Lined Paper
Lined Paper
Must I always
follow lines?
Need we really
make neat rows?
Do I have to
trap my thoughts
between these narrow bars?
Yes, I know they’re meant to help,
but my words want to
circle up,
grow and spread,
tangle and web,
like a wild meadow of pale purple asters
set to seed by the wind.
I hope you’re enjoying National Poetry Month. More tomorrow.
Liz
© all rights reserved, Elizabeth Steinglass, 2015
Love this! Just perfect and so well put!
I’ll never look at notebook paper the same way again, Liz! From neat rows to a “wild meadow of pale purple asters” you have transformed my perception. Nice job!
Fabulous!!
Love how you changed it!
“like a wild meadow of pale purple asters/set to seed by the wind.” Yes! Yes! Yes!
Beautifully said ! my feelings as well about lined ( ruled ) paper … and not as scary, by half, as your portrait of a stapler yesterday …. I’m enjoying poetry mont a lot so far … thanks to you 🙂
“If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.” Juan Ramon Jimenez I found this quote at the beginning of Fahrenheit 451 and have never forgotten it. Your poem reminds me of it.
Love that you like to “circle up”, and on, Liz. I had a student tell me firmly last week that she preferred her field journal with no lines, would make her own organizational lines as needed. I will share your poem!
Thank you to all for visiting and commenting!
Love that great release at the end and playful tone of your poem. Circle of thoughts . . . 🙂
Nicely done, Liz. What a fun idea for a poetry project!
Ooh, and I like the quote Rosi mentioned above.
Yes! This is why I buy unlined notebooks. I just never knew why…until you put it so perfectly.
Happy desk-hunting.
And Happy Poetry Friday!
xo,
a.
Lines are so confining. Look at all those little children learning to stay in line. Oh, how good they want to be. Like your paper wants to be perfect. But when we are not perfect, are we not good?
Let your words fly free!
Ooh, I really like this one! Well done!
Hi Liz,
Tried to write a comment on my phone when this was first up….I really like it a lot. Love how your words want to circle and web…. and then fly into the wind. Wonderful poem.
Love the vision of words trapped in the lines of a page. Must be the reason why I prefer blank unlined notebooks (haha). 🙂 Hope you had a lovely Easter celebration.