Aug
Do strawberries and blackberries blossom inside you?
Kids are great for putting things in perspective, coming up with incredibly wise and funny comments, and just generally keeping you grounded in what matters.
Yesterday, my daughter and I were driving back from an errand and she asked me to put on her Taylor Swift CD. Daughter loves Taylor Swift. Taylor is her first musical crush. You remember those–when you could not get enough of a song or album (yes, I said album) by a particular group or singer. If it came on the radio, you turned it up full blast. You saved your pennies until you could buy the 45 of the song (yes, I said 45), or, if you had enough allowance, the whole album. You learned all the lyrics, sang along at the top of your voice, and knew the bio of your favorite singer down to his or her favorite color.
That’s what it’s like for daughter and Taylor. She asked me if Taylor had any brothers or sisters. I have no idea, but it prompted me to ask her what it is she likes so much about Taylor’s music.
“It makes strawberries and blackberries blossom inside me,” she said.
Wow.
That’s pretty darned expressive for eight-almost-nine-year old. Daughter’s first food crush was fresh-picked wild blackberries, so putting these two loves together like this says a lot.
But I know what she means–that feeling of something blooming inside. I get it sometimes when I’m writing, and I know that when I feel that feeling, the writing is right. And I don’t want to stop. Any more than I can stop playing that song I love or stop cramming those luscious fresh-picked wild blackberries into my mouth.
Do strawberries and blackberries blossom inside you when you’re writing? What does it feel like to you when your writing is right?
Blackberries are in season right now, and they are succulent this year with all the rain we’ve had. Find some to pick, put on your favorite song, and do some writing. Then, let me know how it feels.
Candace
Sounds like she’s inherited her mom’s knack for poetry!
August 13th, 2008 at 11:06 pmBeautiful! I’ve always had a profound respect for the way children view the mixed-up world around them. God love ‘em and their wonderful innocence. As for what it feels like to write, I’d like to offer my own personal experience.
No blackberries or strawberries. When I’m struggling to put a story together, the most glorious moment comes when things get rolling in my mind - when the creative fuse is lit. It’s like a marvelous sunburst when it occurs - a sunburst that illuminates my perceptions from horizon to horizon. The ideas bubble up. The words flow, and I lose track of time. The story I’ve been incubating may be bad or good, but at this point I don’t care. A wonderful light has encompassed me and that makes it all worthwhile.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:26 am