Seriously, This is a Problem?
Pardon me, have you seen my muse?
She used to come around quite a bit.
Lately she has been derelict in her duties.
I fear that she may have packed her bags and left no forwarding address.
In my younger years, my angst was strong.
My anger was vital and fueled me through dark nights.
My resentments, my secrets, my mistakes stood around my bed.
Staring down at me as I fitfully struggled to sleep.
Yes, youth. Hormones assuring every emotion would be felt to the fullest.
Deep and meaningful, the world around me full of color and detail.
Every thought I scribbled down was another layer of profound brick.
My pen and keyboard blazed with every declaration.
Love hurt, hate hurt, apathy hurt. I needed so much attention.
My esteem was low, my ignorance great, and my mouth didn’t know to shut.
Drama danced around me, picking me up and throwing me down.
But through it all, my notebook, my words, my key to surviving.
Words have never failed me, but I have failed them.
Perhaps I should know more of them, my verbal quiver somewhat lacking.
I should read more books, and spend less time clicking “like”
Stalling to find my next subject to eviscerate.
My muse has gone off to the ether, for my former fertile fields
Of fury, resentment, and distrust have grown fallow.
And the ghosts of the past no longer haunt me.
The doctors tell me that I am going to pull through.
Because I am finding that at this point in my life,
I am actually quite happy and content, and very satisfied.
With that Shiva-fire quenched, there seems to be less to talk about.
And it’s really fucking up my poetry.
If you have come to my blog thanks to “Freshly Pressed” — let me be the first to tell you today that YOU ROCK. Feel free to click “Like” on anything on my blog. It makes me feel special. I follow back, for anyone that cares to do so.
Man, you gotta get yourself some angsty characters, is what you need. You can borrow mine, they have enough drama and moodiness for more than one author!
True true!
LOL Love it… I love the Charles Bukowski style ending! You rock
Thank you Ozzie, you devil dog you.
love your blog! feel free to check out mine if you enjoy witty posts about everyday life!
Thank you, I am headed there now
Ran across this via Freshly Pressed and thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks for the dose of poetry!
Awesome! Thanks much for checking my blog out!
Those muse’s have a lot to answer for! I really like this….Thanks!
Thank you for your kind words!
Oh wow this is just brilliant. I don’t even know what to say about it other than that. Nice.
Much appreciated!
Once I feel in love (for real, for the hundredth time) and found that he really was the one, I don’t think I’ve written poetry since… it’s been eleven years and counting. Truly love my husband, but I do miss the inspiration that a quality (what word is appropriate here?) break up can bring. Congrats on being freshly pressed!
Fell (even my writing is suffering, see?)
LMAO!
Being down in the dumps fills a notebook quickly. Being happy makes me want to go to the beach!
Funny you should say that, we spend a lot of time at the beach!
Very nice!
Agreed. Despair is such a great notebook fuel!
Best there is.
This is awesome! This reminds me of me a little…glad I came across it. Congrats for being Freshly Pressed
Thank you!
I second that!
Hear hear!
Very nice poem…………
Thanks
I’m like you. I have never ending writers block. When I was younger I wrote countless of poems daily. Now I do good to write twice a week. When you find your voice again come help me find mine.
Solidarity!
Hey Tom,
I was wondering about the survey we took regarding the correct font for your book. I’m curious – was your preferred option the one that we thought was best?
First off, thanks for reblogging my poem. Very cool! I was most partial to #1,but switching out Castellar for Stencil as there is an armed conflict throughout the book, so it echoes that theme.
I’m really glad that I thought to post about the fonts, I can be a bit indecisive at times, and it helped tremendously.
Really enjoyed it! I’m probably still in those drama years of youth, but even then have felt a change in 5 years. Love to feel life through your words.
Fantastic. Enjoy them for all they are worth and fill as many notebooks as you can. Thanks for your kind words.
This is a brilliant and insightful poem, whilst still managing to use some wry humour at the end.. Very nice.
Thank you
you are a very talented writer and yes i saw this from ‘freshly pressed’ good job
Thank you very much!
Man, rewind 15 years, and this WAS me. Great post. Congrats on being FP.
Oh yeah, and if you’d rather music over pics of my kids, my collection’s slowly being posted over at http://myleftthumb.wordpress.com
Cheers!
