Kegels for Poets is the most fun I’ve read lately. (Which I inexplicably read @ twitter as kegels for frogs. Oh brain, what am I going to do with you?) Here’s a sample of the Harriet column by Annie Finch,
When your meter muscles get regular and varied exercise you will find that it actually turns you on poetically. You will better be able to identify and distinguish your lyric G-spot and creative muscles in addition to stimulating your poetic clitoris without even touching yourself! As you perfect these exercises and strengthen the muscles you’ll begin to notice that you can isolate distinctly separate groups of metrical muscles in your poetic floor, including your dactylic, anapestic, trochaic, and iambic muscles. This kind of awareness enables you to isolate your poetic clitoris, for instance, and stimulate yourself poetically at any time. It’s an excellent trick for getting yourself “juiced up” for a hot inspirational experience or important occasional poem.
Indeed, most writing is just to stay fit when a chance of something to say and someone to say it to comes.
I had to keep stop reading because I was laughing too hard to see. It is such good practice, to practice and to laugh.
On an in-breath, tighten your words. Hold for a moment.
Now, on the out-breath, relax them. Focus on the relaxing. This is very important. Let your words go to a completely relaxed state. Make sure you do this after every metrical foot.
Aww, go read it all…
And in other little delights, that which was added to my wish list in October and received and dipped into in March here, got a Pulitzer Prize citation.