A Writer's Notebook, Day Five-Hundred-And-Seventeen

So, I had a bit more trouble tonight with the exercise.  It was the least complicated of the exercises we have been given, and I do not really understand my trouble with it.  The only thing we were told was that we needed to write a poem about an animal.  My difficulty was more that I feel it was important to make it a real animal, and I tend to write about animals in a way that is less realistic.  In my poetry, most of the animals are fairly human, or at least are not typically limited to behaviors that any actual specimen would enact.  This resulted in my feeling a bit blocked.  Add to that the fact that it was already late when I got home, and I was a bit stuck.  Honestly, I am not certain about the poem I handed in for tomorrow, but I think that is probably okay.  It may well be that my own feelings are not an accurate reflection of the work.  Indeed, in class today, another participant commented that they are usually enthused when another writer is hesitant to share work or offers an apology, as usually it signifies a particularly good or interesting piece.  I can only hope that this corresponds to my own current feelings.

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