A study in what not to do

Deadlines besiege me, as stress pennoned limbs

ache for action, yet, procrastination consumes me.

I know relief will come, when: task complete

I can truly unbend, sit back and relax.

Yet, brain benumbed, I irradiate in a background

of autogenous anxiety. I stare through the TV,

study the grain on the page I'm not reading,

attempt to study the air.

Until, deadlines eve, when stress breaks free

staining my mouth, and eyes and senses, bitter

body, shocked, resuscitated

and frantic activity commences.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Procrastination is a curse that I'm thankfully free of. You've described it here with great vivid details. I feel it's a form of self-sabotage, never giving oneself enuf time to do one's best. Then when things don't turn out well, there's a built-in excuse for it. I wish I knew the answer to help those frozen in their efforts. Your vignette is excellent, as far as it goes . . . but I find myself longing to see a little more of how this scenario turns out.

[Gummy.G]

Wow, you have described the exact emotions of someone trying to focus on doing work and procrastinating at the same time. Now this is really good poetry and some awesome imagination incorporated ;)

[Frieda P]

I tend to work better under pressure myself, daydreaming poetic until the last minute. Don't look at it as procrastination, more like creativity. :)

[Christopher Withers]

I like that - with the levels of procrastination I show (like now, I have a deadline, yet I'm looking at poetry) I must be some form of creative master ;).

[Frieda P]

See, you catch on quick! ;)

[Beccy]

Goody, I was close in my thoughts then. I knew vaguely of the word pennon, in the context of feather, or wing of a small bird

Sorry, I was being puzzled, not picky.

Beccy.

[Christopher Withers]

I didn't for a moment think you were being picky :) If I'm honest, when that word came to me, I had to do a bit of quick googling to see if it was appropriate ;)

[Beccy]

Hard sometime to break free. Loved the luxurious word choice here, though I puzzled a little over pennoned, I have a more than fair command, but have never seen that word before?

Beccy.

[Christopher Withers]

Thank you for the review :) I'm a bit of a nerdy lover of the fantasy genre, which is probably where my knowledge of the word comes from. A pennon was a (usually long rectangular) flag which adorned a lance. I guess I was using it as a metaphor for visible signs of stress, or to be bound in the fabric of stress and so encumbered. Too obscure?

[MomzillaNC]

Writer's block… the bane of all our poetic inspiration.

[Christopher Withers]

Thank you for taking the time to review :).

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.