Client work, back to Japan, a trip to the doctor and rescuing roses.
Creative Tuesday returns...
I’ve had to shift my day around today. I’ve had a last-minute booking for a wedding poem (hoorah!) which needs my attention and so my morning has been devoted to building a poem that will be beautiful to read, make people laugh, and make a memorable addition to the big day. Writing bespoke poetry is a different way of writing, but I still enjoy that “aha” feeling when it all comes together. I’ve a couple more drafts to get it perfect but I’m more than halfway which is where I like to be before I leave the poem to “sit”.
As soon as I finish this draft it’s time to head down to the doctors – I’m feeling strong enough to walk which is always a good thing – it’s down hill and I leave plenty of time so I can rest halfway if I need to. Being June I’m hoping for the warmth of the sun and the scent of the last of the wild garlic from the woods. Being June in England in 2024 I enjoy cool rain and the scent of surface dressing on the road. Ah well. I see a blackbird scurrying about under the hedge of someone’s garden as well as three crows seeing off a buzzard.
It's raining more heavily when I come out from my appointment, so I decide to be sensible and call a taxi – the walk back up can be tricky and I’ve had a bad few weeks physically. It galls me to take a taxi for such a short journey, but I know my body will thank me. Home to a soggy cat and damp roses – I cut a few to enjoy in the house before the rest of the rain batters their petals.
My second creative task of the day is to head back to Kyoto for this week’s Letter from Japan. This is a sister letter to my writing about Ikigai a couple of weeks ago, and details my time spent at Matsuda Seihon workshop, learning the art of bookbinding. It’s fabulous to revisit and I think you’ll really enjoy Friday’s letter.
I’m not sure how the rest of the afternoon will go. I want to look at an idea I have for a new pamphlet, but I can feel my mind fading a little so this may have to be postponed. I’m hoping to put together something from my swathe of poems about body image, eating distress and mental instability. I have almost enough poems to make a pamphlet, but some of them are quite old so may need revision. I want to write some new ones too, perhaps using form which I think could have real potential in terms of the subject. I’m glad to have the germ of a new idea, but I’m also aware that my journalling and reading has slipped in recent weeks, and this is impacting my writing brain so I may be better spending some time with a book instead. What a privilege to have the choice between writing or reading.
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