WRITING
Putting Crocodiles into Your Poetry
How to turn your poems into an adventure
“Every poem needs a crocodile,” my college creative writing teacher told the class.
Before I go on to explain what he meant, let me talk about crocodilians. I don’t know if you have walked among these reptiles? If you have lived in Florida, most likely. I have done so a few times but will speak only one.
I was visiting a friend of mine in Gainseville, Florida, and he wanted to give me an authentic Floridian experience of capturing an alligator. His karate Sensei loved to go out in a rowboat on the river and catch them. Just for the fun of it. We were to go out at night so he could shine a light on their eyes. Otherwise, in the daylight, you might not see them.
The exciting part of this venture was wading in the river to get to his boat. At night! If I knew there lurked no alligators, the little journey in the water would not be very eventful. Refreshing in the summer heat, but not memorable.
However, alligators did inhabit these waters, and my awareness was at its peak. I was involved with every step. We did catch one, less than a yard long. The Sensei hypnotized it with the searchlight, quickly grabbed it, rolled it over on its back, and rubbed its belly to sleep. Then…