the writer, away from her desk

some people think artists/writers are a weird bunch, this is for you and me

what am i, that i like
what i like, what people don't,
is it only about me,
that i think, what i think,
what most people would not,
someone asked me, what i do,
i don't tell them i write,
i know they wouldn't understand,
would not think if i had said what i said,
in terms of ordinariness,
i don't want to fail them,
having mostly failed in life,
so i tell them i teach, i garden,
anything ordinary, only a little
out of the way of most people,
i don't ask myself too much,
about life, about love,
i know i love to write,
and my life is a series
of periods, an ellipsis,
i care to think of you,
more than i think of myself,
and i will, most likely,
go out of my own way,
just to let you know that

Reviews

[h d e rushin]

a poem of instrospection that turned suddenly into a love poem. Oh how I love how modern
poetry can turn the steering wheel sharply, and by doing so, shift both the gaze as well as the
eye level. Jacob said that we are a weird lot, which is true. Weird because we rarely falsify
our descriptions of what bothers us and that non-conformity can make other people a little
un-easy. I had a friend of mine ask me "are you still writing those poems", which she said
beneath a half-grin and a slight snicker. It means that in some people the writing of poetry
is not a serious thing to ponder......not like getting a cat or going to Walmart's. So mostly
I try to keep this endeavor to myself.....For the sake of being non-offensive, perhaps.

You have solved the problem of the first stages of poetry writing..You believed in something,
You had it to say, and you said it. Quite beautifully in fact..


dana

[highonwords]

wow - dana - your insight blew me away - i shifted gears to express that i write poetry for myself and then for others to relate to - thank you so much for your wonderful insight and lovely visit - i appreciate it very much, my friend :)

always,
steph

[Bacchus]

1. we are truly surrounded by idiots- my friend always tells me he's a snob- but he really has good taste
maybe this world is full of idiots with bad taste and don't really value writing- and you've got good taste?

2. when you say you write... people realize they aren't smelling the roses of life... they get defensive

3. which i ascribe to the most... this world is full of death-a death that denies that we are created to create.
it is the mark of life- even if we only create joy from our newborn smile.
my fear as a mom- as i try to nurse these children to create- is sending them out with their creations in this crushing world. we must fight for life.

Obviously this poem hit me... now I have to write. Thanks, friend.

[highonwords]

hi abbi - i am sitting here on my bed, with a flashlight over my netbook, because i love to write and read people's insights - and wow, i am blown away b your perspectives - thank you so much, made it worth so much that this exercise could lead to a poor eyesight, reading and typing almost in the dark, thank you, my friend :)

best to you,
steph

[Sami Khalil]

An excellent rendering of poets and their profession that is misunderstood and not likened by many. We believe and love what we do and that is most important. Excellent...:).............

[highonwords]

you're right, sami, it is important that we love what we do, which is to write - i just hope we are not a dying breed, yet - makes me sad - thank you my friend for dropping by and sharing your thoughts with us - much appreciated :)

regards,
steph

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we do seem a weird lot...to others at least. And if they ask us what we do and we say we are poets, they back away---we are that alien race...and yet we are more connected than they could ever imagine.

[highonwords]

thank you, my friend, for your words - i wonder why they back away - why do you think that is?

steph

[jacob erin-cilberto]

people are often afraid of what they don't understand.

[highonwords]

how can we make people care to understand?

steph

[jacob erin-cilberto]

good question to which i am not sure there is an answer---other poets understand us...we have to be satisfied with that, i am afraid. there are those we just can't touch.

[Lydia Shutter]

Yes, we do think a bit differently and every scenario we are involved in is fodder for a poem. You have no reason to shy away from telling others you write. Be proud of it. Lydi**

[highonwords]

i keep a lot to myself, lydia - is it because i write that i'm weird or is it because i am weird, even if i don't write - i don't know :)

always,
steph