Hi there,
And welcome to another holiday creative prompt.
Yesterday’s little thought exercise asked us to remember the people who have, in the past, supported us and wished us well. Today I want to continue in this contemplative frame.
"Now that you’re not here to tend them, I see the lamps you lit for us."
—John Freeman from Dusk (for Barry Lopez)
In his poem Dusk, Freeman pays tribute to inspiration of writer Barry Lopez, known for his work in the arts and environment, by comparing the effects of his work to lamps lighting the way for others.
Today’s creative prompt…
… asks you not just to consider who has lit the lamp for you but what lamps you might be lighting for others?
Who, living or dead, shows you the way through the dark?
And what are you showing to others that can help them find their way?
The first question might feel easy to answer – we all have our inspirations.
But the second question may feel challenging to some of you. Please don’t dismiss it. Don’t discount the ways in which you may be role modelling or challenging or preparing or nurturing others, whether that be in personal or professional spheres, witting or unwitting, or in ‘big’ ways or ‘small’ ways.
And then write these down, especially if you found this hard to respond to.
You can listen to Paul Holdengraber read Dusk here. Or read the poem below:
Dusk
for Barry Lopez
Horizon turns from blue to black
with infinite tenderness in London
tonight. Yet even at full dusk a smear
of cobalt rings the tree line. Maybe
endless love awaits us. I know you believed
so, even as forests and rivers turned to fire,
libraries to ash. Now that you're not here
to tend them, the lamps you lit remain for us.
Sometimes it's important to see the darkness,
you would say, to regard one another,
and our trembling. Or on other nights, like
now: we must look up. How is this same
moon in my sky hanging over Eugene these
small hours? Do you feel its comforts?
As you sleep through this final stretch
how badly I want you to know we have
the torches now, my friend, we'll protect the flame,
you are free to be the wind again.
By John Freeman