sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Hire Me
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Poetry Friday: A Poem about Writing a Poem

January 23, 2015 by Sally

poetry-friday-logo

I went for a walk last week, and was reflecting on how wonderful exercise is for prompting new writing ideas, or for solving an issue. And right on cue, my brain starting working out how to put what I was thinking about into poetry.

At home, I wrote down those first few lines, and left the paper on my kitchen bench. Later, another stanza came, and later still, a third. I love the way that the barn works like this sometimes. And the poem? Here it is:

You Might Think

You might think I’m walking the dog

or, perhaps, he’s walking me

but in my head, while my legs pace,

I’m writing poetry.

You might think I’m in the shower

singing loud, off-key

but as I soap and warble

I’m writing poetry.

You might think I’m working hard

when at my desk I sit

but often times I simply scribe

the words my head has writ.

(© Sally Murphy, 2015)

Do you have a favourite non-writing activity that leaves you inspired to write?

Have a great Friday – and if you’d like to see more posts about poetry, pop over to A Teaching Life and  check out the Poetry Friday round-up.

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: poem, poetry, poetry friday, walking

Comments

  1. Bridget Magee says

    January 25, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    I’m forever “writing” when I am not writing. Two activities that inspire my writing often are washing the dishes and vacuuming. Neither are “fun”, but they do allow my brain to wander. Great poem, Sally! =)

    • Sally says

      January 29, 2015 at 8:29 am

      I think the ‘not fun’ thing is WHY we find ideas when doing mundane things – our minds wander somewhere nicer.

  2. Pat Simmons says

    January 25, 2015 at 2:46 am

    Nice one! Walking the dog and riding public transport both poetry triggers.

    • Sally says

      January 29, 2015 at 8:28 am

      Thanks Pat. Public transport is also great for finding characters, dialogue and more.

  3. Brenda says

    January 24, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Sally, What a great poem! And yes! I walk, I breathe, I write poetry. Even when I don’t write it down, it’s written on my soul. Pleased to meet you. I’m glad you liked my haiku. Warmly, Brenda

    • Sally says

      January 25, 2015 at 12:24 am

      Oh yes, written on the soul! Sometimes poetry doesn’t need to be written down to be. Glad to meet you too, Brenda.

Copyright Sally Murphy © 2019