Just Read the Damn Words!
Yes, keep the mind open, by all means,
but read what is there, just read the damned words.
Don't fret for the poem's deep meanings,
why the author wrote that strange phrase.
The verse is just words, nothing more.
Don't forget that the image so striking
may not have struck him in the writing,
so don't ring him up in the night
to ask what he meant by spathe maiden.
Just read the words as they come.
If he wrote any light to the lines
it will find you, you don't need to dig -
at least not just yet. Proactive's
not part of the deal. Later on
maybe, but for now let it come,
sink in and become
in the coming, your personal light,
from you and not him -
which is what had been meant all along!
Writers' Block
I had a touch of writers' block.
It's something like a writer's cramp
but in the brain. And then I read
how someone thought the brain -
thought OF the brain as if it was -
the body's biggest muscle...
and I thought: so how to treat
a cramp? The answer: stretch
the muscle. So I did. I put
the brain to work by writing.
But what to write? What can a writer
write when he is blocked? I wrote:
I had a touch of writers' block -
something like a writer's cramp
but in the brain...........
It didn't work. I posted it instead.
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23 comments:
Thank you. Liked them both. Regretfully not even in my wildest most optomistic dream could my brain be thought of as my body's biggest muscle.
1.) Wonderful
2.) Possibly the only 'cure'
It reminds me about the advice when feeling gloomy - smile and trick yourself into being, if not happy, at least not miserable. I do realise this is not a cure for the medical condition called 'depression'!
Thanks Mr King
Isabel x
I just read the damn words and had a touch of readers' block.
Thanks Dave!
Wonderful! I do believe you have a way with words!
I wish I had written these myself Dave - they say what I would like to say.
Heartfelt feelings in the first poem. Being analysed to the nth degree could be frustrating.
I loved Writer's Block - the image of stretching the brain will remain with me:-)
I liked the second poem especially--very funny, although spathe maiden in the first was priceless. K.
Arts of words with humorous touch.
I did not try to dig... and just enjoyed them. And I found it (the way) makes me free from something.
Dave - I am a simple man. I just read the words... I leave the rest for the pros. Much like a photo or painting everyone sees a poem differently.
Re: "just read..." - this has always been my policy.
How true, that the image may not have struck the poet. How very true.
Indeed the "proactive" acts upon the writer as well, does it not?
Re: "Writer's Block" - Loved the way you came full circle with it, and its pure honesty.
Massage the muscle, as well as stretch it, I think.
As for "Writer's Block" itself, I hardly think you suffer from it. In fact, I think you must jest. At least this blog would indicate an endless wellspring of poetry that emanates from YOUR brain-muscle.
nice...i hear you on the first...if the writer wants you to find it you will...and if it is meant for you it will...
only way out of writers block is to write your way out...
That second one cracked me up!
Reading ur work is very cathartic for me..or was that u ? no it must be him ? who ?.......seriously I love the way ur poetry resonates with the way I think...or was that u ? no.
Thanx 4 an excellent distraction.
"for now let it come..." Sage advice for writers as well as readers, methinks. Love the second as well.
You do have a gift.
Thank you.
I wish I could just un-cramp it, I guess I will just take your advice and stretch my brain out.
Ouch.
The first in particular is a manifesto, the way to let a poem seep in...if it has to. Just great advice and a great poem in itself.
The second shows what happens in one of the many evident cases of a" worm eating its own tail."
I can relate to the Writers Block poem because when the words won't come they won't come and you'll just have wait, damned stubborn things those words :-).
Great fun. I think we all try too hard to be deeply meaningful.
Dave,
I always enjoy my visits to your Blog. Always an inspiring freshness and this visit is no different....
Love both the tongue in cheek advice and the reality of simply enjoying our words!!!
Excellent Dave :)
Eileen
#1- "But what does it MEAN?!"
a: It doesn't 'mean" in that way; it IS.
#2; Turn the problem into it's own solution! Pretty slick! Rather like witnessing a birth, but not realizing what one is seeing until it self-refers at end. . .
What a tricky fellow you are, dear man!
Warm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
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The Elephant's Child
I always claimed that mine was - but then if you saw the others...
Thanks.
Isabel
Thanks. Yes. there's a lot of similarity there, I think!
The Unknowngnome
Damn! Not what was intended sir, I do assure you! A thousand pardons.
Sharon
Thanks so much.
The Weaver of Grass
I take that as a very great compliment. Thank you.
jabblog
Thank you on both counts. Much appreciated comments.
Manicddaily
Much thanks. I must confess that I was quite pleased withspathe maiden.
haricot
Quite right. When in a hole...
Carl
That's exactly it. You can miss so much that's before your eyes looking for what might be hidden.
Kat
I don't think I do suffer from the block now, to be truthful. I did. I just made up my mind that I no longer believed in it. I used to be the most unprolific writer ever, then I decided to post a Haiku a day. To my surprise I managed it - until I judged that everyone must be getting tired of them. Then I began posting a poem a day. I never did expect to last this long. I now think like Jim at "The Truth about Lies" that writer's block is a state of not having any ideas. So write until one comes. It will - from your own writing.
I am taken by your point that the proactive thing works both ways. I think that must be right.
Brian
Works for me. It's worth a try, at least.
Mama Zen
Right, I take that as a result then. Thanks.
Williamz
Thankf for a very encouraging response.
ds
Thank. And yes, I'd apply it to both writing and reading.
Haley
Hi, many thanks for making the trip. You are most welcome. Ooooh, sorry!
Tommaso
I'd not seen it as a manifesto, but yes, you are right, it could be so taken.
Lovely summing up of the second. Thank you.
Windsmoke
Indeed. Pesky things at times.
Kass
Exactly so. Thanks again.
Eileen
Thank you so much for this. Very encouraging indeed.
Cloudia
I thought for a moment you were going to say "Witnessing a birth and then puttin it back"! Glad you didn't!
For a minute there I felt so guilty because I do try to understand instead of just letting the words flow over me :D Writers block seems to affect a lot of people at this time of the year... sigh :D But you just seem to flow like a mountain stream!
You solved the issue the only way possible.
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