Poetry Line by Line

Jennifer Luster

January 13, 2025

Taking an opposite approach to how we complete even one thing in our lives can get us out of a rut if we’re in one. It can also give us the added bonus of living well. “We’ll get our own pots!” and start new. If you’ve ever seen The Odd Couple–the play or series (1970 or 2015), you know how rigid Felix can be. Honestly, if someone as structured as this character can change, so can we. The wisdom from this line directs us toward possibility.

November 6, 2024

Jennifer Luster

Velasco: Well, I took a look at you last night . . . I took a long, close look at you . . . Do you know what you are, Ethel? Mother: (Ready for the compliment.) what? Velasco: A good sport. Mother: Oh . . . A good sport. Neil Simon, Barefoot in the Park, […]

Jennifer Luster

October 9, 2024

People often believe that writers live an easy-going life dreaming up fantastical stories. This snippet from the play True West is a great example of that belief. But despite how simple it might appear, writing for a living is challenging. Writing is not all that easy–just like the character of Austin says in the excerpt. […]

September 2, 2024

Jennifer Luster

How do we decide what our own thoughts are if we are like Nora or Glinda? Either we weren’t allowed to share a thought or we’ve just keep our thoughts perfunctory.

Jennifer Luster

August 27, 2024

What did you want to be when you were a kid? Try to remember how it felt imagining that you were it.

If you have the soul of a bus driver, you will not be happy until you’ve gotten behind that big steering wheel. Embrace who you are despite what anyone else tells you.

July 23, 2024

Jennifer Luster

pencil and paper; write your ideas down

Are you struggling with one choice versus another? Do you have a pencil and paper? If you don’t, grab some. The act of physically writing down all the things whirling around in your head can help you to make sense of the chaos in your mind.

Jennifer Luster

July 4, 2024

Roma: You want to learn the first rule you’d know if you ever spent a day in your life . . . you never open your mouth till you know what the shot is. Mamet, Glen Gary Glen Ross This line from the play Glen Gary Glen Ross is delivered in ire. In this bit […]

Know Your Shot

February 4, 2024

Jennifer Luster

appearing successful

Brian: Who’s got a camera? I want you to see what success looks like. Neil Simon, Laughter on the 23rd Floor If you want to feel successful, it’s important to create archival proof of the smallest joy-filled moments in your life. Brian refers to needing a camera to record his achievement in this line from […]