During these dreary winter months, I find that my motivation falters a bit. The awful weather (freezing rain in Columbus as I write this) and the short days, with no celebrations to look forward to, significantly deplete all of my energy. In the land of pediatrics, winter is also the busiest season in the hospital, as little ones fall prey to respiratory viruses and our floors fill with children debilitated by RSV and influenza. Inevitably, we do too good of a job teaching our progeny to share, as those infections go home with us as well.
When everything seems dead outside, I find that it’s nice to look towards the spring. Not that living in the present isn’t important (I am definitely present with this hot chai I am currently sipping on), but it can be helpful for my mood to remember that flowers will emerge again from the frosted earth in just a few months. Just like how in any difficult times in our lives, it is helpful to find something to look forward to.
To that end, today’s writing prompt is based on a well-known poem by William Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.” I hope that as you read it, you are reminded of what fills your heart with pleasure.
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
By William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
The prompt for this week is this:
“Write about daffodils.”
You have seven minutes. See you next week.
References:
- Wordsworth W. (2020). I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. [online] Poetry Foundation. Available at: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45521/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud Accessed 18 Jan. 2020.
More unedited writing of mine. Seven minutes on the silent prayers I feel for my patients.
Silent Prayers
What do I pray for you,
Dear little one?
I pray you have a warm bed to sleep in,
With a fuzzy blanket
And a fuzzy friend to cuddle,
Keeping you company
And comforting you
And reminding you that
Not all that makes a sound at night,
Whether under the bed
Or outside the window,
Is a monster.
I pray that your parents have time
And presence
And love
To share with you,
That they are not drawn and quartered
By their own personal tragedies,
Fighting to stay alive.
I pray that you see pain
And tragedy of your own,
And see the strength that you have,
The fire inside
To move past it,
No matter what that means to you.
I pray that you see your light,
The flame inside,
Burning not just with strength,
Defiance,
Sheer will,
But also with love and curiosity,
Confidence,
Kindness.
For all children are good
Until we teach them not to be.
Writing for Wellness 