Thinking prompt #4: WRITING THE UNSPEAKABLE

Hi Everyone,

Here’s a striking excerpt from Marcelo Hernandez Castillo’s poem, “Immigration Interview with Don Francisco”:

“Perhaps the butterflies are mute because/ no one would believe their terrible stories.”

Your thinking prompt:

What is so terrible in the world you’re depicting that language eludes it? How do you manage to tell the story anyway? Hint: Patiently collect all the precise, sensory, unassailable details of the unspeakable. Leave nothing behind. Trust that these details, in time, will guide you to the necessary unfolding.

This is a tough one so don’t rush it. And take good care of yourself as you proceed.

Abrazos,

Cristina