Emotions pooling like a dammed river
A lake of feeling, always growing
'Neath placid surface shining silver
Dark depths untold, no longer flowing
The pressure builds as hours pass
Denied release without expression
A demeanor calm and cool as glass
Conceals a private dark depression
There is no way to start the storm
And let the pain escape its cage
Without the words to give it form
Forever grows the silent rage
Through writing let the feelings out
In story, song, or careful verse
A measured form of primal shout
To release the inner demons curse
Yet the papers blank, the pain it mocks
Denies the coming of the dawn
How to escape the inner blocks?
When the words are gone...
Author notes
I'm not exactly happy with this one, but I've been blocking for a long time and this is an attempt to get back into the swing of things. In this case writing about writers block helped me get through it.
The shortness of the last line is intentional. The abrupt ending mirrors the feeling of writing hitting a brick wall.
Written February 6th, 2006
A contest entry
- Pre-Write Mania by Chelsea Void.
600 points, ended October 1, 2007, 26 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - ONLY Pre-Writes that should have won a trophy. by lindaburns.
1700 points, ended October 4, 2007, 13 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Here’s an impassioned response to finding your Muse has gone on a vacation w/o you. Finding their muse gone, this narrator discovers the inspiration is the lack thereof. Very well done. It expresses confusion, frustration, pain, rage, impotence – all well articulated and understandable. Original. Well done.
10-3-2007 Thank you for entering my contest.
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Fantastic. A fair amount of people who write about writer's block can't accomplish what you have done in this poem. I think this was a very good representation of the emotions and barricades. well done!
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This poem is really nice and introspective. I too have experienced writer's block and find if you start writing about the block, you can actually get through it. The poem flowed well for the most part - like others I did find the last line too short, but after you explained it, I re-read it and think that it suits the poem now. The imagery, in the first verse especially is tremendous, although I feel you lose the impact slightly when you change the poem halfway through. My main gripe is the background/font. Red on black is actually quite harsh for a lot of people and can strain the eyes when reading too much. I don't have a problem with it, but think it is a point to note. Also, I know it isn't your fault, but the background and first letter of each line bleed into one another. Again, it is not a major issue but it can cause problems for some people.
Thanks for entering the contest, and good luck.
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i give you credit for getting out of a block, i really do. and i really like the title and the idea in this piece. keep up the great work and best of luck in the contest!! *Jordan <3
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that was great, solidsnark...really enjoyed reading it..read it several times too, not because i didnt understand but because you did it so well... i can relate to this, sometimes i stay up til the wee hours for lack of ideas and can't sleep until i finish the work thinking i might be fired if i dont produce....and thanks for visiting my site...
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Thanks for the comments Susan! This poem was written after months of not being able to finish anything... It was my first experience with writers block and I really hated it...
I actually left the last line short on purpose to bring the poem up short. That's how writers block felt to me. I was usually able to go a little ways and then everything just choked and stopped... I dunno if it's proper to do it that way but it's reflecting the feeling I was trying to convey.
Thanks again -
There is nothing worse than writer's block when you have so much to say. I equate it to being past the point of exhaustion. You finally get to bed and you cannot sleep.
The change in tone is not a bad thing, I think it is ok for a poem to shift as long as it does not keep bouncing around. It feels like you start internal and then step outside yourself. I am not sure if that makes sense or not.
the only thing, is there a way to add another syllable to the last line? You had a rhythm in this and then the last line stopped short. That was the only thing that really caught me.
Susan -
Awww... Thanks Nura! I'm not completely happy with the tone shift 1/2 way through, but I really like the IDEA... It needs a bit of work on the flow and it should be somewhat longer. Maybe I'll rework it sometime.
Thanks again! -
WOW!
Oh!! Wow, that is so very good.
I stoped for a moment and...wow...
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