The Diary of a Professional Idler
On hobbies, creativity, and a poem inspired by a patch of lilies.
Last week, I wrote about how making time for play, even amidst adult responsibilities, can be transformative. Building on that theme, I'd like to share a poem I wrote earlier this year after taking an online poetry class and some insights on how I've been incorporating more play into my life.
As a recovering workaholic, I have found the journey of picking up hobbies while resisting the urge to turn them into income streams to be quite interesting. I often imagine myself as the star of my own movie, and we’ve reached the part of the script where the protagonist throws caution to the wind and pursues everything she has ever wanted to be. I joke with my friends that I’m a professional idler, which is what Jamaicans call time-wasters. However, I know that pursuing my passions is anything but a waste of time. Learning new skills at my own pace has been a rewarding experience and has greatly helped me overcome my perfectionism.
As the year comes to a close, I find myself focused on tying up loose ends to start fresh in the new year. This naturally requires me to take stock of what I’ve accomplished this year. I set some ambitious creative goals, and while I didn’t achieve all of them, I laid a solid foundation to explore these goals further in the coming year. Progress over perfection, right?
One thing I love about this technological age is how accessible information is. Whenever I want to learn something new, whether it’s fiction writing, poetry, or a new art style, I can find the right class on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare. I had the bright idea to try my hand at poetry, so I enrolled in "Write with the Great Writers: English Literature and Creative Writing" on Skillshare.
My first assignment was to write a poem about nature inspired by William Wordsworth’s poem Daffodils.
I have only written a handful of poems in my lifetime; to be honest, poetry is a genre that has always been a mystery to me, so I was curious how this assignment would challenge my creativity. I aim to share more of my creative experiments as Becoming Moken grows.
Pearls & Pews is inspired by a vivid childhood memory of my frequent visits to a nearby patch of lilies when I became restless during church services as a little girl, which happened often.
Listen to me read Pearls & Pews below.
Pearls & Pews
A Poem by Moken Marsai
As the sermon drones on, My mind begins to wander, Longingly I stare passed the stuffed pews, To see yonder, Beyond the cars and the asphalt road, Lilies filed neatly on the lawn, A sight to behold. I concoct an excuse to go outside, As I draw nearer the sweet aroma does tantalize, Sitting pretty undisturbed, What a curious wonder of nature, Soft, dainty and the colour of pearls. Petals peeled open and freckled with golden dust, Beckoning the honey makers to dance on its cusp. I dare not take a keepsake, Else its wonder will fade, So there I leave them, To visit another day.
Reflection
What hobbies have you explored recently that brought you joy, even if they weren’t "productive"? How did they make you feel?
Reflect on a time when you pursued something just for the sake of enjoyment. What did you learn about yourself through that experience?
Write about a natural scene or memory that made an impression on you. How would you describe it if you were writing a poem?
I can’t wait to hear from you!
Well done. Love this so much.