I dig your angle on it, very cool blog.
Thank you, a kindred spirit!
Wow, you are right on top of things! Yep, me? Much tortured and loathing my writing by default. Ain’t it the way. I have many notebooks packed away in boxes downstairs. They’d probably read like comedy now.
The Thumb came about as an experiment in tracking what I own. I mean, what if the house burns down? How do I prove to the insurance people I actually had all that stuff? But then it became addictive to post them. And so…
Going to follow your blog. Keep up the good work!
I have notebooks filled with writing that ahh, umm, I can’t even decipher due to other youthful pursuits. Glad to have met you.
This is very raw and fierce. I really like how there is so many levels!
Thank you Katherine!!!!
Nice read man!
Thanks my friend!
Fantastic post! Looking forward to reading more from you.
And you as well, I am looking at your blog right now. Love the name.
Oh, don’t worry. I don’t think your Muse has left. She may just be sleeping. Muses do that; they sleep until the right moment, and then when you see something inspirational, they wake up to transform it into art through your imagination and hands.
I think she’s hiding behind a door about to surprise me
just hope she isn’t dressed up like Jason Voorhees or Leatherface; my Muse already has that down.
Lovely. You have real, raw talent. Thank you for the follow and congrats on getting Freshly Pressed
You’re “Why I am so Damn Cool” sounds a lot like what I would say about myself 
Much, much appreciated. Really lucky to have the chance to meet so many cool bloggers in one night. I don’t think I will be sleeping any time soon.
Great, eh? While you’re up, write me a poem. Hah! Okay, fine, don’t. Congrats again, enjoy it!
I’m always up for a writing challenge, but whatever you throw my way will have to wait until my brain settles — I have some major quasi-ADHD happening at the moment. Digging your blog BTW
Awesome blog. Found you through Freshly Pressed. I’m a writer too, with those big big dreams of one day being published. Even considering jumping into the self-published thing. So I’ll definitely enjoy reading about your adventures!
Fantastic — great to meet you!
Congrats on the whole “being Freshly Pressed” thing! Looking forward to reading more of your work!
Thanks Liz!
i agree…contentment kills the creativity…and so I think I shall write more about gratitude.
this was pretty dang good…writing about writing…or NOT writing, rather..
Gratitude is something always worth taking inventory. Great thoughts, and thanks for your comment.
Hahah I have found this quote to be kinda topic related….(more nay than yay) “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed,” as said by our beloved Ernest Hemingway. Oh, and another one, “There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.” And this last quote, is a very true story, indeed.
I’m kidding. I just wanted to catch your attention. Cheers.
Lovely poem! Thanks for sharing and congrats on being freshly pressed! That’s awesome, like super awesome. Swing by my blog if you feel the need to read something good
Funny, I just read that Hemingway quote yesterday…I hadn’t seen it before that. Now, it’s come up twice. Thanks for you comments, I am heading over to your blog now.
Thank you for the follow, ’tis much appreciated.
Glad you are enjoying life, hopefully some of that enjoyment will bring a new muse to your work, which by the way is really great to read…
Appreciated on both counts!
I absolutely loved that! Well said.
Thanks Mike!
Great poem! Yes, the muse – so elusive at times, but she always returns. Congrats on the Freshly Pressed.
Thank you, it’s so cool meeting so many new bloggers in a single night. Totally opened up my world.
Very creative post! Reading it inspired me to try poetry.
Great site you have here too so I’m gonna follow you now.. Hehe! Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed by the way!
Thank you on all counts! Write, write, write
Very nice post! Worthy of FP!
daisy
Many thanks!
Great post. I know what you mean about the self-imposed drama of youth. Funnily (?) I still have my share of angst. Hard to get the English Lit major out of the girl, I suppose. I like your style of writing!
Thank you much, just checked out your blog as well, it’s great to meet you. As with many writers, we will always have a store of angst somewhere, I was an English major as well — I think it comes with the territory.
I was just thinking this!! But even cursing on paper doesn’t ring true anymore;/
Loved it to pieces
I curse only for dramatic effect. My dad used to say that sometimes there just isn’t a better word to express the feeling. Less is more. Thanks for your kind words.
Very relatable, I’d think no matter what age. And don’t we all still need so much attention? Great piece!
