the madness of my sanity

artwork by nik helbig

i recite an incantation
to the demons of the blank page
invoking the mysticism of the muse

still, cliché

            the nasty little snipers 
come at me willy nilly
forcing me to bravely fight them off

my fingers walk the keyboard
like a rookie cop walking his beat
with a broken nightstick

empty poet’s shoes neath my desk
tease and taunt
my feet inadequate to fill them

smoke rings of thought
pace the cool tile floor
only to be swept away by the ceiling fan

lines just not palpable
bringing to mind
processed cheese

sadly i must conclude
no incantation is magical enough
to spice up the madness of my sanity

Reviews

[cycy]

sadly i must conclude
no incantation is magical enough
to spice up the madness of my sanity

this one had me from the title right up to the last line. wonderful poem, well written, great choice of words they all flow really well and altogether makes for a great read.

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you once again, Cycy. I appreciate the time you took to stop by. Lydi**

[MsJewel]

I can definitely relate to your words Lydi - I think my muse is on summer vacation. Love the line "no incantation is magical enough" - I'm sure the magic will return soon my friend.

:) Julie

[Lydia Shutter]

Fortunately, as we both know, the words do return to us. We just have to be patient. Thanks again, Julie. Lydi**

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Lydi... even poets need a holiday...
a gift to explore the sandy shore of
dreams where lovers touch the
edge of eternity... your poem is
truly a rainbow of quiet beauty...
truly, Pat

[Lydia Shutter]

Yes, Pat, we all need to take a step back and relax now and then. Thanks for the review, my friend. Lydi**

[Kelsey Ann]

I smiled at "processed cheese" - tee-hee. This is a very strong piece with great metaphors. I especially love the rookie cop metaphor. :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you, Kelsey Ann! Lydi**

[Desert Knave]

" ...empty poet’s shoes neath my desk / tease and taunt / my feet inadequate to fill them ". Love the imagery of that. I love your take on the frustration of the empty pen. ~Jim

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks so much, Jim. Have a good weekend. Lydi**

[....................]

Love the figurative language you apply here, Lydi. We all have to fend off those demons sometimes and you do it so well, my friend...also love the oxymoron in the title and its repeat in the last line: sanity can include its own form of madness :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Absolutely true....it does. Thank you so much, Thomas. Lydi**

[....................]

My pleasure, as always!

[Terpsichore]

The most frustrating thing is to have and know the thought, but be incapable of transferring such thoughts to paper.

To keep on scribbling away when the muse deserts, is to invite that 'processed cheese' to sit at the head of the table; better I know, from bitter experience, to walk away and live to fight another day.

A remarkable poem with quite wonderful imagery, those 'empty poets shoes,' are painted in the mind's eye with the skill of an artist's brush. T

[Lydia Shutter]

Your review is appreciated so much. Thank you. Lydi**

[Cassie]

Writers block is so frustrating but here you havent reached writers block, you write so well of that subject and with this kind of poem, those words have been awakened and I can see there is no any madness of sanity here :D

[Lydia Shutter]

thank you very much, Cassie! Lydi**

[emmajoy]

Tis called verbal frustration, which can be as bad as many of the others!

You write so well about the subject, Lydi.. and in all honesty, reading what you've laid at your reviewer's feet, fingers, eyes and mind.. your block is just a wisp of dust in the works. Great process of metaphorical connivance here, missus!

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks so much, Emma. Lydi***

[Sheila Kline]

When we are unable to "do" that which we should be able to "do" we become rather unhinged and feel somewhat insane as you express in the example of being unable to write - you, a gifted, grand poet unable to gather the right words to complete a poem, but A HA - you have done it by doing what you admit is impossible to do!
Your metaphors are wonderful, your expressions superb!! See, that writer's block has passed you by without you even realizing it!!

[Lydia Shutter]

When writer's block hits, I write about "whatever" till it passes! Thank you so much, Sheila. Nice new photo of you! Lydi***

[jacob erin-cilberto]

love the metaphors used here to describe that stale feeling of not being able to write something that we think is worthwhile....it drives us to madness...and those cliches just keep coming at our imaginations..and we cannot fight them off with our broken nightstick.

and those damn shoes are the reminders...

best way to get out of the doldrums of writers block is shown here...write about it.

[Lydia Shutter]

Yup, it is the only way. Nice to know you can relate. I think you never have writer's block...you write so many wonderful poems! Thanks for the review! Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

actually i often go through the block....but i just write about it in order to subdue it....

and lately i have been in a rut of feeling very stale and cliche in what i have been writing...

j.

[Lydia Shutter]

Untrue!!! Quality poetry is all you write. You are your own worst critic!