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Open Poetry #48
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When Words Won't Come
| Open Poetry #48 |
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When Words Won't Come |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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WHEN WORDS WON’T COME 28 October 2012 When words won’t come let them rest and let your mind wander in images and feelings of things that matter to you - through gardens of wonder and woe through joy and sadness through dilemmas of the ant and the elephant, the child and the adult, the village and the planet, and bathe yourself in these pictures and emotions that matter to you, in the style of your choice and the moment, impressionistic or realistic or gilded or horrific and if you are patient the words will come when they are rested and rejuvenated and healed and ready, today, tonight, tomorrow or soon, not at your will, but theirs. So don’t chase them away but leave them alone and they will come home wagging their tails behind them. Owl |
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| © Copyright 2012 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
Victoria
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869 |
Thank you for your advice. Nicely done. ~Victoria~ "If music be the food of love, play on." (William Shakespeare) |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks, Victoria, lol. It was just so co-incidental that I had written this a few days ago, and then you mentioned what you did, lol, and I just had to post it! Hope it helps!  Owl |
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luminosity Senior Member
since 2005-11-18
Posts 813 |
ah yes......and your words do....so full of your heart that they touch each of ours |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
What a sweet thing to say, luminosity, thank you! Owl |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Diana, so true.My mind is going all the time,from one thought to the next.It never seems to stay still.Even when I read it interfers and interjects other thoughts.Loved this one . jo |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Martyjo, thank you for loving the poem. You know those thoughts that are interjecting whatever you do or think, are doing so for a reason. I would like to suggest that either they are worry thoughts or they are not. If they are not (and maybe even if they are), they are possibly zygotes of poem titles or subject matters – or special memories – or things you need to do. Perhaps it would be a good idea to carry around a pen or pencil little (or not so little) notebook with you and jot them down so that you can firstly come back to them later, and secondly focus on what you are reading or thinking – or instead stop doing what you are doing and let that thought take over and take you where it wants to take you. You are allowed to, you know, (I repeatedly have to give myself permission to do all sorts of things), especially as you are nearly 81 and that is SPECIAL (I am looking forward enthusiastically to being nearly 81)! If they are worry thoughts, perhaps you should confront those worries, either right there and then and so stop what you are doing or thinking, and confront them (some worries are scaredy-cats and run away when you confront them, lol) – or write them down to deal with, at a specified time which perhaps you could write down too. Then just as, in my poem, Let Yourself Sleep, you could let yourself focus on what you really want to do/think, by wrapping yourself up in the pleasure or relief or whatever other reward thereof - like imagining floating on a cloud, is applicable and in your own permission to do so. Sorry about the unsolicited advice. I so often feel the need to restrain myself from giving it, but I am sure (well, almost, lol) that you won’t mind. Owl |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
hello diana, i feel exactrly the same, let the thougts wander, one month, two weeks or a year, and they will come back for the best, thanks for the splendid write, yann |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Thank you Diana you may give advice. I do it all the time. Unsolicited though mine may be. My problem is procrastination. I have always done it and always did better when the last minute came upon me and I had to rush to do what ever the thing or job was in my mind. I now keep thinking it is time to put my house in order and change my will. I had one made once but it is already time to make some changes. It is a tricky thing. I just need to give in and get to a lawyer. In the meantime the thoughts of the past and how and what to do about the future mingle with life as it goes on. I also read too many things at once and do have a pen in hand most of the time jotting down notes. My notes are everywhere. I am not organized at all. I feel my brain is like a tall round office wire basket, with thoughts falling thought the holes. best to you both. jo |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fine writing...actually its nice to have a rest from writing sometimes...James |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks, Yann. Yes, I don’t think I have ever had writer’s block – in periods when I have written, it has simply been that I haven’t had the urge to write or was too busy or stressed to do so. I have never stressed about that, so I don’t really understand why anyone would – though I see how it would affect people who write for a living. The poem was inspired by hearing people talking about writer’s block, just as my sheep poem was for those who struggle to sleep, though I don’t. I suppose