Summary
The poem "Words Came Running Back" by Dr. Jackie Greenwood expresses a journey from a sudden loss of words to their eventual return, inspired by the beauty of fall and a creative prompt.
Abstract
Dr. Jackie Greenwood's poem "Words Came Running Back" captures the emotional journey of the author, who experiences a profound silence, akin to darkness, when words abandon her. Initially, she reacts with denial and retreats into herself, feeling like a "foolish old woman" succumbing to despair. However, the change of seasons from summer to fall, coupled with a writing prompt from J.D. Harms, reignites her passion for creation. The poem reflects on the paradox of fall—a time of both death and breathtaking beauty—which mirrors the author's own rebirth as a writer. As the leaves change color and the heavy air of summer dissipates, the poet finds her breath and thoughts liberated, leading to the joyful return of her words.
Opinions
- The author initially perceives the loss of words as a personal failure, referring to it as "fraud" and reacting with anger and withdrawal.
- The poem suggests that the natural world, particularly the season of fall, has the power to influence the poet's emotional state and creativity.
- The author views the creative prompt as a significant catalyst for overcoming her writer's block, expressing gratitude to J.D. Harms for his role in her recovery.
- The poem conveys a sense of self-reproach for the author's period of inactivity, describing herself as "waiting to be consumed by creeping angst."
- The transformation from a state of "sudden and irrevocable darkness" to one of creative abundance underscores the poem's theme of resilience and renewal.
