The Impossible One Word Poem by Ana Clark

There was a time when I frequented poetry readings. I wouldn’t miss an event even if it meant venturing out during a profound rainfall that partially flooded the art building, facing my nemesis; vicious winter air, or having to walk a hour home after an especially tiring day.

One day, at a poetry reading, someone named Michael, who had a warm attractive energy that matched his physical being, presented a call out for submissions for his chapbook. Michael was looking for “one word poetry”. I was perplexed.

How in the world could someone write a poem with one word? I listened to Michael’s one word poems that he shared that day. I kind of, maybe, sort of understood. Still, no. How? My mind wandered, twisted, shifted, and chased ideas around during the entire 1.5 hour poetry event. I was scarcely present beyond my physical entity- even that was questionable.

I walked home and looked at everything, signs, nature, people, packages of trash that had been carelessly released into the wind. An hour of automatic walking and near out of body existence and still I couldn’t fathom the possibility of a one word poem.

Throughout the next few days, perhaps weeks, my mind constantly swelled with this impossibility. If it weren’t for the fact that Michael was an exceptional writer, I’d have thought him to be nothing more than a mad fool. But he couldn’t be wrong. Could he? His credibility had been evident to me after often hearing Michael read, if not only for the fact that he’d been published multiple times and was well respected by the elders and scholars in the local writing bubble.

BUT… BUT… ONE WORD?
I spent uncountable hours searching for definitions, examples, and advice online. I opened books to try to hone in on something, anything. The more that I tried to understand this crazy concept the less it made sense. My brain felt bruised but I would not be defeated.

Finally, I found an example online that made sense. I recall not what it was, but I do know that the one word was an entire poem in itself- somehow. So, it was possible and I finally experienced a nibble being the full meal. Alas! I was still tasked with preparing dessert.

How would I manage to write a one word poem that didn’t feel like a cheap slap of letters as words on paper? A word is a word and nothing more without substance. “Dictionary”, “Inspiration”, “Lost”, stained my note book. No. They weren’t right. Then, somewhere during my journey I realized that my mistake wasn’t in word choices, but maybe it was in the format.

I’m a graphic designer, how did I not see this before? Also, I fancy creating my own words. How did that not come into my mindset sooner? Suddenly, the sun rose in my mind. My eyes swelled, instead of my brain. I got it!

I wrote a few one word poems that, to this day, are my favourite pieces that I’ve ever written. In fact, they are some of my favourite that I’ve ever read, not just of my own. I don’t think I’d ever been so excited and proud of such a small creation.

I share with you one of my proudest word babies:

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