Walking with Poetry

Walking with Poetry

I walk, quickly and steadily—

Step, step, step, step—

And I breathe out—

One, two, three four,

Breathe in--

One, two, three, four—

A foxtrot or

Breathe out--

One two, three,

Breathe in--

One, two, three,

A waltz,

Either way a

Metronome for

Meditation, contemplation.

Sometimes an idea is

The starting block

I push off from,

Or things float up

Out of the eight-ball ether—

Music, memories, maxims,

Words, phrases, feelings,

Atoms, molecules, traces

Of itches and irritations

Of life and elucidation,

Of sound and serendipity--

And homeless poems

Creep up behind me,

Fall into step,

And we walk on together.

Chris Brockman

Comments: 24

JOHN BECK Mar 3, 2013, 11:48am UTC

I can identify. The rhythm of walking, cross country skiing, even climbing the stairs resonates with thoughts, feelings, memories, images....

Well written and thoughtful, Chris.

Chris Brockman Mar 3, 2013, 12:42pm UTC

Thanks, John. It's true; this sets up alpha waves. The first half of this was composed on my walk yesterday.

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Len Maxwell Mar 3, 2013, 1:16pm UTC

Very nicely done, Chris. I particularly liked the metronome reference.

Featured on Gather’s Luminous Writers & Artists.

Chris Brockman Mar 3, 2013, 1:28pm UTC

There is definitely a rhythm to life and rhythms in life. Making our own helps put us in tune with life and understand life. It surely is part of the nature and appeal of poetry. Thanks for the feature, Len.

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Ann Marcaida Mar 3, 2013, 2:08pm UTC

Walking meditation is a common practice in Buddhism, and it need not be done slowly. I think metronome meditation is a fine idea as well.

Tweeted!

Chris Brockman Mar 3, 2013, 6:40pm UTC

Walking serves a variety of purposes for me, a generator of poety is not the least. Thanks for tweeting.

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elizabeth evans Mar 3, 2013, 2:29pm UTC

Beautiful, Chris. I do my best thinking when I'm walking/hiking....there's a definite rhythm underlying the movement.

  Featured in Thoughts on the Go at the Triple Name Club.

Chris Brockman Mar 3, 2013, 6:44pm UTC

Thanks, Bob. Somehow I knew you were a walker; I already knew you are a thinker! The two do go well together.

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Bernard C. Mar 3, 2013, 3:18pm UTC

Very nicely narrated - good for meditation indeed

Thank you for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.

Chris Brockman Mar 4, 2013, 5:36pm UTC

Thanks, Bernard. It is indeed.

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Richard Lynn Livesay Mar 3, 2013, 4:19pm UTC

great light stepping poem...enjoyed, Chris

Featured on Surreal Circus

Chris Brockman Mar 3, 2013, 6:46pm UTC

I know you are a light stepper, Richard! I'll bet a high stepper, too. Thanks for reading and thanks for the feature.

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David W. Mar 5, 2013, 10:10am UTC

true example of rhythm producing rhyme. Unfortunately I am not a walker, but I do find inspiration in stranger places. Lovely piece of work.

Chris Brockman Mar 5, 2013, 5:28pm UTC

Thanks, David. We find inspiration wherever we can.

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jay o Mar 5, 2013, 10:23am UTC

I thought that was a really great poem, hard to describe the process on its own terms.

Chris Brockman Mar 5, 2013, 5:31pm UTC

Thanks, Jay. Poets thrive on describing everything, especially through introspection.

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Granny Janny Mar 5, 2013, 1:23pm UTC

Yesterday I was walking
Head held high
Feeling fine
Then
I tripped off a curb
Landing splat on the pavement
Sprained my hand
Bruised my knees
I picked myself up
Got into my car
Cried
And drove home

Your poem succeeds in great contrast to my fall and is now featured on Poet's Weekly Muse!

Chris Brockman Mar 5, 2013, 5:32pm UTC

. . . and start all over again. I'm sorry you walk ended badly, Jan!

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lynn a. Mar 6, 2013, 9:28am UTC

The beauty and joy of walking is part of what I get from this poem in part due to retrospection. I definitely like this poem and can appreciate your thoughts.

Chris Brockman Mar 6, 2013, 3:41pm UTC

Walking as poetry can certainly be construed from this. At some point, the two can meld. For me, walking is more a catalyst for poetry. This isn't to say that walking doesn't have its independent qualities for me. I certainly does. I do it regularly and will for the rest of my life--thus extending my life!

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Jennifer Lee Mar 12, 2013, 10:08am UTC

Wonderful, I love the cadence of your poem and learned something new by reading Ann's comment.

Jennifer Lee Mar 12, 2013, 10:09am UTC

I can relate to the subject as well, thanks, Chris!

Chris Brockman Mar 12, 2013, 5:09pm UTC

I know, Jennifer. I saw your Facebook post and thought you'd appreciate this.

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Mustafa Demiri Mar 17, 2013, 11:22pm UTC

That was absolutely brilliant... I have some old unfinished poems that walk along with me or flutter in nearby tree... Just out of sight of being fully seen.

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Walking with Poetry

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