Collection 8
See the Miracles
To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle, Every cubic inch of space is a miracle.
—Walt Whitman
Every molecule and moment of life is a miracle. Children are good at seeing miracles—but as people grow older, they often stop noticing them. Not so the poet. Noticing miracles is the poet’s specialty. Describing them in the right words is the poet’s job. How can you do it? First, keep your ears and eyes and heart as open as a child’s. Second, work on developing special skills with words and images. A few people seem to be born with these skills—just as some people are “born athletes.” But most writers have to learn and practice, just as most ballplayers have to learn to hit grounders and catch fly balls before they can play the game.
Writing Focus: Interpreting Art
Writer’s Notebook
Walt Whitman created miracles in words. Miracles are also created by artists—with images and color. Take a minute now to skim this collection and look at the art that accompanies the poems. Note those works of art that especially appeal to you or even those works that puzzle or irritate you. Save your notes for the Writer’s Workshop found in this collection.
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