I stared at the blank screen;
The blinking cursor frightened me.
I wanted to write,
But I could not.
I raked my brain for ideas,
But it was as empty as a Monday morning church.
I searched my notes and idea books,
But they were empty as the looted bank vault.
I tried and tried,
But nothing came to mind,
Nothing worth writing,
Nothing worth sharing.
I was cold with fear,
My writing career was over.
My muse had gone away,
Leaving me to find my own way.
I stopped thinking,
I put the pen down,
I stood up and left,
Leaving the blank screen.
I rode to the market,
I strode to my favorite cafe,
I had coffee and sandwiches,
Black coffee and tuna sandwiches.
I rode again,
I went to the beach,
The sea was calm,
And the breeze was warm.
I sat down and looked at the sea,
It had a calming effect,
It soothed me and calmed me,
I dozed off and woke up a few hours later.
I felt fresh and rejuvenated,
My mind was brimming with ideas,
I took my notebook, my constant companion;
And captured most of them.
Then I realized a fact,
It is better not to force the mind,
Be ready and capture the ideas,
As and when they appear.
Lovely poem. Loved the simile ” as empty as a Monday morning church” .
Yes, the mind really works best when relaxed. But we should also be ready, as you rightly said, to capture the ideas when they appear. Many times, I find myself getting thoughts that are very interesting, but I do not have anything to note it down at that moment. Later, I get caught up in the usual humdrum and the thought is lost forever.
Wow! Wow! Wow! You’re a real Poet man… Loved this one. 🙂
Vandana: Thank you Vandana. But ‘as empty as a Monday morning church’, I got from Alan Jackson’s Monday Morning Church:
‘You left my heart as empty
As a Monday morning church’
Paresh:Thanks Paresh. Poet no, may be an aspiring one 😉
Nice poem Alexis. You don’t seem to have writer’s block as you can write and you write about Writer’s block 🙂 The photograph of the beach is very nice. Did you take it?
Alexis it is nice to see your post. It seems that you are writing mainly poems these days. Nice poem, really enjoyed it. I always have the writer’s block when I am under pressure of a deadline 🙂 Happy Diwali in advance.
Good one Alexis! Nice to see the flow in the poem which I guess comes automatically for you…..whats with the ”writers block” then?
Happy and safe Diwali to you and all at home.
Rahul: Thanks Rahul. It is a poem that I wrote after reading an article on Writer’s block. As I write mainly about technical subjects. there is not much scope of a writer’s block. If I am not writing it is either due to laziness or some illness. But there are times when I can write more productively and efficiently (and cover a lot). Some days are good and some days are not so good. I have found that if I cannot be ‘in the zone,’ then the best way to get back to it is to relax. The photograph is from the on-line Microsoft Office Clip-art collection. Happy Diwali to you and your family.
Maya: Thanks Maya. This is a poem that I wrote sometime back and was in the draft mode. Today I made some corrections and posted it. Yes, I am posting more poems, but that is because I am posting what I have written earlier. I am during the final stage of a book so am busy with that. I hope you were able to finish your project in time. Happy Diwali to you and your family too.
Jane: Thanks Jane. No, I don’t have a writer’s block–most often I am lazy and am more interested in reading 😉 I wish you and your family a happy and prosperous Diwali.
I am going a little off track here – I would like to ask you something, please….I know you are an avid reader; who are your favourite authors? I am a Bill Bryson fan,just wanted to know if you are too?
Vandana: I have many favorite readers, as I read a lot 🙂 Yes, Bill Bryson is one. Other include but not limited to Richard Bach, Joseph Heller, James Herriot , PGW, Paulo Coehlo, Archer, Ludlum, Lee Child, oh… I can’t name them all.