Nothing Left to Write

The pen is dry --

a stately wisp of a thing,

unable to write even the simplest

            of words, images, lines.

 

In this cathedral of stillness,

where light is a candle flicker

and paper is flesh -- needing --

soft white and crisp as nightfall, in places

            where snow still spills in soft drifts,

this room with a view is nothing more

than four walls and a theater screen

            playing the world in Technicolor.  

 

Inkwells line canary walls,

spill black taunts across my desk,

            my floor, my intellect,

but I cannot see beyond the tip

of a quill that begs for aid --

yes aid, because she cannot do it alone,

and I am unable to siphon even

            token thoughts tonight. 

 

The pen is dry --

or maybe it is me -- lacking --

insight, inspiration, intrepidity:

            a funeral dirge plays on a pipe organ

            and I close my eyes in submission. 

 

Morning lingers on a muted horizon,

ready to fan the spectrum of her feathered hues,

but I am still a writer with nothing left

            to write. 

Reviews

[SpiritFingers]

A beautiful description of a terrible mood and definitely describes a place we've all been a time or two.

[Robert L. Franklin]

An interesting piece. I find it enthralling that you were able to manifest this beautiful imagery and wordplay about a topic as crippling as writers block. Did you write this as a way to shake the block?

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

The best way to shake writer's block is to write about your writer's block :)

[Kleio13]

First of all, the intro is flawless, you completely draw the reader in, and yes i hate writers block. I'm going through it right now actually. Also, you explicably fashion the nature of writers block even though ironically, you are writing. Greeeaaattt work Sarah

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Well, they say when there is nothing to write, write about not being able to write...right? :)

[Kleio13]

haha exactly

[Jonathan Ballam]

Pens, ink, cathedrals all have an esoteric quality to them.

Only thing I might re-think is the word 'lingers' in the last stanza. It treads that fine line of almost being cliché, just my opinion though.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

A good point, Johnathan...I'll take a look at that.

[Antonio Valentino]

its all been written already hasnt it

we just get to take turns holding it for awhile

you held it well

Antonio

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you, Antonio.

[Antonio Valentino]

my honor as always Sarah :)

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

If this is what happens when you have nothing left to write... then I am throwing away my pen and paper! Your work is always amazing!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You humble me...truly so!

[Horizon K.]

What drives the writer, the poet, to express? Do we dig to say something or wait for it to arise? I love asking this of others, to understand thier process... For me, my poems seem to spring from an acute needs to express, a moment, feeling, reaction. Can I pen in stillness? Or does the poet, in her search for the poem, disallow herself, her heart, to ever be still, lest never a poem be born again....

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You raise some great thoughts...I'm provoked now...thank you so much! :)

[Tom]

The poem is almost a paradox of itself if that's the correct phraseology, in that you have solved your own indeterminable problem by describing its debilitating symptoms so poetically!

I think you should be made a Professor of poetry Girl Friday, you have cured the incurable and unselfishly used yourself as the human guinea pig, how courageous and clever you are !!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Well...if you can't think of anything to write, then write about not being able to write :) Thank you, Tom.

[Clara]

Couldn't agree with Tom's review more! :)

[Tom]

Nice of you to say so...thank you !

[Clara]

Anytime! :D

[MikeV]

I hate writers block
Damn writers block has me writing about chips
i literally can't think of a thing to write
I feel your pain

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

:) Thank you.

[s y e]

This is sad, Sarah - I hope this is not true, you need to keep writing. When you have nothing to write it really sucks, don't stop penning, girl!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Just a little bout of writer's block...happens from time to time, but I think I've been writing long enough that I can cry into my tea for a while and then just force myself to put something down on paper. lol Thank you so much for the great review, Noodle!