Poet's Workshop

photo by Gerry Williams

Poet's Workshop Presents: This Landscape Called Flesh by Terrie Leigh Relf ©2004 All rights reserved

In last month's column, I said that I would delve more deeply into the issue of place. While I was going through some works-in-process, I came across a poem titled, "this landscape called flesh". I thought to myself: what a great title for a column—and it fits right in with what I want to talk about.

Our bodies are a landscape rich with natural resources, an architectural expanse of wondrous contours, textures, and sensations. Where better to begin writing than with our own bodies? We are the journey and the destination. There are so many levels and layers to explore on this lifelong sojourn.

For example, in Lap Danced by the Muse (shameless self-promotion—only twenty copies remaining…) there's the narrator in "It's All In The Canvas" who is standing "naked in front of the full-length mirror" rolling and pressing her folds of flesh (15). Another Lap Danced piece, "A Different Desire: Ode To A Muse" (19), the narrator implores the invoked other (i.e., The Muse Herself or a Muse by Proxy) to peel away the layers of skin, "sinew, muscle, bone" and so forth in order to transcend the limits of flesh and basically "mind-meld". "The Art of Feet" is available at Guillermo Bosch's erotica site, Saucebox. As the title suggests, this poem regales an integral part of our body (among other things…).

I'd like to share a few of my poems-in-process. The first one was inspired by a conversation I had with my mother and sisters. It was the inspiration for this column. The "Landscape" series are part of another collection-in-progress.

This landscape called flesh

"I don't even notice the scars," my sister says
peering more closely at my face

"They flow into the landscape of my flesh,"
I tell her, fingering the right-angle on my chin
moving on to several others
their origin a series of muted flashbacks

We talk about surgeries
I joke about reconstructing my body
how ludicrous that would be

My mother
No longer silent, says
"they're battle scars!"

Yes
I think
Yes

Landscape #1

They burrow like grunion
these silvery scars
if you place your ear against
rivulets of flesh
you can hear the ocean

Landscape #2

I stand in
this precipice of flesh
look to where sky
becomes water
to where
grotesque rifts
paralyze

Landscape #3

pain is a jagged rock face
an odd incline
pausing between breaths
it listens for a heart beat
hears nothing
calls out my name
when there is no echo
I climb higher
shrug off my parachute
leap

Here are a few prompts to ponder…I hope they get your synapses firing!

1. Get out that Gray's Anatomy! This text has probably inspired more than a few horror poems;
2. Do you have any "pillow books"? Why not compose your own pillow poetry? You could try it with a partner, too;
3. Talk to your body—as a whole and as integral parts;
4. Get out a photo of yourself. Write a poem about it in the third person.
5. Have you ever experienced a prolonged illness, suffered from a dis-ease or medical condition?
6. Do you have freckles? Play connect the dots and see where this star chart takes you!
7. Have you ever created a body map? Trace your hands, feet, or entire body (this is a great exercise to do with a partner). You can draw arrows to various points and regions as well as write directly on them. Make the journey over the entire expanse of your body. Where are you? Where are you going? Where have you been? Where do you want to go?
8. Many people identify with particular geographical locations. Use this as a metaphor for your body/mind experience. (e.g., I am the ocean at high tide, the swirling undertow, the sand shifting beneath your feet…).
9. Try #8 with a city, state, country, planet, galaxy, or other phenomenon (e.g., within my eyes, spiral nebulae/my mind, a stellar nursery).

Now get writing-and don't forget to enjoy the process!

If you'd like to have one of your poems as a discussion focal point and/or example, then please send it to my attention with a brief introduction.

Q&A:

Q: How do I know if I need a writing coach?

A: A writing coach, in my experience, is someone who assists writers in a variety of ways. Over the past ten years, I've assisted my clients with the following (in non-hierarchical order):

1. Time Management
2. Goal Setting
3. Editorial Services
4. Cheerleading
5. Listening
6. Formatting
7. Query Letter Writing
8. Synopses and Outlines
9. Writing Strategies
10. Writing Instruction
11. Revision Strategies
12. Research Techniques
13. How to Research Publications
14. How to Submit for Publication
15. How to "handle" rejection
16. Book "doctoring"
17. Screenplay "doctoring"
18. Idea Generation

If you say, "Yes! I want that!", to any of the above, then a writing coach may be just what you need. If what you want and/or need isn't on the list, don't hesitate to ask. A good writing coach, in my estimation, is someone who can "be" what is needed. Their job is to assist you in moving forward with your writing—at whatever speed you feel comfortable. An effective writing coach also knows how to assess your progress, to gauge your comfort zone, and to then challenge you to new levels.

If you're looking for a coach now, I'm available!

Send your comments and questions-and your poetry-to Terrie Leigh Relf at terrie@WritersMonthly.com

>>Back to top<<