Saturday, October 21, 2006

There's No Such Thing As Writer's Block

There's no such thing as writer's block.
Wait patiently for a poem to drop.
There's no such thing as writer's block.
Just wait and scribble and breathe.
Dot your i's and cross your t's.
Stop thinking that it must have this or that
to rank significant,
worthy of a scholarly recipient.
A fly will buzz, a fan will drone.
Tell the muse there's somebody home.

No,
Make her think you're drifting,
vacant.
Sometimes she drops in unexpectedly.
Never on cue.

There's no such thing as writer's block.
Don't let the ink get dry.
Write, write, write, write.
March the rhythm by.
Can a muse refuse a cadence?
Will she just pass by?

Write, write, write, write.
Your mind's a metronome.
Read it again, then one more time.
Listen to the fan drone.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Don't worry, it will come…
after a load of clothes, perhaps,
after the coffee's done.
There's no such thing as writer's block,
just muses that like to roam.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you write that?
I like it!
Do you write poems often?
I write Christian poems at http://teamtruth.com/poetry/po_jlpain.htm

Carver said...

I love the way you write Jackie and I hope the block will be broken and there will be many more poem, stories, and everything in between from you. Sorry I didn't make it to the MPIP Texas bash but I wasn't surprised to read on the OTBB that you have a beautiful voice. Take care, Carver

Jackie said...

Yes, Jimmy, I wrote it in the early 90's.... or maybe 1989... something like that. I've been advised that i should copyright things before posting on a blog. I guess that's true. I'm working on some shortstories, but I'm afraid to post them!

Danielle said...

Jackie,

I decided to check out your blog for the first time, and how perfect that the the entry on the top of the screen was entitled Writer's Block. I'm trying to start work on my second book (the first one entitled "Only Skin Deep?" just recently came out), but I'm having terrible writer's block. Yet, part of the book will include the stories of those touched by melanoma. Would you be interested in sharing your story?

You can visit my blog at http://onlyskindeepbook.blogspot.com or email me directly at info@cancercrusaders.org.

Wishing you the best,
Danielle.