Being the president of Scriptoria (Bethany College's English Club) is such a magical role for me. Not only do I get a weekly outlet to just write and expand myself as a poet, but I get to keep practicing what it means to be a leader, and, the best part, I get to watch our members also have a creative and comfortable outlet of both individual development and as a little tribe.

Yesterday was quite a lovely autumn day, so I thought I would take them on a little adventure. A few weeks ago, I took them to one of the town cemeteries, and it was the most serene, quiet, and unique experience for them that I just had to let them embrace their environment again. This time, I took them to the park across from our campus. Leaves had finally graced the ground, children were giggling as the tire swing spun seemingly for eternity, and our fingertips all seemed to be burning to write. In order to keep it somewhat educational as well, I briefly gave them a little lesson on haiku, and I asked them to find leaves or rocks and write on them.

Here are some of our word births:

I thought baby souls
were for welcoming spring -
featherless leaves fall

imposter body -
ladybug please don't bite me
before I go home

Metamorphose, scar -
I have plucked you from our home.
What does it feel like?

I watch you create
memories of dead colors -
scabbed knees make you smile

Some wrote. Some drew doodles. Some just sat and thought. It was beautiful. We all gathered at the end of our session and let the wind sweep the leaves off of the table and back into the park. Happy autumn, my friends.