Monday, June 14, 2010

MAGPIE/ Prompt #18

                                        photo /willow/ magpietales


EXCUSES

Pointless yellow stubs
lie scattered
on my table.

I sweep them into the waste,
the dull sound of woody scraps
reprimand me.
I beg them not to try
to scale the sides
and yet they tap a message to me.

Write!

I will as soon as I find
some really first-rate pencils,
line them up like good soldiers,
red, yellow, blue.
Attention!

Pick and choose each one in turn,
chisel a point
and hope the graphite
carries a vein of life's blood within,
to inscribe some dazzling words.

I will carve an edge sharp enough
to cut through any excuses,
from rising dawn
through eager night.

I promise to start a poem
with a momentous word.
Write and write and write.

And drown out the voice
that asks,
what's the point?


@copyright/ all rights reserved/ 2010

Don't forget to check on all those who have participated in Willow's magpietales prompt! 


http://www.minblu.blogspot.com/
http://www.twitter.com/lynxny

40 comments:

Unknown said...

Super poem, Lyn! I love the line:
"hope the graphite
carries a vein of life's blood within".
Methinks you don't need sharpened pencils to inspire!
I see you've swapped templates again. Hope this one behaves nicely!
As for book trading, if you send me an email (from my profile page) with your postal address, I can send you mine.

Tom Atkins said...

Drown that voice! You have so many songs in you. And writing them touches so many people.

Lyn said...

Hi Derrick-
I did try the new template and it's not behaving! Can't switch back.."comments" not working well...we'll see..
Will definitely follow through with the book..Thanks!!

Lyn said...

Hi Tom-
What a nice thing to say! Thank you so much..

Tess Kincaid said...

Yes, I know that voice. I especially like "...hope the graphite carries a vein of life's blood...". Nice piece, Lyn!

Lyn said...

Hi Willow-
Thanks to the one who makes all this creativity spring to life..YOU..what a good idea you had!!

Everyday Goddess said...

so true, that inner critic can ruin everything! glad you didn't let it stop you.

Lyn said...

Hi Everyday Goddess-
Thanks for the encouragement..I seem to need the bloggy world at my back!

Angie Muresan said...

Lyn, I love this poem! So very true, for me at least. "What's the point?" is a common thought in my mind. Great magpie!

Lyn said...

Hi Angie-
Thank you..we have to stop listening to that negative voice, and get the point!!

Tumblewords: said...

'What's the point' is a super final line! Nice piece.

Lyn said...

Hi Tumblewords-
Thank you..after those final words..I have to go somewhere!

Jennifer said...

Oh I have been there, more times than I care to think about. Cast out that voice. This is beautiful, and *that's* the point.

Lyn said...

Hi Jennifer-
I really appreciate your comment..good point!!

Brian Miller said...

dont listen to that voice...its evil. smiles. though in the moment when all thoughts are constipated...my pencil becomes an easy target. nice magpie!

Lyn said...

Hi Brian-
I think that voice is part of my excuse..anything to avoid getting started!! Thanks for your comment..

Annie Jeffries said...

Marvelous. The rhythm alone is worthy of soldiers marching on.

Lyn said...

Hi Annie-
So nice to hear from you..this was a good challenge..liked yours..

Suz said...

this writing had a heartbeat,,a pulsing rapid strength about it

i would love to read more of your work...you're no weenie with a stub of a pencil

Lyn said...

Hi Suz-
I'm quite flattered..thanks so much!!
If you care for more, you may scroll back..just loads of stuff..

Kathe W. said...

Great magpie-don't listen to those stubby fellows-expecially the red ones!

Lyn said...

Hi kathew-
Thanks for your very kind words..yes, get rid of the stubs!

showme said...

I will carve an edge sharp enough
to cut through any excuses,
That is a great line..Nice Magpie!

Lyn said...

Hi showme-
Thanks for visiting and for your kind words..To overcome excuses, that's it!

rel said...

Lyn,
Scrumptious!
Fitting description of the writers lament; and then finally the courage to put it on paper and the words flow.
Nice magpie.
rel

Lyn said...

Hi rel-
Very nice! I do appreciate your kind words!!

Sheri said...

what's the point, indeed! lyn, this was fabulous...so well written, almost a prayer for something to flow out of those darn things!!

Lyn said...

Hi sheri-
You've got it! I certainly would like it if the pencil/pen/computer, did the work!!Praying, indeed..
Thank you...

Helen said...

Such a clever Magpie ... love the way you use words to make great points!

Lyn said...

Hi Helen-
So nice to hear from you..several magpies seem to have headed in the same direction!

Little Messy Missy said...

Love the poem. Thanks for the comment...I guess we belong to the same club. I won't get results for about 7 days....

Lyn said...

Hi Little Messy...
Thanks for your kind words..and waiting sucks!! Much good luck..

RNSANE said...

Superb poetry. So glad you visited my Magpie and commented. You are a wonderful writer.



At 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1

Lyn said...

Hi RNSANE-
Thanks so much..and congrats for your book..we've got to keep going!!

Words A Day said...

I love your play on the words pointless/point! And the line - "hope the graphite..." is wonderful!

Lyn said...

Hi Words..
I agree, some words are made to play with..thank you so much!

Anonymous said...

Aaaah. Your final line struck home with me. I think that is the nature of being a writer - grappling with whether or not the effort is worth it. In your case I would definitely say so. Very well written!

Lyn said...

Hi Selma-
No matter what the complaints and excuses we have..we do keep going!!
Thank you..you are more than kind.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

magical ending...
different people have different take,
yours is a good one!

Lyn said...

Hi Jingle-
It is great how differently we see things..and come up with a truth! Thank you..

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