And the crazy kid was right. With a slight change in perspective, one form can shapeshift and become another form altogether. Something dull can become something that shines.

It was just a dirty old bakery floor, but the square/diamond metaphor found its way into every cranny of my day—especially the dinner I almost (repeatedly) ruined, as you can read in my new poem, “What Makes Us Human.”  

What does make us human, at least in part, is our ability to change perspective. To reconsider. To apply metaphor. And this is where a writing practice comes in. When we write about the events of the day, we can turn them sideways a little—tell them slant. And see them new.

For examples of what this looks like in poetry, visit www.loveofplace.blogspot.com and find my poems about how I’ve had to find different perspectives while living at our orchard. Or to read my daily practice poems, visit www.ryezome.wordpress.com

To try changing your own perspective by writing through it, check out the poetry exercise on You the Poet, “Feeling Out of Control? Write. Write. Write.” There you’ll find ideas from Catherine O’Neill Thorne from Art from Ashes (www.artfromashes.org ) on how using metaphors can effectively “turn you sideways a little.”

One metaphor that has been with me, lately, came from Herman Hesse’s “Wandering,” in which he uses a tree to talk about working through anxiety.

When we are stricken and cannot bear our lives any longer, then a tree has something to say to us: Be still! Be still! Look at me! Life is not easy, life is not difficult. Those are childish thoughts. Let God speak within you, and your thoughts will grow silent.

So I try to quiet my childish thoughts. At least some of them. Others I’m trying to find a way in which I might turn the volume up. For instance, turning squares into diamonds. Or finding the pleasure in taking my shoes and socks off, regardless the weather. Bare soles, bear soul. Now there’s a homophonic metaphor I want to explore some more … 

Come join me in the big exploration—I have lots of new classes and performances coming up.
Check out my new schedule here.

Let’s play. Rosemerry rosemerry@wordwoman.com