I’ve outgrown my confusion over how to use Twitter. I’ve even learned to enjoy it. But until recently, I was still enough of a snob to be skeptical about finding literary inspiration there.
Then it happened. Luis Alberto Urrea tweeted a quote from Albert Corn: “Metaphor sleeps around.” .jpg)
Just three words, but they put into perspective a part of my memoir I’ve been struggling to bring into focus for several months now. I knew I had to revive my relationship to growing food in a particular place before being able to tap into that spring in Nepal fifteen years ago. And I’ve been doing that in northeastern Oregon. But I also had as many metaphors clamoring for attention as giant zuchini in my late summer garden. I couldn’t keep track of how and where they were growing and what to do with them. My metaphors had become so hopelessly promiscuous – wanting to be with this image one day, and that the next – that I no longer knew how to organize my chapter. In fact, my chapter had given birth to numerous little baby chapters that were propagating more metaphors. I feared I had lost all control.
But being reassured through the lighthearted tweet of a writing idol, I gave into the nature of metaphors. I let them be. Lo and behold, they settled down a bit (or maybe they’re just going into winter hibernation). Whatever it is, I can work with them again now. They’re pulling into focus and showing me some new and better directions.
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