Photo Credit: Victoria Slotto
What a gift it is–those moments when I remember to notice life in detail. To stop and watch the diamonds scattered across the grass in early morning hours, to catch the sun, back-lighting the soft white fuzz of my dogs or breath in the scents of earth and jasmine in our garden. I wish that I could learn to be aware in each and every moment–that I could learn to silence the mindless conversations I have with myself, to let go of fears about the future or regrets about the past, to ignore gnawing worries about what others think.
An exercise I’ve used before that has been the source of a good number of poems is this: at the end of every day (or even as the day progresses) jot down some things that you notice…in detail. I like to create a list of ten. That takes a bit of concentration throughout the day. You may want to use the top of the hour as a reminder, stop what you’re doing and tune in to what’s around you. Be sure to include as many sensory details as you can.
Here’s an example:
1. In the West, large white clouds hang heavy on the mountains. Someone has painted their underbellies with a wash of Payne’s gray.
2. Sparky lies curled at my feet, head erect like a Sphinx, but his eyes are at half-mast.
Photo Credit: David Slotto
3. A hummingbird perches on the feeder outside my window. I think he’s in love with his reflection.
You get the idea…Want to share some of the things you’re experiencing today? Or another way you’ve found to heighten your powers of observation. Add a poem or short paragraph if you wish.
A hummingbird descends,
drinks
perfumed blood and honey.
Blankets of feathers
stagger across its
silken breast.
Photo Credit: David Slotto
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 