Desolate paper
Mocks her.
She is weary of searching for words
to fill the pages.
Sterile sheets litter her past
the barren parchment
an endless reminder
that words
have failed her.
She dreamed of books
copious phrases
pressed between it’s pages
Yet, her manuscript remains unwritten.
She can’t articulate
the eloquent expressions
that haunt her empty heart.
How could words
have forsaken her?
She is a bard
designed to compose sinuous lexis.
A writer
destined to create masterpieces.
But her pen is parched;
and vacuous volumes fill her folio.
The bitter taste of failure
frequents faltering conceptions.
Parched leafs fall
mocked by fluent tomes.
Her defeat
recorded in blood.
The only thing worse than a poet without words
Is a mother without a child.
Patricia Gibson-Williams
Author notes
Written August 8th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- Allwrite Magazine Poetry Contest- (20 and over) Prewrites Accepted by Runawaytrain.
300 points, ended January 30, 2006, 13 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 25 of 25
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Thanks for entering.
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Thanks for entering.
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A wonderful written poem about not being able to write a poem. Do I taste irony????? This is beautifully-done, eluquently versed and well-thought out!
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very good
Sounds like the worst nightmare of a poet or an author not to be able to put their feelings into words -
i loved this piece, but i have to disagree that the last line brings it into prespective. the deep soul searching you describe, and desire for self expression i believe is on a thoroughly different spitirual level than our instinctive ability ( or for nature's reasons, our inability) to reproduce. but you got me thinking and that surely is a writers success in itself. well done!
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Very big fan of your work, getting better every time
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Gosh.... Don't kow whay else to put.... wow?
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sad , emotive words here , depressing even
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Wow. Intense. Sad. And very deep. Nice!!
I really loved this. Amazing job. I loved loved loved the last line... that's so beautiful, sad and true all together. Wonderful job! BRAVO!
aMANDA -
Good work
Wonderful poem. It's very true in what it says. Good luck and keep writeing. -
nice job...great subject matter that i am sure we all as aspiring poets and authors encounter far too much... the ending is so powerful and unexpected...excellent job...keep writing i am looking forward to explorin more of your works
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Oh, man....One of the best descriptions of writer's block I've read in a long time. You know how to bring it to light eloquently....and you struck it home with the last 2 lines. Great job!
Edited on Jan 10, 2:19 because ''. -
This poem grows stronger as it progresses. You articulate the frustration of writers block to perfection. It is rather like a muse working in reverse, to read this poem. I, too, am struck by the last two lines, for a child is such a reflection on motherhood. The art in words and thought also needs identity.
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Wow, I totally felt that one. And those last two lines just hit me in the gut. Great write.
Peace & love to you,
Roz.
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Such a final line for this poem - it just makes all the rest of the poem come to life and gives it a much deeper meaning. The comparisons between the two - how profound it is not to be able to write - like a mother without a child. Wonderful.
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nice job awesome usage of descriptors i really like this peice i would applaud it but im all out so i will applaud another one of your poems or this one tomorrow check out my write called these words its not quite the same as yours but i think you will like it keep up the great work
nick -
I really liked this peom.
I was very, very good in my opion.
I will look out for thing written by you. -
Oooo this gave me chills! I went through a writers block a few years back and it is exactly what you described it to be in this poem. It is mental torture if you ask me and I think you captured those feelings so awesomely here. Great job. I thoroughly enjoyed this write. Very well done!
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I really feel for this poor poet, unable to find the words to write. Writers block is the death of poetry. I loved the last part "The only thing worse than a poet without words Is a mother without a child." This is greatly put, and I believe it wil become a 'saying'...
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Your vocabulary is very good. I enjoyed reading this, thank you for sharing it!
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You have a wonderful way of writing and you really drew me in and spun me around at the end. A very different but relateable comparison with both subjects
Best of luck in the contest
Mia
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You certainly are articulate - the language you have used is uplifting and the subject matter all too familiar. This is a very intelligent piece of writing as well as creative and original - it was a pleasure to read - a job done with excellence
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Great
this is a great look at writers block ...it told all the actions involved in it...and emotion when comparing it to a mother with out a child ...it was delight to read...hope that doesn't happen to me...lol...knock on wood...peace -
WOW!!! This was so very good!!! I really liked this and your usage of words were fantastic!! I thought this was written very well with style and it flowed nicely while reading it. The descriptions were so vivid and so good, it put the picture in my mind while each word was read. Great job on this great piece. You have great talent. Thank you for sharing it.
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Don't forget to put which choice it was in the author's notes!
This was a magnificent poem! Simply beautiful! I truly thought I was reading about a poet, a writer of some kind and the end bit just completely changes it. I'm very impressed!
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