The picture above is of vibrant Laurel leaves of the variety that grow easily in this usually mild and rainy climate.  I’m attracted to them because I love green and because we share a name, but also because they are coniferous; this picture was taken mid-winter.  It’s a useful analogy for the sort of writing life I’d like — one that is evergreen.

So one or the things I’ve discovered about writing is that it isn’t just fabulously enjoyable to write with other writers, it’s necessary.  Tongue in cheek, I’ve asked the question, “If a poem is written but is never spoken to someone or read by anyone, does it say anything?”  While there are good reasons to write alone and for oneself, poetry in one way or another is meant to be read, spoken and shared.

Like a clever poetic line, my title, ‘Writing Friendships’ has a double meaning.  1) a friendship that comes about because two people share a mutual interest in writing, and 2) a friendship that is written, that is, its growth is rooted and fruited as two people write out of what forms and shapes their lives.  There is potential for this sort of partnership to contribute to that ellusive evergreen writing rhythm.

I’m going to start a sub-category for ‘writing friendships’ – blog posts that will specifically highlight writing done together or alongside another person.  It might be a combined piece, where lines are swapped back and forth to form a whole poem, or individual pieces, but the writers use the same writing prompt. Something at any rate, is shared. My hope is that this writing is as enjoyable to read as it is to write and share together.  Let me introduce you to my friend Laurel:

Laurel and I have been writing together for a couple of years.  We live in different provinces so most of our interaction is over email swapping lines of poetry once we’ve chosen a form and loose guidelines.  I find these exchanges joyful.  We’ve created little gems using: Haiku, Pantoum, Diamente, Accrostic, and even Limmerick.  When we discovered one day that our names are more similar than even ‘Laurel’, (My first name, as my family knows me, is Laurel-Deane (pronounced as the male form Dean).  And Laurel’s middle name is Jean!) how could we not be inspired by our names to do a little writing?  And to honour it we made up our own form — a “Double Mirrored Cinquain” (with a half twist…ok, no twist). **

LD
Accepting this
Risky like much of life
Fragility offers its own
Laurels
Glossy leaves each hold new promise
a story expanding
inspiration
LJ

LJ
Steady, longing
Singular expression
Finding voice in the wilderness
Poets
Shifting perspective and posture
giving yet receiving
gift to giver
LD

** Cinquain: 5 line poem, using Syllable line lengths of: 2,4,6,8,2.  Double Mirrored Cinquain: 2,4,6,8,2,8,6,4,2 – to compare to subjects, using the common centre 2 syllable line as glue to hold the two together.