In these last days before the new year, I’m going to rid myself of the clutter that I accumulated in 2010. I suspect you writer-types will know exactly what I mean: the extraneous "stuff" that litters our office space; the self-imposed limitations that hamper our creativity.
"Advice to Writers," by Billy Collins, seems apt for the task at hand. It’s open to interpretation, of course, but I think Collins might be giving a playful nod to those of us with messy traits and/or elaborate writing rituals. Maybe he’s encouraging us to drop our mindless tasks, in favor of actual writing. (Do you read that or something different?) Whatever its intent, this poem helped inspire me to create an "immaculate altar" of my own writing desk…"a clean surface in the middle of a clean world"…a welcoming space in which to lift my own "yellow pencil."
ADVICE TO WRITERS
By Billy Collins
Even if it keeps you up all night,
wash down the walls and scrub the floor
of your study before composing a syllable.
Clean the place as if the Pope were on his way.
Spotlessness is the niece of inspiration.
The more you clean, the more brilliant
your writing will be, so do not hesitate to take
to the open fields to scour the undersides
of rocks or swab in the dark forest
upper branches, nests full of eggs.
When you find your way back home
and stow the sponges and brushes under the sink,
you will behold in the light of dawn
the immaculate altar of your desk,
a clean surface in the middle of a clean world.
From a small vase, sparkling blue, lift
a yellow pencil, the sharpest of the bouquet,
and cover pages with tiny sentences
like long rows of devoted ants that followed you in from the woods.
~From The Apple That Astonished Paris, by Billy Collins. Image credit: StewartInteriors.
I love Collins in general, and that poem in particular (along with a good dozen or so others). Instead of something being the mother of invention, it’s the niece of inspiration – derivative & subordinate, instead of creative. Brilliant.
Still, I need to clear some detritus myself. Which includes a rather thorough cleaning of the entire house. Alas.
I thought you, of all people, might notice that poetry-averse Melodye found inspiration in a poem. 🙂
Alas on all the housecleaning chores; I sympathize, I truly do. But we’ll feel much better–breathe easier, step more confidently, think more deeply–when the clutter’s cleared away.
Happy clearing out! I’m going to do a good cleaning/clearing too. It’s a great way to get ready for the new year.
Love that poem! Love the photo, too.
Happy clearing out to you, too! It’s a lot more fun, now that I know I’m not alone in doing this.
Yay for everyone who’s brave enough to de-clutter, clean and polish our spaces, whatever that means to/for each of us.
I can’t write if my desk is too messy. I’ve still got a long way to go to clear out the piled-up boxes from moving. When I do tackle the shredding and sorting it feels good. My problem is a lack of storage space. I think we’ll be visiting Ikea soon…
Your icon is perfect!
I’m not great about writing in the midst of chaos, either. And yet…my desk is messier than not, more often than I’d like.
Interesting. I read it as ‘declutter’ your mind — and certainly household tasks help with that 😉
I read it that way, too. Given that it’s poetry, I’m guessing it’s open to literal *and* figurative interpretations.
Random thought: If you employ a housekeeper, can you off-load that mind de-cluttering, too? 😉
Oh, for some of those devoted little ants.
Lovely poem.
Emjae
inknbeans.com
devoted little ants
Wouldn’t *that* be nice? I seem to be attracting more grasshoppers at the moment. 🙂
but I think Collins might be giving a playful nod to those of us with messy traits and/or elaborate writing rituals. Maybe he’s encouraging us to drop our mindless tasks, in favor of actual writing. (Do you read that or something different?)
I think you’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head. It sounds a little tongue-in-cheek it does. Very sound advice. Here’s hoping that in 2011, I can clear off my physical/mental desk just enough to encourage those long rows of ants.
Thanks for this, Melodye!!!
Decluttered spaces, plus armies of devoted ants
*clinks champagne flute with yours*
Here’s to both of us, meeting those New Year’s goals!
I like that. Then again, while I’m not a neat-freak, I do tend to get overwhelmed and unmotivated when I’m surrounded by mess. It is a lot easier to get my work done when I’m in a clean environment.
I think I’m a lot like you in this regard…I seep energy out sideways whenever my office gets too messy.
Isn’t that funny. I have been thinking about the very same thing. I am off this weekend and had already decided to clean-out the clutter and coordinate the mess. I want to start the new year with a bright yellow pencil of my own 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Melodye. Love the photo BTW.
I like that I’m not alone in this…it’s a daunting task, all this decluttering & re-organizing!
*wades into piles of clutter, bright yellow pencil held aloft*
Nice blog
It was certainly interesting for me to read this post. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read more soon.
Sara Karver
monaco call girls