Why I Write

The title (which explains the poem) is from a George Orwell essay. Otherwise, he has nothing to do with this.

I want to be the great poet,

and let you see at least part of me.

 

Eyes will either laminate like stoics,

sealed, emotionlessly clear,

and still, a stale rain-fell puddle.

 

Or minds will walk streamlined

and warm in the wake of my gusty ideas.

 

----

 

Stalking my weakness

is a spear-tipped predator,

and most that you see

leads to its dark and charming door.

 

I (and maybe you) stumble through,

oblivious.

 

----

 

I missed my flight

on the aeroplane

scheduled to drop my ashes

over the sea,

so they scatter over paper as I die.

Author's Note

Do you like the breaks? And let me know whether you caught the music reference in the last stanza :-) Thank you!

p.s. the music reference is Neutral Milk Hotel ;-)

Reviews

[MorganLyn]

Great write! I like how you spelled "aeroplane" to make it flow better. (is that the music reference?) lol I'm not too good with stuff like that...

I want to be the great poet,
and let you see at least part of me.

Great lines! These explain the very reason so many of us choose to write!
Through poetry we can let another side of us be out in the open because in real life we are afraid to let it shine...
I look forward to reviewing more of your work!
-D

[John Stussy]

Excellent poem Travis, that is the type of death worthy of the world's greatest poet. Good luck on accomplishing that goal, hopefully someday your name will be among those of the greats.

[Tania Leigh]

"in the wake of my gusty ideas"....I think that is an incredible phrase, and that last stanza is THE most original way of describing a writer's craft that I've heard.

"I missed my flight
on the aeroplane
scheduled to drop my ashes
over the sea,
so they scatter over paper as I die."

Travis, this is the first piece of yours that I've read, and you can be sure I will read more!

[Kasey Klein]

Hey Travis

I think I'd have to read the essay to understand your intent.

The mechanics are fine.

[Kara Emily Krantz]

that last bit is awesome.

okay your author's note is asking too much of me lol. i guess i dont really 'get' the point... or at least, it's not blatantly clear to me. other than ... you're saying why you write...

"I (and maybe you) stumble through,

oblivious."

i loved that part. very artistic. :) i liked itttt

hugs

[Socialist Philosopher]

I enjoyed this. Every writer - be it an essayist, poet, short story writer, what have you - wants to be *the* greatest in his or her particular field, I think. *I* would certainly like to be the best one day.

By the way, Orwell's "Why I Write" is a fantastic essay. A lot of people think his only pieces of writing we "Animal Farm" and "Nineteen Eighty-Four." It's nice to know that *someone* is aware of his essays.

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

Well said - I think many of us can relate to these words. Very powerful imagery. Great work. Thank you.
Light,
Siddartha

[laceyjane23]

great job, i think i caught your music reference, is it from the red hot chili peppers? i think they did the song aeroplane, overall its a great poem! keep up the good work!
laceyjane

[Robert A. Pacheco]

I agree with Sandra K. I did like the last stanza. However, beginnings were a bit hard for me to grasp... Maybe perhaps, it's just my mind that's different than others. All in all, I did enjoy it. The images reflected were not so bad either.

Good write,
~Rob~

[Sandra K]

I really like this poem you wrote. I did not catch the music reference in the last stanza, but i believe the last line is the stongest you've wrote.

Job Well done!

[Silvia - Scribo, Ergo S..]

Oh, but I like it ...

The three stages:

- Off to conquer new poetic lands, confidence, exuberance
- self-doubt, pain, being haunted by NOT being THE great poet
- then resignation, peace also ... no matter what - good, bad, indifferent - a poet is what you are
... in life and in death.

That�s my take on it.

Sorry. ignoramus that I am ... I failed to catch the musical reference, Travis. (Only did, when I read your note) xxx