No First Ink
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, courage, dark, humor noir, mystery, photo, prayer, satire, stream of consciousness, suspense, wisdom
and in response to prompt #73 on Carry On Tuesday,
also in response to prompt #189 at Three Word Wednesday.
•
cool against my temple
elbow solid on my cluttered desk
eyes droop and flicker
aflame with spoiled sleep
face slacked
head now dropped
held in my hands
heavy with confusion
skull upon the finger bones
in weighted indecision
procrastination presses down
where art thou muse
I seek weightless inspiration
to be lifted up by you
instead
the hum of cooling bytes
drones relentless in my ears
impossible to ignore
no matter how I try
thoughts like digits on a dollar slot
spin unsettled in my mind
they neither click nor lock in place
they tumble in a jumble
to roll and blur just out of focus
lost in mental fog
sunken in my writer’s chair
I remain immobile
paralyzed by perplexity
imprisoned by the chaos
awhirl in my mind
the freedom of decision
impossible to manage
I fear nothing will be writ
no first ink will be shed this day
• • •
rob kistner © 2010
May 13th, 2010 at 7:25 am
Wonderful lines about a scary affliction that can strike us all.
May 13th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Very well written. We’ve all been there at one time or another.
-Tim
http://timremp.blogspot.com/2010/05/adepta-sororitas.html
May 15th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
and yet…here you are! I love it when you turn writers block into writers muse! Loved it Rob - we have all been there.
May 16th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Love the description, and ‘tumble in a jumble’ is a belting line.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Me finks ya need another drink!
It will all be ok tomorrow!
October 4th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Very well done, Rob. Some fun alliteration and wonderful combinations of words.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
A well written piece Rob!
Pamela
October 4th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
There is always tomorrow Steve…
…rob
October 4th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Thank you Maureen…
…rob
October 4th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Thank you Pamela…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 3:59 am
I love the internal rhythm of this, as well as the uneasy reminder of how many days that “first ink” was not “shed”. Great.
October 6th, 2010 at 7:14 am
You give clear poetic voice to such days… sigh…. first ink reminds me of the phrase first blood. Mental blocks can be painful, especially when in the habit of writing each day. cheers, Rob. Excellent work!
October 6th, 2010 at 9:18 am
I relate to that feeling! this poem was just beautiful.. clear n crisp
nice one!
My One Shot Is HERE:
http://leonnyes.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/the-elements/
October 6th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
i like this - and can relate …I seek weightless inspiration…yeah - inspiration that just flows effortless…most of the time my inspiration flows when i’m biking or walking…my muse needs fresh air..great one shot!
October 6th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
It’s hard to write without inspiration, much as it’s hard to fight without a cause.
P.S. - It’s open season on Muses.
October 6th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Very nicely done, Rob Kistner…Thanks for sharing..
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
October 6th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Man, I know the feeling. >.< It’s so hard to write that way.
October 6th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
I can picture this man in a state of writer’s block and the chaos and anguish that can set in. I really enjoyed the images. Great storytelling.
October 6th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Thank you Ben…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Thank you Adam…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Thank you Leo…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Thank you Claudia — my muse is bipolar…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
My muse is manic Eric, which can be quite exhausting…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Thank you Shashi…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Like Sisyphus Nick…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Thank you Katina…
…rob
October 6th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
If this is when you are confused.. then what can a clarity of mind bring.. one can only imagine in awe.. loved it, Rob
October 6th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
You are most kind and gracious Ramesh — clarity so often eludes me, but what a blessing when it offers its embrace…
…rob
October 7th, 2010 at 7:26 am
Back home again and rarin’ to write. What do I find? The definitive poem on Writer’s Block - how could this lesser mortal follow that?
October 7th, 2010 at 8:25 am
You are kind Viv, but there is nothing ‘lesser’ about you my friend…
…rob
October 9th, 2010 at 4:11 am
You describe a state so many of us experience and at least you managed to capture it!
October 9th, 2010 at 6:13 am
And a state in which I am currently ensnared Derrick…
…rob