We do, writers especially
This is a very witty poetry!
Tha’s so true. If I’m angry or sad or outright bored, my scratchpads filled like crazy, and not just with angsty poetry. I think muse likes dark-ish personae.
When I’m happy, all I want is to read, watch movies, y’know, doing things.
They call me insane if I try to find something to bore me just so I can write.
It shouldn’t work this way, but dammit it does. Thanks for your comments.
Nice… loved the last line!!! perfect ending…
Endings are the toughest. Thank you!
Dig your style of writing!
Congrats on freshly pressed!
Check mine too?
Cheers!
I did. You rock!
This made me happy. Hooray for Freshly Pressed making some good calls.
Thanks Paige!
Tom, great post and big congratulation on being freshly pressed – well deserved!
Thanks Marianne! You’ve been with me since the beginning and I very much appreciate knowing you.
Thanks Tom, I feel the same
.
Muses, can’t live with ‘em, can’t write without ‘em. We beg and plead for them to show up on time and if they were actually paid employees, we would have fired them long ago, but we do love them, unconditionally. Have you ever had the muse show up on time only to have your focus walk out of the job or go missing while holidaying in the Bermuddle triangle of the imagination?
Love the blog.
EJ
Thanks EJ. My muse likes to show up when I am sitting in traffic, then I have to fight to remember what the hell she said.
I’m in my teenage years and my mood swings have been too off lately. At least I can relate with that part. Thank you for this!!
Yeah, it’s just your wonderful brain chemistry. As a teen, we all feel everything at full strength. Glad you could connect with my poem.
Love your style of writing
Congratulations on being freshly pressed! Can’t wait to read more from you
Thank you for that!
I like it. Yup. I like it a lot. And I like your sense of humour. yup
Right back atcha.
Best ending… Ever! Boom!
NICE! Thank you.
That was just cool! Nice pic too – congrats on the Fresh Press
I find all my pic using compfight.com. There are a million talented photogs out there that are willing to share their work. Thanks for the grats!
Fantastically funny poem, love it! You certainly deserve to be the Freshly Pressed and I admire your bravery – I just recycled a whole sheaf of work into the bin because reading my stuff makes me cringe, let alone sharing it! That said, the difference between cringy and non-cringy writing is probably quality…
Anyways, love the poem and am now folllowing your blog.
It’s painful to share, the Internet somehow makes it easier. Weird. Thanks for your thoughts, I feel a lot better about my craft today than I did last week
I followed you back as well, thanks much!
awsome stuff…
Thank you for taking the time to say so.
I don’t think your muse went too far. She seems to be back
She likes to hide and pop out to scare me! Quite the little devil.
Especially liked the bit about spending less time pressing “like”. Irony, gotta love it.
Irony had been a part of my complete breakfast since I was a kid.
Hey Tom, glad you were feshly pressed so I could find out about your blog – its kinda wierd and I like it! Congrats.
Yeah, I’m kinda weird. Let that flag fly!
Pulled the words right outta my mouth- great poem! You deserve being on being freshly pressed!
I am humbled by this, thank you!
Really? You put it on the page you would visit everyone who likes the post? You’re a good man.
I enjoyed reading through the comments [I do have a life... call it research. Curiosity has to be a besetting sin of all writers, or maybe just English majors.].
Love the final stanza.
Yep. I have been spending all day doing so, and it’s a luxurious problem to have. I am seeing so many great blogs that I would not have discovered otherwise. It’s been a great day
Thanks for your comments.
Congrats on FP. Liked what you write but then “I should read more books, and spend less time clicking “like”
Funny how a few years can change a person’s behaviors. There was no “like” to click.
Brilliant, brilliant poem.
You rock. Thank you.
Happiness is ruining your life, so unfair
LMFAO!
Kindred spirits. I’ve been thinking much the same thing lately. I used to have so much burning emotion in me that I needed to release onto paper. Now I’m older, happier, content. It seems so strange to write about that instead.
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
It’s hard to stretch it out. My happy poem: I’m happy. The end.
I saw your muse on a beach, lounging in an Adirondack chair and watching the sunset. I’m going to let her sit a little longer and then I’ll work on persuading her to come back and see you. She said to say she misses you, too.
