Author Archives: Drema Drudge

The Grocery Order Knows, and Poems Are Wild Things

I just placed next week’s grocery order, and from that alone I can tell what kind of writing week Word Raccoon has planned coming up. Apparently the creative process can be diagnosed from a grocery cart. She didn’t ask for complicated ingredients. She’s not making sauces from scratch. She’s not baking bread.  She is diggingContinue reading “The Grocery Order Knows, and Poems Are Wild Things”

Object Impermanence 

I started a new poetry cycle yesterday. It began with “Having Vonnegut to Tea.” (I wrote it. Of course I did.) I also had tea with Vonnegut (the mug, not the man) and those lovely orange flavored cookies. Next up I remembered that the mascot of the elementary school I went to was a dragon.Continue reading “Object Impermanence “

Clustering: When Word Raccoon Empties the Poetry Drawer All at Once

Now Playing: Helter Skelter by The Beatles I had one of those writing days yesterday. You know the kind where you sit down intending to write a poem and instead the poetic brain behaves like a vending machine that’s been kicked a little too hard and suddenly six or seven snacks fall out at once?Continue reading “Clustering: When Word Raccoon Empties the Poetry Drawer All at Once”

The K-Cup “Ducking”

My youngest, Zack, came bearing gifts last weekend when he stopped over to take us out for lunch. Out of his very thoughtful gifts (he will not mind if I tease him), one nearly defied storage. Have you heard of the trend of “ducking” someone? People hide dozens of tiny plastic ducks around your house,Continue reading “The K-Cup “Ducking””

Field Notes from the (Newly Reopened) CafĂ©: March 4

Before we get into my writing field notes for the day, I recorded my poem “White Lake Fish.” CW: it deals with the topic of death, so take care when listening.  I wrote a poem today, didn’t mean to. Was planning on revising, which I did, too. About 375 pages into The Weight of Ink.Continue reading “Field Notes from the (Newly Reopened) CafĂ©: March 4”

Word Raccoon is Captain No!

Every once in a while my Word Raccoon turns into Captain No! That’s what I call her when she’s in this mood. God help you if you meet that version of her.  She greets every suggestion with a “No!” like she’s a toddler. Everything you think would soothe and delight her makes her toss marshmallowsContinue reading “Word Raccoon is Captain No!”

Swimming the Riptide: Reading Kay Ryan

Word Raccoon and I read Kay Ryan instead. (We know we are starting in medias res. We do not want to say who we tried to read, decided nope.)  We borrowed Ryan’s essays from Libby (the app, not the person). We have not read them yet. We like essays by poets on other poets, onContinue reading “Swimming the Riptide: Reading Kay Ryan”

I Didn’t Ask for Songs Today…But I’ll Take Them

Today (Sunday) is apparently song lyric day. Didn’t ask for songs. Didn’t necessarily want songs (and melodies) today, but here we are.  It started before I got up. (The other day I dreamed of a Christmas song, woke up and told myself it wasn’t good enough and what if it already existed and I thoughtContinue reading “I Didn’t Ask for Songs Today…But I’ll Take Them”