A Poem Inspired by The Thin Prison, Leslie Norris

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Greg at Gotta Book.

Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by

Stacey and Ruth Two Writing Teachers

About three years ago I read the book, Dancing With the Pen: The Learner As a Writer,  by New Zealand Staff Ministry Of Education. It was a book I picked up and read a little here and a little there. It is a great book to read if you are beginning to question your own process as a writer or a teacher of writing. It helped pull things into focus for me at a time when I was ready to reflect on these aspects of my teaching. However, the part that remains fresh for me, even after three years, is the poem that opens chapter three of the book, The Thin Prison, by Leslie Norris. It is the poem that lead me to write Steps and helped me realize if I am going to understand writers, I have to be one. I think each day I get closer to convincing myself that I am a writer too; still on my journey like everyone else.

STEPS

Steps are what I take
every time I pick up my pen.
Words take me somewhere. A medium

to expression, an art that too many never try.
 
We all have words,
an audience, a pen, yet,
words do not escape among the
doodles, smudges and ink stained fingers.

Let your words out.  

Inspired by

The Thin Prison,

by Leslie Norris       

The Thin Prison

 Hold the pen close to your ear.
Listen—can you hear them?
Words burning as a flame,
Words glittering like a tear,

Locked, all locked in the slim pen.
They are crying out for freedom.
And you can release them,
Set them running from prison.

Himalayas, balloons, Captain Cook,
Kites, red bricks, London Town,
Sequins, cricket bats, large brown
Boots, lions and lemonade—look,

I’ve just let them out!
Pick up your pen, and start,
Think of the things you know—then
Let the words dance from your pen.

Leslie Norris