Today is not a day for writing.
It’s a day to marvel.
A day to feel lured by the water.
To sit in a chair by the window.
To chase away intrusive worries.
To notice that in certain light, those mountains in the distance don’t look like solid rock and earth but rather like layers of blue stretched down from the sky or pulled up from the water.
To imagine that every dark spot on the water is something worth noticing.
To see shapes and grace as the trees move in the wind.
To admire the vast distance where those sea birds fly.
To feel the weight of a heavy cloud filled sky.
Today is not a day for writing.
It is a day where images rule, the beauty of a sliver of the world captivates and words mostly don’t come.
In this chair, by a window, with water all around, I declare, today is not a day for writing.
I am participating in the Slice of Life challenge to write and publish a post every day in March.
Slice of Life is hosted by Two Writing Teachers. I thank them for the community they provide. Read more slices here.
There's a Book for That 
Lovely!
Thank you!
And yet, such beautiful writing emerged. I had to double check your “about” page, since the photo looked a lot like the San Juans. I wasn’t too far off!
Yes, very close. We are on Vancouver Island right now. One of our favourite places is Lummi Island in the San Juans.
But you did write anyway, even though “words mostly don’t come” Nice images!
I sat in my new favourite chair and this piece kind of wrote itself.
Sometimes the most beautiful writing comes when we focus on writing the least. This was lovely!
Thank you!
What a beautiful post. My favorite lines: “To notice that in certain light, those mountains in the distance don’t look like solid rock and earth but rather like layers of blue stretched down from the sky or pulled up from the water.” Thanks for sharing your marvels and adding to the beauty of my day.
You are welcome!
Although it is a day for not writing, you wrote beautifully. I love the imagery of the mountains. You are in a beautiful area and it’s wonderful to look around us and appreciate what is there and “not write”:)
We feel so fortunate to be here for a week and literally stare at the view for hours!
I think that sometimes when you just don’t feel like it, the words come just a little bit easier…not that this is easy! I didn’t expect such a lovely piece , such a vivid marvelous poem when I read the title, but instead I expected to read a diary entry.
Thanks for showing how something simple can turn out to be so lovely, even when it isn’t a day to write.
Thank you for this comment. Strangely, these words did come easily because I let it be just about the view in front of me. I didn’t reach deep but just reached out – if that makes any sense.
Perfect sense. Thanks again.
Beautiful! Sounds like you had the perfect day — writing or “not writing”.
🙂 We are in a beautiful place.
Hahaha! I love the irony of this piece!!! What a beautiful piece of writing you produced on a day that is “not for writing”!
Thank you Michelle.
Writing about not writing is clever. I did something similar but it isn’t nearly so beautiful. What a breathtaking view.
Isn’t it gorgeous? We feel lucky to be here for a week.
If I had that view, I would have a hard time looking away from it and at a computer screen. Wow! I love how you appreciate it.
It is just a borrowed view and yes, thank goodness this isn’t my everyday life. I would get nothing done!
What a beautiful piece of writing emerged from you just watching and observing. Writing can take many forms. It often begins with what we notice.
I think you are right.
Awesome view which does lead to writing, but first there was noticing, followed by imagining the possibilities. No, it was not a day for writing. Beautiful poem. I have looked a layers of blue created by mountains and had some of the same thoughts except there was no water below. Just layers of blue floating on the horizon.
So gorgeous when the mountains meet the sky.
Your part of the world looks remarkably like where I used to live in Maine. I miss those waters now that I live by a river. The ocean is different and brings out the calm in me. The river rushed by and makes me feel like I need to hurry.
It is amazingly calm. I love it! Interesting to think about being on a river in comparison.
So gorgeous! Landlocked on the yellow-brown prairie, I am very appreciative of these watery blue photos! And such a piece of writing. I am there watching with you. Thank you for this slice today!
I wish you were here watching with me! It is absolutely stunning.
So much to love about this poem. I’ve read it over and over again admiring it’s simplicity and complexity. I’ve bookmarked it!
Thank you Keith. I am honoured.
I’m glad you shared this time with all of us, Carrie. Enjoy every minute!
Thank you Linda!
Just love this piece and the repeated refrain. I was there with you! Got to it on Sunday and so glad I did not miss it. So much to notice and note – of course, you had to write about it! You just had to!
🙂 It kind of whispered to me. This view is inspirational.
beautiful slice! I especially, “it’s a day to marvel.” beautiful setting to marvel, to ponder, to sit, to be…and perhaps to write, after all.
Marvel is the word that captures what it is to have this view.
That is a lovely slice that you wrote today. Too bad it wasn’t a day for writing! 😉
🙂 You are cheeky!
I agree! The first day of spring is NOT a day for writing! 🙂
Indeed.
Beautiful piece you wrote on “not a day for writing”. That view is captivating. It would be easy to get lost in it. But you took the time to describe it so the rest of us could get lost in it, too. Thank you!
I am so pleased you could share in it with me.
Even though the day was not a day for writing, I’m glad you shared your poetry. It was beautiful and I felt like I was right there with you looking out on that gorgeous scenery.
Thank you. It is a beautiful place to just be captivated by the view.
Writing takes on many forms. Today it was about noticing. This post feels like a peek into that noticing.
Yes, all about noticing.
I felt myself relax as I read your writing. It sounds so beautiful!
It is! I am so pleased it had that effect.
The picture and your words are serene. Some days are not days for writing; but I’m so glad you wrote today!
Thank you Lori
I love when I see slices that are poetry! But I am so reticent to write them myself. Congrats on writing a poem and a nice one too.
I never think about writing poetry but sometimes this is how they manifest themselves.