Perhaps You Never Got to Write that Poem

Freeverse

You ready yourself to perform that poesy;
a pen is held firmly in your fingers
as you concentrate, while eating pickled onions,
and reach for the notebook that’s by your side.

Yet once you’ve taken that book in your hand,
then pointed the poised pen at the page,
while chewing on that pickled onion,
there’s a distracting sound you’d rather not hear.

A bell at the door, a bong from the clock,
while a first line of verse is rather undone?
You do rather wish to grab that jar of pickles
and throw it at the door. Or at the clock.

(23 Aug 2023)

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

Coffee in hand, I write. Enjoy your pickled onion.
Nice write on poesy

[Andrew John]

Thank you very much, Sami.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome

[Lydia Shutter]

I've never eaten picked onions, but I identify with this poem. So often one line dances through my brain and I try to stretch it into a poem to no avail. Time seems to pass quickly when you are sitting there with notebook and pen and nothing seems good enough to write. Yes, I would like to throw something at that point as well. Good poem. Lydi**

[Andrew John]

Thanks very much, Lydia. One idea is to have the line you've composed sitting in front of you (I find it better to have it on a screen). Then add a random word, and then MAKE links between that Thought A and Thought B. See if a link happens. You may find something mysterious in that link: an idea, a word; a further thought. I hope this is making sense. I recently wrote a short line, then another short line, seems no link, but, hey!, then there IS one!

[Lydia Shutter]

We all have our own ways of finding inspiration. I have been writing for over 60 years!

[Chris Shaw]

I have to confess I have never attempted writing a poem while munching on pickled onions:) This poem is funny. How many onions did you manage to eat before your pen gave up? I hope you gargled with listerine afterwards:) a bell at the door or a bong from the clock would be the least of your problems :)

Chris

[Andrew John]

Many thanks for an amusing comment, Chris. Written as a bit of fun, yes, but we do take seriously what we do when we sit concentrating.

[Chris Shaw]

I have to have perfect silence when writing :)