Lonrach, that was a very tantalizing ochtfochlach! It was like seeing a two-minute preview of an epic film, with very vivid images that left me wanting to know much more. I'm glad to see this topic coming back to life again. The ochtfochlach is a popular form because it is among the simplest, yet it can contain so much, as illustrated by your poem. I can see you are a storyteller at heart.

When I write a poem, usually inspiration comes from a phrase that sticks in my head, a few words that sound good together or convey a strong association, then work from there to build on or around that sound. I always say the words aloud as I write. Guess you could say I'm very sound-oriented compared to other poets who may be more initially inspired by something visual or emotional. Most of the time, I latch onto a pair of words or a well-formed sentence and play with it, mixing it with other words and phrases to see where it might lead. Does anyone else understand what I'm saying?

From whence does inspiration for poetry come? That's a whole topic in itself. What moves us to put these words together a certain way? Its always interesting to compare how other writers work, what drives us to compose poems and stories, and where our respective Muses can be found.