Nets of Inspiration

I tread water, in time,
in my sea of consciousness,
adrift in space, until
my mermaid legs are gripped
by cramps. Salt water spills
as I climb a rock to rest
and set myself the task
of repairing torn nets
of inspiration and cast
them to the waves.
Some days, words slip
through my head like silver
minnows. Other days, I seem
to catch a whole ocean.

Kim M. Russell, 9th July 2024

Image by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash

Today I’m hosting Tuesday Poetics at the dVerse Poets Pub, with a prompt dedicated to Sarah Connor, whose poetry I have read with fondness for a long time, and whose dVerse prompts were always a joy to write to.

I have shared a recent conversation with Sarah (by email), included links to Sarah’s poetry collections, some of her past prompts, and a challenge for today’s Poetics.

The challenge is to pick lines from those I have given, chosen from poems published in Sarah’s latest collection, Always Fire, and either deconstruct the lines and use the words in a new order in a new poem or let the words inspire a new poem without using actually using the words.

I chose the line from ’Cliff-Dweller’: “Some days I can set myself adrift in space. In time.”

Also linked to Sherry’s saltwater and whales prompt at What’s Going On? on 26th March 2025.

61 thoughts on “Nets of Inspiration”

  1. I love the way you used Sarah’s line to set us adrift in the ocean of poetic inspiration, nets taught with expectation as we wade in with “mermaid legs.” So beautifully composed, Kim.

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  2. Kim, love the verses woven in your poem. This is my favorite part:

    Some days, words slip
    through my head like silver
    minnows. Other days, I seem
    to catch a whole ocean.

    Thanks again for the interview with Sarah.

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  3. This is gorgeously rendered, Kim! I especially admire this part; “Salt water spills as I climb a rock to rest and set myself the task of repairing torn nets of inspiration and cast them to the waves.” ❤️❤️

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  4. A lovely response, Kim. We chose the same line!

    I especially like the ending:

    “Some days, words slip
    through my head like silver
    minnows. Other days, I seem
    to catch a whole ocean.”

    Thank you for this beautiful and emotional conversation, prompt, and tribute to Sarah! xx

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  8. How beautiful to use all those images and the sense of the sea and that mermaid is quite real. The emotions of torn nets is intense. So much within the head, heart and sea and being at the mercy of the ocean, the poem and the loss.

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  12. Hello Kim. How lovely to make this week’s prompt about someone as well loved as Sarah. I’m sure I’ve written few responses to her prompts. And for sure have had the pleasure of her reading my words. And responding. Hugs. Now I’ll add Sarah & family in my prayers. 

    Your poem is fantastic. I’ve been eyeing the same line you chose. But things can change. There are so many great lines. 

    I love the ocean image in your piece. Oh, that ocean! And I love how this last image has lingered: 

    Skip through my head like minnows: catch a whole ocean 

    Thanks for sharing this loveliness. Happy summer. Stay cool and in the shade. 

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  15. So very beautiful, Kim! What a lovely tribute. I especially loved

    “Some days, words slip
    through my head like silver
    minnows”

    Thanks for this beautiful prompt. It was not an easy one (with the heart so full) but one that I am sure each one of us loved.

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  21. Kim, this is so special. You honoured Sarah’s line with the most beautiful imagery. I adore it all but this was so moving to me….

    “Some days, words slip
    through my head like silver
    minnows. Other days, I seem
    to catch a whole ocean.”

    Thank you for creating this very moving and inspirational prompt for us, for Sarah. It gave you and fellow poets the perfect vessel to share the love, respect, and appreciation for a wonderful lady and treasured poet. Hugs ❤️

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  22. Such beautiful metaphoric wording about inspiration your poem, Kim! I especially liked

    “Some days, words slipthrough my head like silverminnows.” That was such a vivid word picture!

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  25. How lovely it’s to be a mermaid in a sea of consciousness! Whether silver minnows or an ocean haul, the reward is priceless. What a delight to read the poem, Kim. The whole poem is a net of inspiration.

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  28. “I tread water, in time, / in my sea of consciousness . . . “

    A poem about making poetry! The sea, the nets, the mermaid legs, the minnows–all work in this extended metaphor of the sea of consciousness. Lovely.

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