This was inspired by Ed Nudelman's How to Write a Poem. I'd read it just before going to bed. I could not sleep, Instead, this is what happened. Honestly, these thoughts just erupted into my brain, while trying to sleep.
* * *
How is it for you? This business of writing, I mean. Does it follow you, consume you, take on the shape of others, wind itself in your gut and make you speak in tongues? My skin becomes scaly; my eyes become snaky, as wordless sounds emit poison from my mouth. An eruption from within, these wordless mouthings yearn for life. The cauldron inside will never cease; I only hope to give shape to a microcosm of what exists.
What was that? Did you say something, I asked my passenger. No, she said. I must have been thinking loudly again, I said. I continue in the linear continuity called life.
Again jarred from reality. Jolted long enough to catch the wheels and license plate ahead of me. Safe. No, out. Three strikes. Red Sox lost. Jolted from the linear continuity of life (while driving) back to my imaginary life.
Washing dishes, jolted again, this monster stalks, hunts me down, lives inside, a sexless beast of no name; it inhabits my form. No one knows me except for what I write. I am a hollow shell of commercial pretense and politesse in otherwise life.
Just now, trying to sleep, the beast spoke through my soul, gave words to my feelings, kept me awake.
That nanosecond between inception and pen, keyboard and glowing monitor - can I harness the monster, give it words, life, and breathe form to the molten magma? Will the monster speak or will it disappear as a gossamer ghost before words form on the keyboard? I type. And pray.
Sleep eludes me. I live to write. I should take time out and sell my stories, but this rough beast will not give me peace, urges me on, and erupts through my soul.
How is it for you? Was it good for you? This business of writing, I mean. I suspect it is the same for everyone. God help us all.
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Comments: 75
Cave:
Though there is no light
deep in caves
there is sparkles off the current
of water
river ..... rocks crying in the dim reflection
life emerges in its brilliant savagery
on the carpet of rock
there are writings there
on the wall
already written
never read
take them into your palm
grab them with the bugs ..... insects
other life
other worlds ....... un-reached before
turn the cave inside out
read from the walls
upside down
so they make sense in the light
Note: I had to use those periods instead of spaces because it won't let me space, what is the deal with that?
Ideas are the easy part. I get those no matter where I am or what I'm doing. it's writing them that' difficult.
I create writing, both non fiction/opinion and poetry, as well as original music, and the production of videos for presentation on the web.
With the mind constantly at play/work, I find the idea of sleep rather self destructive, and have taken on the mantra of "The Who."
"...sleep is for fools that never seen the sun rise, that never get to live twice."
Pete Townshend
Sometimes it's simply a matter of ridding myself of the matters that are hiding inside me and that frequently express themselves in dreams that are so vivid that, if I wake in the middle of them I get so excited.
If I don't have a pad and pencil on the night table beside the bed, but think, Wow! that was a good one, so vivid I'm sure to remember all the details, but guess what! Rought outlines remain, but not the finer details.
Sorry about that.
If it's your retirment passion you're in the best situation.
If it's your living I predict the first draft has a lot of passion, then after an editior meets with you, you're down to 90% passion, 10% work.
If you have to help with sales, it's now 75% passion, 25% work.
If you present your work to a mixed audience, an audience that may not be interested in your topic, it's a 50-50 situation.
It IS interesting to see how everybody responds to the muse.
Thank you Ed for inspring!
I don't view the muse as a monster. Rather, the unrelenting urge to communicate is an expression of spirit - communication is sharing (thus increasing communion), which is the essential driving force and purpose of spirit.
George, ah - jazz - I could not have predicted your response in a milllion years. It is true that thought is the purest form. I strive real hard to get it on paper before it disappears.
Eric, oh yes, we are bound to the monster, bound but not gagged.
Tyler, great poem. No clue about the spacing problem. The comment box is a text editor, (not a word processor), if that helps.
Amy, well, a Siren is a wonderful call to heed and she only asks for your time. You, too, are on good terms with her.
Debbie G., I spake what the monster doth poured into my brain before it disappeared.
Jim, that is SO true. I think there is probably a reason for that, scientifically, or psychologically. Sometimes, when we are moving, our brain is moving, too (thinking in a new or different way) and we create things...Lying in bed or sitting on the toilet (or having sex) are three other ways that creative thoughts are known by psychologists to just pour in.
Jim, that is SO true. I think there is probably a reason for that, scientifically, or psychologically. Sometimes, when we are moving, our brain is moving, too (thinking in a new or different way) and we create things...Lying in bed or sitting on the toilet (or having sex) are three other ways that creative thoughts are known by psychologists to just pour in.
Laurun, Type!
Diana, oh yes, Ed DOTH inspire!
Rick - that is an excellent suggestion. Dance with it! I shall.!
Scott, just write them as fast as you can, pay no attention to form or grammar. You can work that out, later. The best ideas are fresh from the hopper.
Laurun, Type!
Diana, oh yes, Ed DOTH inspire!
Rick - that is an excellent suggestion. Dance with it! I shall.!
Scott, just write them as fast as you can, pay no attention to form or grammar. You can work that out, later. The best ideas are fresh from the hopper.
"...sleep is for fools that never seen the sun rise, that never get to live twice."
Pete Townshend
"...sleep is for fools that never seen the sun rise, that never get to live twice."
Pete Townshend
Kim - you got that RIGHT!
Eddie, thank you!
Robb - a very good system !
Kim - you got that RIGHT!
Eddie, thank you!
Robb - a very good system !
Sandra, that is very true. Thanks for saying that.
Jeff, a creative mind can also be its best company, too. I find that, often.
Cathy, Oh yes!
Magi, I am learning something here about you. You are so moved by spirit, by communion and the like and that is your driving force.
marianne, I am sure you are a better reader than you think! Reading is creative, too!
Amen to that, sister!!
I'm guessing they resented the disrutpions of the daytime noises outside my window and are now prefering the peaceful quiet of the night for yanking me around by keyboard an mouse.
It's morning and time for some sleep.
Happy writing -
You have just painted an incredibly beautiful painting. I am so envious of those who paint!
Once last year, I was typing a comment to someone here on Gather and I fell asleep. The funny thing is, I continued typing, apparently. I woke up and saw what I had typed: - it had NOTHING to do with the article I had written. I had just typed a dream. I was horrified that someone was going to read what I had typed. I later turned that into a poem...
Carol Lloyd, you are absolutely right. And the number of comments we receive has nothing to do with the joy of creating it in the first place.
Jennifer, hello! thanks for stopping by.
INSPIRED ME KEO!!!
Birdie, not half as much as you, my dear....Literally, this popped into my head and WOULD NOT let me sleep!!!
Lloyd, I will now click on your link...DO I dare ? Do I dare to eat a peach?
And don't knock your writing ability! All Aussies who eat Vegemite can write - it comes with the territory.
Seriously, what is up with the vegemite? I've actually eaten the stuff. As Paul Hogan said, "You can live off the stuff, but it tastes like...." Do Aussies actually LIKE Vegemite? LOL? Of course, we Yanks have, well, what food do we have that can compare. I dunno, maybe all American food.
Magi, you are so sweet. marianne, you are sweet, too.
God bless.