lists: things that are opening

I’m a list maker; jotter-downer-of-words, thoughts and tons of to-dos.

They’re written by hand, put in my phone and typed into documents on my computer. I use lists to keep myself organized, to remember fleeting ideas to be revisited for whatever reason.  Sometimes there is no reason, I merely liked the phrase.

You might say that lists are my muse.  This is especially true when I use writing a list to excite my writing.  Usually those lists are merely words that fall under some sort of heading like “things that are orange” or “things that start with the letter Y.”

A few days ago, I was reading back through an old journal and I came on a list entitled, “things that are opening.”  The way it flowed was almost poetic.  It had an interesting cadence.

I wanted to edit the list completely, but somehow the raw, not completely refined version seems better … just left open …

                my eyes, my heart, new stores and restaurants

flower buds and doors while walking in and windows lifted up

                                                a book and flowy curtains or an opening act

nuts for hungry squirrels and Venus fly traps reaching for prey

                                clams and oysters pop open on the grill

                and a break in the clouds let sun stream down

arms to give a hug and mouths imbibing in a drink

                                camera shutters open and shut, as does a day at sunrise and sunset

petals unfurl, like hands playing a game of open them, shut them

                blinking eyes and baby birds awaiting a worm

                                draw bridges being raised for passing ships and fish gates for passing water life

hatching chicks peck their way out of the eggshell

                a seedling sprout opens to the world above

Just a list … jotted down –

Missy

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