to write effectively over night, whether poetry or any other genre of writing. As an aspiring writer you may have a sense that you have a natural and unborn talent for writing. From your early writing you may receive strongly supportive, and perhaps even praising reviews of your work. Friends and family may only be affording you polite encouragement in this regard so why not throw caution to the wind and put your writing out there for other writers and potential reading audience to see.

So remember, if you choose to write poetry keep in mind that the greatest impact you can have on your reading audience is to bare your soul. All you have between you and your reader from start to finish is a pen or keyboard and the medium your writing is displayed on. Don't let panic set in and deter you from sharing your writing for all to see. After all, the best way to develop a writing audience is to get your works out there and start getting feedback. Don't be offended or become defensive about constructive criticism of your work.

Share what you are, what you see, hear, touch, feel, smell, and sense. Choose your words carefully. Compose each piece like it is unique, fresh and a story that must be told. Don't be afraid to let the world get a true sense of who and what you are. Only then can you effectively reach your reading audience and leave them with a desire to come back for more.

Share your own message, personal and up front, without reservation, and you will reap the benefits that come with this type of writing that is truly rewarding.

Copyright 2006, Don MacIver
A Poet's View