Free Write It: "We Are Waiting"

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On the first day of my advanced poetry workshop class, my professor handed us the poem "We Are Waiting" by Pablo Neruda. In the two years following that day, I had many courses and in-depth conversations with this professor, and we would find ourselves coming back to this poem in the course of discussing the nature of poetry. You could say in a way this poem has woven itself into the fabric of my poetic journey. So I think it's only fitting that I begin the free-writing journey on Floodmark with the same poem that has continued to surprise and inspire me. 

Note: In case you missed it, here's our guide to free writing! Check it out if you have any questions about the history of free writing, or if you're not quite sure what it is or how to do it. There's even a fun infographic at the bottom for you.

Without further ado, here's what to do:

1. Read the following poem by Pablo Neruda entitled "We Are Waiting". 

2. Free write about what we're (or you're) waiting for. Write for 20 minutes without stopping.

3. Pull out your sparkly spots and create your own poem called "We Are Waiting". 

4. Feel free to post your poems in the comment section for feedback from us and your fellow poets!

We Are Waiting

There are days that haven’t arrived yet, 

that are being made

like bread or chairs or a product

from the pharmacies or the woodshops:

there are factories of days to come:

they exist, craftsmen of the soul

who raise and weigh and prepare

certain bitter or beautiful days

that arrive suddenly at the door

to reward us with an orange

or to instantly murder us.

If you found this prompt helpful, let us and your friends know! Want to see something on Floodmark? Shoot us an email or leave us a comment.