• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

ArtSpirit7

  • Home
  • Events
  • Resources
  • About

Timed Writing and a Poetic Treat from Flo Oy Wong

October 1, 2017 by Mary Gow

Flo Oy Wong speaking at an Asian American Women Artists Association meeting. Photo by Mary Gow

Flo Oy Wong speaking at an Asian American Women Artists Association meeting. Photo by Mary Gow

When Flo Oy Wong told me about the 1.5 hour workshop “Lay the Foundation of Your Poetry Practice” with Keiko O’Leary at the Sunnyvale Public Library I knew I had to go.

(Flo is an artist, teacher, activist and poet. Among her many accomplishments, she is co-founder of the Asian American Women Artists Association).

The description of the workshop really caught my eye:

Lay the Foundation of Your Poetry Practice

Connect with your own authentic source of poetry, with instructor Keiko O’Leary, and explore a simple method of getting words on the page so you never run out of ideas again! Discover or rediscover this method of getting ideas, avoiding writer’s block, and completing pieces even if you’re not a full-time poet. Non-poetry writers are also welcome!

And reading Keiko O’Leary’s bio inspired me too:

Keiko O’Leary helps people answer the call to create. A trusted editor and beloved writing group facilitator, Keiko’s own creative practice includes poetry, essays, and fiction, as well as calligraphy and book arts. Keiko maintains a voluminous correspondence with students, colleagues, and friends.

Upon arriving Librarian Christina Shen greeted everyone as we got seated. Then she arranged the desks in a circle.

Within a span of 90 minutes we wrote a two short pieces, one from a ten minute exercise, the other a three minute.

Due to the number of attendees we shared our writings within small groups of four. Flo was in my group. I liked her poems so much I asked her if I could share her work here.

She said yes and sent along the poem she wrote in the ten minute exercise. Here it is:

When the Stars Tickled the Sky
By Flo Oy Wong

I remember when the stars tickled the sky and the birds were jealous.
They chirped in loud sounds saying, “No way!” They wanted the stars to tickle them.
But the problem was that the stars only came out at night when the birds were not to be seen.
The birds decided to tackle this problem.

“How can the stars see us if we don’t come out at night?”

“I know,” A bird bellowed.
“We can wear bells on our toes.
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle. The stars can hear us then.”

Another bird chirped, “No! That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard.
Where are we going to attach the bells?
We’re flapping our wings so fast.
The bells will fall off.”

“Let them fall off,” another bird yelled.
“Then maybe the stars will chase us.
Maybe they will catch up and even tickle us.”

“What a great game,” another bird chortled.
“This will be so much fun.”

“No, no, no,” A yellow-feathered bird flapped.
“We can’t have stars falling from the sky chasing us.
The astronomers are reading the sky at night.
If all the stars chase us the astronomers will not be happy campers.”

“Oh, what should we do then?”

The leader of the birds flapped her wings and put one above her right eye.
She tapped it several times, hoping that another idea would come.

“How about this?” another bird said.
“Why don’t we just stop being afraid of the dark night?
Sure, the coyotes come out at night and might snatch us.
How about painting our bodies red and gluing some glitter on our beaks?”

By Flo Oy Wong
September 7, 2017
Sunnyvale Public Library
“Lay the Foundation of Your Poetry Practice”
with Keiko O’Leary

Thank you to the Christina Shen and the Sunnyvale Public Library for hosting this event with Keiko O’Leary. You can find out more about Keiko at her website and also at Write to the End. More about the library’s events at https://sunnyvale.ca.gov/community/library/default.htm

Filed Under: Creativity, Poetry Tagged With: Flo Oy Wong, Keiko O'Leary, Poetry

Previous Post: « Exciting Lines: Calligraphic Abstractions and Enjoying Ink Going Off the Page
Next Post: M.E. Wilcox Pays Homage to Her Sister »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Flo Oy Wong

    October 1, 2017 at 6:57 PM

    Mary:

    What a lovely post. Thanks for this very complete post, including my 10 minute writing exercise. I don’t know where it came from. I just followed Keiko’s instructions. Her guidelines allow us to access whatever mysteries we carry within. Hope to see you @ the second Sunnyvale Library writing workshop with Keiko.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to ArtSpirit7!

Celebrate the beauty of each day - even on lousy days there's a morsel of beauty in it if we look for it. Here you'll find inspiration, news, views and tips as Mary Gow shares her journey of discoveries as a mutli-disciplinary artist and overall curious person.

SUBSCRIBE for Occasional News, Views & Tips

Favorite Posts

  • Joy-Lily Transforms Fabric Into Art
  • What’s in Your Bag of Tools?
  • Tips for Getting Unstuck
  • The Many Expressions of Amaroq de Quebrazas’ Magical Realism
  • The Insecure Way is the Secure Way
  • Gow-O-Gram No. 2
  • Messages from a Spirit Photographer
  • 5 Resources for Selling Your Art Online
  • Three Things to Like About Gerhard Richter Painting
  • What Does Your Favorite Shape Say About You?
  • Awaken to Your Dream
  • Is This the Year You Do the Work?

Recent Posts

  • Mary Ciofalo at Sanchez Art Center
  • Observations
  • A Real Life Urban Hero
  • Create Mathi-Magical Shapes
  • Beneath Our Feet
  • Wabi-Sabi-ish Painting
  • Keep Looking for the Light
  • Light from Below
  • Create a Fluid Painting in Minutes
  • What We See Every Day

Click Any Tag

Abstract Painting Aeolian Harp Angeles Arrien Angels art attentionometer Bill Belew blogging books Calligraphy creative inspiration creativity David Delp Gerhard Richter Gow-o-gram heart heart art hearts Hero's Journey Inspiration Ira Glass Joseph Campbell Julia Cameron Mary Gow Mary Gow art Mel Ash monotypes Pachamama Alliance Painting Paper Artist photography Poetry public speaking Robert Henri Seth Godin shapes Sherrie Lovler social change Steve Jobs Steven Pressfield storytelling The Artist's Way Tyler Mitchell watercolor yourturnchallenge

Archives

  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010

Copyright 2010-2023 ArtSpirit7 / Mary Gow and Mary Gow Pincus, All Rights Reserved