My Words
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, NaPoMo 2009, Poetry, dark drama, mystery, rhyme, suspense, wisdom
NaPoMo poem #24
This is the twenty fourth of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.
This is about a poet struggling with inspiration, pressing to break through writer’s block.
• NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.
My Words
•
I released my words into the cold
they froze and cracked and splintered
which made them sharp and edged
and piercing
too difficult to handle
I thrust my words into the fire
they scorched and warped and blistered
which made them hot and rough
and coarse
too difficult to touch
I abandoned my words in the storm
they soaked and swelled and sagged
which made them bloat and droop
with heft
too difficult to hold
then I left my words quite well alone
in no adverse conditions
and light they rose up from my heart
and soft they rolled from off my tongue
and true they drifted through the air
where suspended souls could find them there
to take them in
and keep them safe
and treat them in a manner fair
to befriend them
in an honest way
until it was their time to share
• • •
rob kistner © 2009
___________________________
• you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem
April 24th, 2009 at 12:41 am
So great. This I can absolutely relate to. Nicely done.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:11 am
I like the thought of words drifting until suspended souls befriend them….
April 24th, 2009 at 6:59 am
So true and so beautifully written…
April 24th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I completely relate to this.
Pain of being a poet. Bane of being a poet!
moon eats sugar puffs
April 24th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Ah, so true!
April 24th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I like how you develop this. It mirrors a lot of my own experience with writing, especially poetry.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
sarah -
Thank you, I’m pleased you can connect with this piece. It was a bit abstract as it began to unfold in my mind’s eye - but it truly resonated for me the more it took form… nice to hear you, and others felt it!
…rob
April 24th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Hi Juliet -
It was a very strong visual image for me and I’m pleased with the way it played itself out into words… glad it worked for you as well!
…rob
April 24th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Erin -
Thank you for the kind words…
…rob
April 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Gautami -
The pain of giving birth to new verse is quite tangible, but so is the rush of exhilaration when the magic happens…
…rob
April 24th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Claire -
Ah, so kind!
…rob
April 24th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Wonderful images in this piece
April 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Liz -
As the piece began to form for me it felt very genuine, and still does now that it is complete. It is my expression of the struggle we poets encounter when we are trying to force and coerce our muse. The poetry generally happens when we let go and push pretense and judgment aside…
I’m very pleased this work was relevant for you…
…rob
April 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Catherine -
I appreciate your graciousness…
…rob
April 25th, 2009 at 6:18 am
A succinct course in editing. Nicely written and very descriptive of what happens when we mess with the words too much.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Pam -
Thank you…
Yes, it is so difficult but so essential that we be able to suppress our analytical self and open the dream gates to our soul if we are to touch the magic in poetry - then leave significantly untouched what unfolds, save any edits we are truly inspired to make…
By and large, poetry that truly moves and inspires us is poetry of the heart and soul - not of the intellect… the intuitive mind of knowing is generally far more kaleidoscopic that the manipulative mind of thinking.
…rob