Another one with no title. Just a little self-expression with some hope. I think we all need poems like this sometimes.
Untitled
Tag Archives: Frustration
Day 103: Toxic Refreshment
I have mixed feelings about surprises. Some are welcome. Some are not. Today I received the latter kind, which struck doubly hard because I was expecting the former. The original concept was something a little more fecal (with a comparison to chocolate), but I couldn’t bring myself to swear, which is what I feel that particular poem’s muse would have required of me. In the end, I think that this poem is better than the one originally envisioned. Anyone thirsty?
Toxic Refreshment
Day 102: Chrysalis in the Cinders
I went to the park to walk my dog and de-stress from the day. It was a good day, just long and hard and I needed to unwind with my puppy.
The park backs up to some houses, one of which has a fence that is incomplete. The people who live there have a pair of dogs. They’ve gotten out before and caused some minor mischief, nothing serious. They got out again today and chased my dog, who chased them back. The woman who lives in the house came out screaming and cussing at me, furious that I dare walk my dog past her house and get her dogs riled up.
I have no idea why this bothers me as much as it does. It could be any number of combinations of things. This year, is a year of transformation and I think that right now I’m experiencing some growing pains.
Here’s to hope, to love, and to growth.
Chrysalis in the Cinders
Day 100: Snowball
Didn’t post it yesterday but I did write it! Today’s poem will be published later.
I originally thought I might do something significant for the hundredth day of poetry, but then I realized, it’s just another day. A benchmark to be sure, but the journey of a creative is one that doesn’t end just because a milestone is reached or a single project finished. We keep on.
Yesterday I found myself grateful for the blessing of new opportunities, of regaining my momentum, and of having reached a major benchmark in another project. It got me thinking about how much effort it is to create something and how easy it is to destroy. It all boils down to keeping on and working within a system that is designed to challenge us and to be unfair. Life is a perpetual battle against entropy.
Snowball
Day 94: Should Have Foreseen
An unfortunate incident with my computer set me back by over a month and a half of work. It’s not just the accumulated backlog, but the new stuff I’m supposed to be pushing forward on as well. One of the poor projects fallen victim to circumstances is The Everyday Poet Podcast. Fortunately my cohost is amazing and hasn’t lit any of his enthusiasm for the project.
All that said, I’ve been thinking a lot about preventable mistakes. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, but if I’d just done things a little bit differently, prepared just a bit better, adjusted my mindset…it’s never a good feeling when you find yourself mired in the state of “this could have been prevented if only…” which I found myself in today after driving in to work.
Should Have Foreseen
Day 91: Invisible Inspiration
Today’s lesson: don’t wait for inspiration to come to you. Make it yourself.
Invisible Inspiration
Day 90: The Rebel’s New Cause
I was talking to my bride this morning and she told me about how a nutritionist blogger’s post stirred up a powerful emotional reaction in people. One of the most common responses to her post, apparently, was some variation of “don’t tell us what to do.”
That’s the battle cry for every US citizen, isn’t it? We are a nation of rebels and independent spirits–this is the cornerstone of our cultural identity. It’s why the American Revolution is such an all encompassing focus in our history classrooms.
The newest generations born into this tradition have an absolutely wonderful problem: “What do we rebel against?”
For all of its many problems and our nostalgia, the world has never been a better place and it’s getting better. It’s not perfect, but it IS improving. American citizens born into this world have less to struggle against and with no clear opposition or enemy, many turn upon each other and the previous generations, with whom there is a growing technological and cultural gap.
It is not my intention to villainize the younger generations–far from it. I sympathize. Ours is a nation of rebels, we bring our children up to be rebels, and there’s no clear enemy to rebel against or cause to fight for. The quest now is finding our cause, and it’s not an easy one because finding a cause to truly believes means finding yourself.
The Rebel’s New Cause
Day 86: Anticipation
Another examination of visceral sensation accompanying an emotion. Inspired by my own anticipation–I had my first meeting with my new editor last night and am meeting a new acquaintance later today. I’ve never considered myself particularly good with people and meeting new people is always difficult for me. So, I’m throwing myself into it. Wish me luck!
Anticipation
Day 75: Conflicting Queries
Forgot my poetry notebook at home today–oops! Got back to it with a notion of writing about the visceral sensation of joy and got interrupted. Over and over. It was kind of funny actually.
Ended up helping my bride cook dinner and a question arose between us. Not a new question, an old one. One which we each have a differing opinion on: which is the priority, presentation or purpose?
That inspired today’s work, which I confess myself not particularly pleased with. I may have to come back and rework this one later. My brain’s a tad frazzled.
Conflicting Queries
Day 73: Instruments of Creation
Oops! I wrote today’s poem but got interrupted when I started to put it up on the blog. Almost forgot entirely that it still needs to be shared!
My bride and I have been having problems with our technology lately. My computer has been giving me no end of grief and trying to replace it hasn’t been a picnic. Just about everything that can go wrong has. Yesterday we had one of those freak accidents that would be hilarious if it wasn’t so expensive.
Our dog got spooked by an insect biting him on the bottom and spun around. I’m doing so he caught the phone charger hooked up to my bride’s phone, pulling the phone off the table and on top of him. Already panicked, he bit the phone. I could not make this up. The phone is all but unusable. Fortunately the puppy is fine.
The entire affair has me thinking about humanity’s relationship with its tools. We really aren’t that impressive a species when you think about it, not until you begin to examine our minds, adaptability, and ingenuity. Take away our tools and it’s a drastic blow to our effectiveness and capability.
Instruments of Creation
The Everyday Poet 