Poetry from Daily Life: Just imagine — and don't be afraid to be preposterous

This week’s guest on "Poetry from Daily Life" is Nancy Bo Flood, who lives in the Navajo Nation in Colorado. A writer for 25 years, her favorite subjects include folktales, history, and the Navajo region. She says, “I believe that stories help heal our hearts and give us new eyes to see others and ourselves. I write to celebrate the courage of children as they cope with challenges — the first day of school, the loss of a parent, or perhaps displacement because of war, discrimination, or having different abilities. A well-told story can crack open our hearts and see beyond our own judgments or stereotypes. But best of all is having a child shyly say, ‘I am in this book.’” ~ David L. Harrison

Just imagine ….

I recently read this quote from William Blake, “The world of imagination is the world of eternity.”

First, I frowned, but then I began to think about it and let the walls of “get real” crumble. “Just imagine.”

It is a known phenomenon that science fiction is about impossibilities, but then those impossibilities become real. Science fiction writers follow the trajectory of events and carry it beyond today into their imagined future. When I was in graduate school a computer took up two floors of a university building. We laughed about the possibilities of having a computer in our office and another in our home. It never occurred to any of us that we might have a computer in our car, around our wrist, or in our shirt pocket. Just imagine.

But eternity? What did Blake mean “the world of imagination is the world of eternity?” I’m still pondering that statement. But I’m not dismissing it. Einstein implied something similar when he stated that imagination was more important than any skill or ability. John Lennon sang about our world and humanity and imagining what is possible. Imagine peace.

Perhaps we need to write more from our imagination. I've been having fun lately writing preposterous poems while thinking about the importance and power of imagination. As I continue these wonderings and wanderings and cope with the ups and downs of life, I try not to despair. I imagine. Poetry can help us go beyond sadness, grief, and cynicism, and imagine what is possible.

“Imagination is not a state: it is human existence itself,” William Blake wrote.

I invite you to remember John Lennon‘s song, "Imagine." Listen to it again or just hear it in your mind and … Imagine! — a terrific way to open our hearts and minds to possibilities.

Take a Poem

It’s yours.

Choose one that cracks

Your heart open,

That tickles your brain.

Take a poem.

◆◆◆

I’ve been writing preposterous poems. Try this one … and imagine!

Night Window

Last night I woke

and could not sleep.

Soundlessly, like a cat

I crept

To the window to watch.

There! Yes, there she is again,

A lone doe

Nibbling

Sunflower seeds.

Was she imagining spring,

Or something else?

Moonlight cast her blue shadow

Across the snow.

She continued munching seeds

Meant for blue jays and chickadees.

Perhaps next

She will try

To fly.

Perhaps

So will I

◆◆◆

And one more … preposterous!

Next Time …

A full moon last night so I

Pedaled

My new blue

bicycle

Up, up, past mountain peaks

Onward

Into space

Wearing a no-atmosphere safety suit,

Snorkel, mask, helmet

238,855 miles

Arrived!

whew,

landed on the dark side of the moon

oh so quiet,

No Wars Allowed

Alone

I sat,

a zillion stars silently smiling overhead like

happy fireflies

Sh-h-h-h,

If you tell any earthlings

They’ll politely smile and mutter, preposterous.

Next time, you come too.

We’ll soar together.

Magic happens

Every blue moon.

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Books for young readers by Nancy Bo Flood have received numerous awards including the White Raven International Award for stories that encourage compassion and offer cultural understanding. Learn more about Nancy and her work at https://nancyboflood.com/about/.