Waiting room
In issue #158 of your weekly poetry booster shot, we wait. And read poetry.
Waiting room.
It's written on the wall.
We wait, and watch time being wasted
by workflows and those who
wait here too.
Waiting is part of our lives. We wait a lot. In line at the supermarket, at the doctor’s office, for the metro or train or bus to take us to where we want to go. Waiting is part of our lives. And it seems such a waste. Just sitting there, doing nothing. And that is where you can make a difference. Sometimes there’s no escaping waiting, so you better make the most of that time you are idle. Use it to take a little break. Try to think of nothing. Just be. Or look for inspiration. Maybe it is even written on the wall. That’s how I got the poem above. While waiting. You can, of course, also read a book, write something or learn something. We have the tools now to do everything we can imagine. Well, within the limitations of what’s reasonable, of course.
So, what will you do next time you have to wait?
PS: The link in the text above is to a podcast episode I did with about taking breaks. It’s from a decade ago, more or less, but it’s still fun.
PPS: Do you like receiving this newsletter? I really like creating it. And sending it to almost 800 subscribers. I would certainly love to keep doing this for a long time to come. I could use your help, though. If you enjoy this, and want to help me provide a stage and support to other poets, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You can find the benefits that come with it in the paid subscriber plans. Just click the button below.
Poetics in life
Look around you. Maybe in your hand. What do you see? Poetry?
Watch this and look again.
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Poetry elsewhere
It was Labor Day in the US this week. Not completely sure what my American friends celebrate on that day. Someone told me it was being able to drink while on a boat, but I doubt that’s true. To me, celebrating Labor Day, is probably much more like what
writes in this amazing poem about his ‘minimum wage past’. A day celebrating labor should be about hard work and the people you work with. Enjoy reading Labor Day by Sherman Alexie:
I saw this poem a little while ago at an exhibition here in Paris. I immediately loved the brilliance of it. A poem written on items ordered online as a comment on consumer culture. Go see for yourself, by watching how this poem unfolds in the video. Seeing the actual items is even more powerful, but knowing they actually exist is already empowering to the poem. Enjoy I, Sinkhole by Kate Armstrong:
What are you cooking today? Sometimes cooking is about waiting. But it’s also about working with your hands, about inspiration, about taste and about health. All that is captured beautifully by Punit from Hello Universe, in the typical style that he masters so well. After reading the poem, scroll down for some links he recommends. There’s some great stuff in there as well. Enjoy Back To The Kitchen, a lovely poem by
:
Thanks for the nod, old pal. You're the best! And look at this lovely newsletter!! Keep it up.
Thanks for the mention.