Footfall
Poetry, a writing prompt…and a living prompt too.
Footfall
Awake before dawn after a night of water releasing from heaven, there is only one thing — to step out and feel the naked flesh of the very bottom of my being against the Larchwood beyond the doorstep, yesterday splintered and shattering against my sole, today cooling, soft, expanding. Sense the droplets hanging from blades of grass that, yesterday, were dried nearly to dust. Sink, just a bit into the Earth, once hardened against me. Smell the sweet of herbs, our essences mingling in mist that holds us all. Know the slapping, leaping joy of my heart lurching after my sister, the toad, risen from the drought.
What happens when you step out?
When you let your feet fall?
When you remember that the first act of a writer is to live life…and notice it.
I have long felt that walking and wandering matter to my writing, my creativity…to me.
So in this writing prompt, I invite you to step out, to let your feet fall where they will.
To live life…and notice it.
And then to let your words fall on the page and tell us all about it.
There is no right way to do this footfall prompt.
Here are some ideas to get you started…
Maybe you’ve been cooped up for a while and have some newfound freedom, a chance to get into nature or to a bustling downtown to catch an eyeful of life?
Maybe you need to stay put right now, but you can take your imagination back to a place you’ve been before and visit it again, one foot before the other?
Maybe you’d like to try an added twist on this practice and try walking barefoot…(which is where the poem above comes from.)
So go out, let your feet fall,
And bring us back your stories, your poems, your words, your photos, doodles…
And in the meantime, here are some words from your fellow Vagabonds.
On the ‘colors of your life’ prompt…
From Sylvia Wohlfarth:
By James G Brennan:
By LB:
From Marta Mozolewska:
And some beautiful writing from our longtime Vagabonds…
From Pablo Pereyra:
And by Mary McGrath:
Keep writing, keep living…
And take us with you with your stories.
To publish with us for the first time, just ask me in the comments.
You can also sign up for the Vagabond newsletter and get additional writing prompts and invitations to the occasional book chat and writing workshop.