Are you inspired by location?

We are all from such diverse backgrounds and places all over the world. What type of inspiration to you get from where you live?

What is the most beautiful place you have ever been and why?

Has it inspired you to write any poetry?

I'd have to say no. I find most location inspired poems to be overly flowerly and, even if well written kinda pointless.

But that is because I like my poems to be about something important.

Feelings inspire my poems, feelings and people. Places rarely need exploration in my mind, even if i explore them physically you know?

I am usually inspired by life experiences.

You are right about it being hard to right a good nature piece. Someone could take some beautiful imagery and incorporate it into a piece that wasn't purely about a scenic view though too.

Mouris, I have seen pictures onthe internet and many years ago I had 2 roommates, one from India and one from Pakistan and they had many pictures and stories about the beautiful Kashmir. When you are writing a poem (I am assuming English isn't your first language....) do you ever get stuck on a word that you can not translate into English?

What about our members from Australia? I bet you guys have some beautiful and dangerous areas there.

And Egypt?

I live in the city but the country isn't far. I live 5 minutes from a park that they think was cut out by the glaciers in the ice age. A river runs through it to Lake Erie. There are 2 beautiful waterfalls there. I have had a pic as my avitar before. We have beautiful beaches and fields of wild flowers here.

Kevin, how about the feelings that you get from being in a beatiful, relaxing place?

I tend to be more inspired by places I long to see, but I do indulge in writing about my own surroundings once in a while when something catches my eye or imagination.

"What is the most beautiful place you have ever been and why?"

Outside of here I have been to the Bahamas, which was beautiful. I loved the palm trees and endless blue ocean, the fish and the people, but I also love the rolling green landscapes of my own home.

I'm an awful writer when I'm inspired.

If I am immersed in a beautiful place with my heart full and my soul at peace, poetry is totally elusive and redundant.

My most beautiful place? Sitting on a balcony in India, which overlooked a tiny village by a putrid river. I would sit there all day watching the graceful women cooking and laughing over their fires, washing their snotty children in rusty buckets, the thin men pushing carts of shiny vegetables and fish to town, the boys playing cricket as the sun set, parades of dirty ducklings, patient cows, filthy mongrel dogs flicking their tails at incessant mosquitos-- all set in the backdrop of lush greenery, incredible poverty, brilliant smiles, vivid saris drying on lines hung from hut to hut, and triumphant crickets.

Actually, I just like sitting in the park, watching people walk home home from work. I think humans stimulate me the most-- they are sort of my hobby, and help me understand myself (as I am one too), and with it, the world.

I cannot go to a particular place to write poetry. I am usually seized by it. But, like Jane, my poetry isn't the best while inspired...I need time to give me enough distance to look at the picture in its wholeness.
I haven't felt like that for a long time.

I'm occasionally am inspired but it can be boring after seeing it the few hours...

If I write about a dragon.. does it mean I've seen a dragon? You can get inspiration from stories, books, movies, pictures, dreams.. doesn't have to be a specific place you've visited.

Most beautiful place I've been that comes to mind - Kho Phi Phi in Thailand. But maybe not... Yeah no. Tossa De Mar in Spain, right around the Mediterranean. But I've been to a lot of wonderful, beautiful places.

When I'm in beautiful surroundings, I want to write poetry, but I am completely inept. I feel like a poet so overwhelmed by beauty that no words can possibly describe my sensations. Words annoy me at those times. I just have to drop my jaw and gape like a baboon.

I like what Abby said.

For some reason, my best writing comes when I am in my room at night. Closed off from everything but my thoughts.

"When I'm in beautiful surroundings, I want to write poetry, but I am completely inept. I feel like a poet so overwhelmed by beauty that no words can possibly describe my sensations. Words annoy me at those times. I just have to drop my jaw and gape like a baboon."

I like what Jane said.
She's such a baboon, it's not close to funny.

Mouris, you live in Kashmir? You lucky thing.But what's the political situation like at the moment? It's still unclaimed territory? I imagine there's a fair bit of conflict to stir the poetic juices.

Yeah Rikki,

Queensland is gorgeous. But we have gorgeous whisps of Australian Outback here in California. Any terrain found in Australia can be found in small patches in my home state. Crazy innit... except instead of kangaroo hopping, you'll see deer.

I think inspiration is like chalk and cheese, anger exhilaration disappointment, a state of mind, what we see when we're not seeing, to recreate a faded memory perhaps. I find it easier to write about lost love or betrayal after the event than when im actually in a loving relationship..... I think my ability to translate that memory or experience with any clarity that can put me or the reader in the picture is how that poems judged.... 99% of the time I don't think I achieve that goal. mmmmi'm being over generous with that 1%

Kashmir yes I remember it well, so beautiful, the houseboats on the lake, hash cookies, squatting over a small brazier of hot coals in my phiran to warm my bum...........

Rikki do you live near Queensland?
What kind of wildlife do you see near where you live?

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts. I think anyone could be inspired by anything. It is interesting to know other's opinions of what makes a beautiful scene and if they draw inspiration from it. I think it is awesome that we have such a diverse group in location and opinions :)

I am always inspired by my surroundings, Like a good movie I think the background (so to speak) creates an image in the mind and sets the stage for the feeling of the poem.....mountains, streams, or moon lit nights....how can it not inspire you?

I'm inspired by listening to music. :) Places hardly work, it's the people who are there and build an atmosphere. That inspires me. ^^

I see beautiful places all the time, just around my city. It's usually an isolated place, maybe near a creak or surrounded by trees. I find nature very inspiring, both for stories as well as poetry.

I am inspired by many things. Location; where I live (Canada, Saskatchewan, small town, etc.), where I have been (B.C., Greece; Acropolis, Athens, Mykinos, etc., and Turkey; Istanbul, Troy, etc.) & where I've yet to be (Scotland, London, Rome, Paris, etc.), happens to be one of many of them. :)

^ Aye, inspiration does not always take a positive form, have a positive effect or play a positive role.

It's a coincidence that you should mention that. It has been on my mind while I was watching "Defiance" not 15min ago.

I know exactly how you feel. I feel it too, whenever I read an article or book of our sad past history or even of our recent soon-to-be-history. I feel it whenever I watch a documentary or other film based on true events. I felt it while I wandered through the empty cities where people once thrived.

THis is a pretty interesting conversation, I would have to say that my surroundings are an inspiration to me. When Im walking out at night by a sewer line alone looking up at the night i feel peace which makes me wanna write as my thoughts feel more tranquil. Although i seem to only be affected by places of mainly nature just because it soothes me.

If a writer can use location then their poetry can be amazing...Wordsworth comes to mind. The Romantic aesthetic would've never existed without The Lakes.

I grew up partly in a place known as 'The Gates to The Lakes' and The Lake District is one of the most beautiful English landscapes around. If you see it after heavy rain when everything is green, well, it is really something.

I've lived in the north, east, west and south. I came from the north west to the south east near on four years back now. How could I live in London (in contrast to The Lakes) and not write about location...

Really makes you realise how damn crazy and varied places are. 'Love it.

My greatest source of inspiration is the sea, I visit her daily.