The Business of Writing

A poem about the choice between writing and....well, eating.

My reason says that it is best,

To saunter through these final tests,

A stack of books pressed to my chest,

To stick it out and pass.

 

Though I care not for trade logistics,

Economics, or statistics,

I think I might just go ballistic,

If I gave up World Lit class.

 

My heart is heavy in Accounting,

An inner tension slowly mounting,

I’m sick of all this math and counting,

I think I’d rather write.

 

Though jobs are scarce and all must worry,

To and fro like mice we scurry,

I feel that I am in no hurry,

And know that I am right.

 

To don a business suit and blazer,

Stings my soul just like a taser,

In sweats and socks I’d rather laze or,

Read a book instead.

 

Or maybe write one, yeah I’d love it,

But don’t think I can rise above it,

To take my MBA and shove it,

Ignore what papa said.

 

The English majors flutter by,

Their hearts so full of words, and I,

Can only breath a jealous sigh,

And wish I were so brave.

 

To write and read and read and write,

No food to eat, no cash in sight,

But ever blessed with such insight,

To never comfort crave.

 

Not I, not I. I can’t afford,

To either starve or be adored,

Or live under a loving lord,

And feed my writers’ whim.

 

The business majors are content,

Not happy, but we pay our rent,

Until our souls are worn and spent,

And writers’ light grows dim.

 

While not adverse to higher learning,

I cannot lie, my heart is burning,

With more than just a subtle yearning,

To write, to write, to write.

 

For now, the call must be ignored,

In feirce pursuit of paths deplored,

And yet, my heart is drifting toward,

The light, the light, the light.

Author's Note

*emo hair flip* This is about my current struggle.

Reviews

[Truman S. Booth]

Wow! Fantastic! A great depiction of the struggle between your love of writing and your chosen field--which, you are correct, or more economically sensible, but hardly as literarily satisfying.

Well, you are a great writer, that's certain. The rhyme and meter of this piece were exciting and maintained an entertaining, attention-keeping flow. I love the scheme and the structure; it's feels very playful, although the subject yearns to be taken seriously. A wonderful contrast. Well done.

The excessive punctuation, particularly commas, were slightly distracting, but they may be purposeful, so I won't digress from my praise. Great write.

[Blue Bird II]

Great! I love current struggles! Well, not the struggle themselves persay, the poem of wich involve such affairs.

[Norma M Sutton]

well said. My major was biochemistry and genetics. I've never regretted not finishing it and learning a trade instead, but we have to decide for ourselves what it is we need most from life.

[gaurav roy]

Straight out of heart, The current struggle is pretty evident in this. The diamond is formed only, when carbon is subjected to the highest pressure and temperature, same hold true for you. Each work of yours touches a chord, at least I am a fan of yours.

[Nothing Personal]

Portraying the inner conflict which so many of us young writers have to face- choose between what we do for a living and what we do because we are passionate about it. It seems that the heart swings either ways again n again but the language in the poem has a good rhyme and a great sense of comic timing. Well written....