Hello Wonderful Reader,

Today I’ve chosen a special erotic poem and writing prompts for you to explore your too-muchness and wild expansiveness. So grab a pen and paper, and let’s get started.

Desert Pools

I love too much; I am a river Surging with spring that seeks the sea,I am too generous a giver, Love will not stoop to drink of me.His feet will turn to desert places Shadowless, reft of rain and dew,Where stars stare down with sharpened faces From heavens pitilessly blue.And there at midnight sick with faring He will stoop down in his desireTo slake the thirst grown past all bearing In stagnant water keen as fire.

Source: Poets.org. This poem is in the public domain. 🩵

Four Prompts To Go Deeper ✍️

I’m going to be honest: not everything about this poem resonated with me. I couldn’t figure out who she was talking about when she said “His feet.” Was it Love’s feet? Or was it her ex-boyfriend’s feet? I guess we’ll never know.

The rest of the poem might be about loving someone who didn’t realize how awesome you were. Still, the line that really sang to me was the first one:

“I love too much; I am a river”

🌊

So delicious. So juicy. So, I’ll keep it simple.

Describe yourself as a river. Where do you flow? What animals and plants grace your waters? What are you like?

“I am a river.”

Write about someone who was too small to handle you and your capability of loving them.

“I love too much;”

Tell me about your sheer expansiveness and limitless power, realized or imagined.

“Surging with spring that seeks the sea”

Write about someone you were devoted to, yet who never gave you the pleasure or care that you deserved.

“I am too generous a giver,”

About Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)

She was an American lyric poet who was awarded the first Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her 1917 collection, Love Songs. I featured one of her poems for the “Awakening” chapter of The Intimacy Journal. I like that she uses rhyme to brew momentum in her poetry, but it’s not predictable all the way through. Here are my favorite quotes from the mystery poem I featured in the journal:

“And that for you love held no hint of shame;

My eyes caught light from yours, within whose flame

Humor and passion have an equal share.”

“Your great eyes widen when you talk of love,

And darken slowly with a fair desire.”

I hope you enjoyed this invitation! Reply and tell me: which writing prompt resonated with you the most? I read and respond to every DM I get!

Sending love,

Tash

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💌 ✍️

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