I am a reader. This means I am an odd
Sort of fellow who finds more life
Through sitting and staring at black
Text on white sheets, and I think myself
Enriched through this kinetic poverty.
We call this reading.
Readers read books. These are the tomes
Of black on white, by which I am convinced
I embody the nature of racial reconciliation,
Because men who lived through lynchings
Took the time to reveal things by writing.
This is known as learning.
Readers assume that learning only absorbs
Facts, but in truth often we find platitudes
That pass for poetry, because it rhymes,
And readers, knowing nothing of true
Living, lap it up with a spoon, realizing
In a moment we call anguish
What we know is not worth learning,
That life is to be lived not read,
And writers must live through those
Lynchings before they have a chance
To put down even platitudes.
This is called the ending of a time.
You're giving it up? Sad. I enjoyed it, and I think you have a lot of talent, especially on the realm of sarcasm. You may think that that's all you're good at, but I think it's a great thing to have a niche. You could probably really go somewhere with it.
ReplyDeleteBut before you delete this and stop poetry, be sure that you're doing it because you've lost interest, or you just want to focus on something else...not because you think youre no good or you're frustrated with a lack of feedback. If you enjoy it or it helps you to understand what is going on in that beautiful complicated mind of yours, or even if it simply helps you look at things in new ways, it is worth it. All that being said, I really enjoy your work and will miss reading it, so I do hope you will return to blogging in the future.
I know a comment from an anonymous girl won't mean much to your decision to get rid of this blog but Ijust wanna say I enjoyed getting to know you thu this blog and I wish u would keep it!!
ReplyDeleteOK, Anon #1, I am really curious who you are - "that beautiful complicated mind of yours"? I do sincerely appreciate your praise, and I'm not quitting because I feel undervalued or untalented. I'm giving up the public side of my writing, because it leads me to reveal unedited pieces long before they are ready, and because it can be an emotionally unhealthy process for me. I woke up this morning feeling greatly relieved, knowing that no matter what, I wouldn't obey the voice in my head that told me to jot down random little lines everywhere - I think in alliterative phrases now, which is slightly annoying.
ReplyDeleteAnon #2, you're right, it won't change my decision, but it will make me feel a bit sad about it. If it makes you feel better, anonymous girl, I can't think of a single person, male or female, anonymous or not, who could post at this point and convince me to keep going.
Also, it's so not fair that everyone is saying, "It's been so much fun seeing how your mind works," when they don't return the favor! If you liked reading my work, you could always just start a conversation with me, that's a more conventional way of getting to know me! Still, I genuinely am relieved to hear that my mind is in some way intriguing to others.
Will, it's been great reading your wonderful poems the past few months. Your writings have been thought-provoking, creative, honest, and an absolute pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteI hope you won't delete the blog itself but instead leave access open so others may look up the poems you've already posted (I've quite enjoyed going back to a few and re-reading your older pieces).