At the end of our creative writing retreat, we created a list poem together, reflecting our shared experience over the course of the week. Here is the poem, created by Shay, Nichol, John, Jeffrey, Virginia, Betsy, Sara, Patricia and Julie:
Flying in the Depths
The air is charged with creativity:
we are writing stories
to the sound of water falling and
our tender words are received
like party guests.
Hearts pound as wooden steps
descend into darkness
revealing magical, healing waters.
Ancient stones, hot under the eternal sun,
rise improbably from stubbled ground.
Unpronounceable ruins on a day
when rabbits Hop. Hop. Hop.
The pink line stretching far across
the lake turns into hundreds of flamingos.
Poems for Pacheco’s paintings
in a plaza pulsing with life and
linoleum floors under creaking fans
on a warm, dusty night.
Intent listening to the writer reading:
rapt attention and appreciation.
The simplicity of strangers,
sharing stories, creating home.
Late laughs that linger ‘til tomorrow.
Personal tales and a son’s proud tears.
Betsy, Jeff, John, Julie, Nichol,
Patricia, Shay, Virginia.
Word artisans,
we leap into the eye of God
and lose our eyes of glass.
A moment of blue.
Flying in the depths.
