The Demons I Can't Write About

If only my past, were so easily left behind as the concept implies.

staring from the depths
that only I see,
doggedly calling to me
in voices only I hear

an exhausted spirit
bargains with shadowed demons
to stay hidden from familiar sight,
festering on tucked away yesterdays

and they comply...
what then is the cost
of a soul in suffering,
when shrouded in borrowed felicity

as the monstrous voices dim
poetic hands break for freedom;
blue lines streaked on white
where ink roams exempt of onus

how easily a writer forgets
the etchings of our art
(feverish pen strokes on paper)
echo to our very depths

tortured ink stained hands,
chafe a dark pact with each stroke
fly ridden yesterdays lose flavor
the present, much too tasty to resist

so, they come for me;
per contract: hungry and remorseless
ascending grooves and foot holes
they, or I could never forget

I'm found (like lightening to ground)
hunched over a worn notebook
they sink claws into my back,
screams (theirs and mine) deafen thought

halted pen strokes signal defeat
they stand, glaring at ebbing courage
backwater dealings are reestablished
they comply, and I... stop writing

Author's Note

I hope it isn't a hectic read... wrote it about 4 in the morning. Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Angel of Chaos]

It has been so long since I could write. You have penned the struggle beautifully. Thank you for sharing.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

I hope you have conquered the struggle by the time these words reach you. I will be looking forward to what springs forth from your waiting pen!

[Frontier]

Hm wow I like this! You grasp the finer points of pain and express them clearly. For example in the line "doggedly calling to me
in voices only I hear

an exhausted spirit
bargains with shadowed demons
to stay hidden from familiar sight, " I see it as how we are forced to pretend to ourselves things aren't so bad just to get through the days, hence the stay hidden from familiar sight. We know deep down it's a sham though and that it's still there but we keep going nevertheless, I see this in "what then is the cost
of a soul in suffering,
when shrouded in borrowed felicity "

Powerful poem.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for such a humbling review. Your interpretations are pitch perfect.

[Bright Ocean Star]

Not hectic at all....it sounded very sad...almost romantic, but sad...and then deliberately purposeful at the end. Quite a wonderful write. I don't know why you always surprise me, but this one did. I like your mind, Poe....very nice. I don't read too many demon stories....but this one was tame enough for me, yet very effective. I especially like this stanza: "I'm found (like lightening to ground)
hunched over a worn notebook
they sink claws into my back,
screams (theirs and mine) deafen thought". Very vivid imagery and frightening. Great write!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for such an amazing review. You always seem to leave me more humbled each time I receive your words. I'm so very pleased this had such an effect on you. I've been M.I.A. for a bit, but I plan on catching up on your work.

[Bright Ocean Star]

I understand...we are all busy. But I would very much appreciate your reviews. You have a great sense of artistry with words, and I would be honored if you checked out my pieces. Thanks again.

[icelandicblue]

I think many of our demons can be tamed but never really purged when we write. We keep them at bay in a poetic cage but they are still visible if only in our minds and no matter how far away we place them they can still be heard whispering in our ears. We try to rinse the ink from our hands but the imprint is never fully gone.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

No, it never really is. Thank you for such an understanding review. You truly related to the place where this piece comes from.

[SquinklaPsyOps]

The poem could be about a character that is remembering as far as when was a child, as it is growing up gets exhausted with discussing with family an decides to lower his guard to avoid arguements, then decides to live under the shadow of his family to avoid discussions and starts writing biography to try to decipher the demons that are inside the character in the poem family.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

I appreciate your review. The purpose of this piece was to illustrate the freedom writing gives me, but as I find myself going full circle, I end up at the source of my reasons for writing. Though writing is a release, I still have not found the strength to free myself of the worst of demons I harbor, by simply writing about them.

[Teeya]

This piece speaks to me as if it were about writers block. It like the urge to write is there, but those demons invade suppressing your concentration, distracting your mind leaving no room for inspiration or thought completion...the worst fear of many writers!!! I might be wrong about the concept, but this is my interpretation on this read. Right or wrong, this was a more than enjoyable read...

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for such an involved review. Your interpretation is somewhat of the right pitch in tune with my original thought. I wrote it to express my inability to write of the darkest moments of my life, which ironically, are most responsible for my passion for writing to begin with.

[Ghost of Jupiter]

The time in which those demons of the past circle around a writer's soul. I loved this desolate and dark depiction of slowly succumbing into bleakness. The last stanza...very powerful.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, K I'm humbled by your thoughts on this piece.

[Angel Criner]

This write sent me spiraling in various directions that, with the last line, all met up in the same destination. I'm forced to clap for the involuntary cringe from the realization of how sincerely one can relate to this. Good write... Intoxicating at that.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for a very humbling review. I'm elated to know that my emotions here aren't unilateral. Sometimes we write solely for ourselves, but hope others will find some way to understand it. You've given me that gift and I thank you.

[Angel Criner]

Happy to share it with you [:
Thank you.

[bluessadmood]

oh its the shadows of yesterdays ,how they chain my hands
so crippling feel like choking,still i resist ,i use my powers all
my words how strong or used to be i call for help for once they
stood by me ,they challenged all,helped me to surface again
how i worship them what aid,like a back up i call them again
help or i sink and you go down with me,you are my words
my only strength,stand by me,pull stronger than them dark thoughts
want to be free ,like always..come for help ,know my poetry
will win over like always ..it did
loved the analyses..words are my sword to keep me surfacing..
really loved this,i always this like you do here,what lovely thoughts
philosophical and lovely write

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, I do apologize for just responding to such a lovely review. I appreciate your time and efforts and look forward to exploring your work.

[Traci]

Not hectic by any means, Travis. Just a sad piece of art, filled with raw emotion and honesty. Every part of your soul, the light and the dark is exposed. It takes great courage and strength to delve into your psyche, and write so soulfully, sharing your thoughts with all. For that, I find you truly admirable, and stronger than you believe. This piece resonates deeply, as I face personal demons every day, we all do, to some extent or another. There are always some we are unable to speak of, buried deep within, but as healing begins, the core of one's struggles will surface.

I love when I come across a new soulful poet, look forward to reading more of your work.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

First, allow me to yet again, apologize for missing such a wonderful review, not sure how I missed this. Let me thank you for such an honest and personal review. We do all have a demon to fend off. I look forward to the day I can face mine in such a way like you mentioned. I'm glad you were able to connect with this piece.