Poetic Alchemy

I began writing poetry in earnest in the Autumn of 2019. I was already 67 years old. Although I had always embraced the work of the Romanticists, my interest in writing lay dormant for decades. So, what finally led to the outpouring of emotion and creativity through poetic expression? I have searched my psyche to explore the reasons. It came down to this.

For many years as an engineer and business consultant, my life was occupied by left brain thinking – analytic, unemotional, and rather prescriptive. My right brain yearned to be unleashed and it was when I began a spiritual journey and awakening that included a wonderful trip to Africa. Free was the pent-up desire to write about my life and my observations of the world around me…one in which I previously never stopped to view, listen to, engage in, or simply sit quietly and appreciate our wonderful world. I began finding intense joy in expressing my feelings and emotions in words.

Since my first book on poetry was released, I’m often asked, “How do you know what to write about.” I explain that it was an incredible revelation, and it was right in front of me. I write about everyday events and life’s experiences. The range of topics is endless. So, I now write about what I feel, what I observe, and what I experience.

My writing may encompass spirituality, nature, or love. My artistic craft is words. I think poets are the ultimate alchemists – they combine words into something far more precious than gold.

I conclude this blog post by saying my poetry writing has also made me a more complete business consultant and person. Through my writing I can express empathy and a sense of joy, human emotion, and feeling…not typical when writing about engineering and business analytics! Merging poetry, engineering, and business writing into engaging narrative gives me great pleasure and I’ve found those I engage with say they benefit from a deeper sense of communication and understanding to resolve their challenges.