Spell casting to create writing

By Rose Lindsey

Welcome into our winter Words to Write By. For this December, we’ll be focusing on the inherent magic of spirits and renewal that exist as we encroach on the new year. This exercise is primarily inspired by Book of Spells, a book of poems by Gary Lemons. In his collection, every poem is titled “Spell”, with the conceptual framing that every poem is its own sort of conjuration. Today, we’ll be creating our own spell poem. As always, prompts are entirely invitational; you are encouraged to follow this structure as loosely or as closely as possible. 

This poem will follow a simple structure: an invocation, listing the components, and a reconsideration of the invocation. To start with, pick a sensation that you want to reinstill in yourself. This could be the comfortability you’ve felt in a family house, the wonder you’ve felt when witnessing somewhere scenic, the hope you’ve felt when a new relationship is fresh. Whatever that sensation may be, hone it closely in the mind’s eye, and write down the experiential components that create the environment you imagine. To continue with a specific example, for the family house, you could write down “lavender scented candles, creaking of the staircase banister, orange lamplight glow”, and so on. Make these images concise but precise.

When you have finished your listing, you should have five or six images at minimum. Set these components aside, and then formulate a statement – and invocation – that will allow these images to create their magic. Write down this invocation, and then follow it simply by listing out your spell’s components. At this point, you’ll have created a basic list poem. 

To close out your spell, you’ll then reinvite the invocation and consider it again. This last part is intentionally left open to how you want to conclude your spell. Personally, I would ask a question as a part of your closing; what new inquiries emerge when you consider these images in conjunction with each other? This allows you to leave your spell open to further exploration, whenever your interest in this magic reemerges. Regardless of how you opt to end your poem, you’ll be able to carry a spell in your pocket to conjure forth that feeling you’ve missed! 

Here’s an example of this writing prompt in practice: 

Spell

I want to feel the embrace of that house like 

the embrace of a mother. Lavender scented candles.

Creaking of the staircase when the children 

charge down with stuffies from the guest bedroom.

Orange lamplight. Grandfather clock casting

a shadow on the timeout corner. Sizzling

sausages popping. Television static. Are you 

familiar with warmth after snow angels? 

There is ice dripping from my hair. How 

an embrace can cause the frigid to melt easy.