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
She’s pretty hot, eh? Thanks for the grats, just followed you blog. Feel free to buy my muse a drink.
That could be a-”muse”-ing, but I think James Bond already did. She’s his type.
Thanks for the follow on my blog. I look forward to exchanging wit with you, fellow blogger.
Absolutely, last Eagle Eye I knew was my GI JOE. He had the Kung-fu grip, and he rocked.
This is so awesome and I very much relate to it. I seem to sabotage myself just to stay in the dark places my muse likes to linger in. She is a very dark, angry and sadistic muse at times.
Oh, I know that very well. Writers are complicated beasts. Thank you!
Oh God! Well, for the first time I have seen a poem getting freshly pressed (maybe I don’t really keep a track of things), but also, this is the best post that has ever been freshly pressed. Thank you for this wonderful piece. I’m in love with your blog.
Yeah, I don’t see it that often either. Perhaps this will open the doors for many of the talented bloggers I am meeting as a result. Keep at it!
YOU rock! that was a nice touch
Cheers!
This is so true. When I am all happy with my life, I go watch a movie. It’s mainly when I am miserable and lonely, that I pick up the pen. I like poems that don’t rhyme. Gives a very raw touch!
I am terrible at rhyming — thanks for your comments.
Great blog! I like your writing style.
You just made my day
Love it. I feel the same way. I tend not to write when I’m feeling good, so it ends up looking to strangers as though I am just broody and miserable all the time.
That’s ok, it keeps the riff-raff from bothering you I hope. Thanks for you comment!
Beautiful
Thank you Janbein!
There are stages in poetic maturity, I find. And any stage may be a link back to the beginning, though it seems very different in nature. So (from your featured poem above) I feel that maybe the same thing has happened to your poetry as has happened to mine: it’s simply become less imagistic, more rhetorical, perhaps. This is not bad or good (there are many different kinds of poets, as you know), just something that happens. Maybe you will circle back soon (p.s. my poetry to date is feature on my site, http://creativeshadows.wordpress.com, but if you aren’t ready to follow or have too much to do with being Freshly Pressed–and congratulations on that!–then maybe just peek in when you have time. You can compare early poems with later ones and see the same sort of difference I think you’re talking about in your poetry. If you don’t have time, that’s okay). Again, kudos on Freshly Pressed!
Great thoughts, and thanks for the kudos. My writing has gone through many stages and my time as a teacher and journalist have removed many of the wild creative flourishes and made me far more succinct. Although sometimes I miss that old gonzo style, I find that my thoughts are much more clearly expressed. We must encourage our creativity (or art) to grow.
Somehow, I don’t feel you’ll really have much trouble adjusting your poem to the new style(s) you find yourself “in.” Something about your poem reminded me a little of the rhetorical style in Seamus Heaney’s poem “Weighing In,” from the volume “The Spirit Level” (apparently a “spirit level” is what in Ireland they call what U. S. people call a carpenter’s level). I find some of the same terseness and precision in your poem.
Wow, that’s a hell of a compliment. Thank you.
Rarely do I comment on other blogs. But your line…”Pardon me, have you seen my muse?” is absolutely, rhythmically, beautiful. Thank you for the pleasure of reading this piece.
I’m glad that you commented. I appreciate it!
Ha, I know exactly what you mean! It’s been about a year/year and a half that I’ve felt fairly content with life, and I had no idea how to write about that. But this far in, I realize that my contentedness has helped me delve deeper into the rage and sadness I’ve felt without being cliche or just a rant. It sounds counter intuitive, but that’s how it’s worked for me at least. Keep going, you’ll find your rhythm
When I visit earlier writings, when things were quite different, I learn quite a bit — and that helps the writing. Thanks for you comments!
No problem! Glad to meet a fellow writer experiencing the same writer-y stuff. It helps to know we’re not alone
friday mornings are the best time for poetry! you’re very talented sir! thanks for sharing, can’t wait to read more of your work! x
Thank you! Happy Friday!
Writer and poet here, too! I can’t say I’ve never been without a muse, but fortunately I’m lucky enough to be gifted with more than one, so when the poems are all tangled up in the fray, fiction usually entertains me. Congrats on FP!
Thank you much, she never goes too far!
