Spring can be a strange time to be writing poems. There’s this idea that spring should feel energizing, but sometimes it just feels transitional, or even overwhelming. You’re not quite where you were throughout the winter, but not quite somewhere new yet either. That in-between space, while disorientating, can be useful for writing.
Sometimes writing in spring just means paying attention again and turning outward instead of inward. Opening the window and noticing the way the air smells different. Seeing what’s growing where nothing was growing a few weeks ago. Even noticing resistance — not wanting to write, not knowing what to say — can be part of the process.
Poems don’t always arrive fully formed. Often they show up slowly, the same way spring does, oscillating between warm and cold days. But, there’s a little more light each day and the promise of something returning.
If you’ve been away from writing for a while, spring can be a good time to begin again without putting too much pressure on the result. Read a poem. Write a few lines. Start something you might not finish. Let curiosity lead instead of expectation.
And if you’re looking for a way back into poetry, or simply want to spend time around others who care about it, we invite you to join us this season at KSPS. Our upcoming readings, workshops, and discussions offer space to listen, learn, and reconnect with your writing practice in community. View our upcoming events here.
Kentucky State Poetry Society 