Parking Lot Poetry
Driving down route 8 to Christiansburg yesterday, I had to pull over at the Riner gas station because my mind was turned on like a faucet and I needed a notebook to catch it. My husband would like me to dictate my thoughts into a recorder. He thinks that would be safer than to scribble notes while I’m driving. But he is an auditory learner, and I’m kinesthetic, I tell him. I’m like Isaac Asimov who said, “Writing to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.”
I don’t need gas. Don’t need to go the bathroom. I need a notebook. So, I’m standing in a line of people with their arms full of six-packs, cigarettes, and snacks. I look out of place, waiting to pay, holding a single purple notebook, as though I had made a special trip for it.
I forgo the bag – not going to hide my habit – and rush back to the car like a crazy poet caught out in public without a notebook, dealing with an unpredictable and irresistible muse.
Lust
I cruise the Thesaurus
to pick up words
for an intercourse
of language
to loosen the Muse’s inhibitions
for a poem’s strong desire
to be written
Comments
I keep a clipboard in the car, one that has room inside for pencils, post-it notes, etc., and an 8x10 lined pad on the top for scribbling ideas while in the car. I try to avoid writing while the car is moving, but I do it sometimes.
Posted by: kenju | May 3, 2005 9:53 AM
Remember the days when we breastfed driving the car?? To soothe our babies we would do this, rather then see them cry. People don't believe it today...but it was safer then hearing that hungry cry. I think you did the right thing...getting a notebook, you shouldn't have to lose one bit of inspiration because you are driving.
Posted by: Sherry | May 3, 2005 12:10 PM
Well I do have a small notebook in my pocketbook, but these were about a week's worth of blog posts that started coming, so I needed a bigger notebook and had to pull over to write that much. I often get muse visitations while driving...or walking.
Posted by: colleen | May 3, 2005 1:23 PM
I keep notecards and pens handy in the car, in drawers in every room, in my purse, etc. I just need to remember to look back at the notecards some times and then interpret what I have scribbled. Not a good idea to write while you drive, but I've been know to do that too.
Posted by: Cyn | May 4, 2005 12:13 AM
Sounds like you need a "secret stash" in your car ;0)
Posted by: J&J's Mom | May 4, 2005 11:59 AM
Came across this site: http://www.wordsatplay.com/
and thought you might like it.
I liked your 'Lust' poem.
Posted by: Karen | May 6, 2005 10:43 AM
i have the notebook and the recorder... and still cant keep up with it some days...
i really enjoyed this.....
Posted by: paisley | February 23, 2008 4:12 PM
I seem to do my best thinking when I am driving, so I do keep a notebook on the passenger's seat.
Posted by: Cricket's Hearth | February 24, 2008 12:49 PM