Like balloons, thoughts float,
spiraling up like hope,
like faith, like love.
If you let them.
Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: I’ve been working on a chapbook and drafting twitter pitches for PBPitch, coming June 22 (curious? See Writing Tips). I need my thoughts to rise. This snippet inspired me:
Hands, do what you’re bid:
Bring the balloon of the mind
That bellies and drags in the wind
Into its narrow shed.
— William Butler Yeats, from the Balloon of the Mind, found in Poetry for Young Readers: William Butler Yeats, Sterling Publishing, 2002.
Thanks to Carol at Carol’s Corner for hosting tomorrow’s Poetry Friday! She is celebrating that Tracy K. Smith has been named the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States. Woo-hoo!
And it’s nearly summer! To celebrate, here are links to a Midsummer nibble of Shakespeare, a Midsummer fairy tale and a favorite poem from last summer, Fairy Tale Flowers.
I cannot believe your thoughts springing forth when you see flowers in the shape of balls or balloons. I love the two tones of purple in the photograph, Brenda.
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I amaze myself. LOL I hope your thoughts are rising with the warm sunshine.
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I love this, especially the finish, not always easy.
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The last line is always the hardest to get just right. So thanks!
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Your poem has lifted up my thoughts tonight, Brenda. I picture them rising like colorful hot air balloons!
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Yay for rising thoughts! I hope they carry your spirits high up there. 🙂
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Beautifully written!
It would have been lovely for Drake and Sol’s wedding.
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I missed it? Dang! Is it on Graffiti?
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Here’s the link! https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2017/06/12/here-comes-the-bride/
I was so focused on the whole thing, I completely missed out that should have been a poem or 2. Oh well!
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Yeats is an all-time favorite, but I like your poem better! I love the image of our thoughts “spiraling up like hope.” Best of luck with your writing projects!
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Wow, you like mine better than Yeats? Never thought I’d hear that! Thanks, Catherine! Now my ego is spiraling up. 😉
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Delicate blue flowers—delightfully profound words! Brenda–seen my latest effort about summer Fairies? You probably have! written yesterday! 🙂
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Leave me a link… 🙂
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
THESE FLOWERS DO INSPIRE!
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I hope you’re feeling up as a result. 🙂
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Here’s to many hope-, faith-, and love-buoyant thoughts in the days ahead for you… and all the best in your pitch!
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Thanks, Violet!
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Good luck with your pitch, and thanks for the amazing gift of resources in your other post! I may try to pitch Malvina Reynolds, even though it’s not a completed manuscript, just a NPM project…*wheels turning*…
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What is NPM project? I’m not familiar with the term. If you want a critique partner, my email is on my about page. Best of luck with your decision. And thanks!
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Oh, I’d never heard of PBPitch before – I have so many ideas rattling through my brain, and some manuscripts I’ve been too nervous to send out. Maybe I should bite the bullet and see what happens!!
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Hi Jane, It’s a great way of scrutinizing a mss. If you can boil the action down into 140 characters, it’s probably a strong story where the heart of the story is fully realized. If you can’t get it that short, it may indicate your story arc isn’t ideal. Although, I’m sure there are exceptions to that. Stories that need a longer pitch. It’s making me reexamine some of my mss and rethink the arcs. I wish you happy writing and I hope it works for you. I say, go for it, and let hope rise. 😉
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I so look forward to your garden photos each week, Brenda! Is that thistle? The color is gorgeous! Love it when thoughts have the chance to float freely.
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Yes, that is a variety of thistle, I think. My neighbor’s rock wall is very photogenic. She laid each stone herself. It always inspires me to create beauty where I can. Summer is a good time for floating thoughts with blue skies, beach weather and flowers bringing the rainbow to earth.
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Absolutely lovely, Brenda!
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Thanks!!
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Thanks for sharing both poems… I prefer your floating thoughts for your current endeavors. Good luck!
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Thanks, Robyn. I had a working lunch today. We went over pitches for a twitter party. I think they are my least favorite thing to write, but I persevered. This business of trying to be discovered by an agent requires letting your thoughts rise. 🙂
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That’s a new Yeats poem to me…and you chose one of my favorite flowers!
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So glad to please. I cheated and used a photo from last year, but I love those purple flowers. My neighbor up the street has a lavish garden with archways, rock walls and hundreds of blooms. She has invited me to go photograph when I like. How cool is that? 🙂 As for Yeats, I very much liked the PB of his poetry. Every poem was magical.
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Lovely image of thoughts rising like balloons. Good luck with your twitter pitch!
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Thanks, Kay! Happy Summer!
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I haven’t heard that Yeats before! Lovely! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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He was gifted, wasn’t he?
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Awesome! 😎🌹🌹
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Thanks, Dorna!
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Lovely poem and photo. Thoughts rising . . . good luck with your twitter pitch!
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Thanks, Jama! Had a power working lunch today with a critique partner. Guacamole, margarita and plantains. Yum!
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That last line is so important. You have hooked me once again with your image and words. Thanks for sharing about the PB twitter pitch. I want to look into it further.
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Thanks, Kiesha. I have some links to the PB twitter pitch on my Writing Tips page. There’s still time to write a pitch if you have a ms.
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I love the “spiraling up like hope” Brenda. Best wishes for the twitter pitch!
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Thanks, Linda!!
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Your photograph is absolutely beautiful! And it matches your words so perfectly!
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Thank you!
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Love the first verse. It is very soothing to read.
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Thanks!
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Better let them float, Brenda!
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Yes! I aim to. 🙂
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So nice and the photo suits your words perfectly.
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Thank you! I love taking photos and looking at the ones others take. I feel like there’s always room to improve composition, light and form.
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i love this, brenda, it is a reminder to fully live, not tamp things down, whether good or bad. thanks for the bonus good stuff at the end of your post, too )
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Exactly. Take your chances, jump in there. If it doesn’t work this time, you’re still closer to your goal than you were before. I love that movie Big Hero Six because they tried to convey how many times you have to fail before you can succeed. 🙂
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Exciting projects you’re working on, Brenda! Do you have a chapbook theme?
I have always loved that WB Yeats poem — great source for inspiration!
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Thanks, Tabatha. I do have a chapbook theme and name. An American, Rapt and Unwrapped. I talk about my roots, my family and the world around me. I entered it in a contest, but I just wanted a deadline to force myself to actually complete it. It was transformative to bring it to that point.
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Lovely Brenda!
“spiraling up like hope,” charming, and I like how your poem lines are longer on the top, as if they’ve floated up and filled out. Thanks for all here, and the tip page too!
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Thanks, Michelle! Are you already repped? I feel exhausted by the submission process, but it’s fun tweaking my stories and writing new ones.
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Hi Brenda, no not yet, working on that, and yes it’s a lot of work, but it’s working from the heart too.
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Yes. Best of luck to you, too!
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Gorgeous:)
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Thanks!
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The image goes well with balloons! Meanwhile, I like your thoughts and the last line is grand and profound.
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Thanks, Frank!
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