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Monday, April 13, 2015

The Poetry In A Quote

Good Morning poets! I have been so impressed with the poetry thus far in our month of poems. Today I am offering the quotes of Joan Didion as inspiration.

Joan Didion (born December 5, 1934) is an American author best known for her novels and her literary journalism. Her novels and essays explore the disintegration of American morals and cultural chaos, where the overriding theme is individual and social fragmentation. A sense of anxiety or dread permeates much of her work. Wikipedia 


Because of our challenge of 30 poems in 30 days, I am purposely keeping my introduction to Joan and her work brief. I hope to bring Joan back to the garden in the future. 

Please choose one or more of Joan's quotes as a springboard for your poetry.

“Grammar is a piano I play by ear.”
― Joan Didion, Essays & Conversations

“We tell ourselves stories in order to live.”
― Joan Didion, The White Album

“I closed the box and put it in a closet.
There is no real way to deal with everything we lose.”
― Joan Didion, Where I Was From

“I don't know what I think until I write it down.”
― Joan Didion

“It occurs to me that we allow ourselves to imagine only such messages as we need to survive.” 
― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking

“When I am near the end of a book, I have to sleep in the same room with it.” 
― Joan Didion

 “Time is the school in which we learn.” 
― Joan Didion


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19 comments:

  1. Archer's BonesApril 13, 2015 at 1:41 AM

    Technically, it's still Sunday here. But only for a few more minutes...

    This prompt did the trick for me, despite my sleepiness. Thanks!

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  2. grapelingApril 13, 2015 at 3:06 AM

    Good week to all. Cool prompt, Susie.

    ~

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  3. Sanaa RizviApril 13, 2015 at 7:47 AM

    Hello everyone,

    Hope all is well. This was a really exciting prompt! :D
    Thank you Susie for this opportunity.
    Hope you like it! :D

    Love,
    Sanaa

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  4. Rosemary Nissen-WadeApril 13, 2015 at 8:51 AM

    It's late. I have pain in my body. I got a bit cantankerous with Joan; maybe for those reasons. Off to bed now; catch you all tomorrow.

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  5. Kerry O'ConnorApril 13, 2015 at 9:44 AM

    I am not familiar with Joan's work, but always happy to learn more about the voices of our times.

    Thanks, Susie.

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  6. Buddah MoskowitzApril 13, 2015 at 11:49 AM

    Ok, so here's my nonsense... I'm coming for your poems!

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  7. colleenApril 13, 2015 at 12:19 PM

    Love those quotes, especially the one about sleeping with books. http://www.looseleafnotes.com/2015/04/i-dont-see-blue/

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  8. colleenApril 13, 2015 at 12:21 PM

    But mine is related to the box of loss in the closet.

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  9. AnonymousApril 13, 2015 at 1:14 PM

    Ooooh... Loved this! Had to do a quick one (hate it when life comes in the way of poetry!), but had to do one!

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  10. HannahApril 13, 2015 at 1:34 PM

    Thank you, Susie...I'll be back to read...I have to go to a Parent Teacher meeting. :)

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  11. AnonymousApril 13, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    I seem to be having Blogger-issues, so if I haven't left comments on your Blogger blogs (or if I've left loads of comments on your Blogger blogs) that could be why! Could someone please tell Blogger that I'm not a bleeding robot??? *grrrr*

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  12. hedgewitchApril 13, 2015 at 2:01 PM

    Wonderful prompt Susie--thanks!

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  13. AnonymousApril 13, 2015 at 2:16 PM

    Thanks Susie for keeping us inspired this month, cleverly &often. I had checked out Joan Didion's autobiography,and got beat down emotionally from her loss and pain. I don't think I finished it. Hope I can make a shorter version of such despair. It's easier to swallow, if it's less than one page.

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  14. Susie ClevengerApril 13, 2015 at 2:37 PM

    Thanks so much everyone for your support for my challenge. I know it is a busy time for everyone!

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  15. Sherry Blue SkyApril 13, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    Susie, I wrote to this prompt, but truly it is your spectacular poem, The Price of Poetry, and the info you linked about the plight of Afghan women, that got me thinking. We take for granted our rights and abilities to write poetry when many women in the world risk their lives to do so. That made me think of the Nushu language of women in the Hunan province of China, a language they communicated in, that no men understood.

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  16. JimApril 13, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    Busy time is right, I'm in the middle of doing my income tax.
    I liked the sayings you listed, that and peeking at Wikipedia are about as far as I got with learning of Didion's work.
    I took off from one of her quotes and integrated it with one of Mrs. Jim's quotes.
    ..

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  17. OutlawyerApril 13, 2015 at 6:45 PM

    Hey Susie--a very wide prompt. Thanks. k.

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  18. EllaApril 13, 2015 at 8:35 PM

    Hi Susie, I like this challenge~ Thank you for pushing our boundaries~

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  19. Other MaryApril 13, 2015 at 10:17 PM

    Thanks for these great quotes!

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