Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Writing on Request

Less then a year ago I sent out a request to family and friends to send me a piece of writing on whatever topic they choose. My goal was to find out more about my loved ones through their use of the written word. Well, I found out something about my family and friends since then, they seem to regard writing as a chore. Or maybe they are uncomfortable revealing information in a form that can be misinterpreted or limited in the sense that it shows only one of many aspects of themselves.

Or maybe they don’t have an affinity for the written word the way that I do. Several friends sent stories that they had created for other venues which were nice to receive since it gave me new insight into them and let me hear what their personal, stream of consciousness sounds like. One friend, Suki, who I have known since High School shared the following poem she had written shortly before the birth of her first child.

Tiny quarter-sized, doe-eyed flower bud
Floating weightless in a warm garden pond
New ears sense my heart close by, and my
Singing, singing of a seven-week old bond

From the moment I knew you were there
I loved you

Sweet angel blessing, I waited five years for my
Sunflower, iris bulb, maple tree baby, so deep
In my dreams, little wish-on-a-star bebe,
Morning and night, I sing and I weep

From the moment I knew you were there
I loved you

Little blossoming cloud in a bubble in the sky,
One day you'll be born, grow up, move away -
I will guide your sails 'til your own ship you steer
To far away worlds; your own dreams lead the way.

You will find your own twin soul, endless stars love -
You will grow your own peace to which you will belong -
I won't be there to rock you, to kiss you, to sing,
But miracle baby, remember my song

The moment I knew you were there,
I loved you.

It’s true that when it comes to Birthday gifts I usually like homemade better then store bought. For past celebrations I have requested favorite recipes and homemade CDs that reflect the taste of the sender. I guess last year my expectation of people was a bit out of line with reality. Of course looking back on my request I feel like it was more a wish to bring people closer that was poorly expressed. Something to work on for this year.

1 comment:

Steve Isaak said...

I'd write a personal story for you, but you know all you need to know about me: I try to be the best friend I can, I like reading books, writing offbeat stories and book reviews, suffer from depression (which is getting increasingly worse as I get older), and I love being single (and not dating, conforming to the Cult of Coupledom).

That, and the fact that you're like family to me, is all you need to know about me... oh, yeah, don't play Britney Spears around me, because it turns me into a feline (meow!) therianthrope.

In short, I'm not a terribly deep, religious or particularly outgoing person anymore.

If I do manage to come up with some obscure tale about myself, and I just might try now that you've guilt-tripped me into it (wink), I'll send it to you. :)

"I'm a fool in search of wisdom, and I'm on the roads to madness..." -Queensryche, "Roads To Madness"