So my workshop with Kim Addonizio began today.  I had to post a poem.  I had nothing to post, though, having only just signed up for the workshop a couple of days ago, followed by a weekend devoid of writing opportunities.  I looked at my “needs to be revised and/or finished” folder last night and found a poem that was completed, but was an early draft in need of revisions.  I revised it.  Retitled it.  Planned to turn it in, but felt as though I was cheating somehow — after all, a major purpose of taking the workshop was to create NEW work.  This morning, though, the first two poets posted their work and suddenly my roadkill poem (Yes. Roadkill.  Hey, if it’s good enough for Madeline DeFrees, it’s good enough for me) didn’t seem right.  So I pulled up another, unfinished poem.  Nothing more than a few lines that I wrote a year ago and then abandoned.  I thought it had some promise, though, so I spent the day today adding to it.

The way I write is in very short bursts.  I write a line or three, then check my email, brew some tea, feed the cats (we have a very fat one who requires feeding approximately 47 times per day.)  Then I come back and mess with what I’ve got or maybe write another line or look up some factoid I need, then take another short break.  It goes like that all day until I have a draft.  Then I go back and revise as much as I can without further assistance from outside readers.

By this evening I had a draft I couldn’t do anything more with. It’s been such a long time since I’ve really worked on a poem all day like that, I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it.  Boy, do I have a feeling of accomplishment tonight. I admit I ran it by my homegirl Kelly, who suggested a couple of word changes.  And then I turned it in to the workshop, and I’m feeling great about it.  The best thing is that it fits nicely into my manuscript, which is in dire need of fresh work.

I’m liking the other folks who have posted their intros, too.  (Hi, X.P.!)  I was nervous, but the nerves have gone, and I’m super excited to be part of this workshop.  And now — time to look forward to writing the next poem!