Trying to Write

Written in May 2008.

Spouting explicit phrases raunchy enough to make my cousin

—who’s a sailor by profession—blush, I glare down at the page.

Words are scattered across in alphabetical turmoil.

Crossed out, moved left, moved right, erased and underlined.

The page is so full of marks that the reason behind the words is no longer clear.

Full of “depression” and “angst” I dismiss what’s written as too emo, too cliché.

Trying instead for “dark” and “cynical”

the words become too forced and refuse to cooperate.

 

A half-hour later I’m still staring at the frustrating page,

trying to tease out the medley of concepts and images

that reside inside my head. 

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This is one of the best poems on writers block I think I have ever read.
The personification works so well and I felt the rage...for me, I learned to wait for my muse...she comes suddenly and in bunches....3 to 6 poems in a zone...I feel more like a conduit than a poet, actually.
But that is okay. I also have dealt with that poem that is in there but just refuses to come out as it writes itself inside our head....sometimes they are just stubborn like that.
j.

[Donna Marie Gray]

Writer's block, perhaps? Well done. I once experienced entering a poetry contest where the 1st place winner wrote the following: WRITER'S BLOCK





by (person's name)

You were clever enough to work it all together. Enjoyed it.

[Helena Parris]

You have captured the essence of writer's block. Nothing quite comes out on paper (or screen) as hoped, at least not in the first 10 tries! Great piece!

[Michael X]

wow anna, you have captured the explicit dire in detail that is subtle in ways that opens a vast array
of conceptual thought in focus and what it means for a poet's heart to conceed to the notion of a draft,
i really enjoyed this, as well as the talent, keep it up

[Enigmatic Amor]

Wow, I know that feeling. Great look at a writer's thoughts.