There’s more than one way to write a poem.
Poiema--from which we get the word ‘poem’--is Greek for “a thing that is made,” which is the inspiration for naming this Substack.
“Made things” can be creations with pens or paint or paper, a reflection of what’s in our heads and on our hearts.
In 2019 I had the privilege of attending a retreat in Ohio1 and was introduced to a way of poetry-making that has become a welcome outlet for my creativity ever since. Using materials from old books and magazines, glitter glue, watercolors, stamps and more, I began a new way of crafting my thoughts on the blank page.
This practice has produced the following work—shared in photos below—from that time and beyond.
When I pivoted my writing focus in late summer last year, I settled on a mission statement seen below and posted on my website—helping you Make Friends with Poetry.
My intention is to offer people encouragement and practices to deepen their walk with God, not through the reading of poetry (I’ll have a curated list coming soon for Subscribers), but the writing of it.
Folks often feel intimidated about how to write a poem—I get it; I’ve been there—and they don’t know where to begin. (A Making Friends with Poetry Workshop is also coming in the new year.)
ART JOURNALING as Poetry & Prayer
Art journaling is a way to venture into expressing oneself with words (and pictures) both and thus create a poem, a made thing.2
The Apostle Paul encourages us to pray without ceasing3, yes? Prayer is a place of listening, being tuned into God at all times in our “walking around life,” as Eugene Peterson coined it. I’ve often looked at art journaling as “poems and prayers on paper.”
Playing with paper, pictures and paint is a practice that engenders a different kind of listening to create something with written, visual or artistic materials then respond and capture what God is speaking. Sometimes, most times, we don’t know what God is saying until we take time to listen, moving things around with pictures, glue, paint or pen. Many of us can say, “I didn’t know what I thought until I saw it written on the page?”
Because sometimes we don't know what God is saying until we see it.
So what does this activity of poetry-making look like, practically speaking?
To Begin, if you can, take 15 minutes to make a mess. Like this one.
Gather some MATERIALS
A blank journal or page, at least 8 x 5 ish in size
Old magazines and books. Maps, menus, calendars, church bulletins, junk mail--all are a good source for print and pictures.
Scissors, glue sticks
Felt markers or pens (I use the Art-n-Fly fine line drawing pens that write over watercolor)
Glitter glue
Rubber letter stamps and ink pad
Stencils
Watercolors or acrylics
Any other 'arty' material you can think of
NEXT
Ask God to uncover what's in your heart or on your mind. Look through flotsam and jetsam (above). Cut out (or tear) pictures and words. Certain things will speak to you; answers will come to the surface.
Moving materials around, start to layer things.
Glue words or phrases in place, add glitter glue or pen, stamp out a phrase. Resist the urge to fill the page with too much….
Sit back. What do you see? What did God say?
My friend, you have a poem.
Much like the illustrations on this page, I didn't know what God was speaking to me until after the work was done. When I finished the watercolor, cut paper and glitter collage at the top of this page, God spoke the phrase 'heart in the weeds.'
I thought of how my heart is hidden in Christ, even in the middle of a weedy world.
And that's how our (sometimes unspoken) prayers show up on paper.
Friend, if you try this practice, please email to me at heyjode70 {at} yahoo dot com.
I’d love to see!
Everything I know about praying on paper/art journaling came from Christine Hiester, Spiritual Director and Workshop leader at Refine {the Retreat} founded by Kris Camealy.
I love this practice, and your examples. I've been trying to do one art journal page a day. I don't always do it, but I've been more consistent with it over the last several months. It is the best way for me to transition from day to evening.
I think my heart beat a little faster as I viewed your photos, Jody. I've collected collage materials to experiment with, but haven't done a whole lot with them. You've inspired me! Perhaps Sunday afternoons could become my art-journaling time. . .