On Writing Poems

A glimpse into how my poems come to be

Words and phrases

Doing summersaults in my brain.

Each vying for release

Onto paper or screen.

Will they make sense

To anyone but me?

And how much would it matter

If anyone else even reads them?

Should I care?

Am I writing for myself or them?

I'm done... for now.

The rest of you can

Buy a ticket for the next ride

And wait your turn!

Reviews

[Natalie C]

Arlene, this was brilliant. I think we have all felt like this before:

Will they make sense
To anyone but me?
And how much would it matter
If anyone else even reads them?
Will they like them?
Should I care?
Am I writing for myself or them?

But you are right, who cares. As long as you are satisfied with it, nothing else matters. Like you said so perfectly.. you are writing for yourself!
Great piece, very original look at the birth of a poem

[M J Moore]

I like the change of direction in this one, the splitting of the different waves into two stanzas. Like the change of direction of thought. I think as writers we all wonder if what we write will come across right to the readers, if they'll laugh when we hope they will, cry when we want, and if at the end, if they will even appreciate all that we put into it? Then at the end of it, no matter the praise or the persecution, we have to ask ourselves, could we live without it? Not the audience, not the readership, but just for the love of the game? For the love of the pen?

mj

[Kaykay]

love it love it love. you did a great job

[Marie]

I completely agree. That's exactly how I feel! Nicely done.

[Fantasyfairy]

I like this. It's so short and simple that nothing more needs to be added to it. The last stanza is a kind of "F*** you" phrase, and I love it. I wait my turn for the next ride. XX

[The Grey Pilgrim]

A ride through the mind of Arlene Fleisher is worth the cost of a ticket and a wait! Amusing and very true of us slightly psychotic writers, excellent work!

[E. M. Murren]

I have asked myself these very questions... Lovely work. Cheers.

[Britt]

I loved this, I agree with Natalie as long as you are satisfied nothing else matters.

That was nice. How much are the tickets? lol

[Julia Taylor]

haha i love the second stanza