it is very easy to give advice on something that one doesn’t suffer from. Thanks, Martyjo, I knew (well, almost, lol) you wouldn’t mind! Just an idea - what about getting a fridge magnet if you don’t already have one and putting your notes under it (on the top of the bunch) the moment you have written them, and even date them - even if the date doesn’t matter at the time, it could later, and it doesn’t take long to date a little note. Then, if you don’t have a database to put them all in – just as they are – write them in a Word document called e.g. My Personal Notes, and number them – or even type as many as possible in a Word document if you are near your computer at the time, instead of writing them on paper – or leave what you are doing to do so. As far as the procrastination goes, oh boy, I understand that only too well! However, I hate with a passion the stress of that last minute rush and do better when I take the bull by the horns (without hurting him, lol) and plunge into whatever it is long before the deadline. I usually find that it wasn’t so daunting a task after all, and if I find that it is, I feel good that I have attacked it sooner (or a little after sooner, lol) rather than (a lot after) later. I find that writing out a schedule of things to do with rather too little, than too much per day, helps a bit. If I get it all done, then I feel good. If I don’t I just move what I didn’t do to a later date. That, of course, is much easier on a computer. My head is also usually so crammed full of thoughts of my business and personal and community commitments but there are times when I allow myself to think slowly – like when I am outside with my dog and cat, or when I am gardening, bathing (although that is a hurried affair too) or driving – and then I often attack thoughts of a thing I have been procrastinating about and ask myself questions to help me stop procrastinating – like, “What is holding me up from doing it?”, “How can I resolve those things?”, “When is the earliest I can resolve those things?”, “List them on your To Do list, prioritise them and then do them, Diana!”, “Then do the thing itself and get it off the list and oh how good it will be when you can mark it as DONE!” then I say to myself, “It’s quite simple, Diana. You can do that, can’t you?” That sounds organised, but from one procrastinator, to another, we know the truth . . . ., don’t we, Martyjo, lol! Thanks, James. Yep, you probably are right. I suppose it depends on the individual. I think the whole thing is not to allow it to stress oneself. Giggles to all! Just looking at the title! It seems that words - useful or not, poetic or not - come all to easily to this garrulous old woman, lol! Owl |
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Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
When the words won't come, hum. I like this one, the way the words are given a life of their own, and their own will.Nan (Pilgrim variety) |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
I'm glad you enjoyed it and really got it, Nan. Did you notice that there were more sheeples? Owl |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
And not to intrude on your message, but I've found my words get their feelings hurt sometimes when I ignore them. When they come, and I don't write them down, then they seem to choose to abandon me for long periods of time... and that is the loneliest feeling in the world for a poet. But you're right, if you wait patiently in the places that are most comfortable to you, that's where they usually find you. Much enjoyed. Michael |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Oh, Michael, that's adorable - not that I am happy that your words get their feelings hurt, but I think it is adorable that they are sensitive little sweetie-pies. Yep, I agree with them, don't ignore them, lol! Thanks for the read and the delightful comment. Owl |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
I don't think I worry so much about them not coming as I do about having them say what I want in a little different way from the norm. But that equates to them 'not coming' I guess, so trapped either way. Enjoyed this piece, my friend and hope your words flow as continuously and unending as life. j. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks, Jimmy. Perhaps my amateur prescription could work for that too? It's worth a try. More Owl |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
I read this again...the flow and the style are immaculate...James |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, James. I appreciate them very much. Owl |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
What wonderful advice... and how beautifully it's written! *S* |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Ruth. How good it is to see you back here. I haven't had much time to be here lately, but have popped in now and then, to answer to replies and/or to have a quick read of one or two poems, and sadly your Pip-spot was empty. You will be making many people happy to see you. Owl |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
ho diana, i trust that too, let the words coming, you point that fact so right and o like too the idea that we can have failures, we have to be humble with our own inspiration, special regards yann |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks again, Yann, for your kind words. Owl |
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nate15106 Junior Member
since 2013-01-01
Posts 11Pittsburgh, PA |
Loved it. Cant say much more than that |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you very much, Nate. Owl |
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