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Jody Lee Collins

Poetry & Made Things

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Hi~I'm Jody. Nice to meet you.
Random Thoughts on Writing "A document of ideas is Random Thoughts on Writing "A document of ideas is not a poem--an idea, an experience an event. It's an arrangement of words in the form of a poem (verse). Words are names for things, and what really matters is the thing itself that's being named. A more Rabbinic notion is that words are also things and have agency--generative agency. A word must partake of that activity to be a poem..."  -Scott Cairns, Zoom interview April 2020, Paraclete Press book launch When I began to dabble in poetry some years ago I started with an essay by Scott Cairns from the book, A Syllable of Water, essays on faith and writing. Many of the pieces I called 'poetry' over the years were simply a document of ideas, events or experiences. Over time I began to imitate writers I enjoyed, learning from the work of other poets, many of whom I've had the delight to meet in person. Scott is one of them. He's a Seattle area local and a kind and gracious teacher with a gentle soul. I suppose it's not unusual to be influenced most in our creativity by those who have spoken to us personally and invested in some small way in our growth. Indeed, there are many other opinions out there about what makes a poem, but I'm going with this one for now. My upcoming book, set to release in January next year, includes a poem dedicated to Scott about the opacity of words, letting the meaning of something shine through. You can read my thoughts in their entirety by clicking on the link in my profile for this month's email to subscribers, Random Acts of Writing. And if you're not signed up yet, there's a link for that too. . . Tell me, what do you think makes something a poem?
. "There once was a man, his name was John, sent b . "There once was a man, his name was John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light. " John 1:6‭-‬8 MSG #goals #Godspeople #gospel #freedom #hostasofinstagram
I didn't realize when I started keeping a quote no I didn't realize when I started keeping a quote notebook that there was a fancy name for them like "commonplace books." I've probably started six or seven such journals, lined or blank, and I think it will be a good long while before I fill any of them. . Phyllis Theroux wrote "The Journal Keeper" 10 years ago, a memoir that serves as a vehicle for her thoughts about writing over a period of nearly 40 years. It is a fascinating and inspiring read, one I would highly recommend, now that cozy book reading nights are ahead of us. #readupstream #memoir #friendswithpens #phyllistheroux
“In a world that for the most part steers clear “In a world that for the most part steers clear of the whole idea of holiness, art is one of the few places where we can speak to each other of holy things.” Frederick Buechner on Art, ‘Whistling in the Dark’ c. 1988 . . . I wish I was educated enough to speak with some authority about the way a painting or design or a sculpture moves me. My completely common response is to say that I like it very much...and I can never explain why. I don't suppose any of us can truly express how or why Beauty touches us so, whether it shows up in the garden or gallery. . To paraphrase Anne of Green Gables' sentiments about October, I'm so happy to live in a world where there are artists. It is through their giftedness and creativity that I indeed see a glimpse of God. #geum #gardening #creationspeaks @thehappygardeninglife
“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased “Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life, having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity, and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas, where storms will show your mastery, 
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizon of our hopes, and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love. This we ask in the name of our Captain, who is Jesus Christ. ” ― Francis Drake c. 1596
I'll be honest, although the last two weeks have b I'll be honest, although the last two weeks have been physically draining and not without their challenges while my two grandsons (8 and 10) visited, they have also been the most rewarding two weeks I can think of in a long time. When my husband and I woke up to a quiet house this morning and I went downstairs, I teared up at the empty bedroom when I saw the messy pile of blankets on the beds. . . . It is a joy and privilege to pour into the lives of my six grandkids and all the more precious as I think about my own mother whose years with my children were very short. Even though I'm exhausted and spent, at the end of the day although my refrigerator is empty, my heart is very full. #legacy #grandkids #family
Liquid Light ⁣ Oh Rock in which I hide, ⁣ woul Liquid Light ⁣ Oh Rock in which I hide, ⁣ would that sticky gold could drip ⁣ from my lips, add invisible sweetness to those in need of shelter in these storms.⁣ Pour from this server. Cascade, stir slow and careful, leaving mellifluous life in today's cup⁣ as it passes by. ⁣ Drip and pour. Stir and stay. Honey. . . #honeyintherock #poetsofinstagram #poetry #faithlife #ps81
4 different ways to say the same thing, from Psalm 4 different ways to say the same thing, from Psalm 34: . "I sought the Lord [on the authority of His word], and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears . The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous [those with moral courage and spiritual integrity] And His ears are open to their cry. . the Lord hears And rescues them from all their distress and troubles. . . Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, But the Lord rescues him from them all. Verses 4,6,17 & 19 . God is so faithful with his promises, I guess he wanted to make sure I got the point.
