Signs of Late Summer/Dumping into a List

Happy Poetry Friday y'all! Penny is hosting the round-up this week, so mozy on over to her site A Penny and her Jots to join in the fun!

I have been wanting to write an invitation poem, like the one I am sharing today for a very long time. I have collected many entries and lists in my notebook of the things I would want to invite others to experience if they were walking here on the ridge with me. There are so many things I want to share with all of you! I never thought that when I took my pen in hand, that I would struggle as much as I did. With the flood of ideas rushing through my brain, I started feeling stuck. How could I get all my thoughts down on paper when there was so much I wanted to say? Then, I remembered that all writers face this situation at times. That's when I realized it was time for me to take a step back and return to the notebook. My son, who is in fourth grade, calls it "brain dumping." So whenever you're stuck, you just take your thinking and "dump it" onto the page. I gave it a try and my "dump" became a very specific list. I used this list to help me stay focused on what I really wanted to say in my poem. I am so grateful to him for sharing such a wonderful strategy. Today, I invite you to join me on the ridge where there are signs everywhere!

Here are a few pictures of the things I listed in my poem.

Wild Goldenrod

Cicada

Field Hedge Parsley

Purple Beauty Berry

Invitation to Write:
Sometimes when I am writing a poem, I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head that it's hard for me to stay focused on what I really want to say. Having a list or two in my notebook about my topic really helps me. I don't feel so overwhelmed when I have a list to keep me on track with my thoughts. I have lists for all kind of things in my notebook. You can try making lists in your notebook, too! Lists can be wide and contain many ideas around a topic or they might be really specific. So whether you are generating ideas or circling around a topic, lists are a great tool to help you find your way.