A Lesson from Monet

how Impressionism inspired my poetry, my 2025 writing plans, and a poem

Almost a month ago, on my 26th birthday, my family and I visited the Claude Monet Immersive Experience in a city near us. It was the perfect way to spend the day—surrounded by beautiful art and inside, away from the brisk Ohio winds.

I’ve always loved Monet’s work, his use of pastel colors and nature-centric paintings, but it was learning more about his style and the philosophy behind his art that stood out to me that day. I already knew he was a highly acclaimed Impressionist, but I never expected Impressionism to inspire my poetry as much as it did.

For those who (like me) aren’t art experts, here’s a quick definition:

Impressionism is based on the practice of painting out of doors and spontaneously 'on the spot' rather than in a studio from sketches. Main impressionist subjects were landscapes and scenes of everyday life.¹

More than just painting outside and ‘on the spot,’ the exhibit described Monet as being ‘obsessed with capturing light.’ And to that I say: count me in!

In 2025, I want to become an Impressionist poet—to be obsessed with capturing the specks of light in the world around me. I want my poetry to be real and honest, while also pointing readers (and myself) to a better, brighter hope. To write in light of eternity is to capture reality, not always as it appears to be, but as it can be when seen through the lens of hope and light.

Yes, I know that all sounds lovely, but I also know myself. I need a plan. Or else my romanticized thoughts and ideas will remain just that—thoughts and ideas. So, how do I plan on putting this vision into action? Dear reader, I’m glad you asked! The obvious answer is by writing, but let’s go a little deeper shall we?

This year, In Light of Eternity will focus on craft and collaboration. As a poet, I want to hone my craft while also uplifting the voices of the wonderful poets around me. To grow in poetry together. To spread light.

My plan to further develop my craft is pretty straightforward (but not easy).

1. I recently purchased

   Tania Runyan
   ’s book, How to Write a Form Poem, which I plan on going through. I’ll be sharing my progress here—my attempts at sonnets, villanelles, haikus, and all other forms explored in the book. I noticed last year that although my voice as a free verse poet was growing stronger, I had little practice in other poetic forms. The Poetry Cohort I was a part of in the fall, led by
   Kimberly Phinney
   and
   Heather Lobe Johnson
   , helped whet my appetite, but now I want to begin to master them.

2. Another big thing I’ve decided to do for my writing this year is to complete my first chapbook and (hopefully) publish it. I began compiling the pieces for this project in October of last year and in December signed a contract with

   Kimberly Phinney
   as my editor. I’m excited to see where God takes it as I continue to bring it to life with her help! The project’s theme is near and dear to my heart. It felt only right to kickstart the journey toward my first published collection with a chapbook that will be an ode to my roots, but also my future. That’s all I’ll say for now!

Then, there’s my plan for collaboration!

I read something by

Griffin Gooch

last year that really made me think. Griffin concluded one of his essays, How to Stop Getting Jealous When Others Succeed, with this convicting thought:

All this to say, you can’t just magically stop being upset when other people succeed. You have to intentionally start cheering other people on and loosening your grip on your own success. Counting others as more significant than yourself (Phil. 2:3), as the apostle Paul said, isn’t just good for living in line with God’s will for the world – it’s also good for your mental and spiritual health. Put another way, we can only let go of jealousy when we learn to let go of the things we get jealous over.²

1. In an effort to intentionally cheer other poets on, I’ve decided to start writing monthly collaborative poems. I’ll make a call via Notes (see January’s below) and publish the piece at the end of the month. Anyone can participate! The idea is for the poem to include all the responses I receive (in one way or another). Each participant, and their Substack if they one, will get a shoutout for whatever word/thought they contributed. I truly believe this will be a fun way to connect with other poets and highlight their work. I hope you’ll join me!

2. Another simple way I plan on collaborating with others is by featuring different poets on here from time to time. If you have an idea in mind or would like to be featured on In Light of Eternity, reach out to me. I’d love to brainstorm with you!

My first collaboration is actually happening this weekend. My friend

Kassi Wilson

, the poet behind

In the elements

, sends out a sacred poem every Sunday. She’s kindly asked to feature one of my pieces this week and I cannot wait to share it with all of you. Go subscribe to Kassi if you haven’t already.

Of course—like everything in life—this plan is subject to change, but I really hope I am able to stick to it. Here’s to writing better poetry and building community in 2025!

… but did you think I’d leave you all without a poem? This is a poetry newsletter, after all. Here’s a rough draft of a piece I wrote this week

Where do you go hunting for hope? And where have you found it this winter? I’d love to know.

If you’ve read this far, thank you! I'm excited at all the possibilities this year holds and I’m glad I get to pursue writing with the support and encouragement of such a lovely community. Thank you again for subscribing and following along!

In Light of Eternity,

Rosa

p.s. in case you missed it—

Calla Press Publishing LLC

spring literary journal is now OPEN for submissions. Read more on the theme below and send us your best work! Submissions close March 1st.

1. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/i/impressionism#:~:text=Impressionism%20developed%20in%20France%20in,and%20scenes%20of%20everyday%20life

2. How to Stop Getting Jealous When Others Succeed