When I began the draft of  my upcoming book of po When I began the draft of  my upcoming book of poetry, Hearts on Pilgrimage it was early Spring 2020.  I had been approached by a friend about placing my poems in her care for their possible publication. After a time of waiting and listening, the work landed back in my lap while our collective lives were put on permanent pause by the entry of a disruptive and devastating virus. Life in the time of corona has wreaked havoc on life as we know it. Knew it. But if we are listening, there are lessons still to learn about what we have lost. . . I will never look at Spring the same way again, but I am hopeful. And that is the purpose of Spring–God’s eternal message that new life will come from what seems lifeless and gone. Winter’s barrenness provides a Creation backdrop that speaks to God’s presence in the middle of life when everything has been stripped away, and no year illustrates that more than this one. (From the Preface "Hearts on Pilgrimage, a Poetry Collection".) . . If you'd like to read more about my book, the entire story behind this collection, or find out about joining my book launch Team, all the links are in my linktree profile. I would love for you to come along. #poetsofinstagram #poetry #creationspeaks #imaginationredeemed #friendswithpens
. . /We try, but words can’t say everything. Ca . . /We try, but words can’t say everything. Can you tell me the colors of shadow? Or explain how every day the calendar writes the world new, freshly alive in the language of daylight and weather? -Luci Shaw, some lines from 'Short Takes' in Eye of the Beholder from @paracletepresspoetry #poetsofinstagram #poetscorner #lucishaw #RoseGardenPtDefiance #tacoma
I remember a friend mentioning once that she had b I remember a friend mentioning once that she had been watching television, "a completely secular activity," she said, when all of a sudden the Holy Spirit revealed something to her that she'd never seen before. . . It puzzled me, and frankly left me a little troubled at the dichotomy we often create between sacred and secular, as if God's presence is relegated to a particular chair with the Bible open on our lap, or standing in side the four walls of church building in the presence of other believers. . God is speaking all the time everywhere, if we are listening. Even if we're watching television. #faithlife #holyspirit #godspresence
"English is a museum of many other languages." -Po "English is a museum of many other languages." -Poet Scott Cairns
........ I struggle pretty regularly with the ten ........ I struggle pretty regularly with the tension between wanting to be known well and to be well-known. As a creative communicator who wants to glorify God by doing my small piece of the quilt square, comparison is a real thing--am I being noticed? Who sees me? . We are each called to create, but not to create it all. Here's to rejoicing in what God puts in our collective corners.
"Nana, can you take off your glasses? I want to se "Nana, can you take off your glasses? I want to see what color your eyes are." "Oh, they're basil!" #thingsgrandkidssay #sundayfunnies (@thespruceeats photo)
... Here's the thing about hindsight; you have to ... Here's the thing about hindsight; you have to be somewhere else first in order to look back & see how much you've changed. . . . As much as I would like to be a different person, spiritually and emotionally by now, and choose to make the best out of this historically trying season, I also know that change never happens overnight. It's one day at a time surrender and obedience.. . There are days that I feel numb and tired then realize that's exactly what a walk of faith is: moving forward regardless of how you feel, confident of God's faithfulness. #rocksolid #faithlife
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  • Home
    • About Me
    • Published Elsewhere
    • Contact
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • BOOKS
  • Poetry
    • Celestial Bodies {a #poem}
    • Accompaniment {a #poem}
    • Contemplate {a #poem}
  • Blog
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