You’re more than welcome to come hang out at my nuthut of an office if you need inspiration — you might feel like you’re back in high school but that could help with angsty poetry;) Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.:)
I was a high school teacher for several years, so I will be quite at home.
You really got me in the sides with that “5th” stanza…. ouch!
Ka-pow!
Last comment I promise: I already found your humour without having to click on the, “Find what you are looking for” SEARCH button. Nice.
Great post and congrats on FP. Maybe you should consider writing from the perspective of others who are not so fortunate to have found happiness and contentedness in life.
Thank you…my mental state is fairly recent, and I am taking it for all I can. Last year was incredibly difficult, and required me to white-knuckle it for quite a long time. We can’t have sweet without the bitter…
Fear not I think your muse is still nearby, hovering overhead,
for with this post you tapped into her soul and her very being.
With humor and elucidation this post does bound,
a skill, a talent or gift it may be, but your muse has not deserted you.
Congratulations on Freshly pressed,
your muse is glowing with pride, I can see.
Filled with words and thoughts,
ready to tickle you yet again.
Ok, this is awesome. Thanks for this! You have quite the saucy blog, btw.
saucy… omg…. lol.
well I do have my moments.
Ha ha!
I love the way you are responding to each persons comment.
I can see you are enjoying this and that is great.
And thanks for the visit and follow
:-)
I can’t think of a better way to spend my day, this is awesome!
Love the ending! Yep, my journals are full of making sense (Ha!) of past heartbreaks and barely a word on my love who I am now happily and easily with…no drama, nothing to write about! (Came to you via Freshly Pressed btw)
Many of my poems come from my darker days…glad you liked the poem!
came across this on freshly pressed- Good stuff! i’m glad i checked out your blog
Thank you!!!
Oddly enough I spend too much time both reading books and clicking Like… Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Changes need to be made. (I’m starting to hyperventilate as I am unable to find the Like button for this post).
Ha ha, I have been clicking “like” a lot today — this has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of people, and it’s all very cool.
Words have never failed me, but I have failed them. – I like that a lot.
It’s nice to see some poetry on FP for a change; hope you’re enjoying the ride
Thank you! I am having a better day than when I wrote the poem!
Dear “Mr. Freshly Pressed” -
I just started my own blog today and was so glad I clicked on Freshly Pressed. The picture of the journal and the cramped handwriting hooked me – it looks like my journals – and I LOVE your wit! You’re so funny (yet at the same time truthful), I decided that you are the first blog I will follow. I hope you keep that good wit coming! (and of course, the good poetry)
Thank you, and congrats on starting your blog. I’m glad to have met you and I’m looking forward to reading your posts.
Thanks so much, Tom!
Absolutely!
Sounds like your muse needs morning pages, bud. My muse took a hike when I stopped my morning pages to write my blog. Started them back up and she was BACK!
LOVE you last line. So honest and real.
Shari
Hmmm….time to look into that
Tom, this was so beautiful. Your honesty really spoke to me. Thank you
Thank you, you have a great blog, just followed
Loved this post! It really hits home… In the sense that I hope to one day end up where you’re at.
Last year was one of the worst of my adult life, and it finally turned a corner. I wish that for you as well!
Well, this year has been one of my worst so perhaps I’m on the right track!! …???
Ahhhhhh! So sorry to hear that
I wish you a quick turnaround!
Thank you so much! And thanks for connecting with your readers! I’ve added you to my reader.
Absolutely. I started this blog so I could connect with other great people and it’s truly been a great 24 hours for that. Looking forward to exploring your blog.
A nice & honest poetry , loved it.
Thank you Gunnu!
Hahaha! Cursed with contentment! I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m glad that the muse was able to visit you another time to make you aware of her going!
Yes, yes! I have no doubt the other shoe will drop soon enough
Reblogged this on sunshinefactor and commented:
This is for Vonna or others going through writer’s block…contact me for ideas, I learned about how to counteract writer’s block in a class lately. Maybe the ideas will help?
Hello Sir,
Does it cost a blogger extra to run a survey? I know how to start one, just haven’t gotten into the $$ part yet.
Nope, you can set one one on the dashboard. Look for the Feedback option, it’s a drop down menu from there. It integrates with Poll Daddy, and really easy to set up.
Are your folks still living in Detroit? I’m a Michigander myself (formerly).
Yep, I have family in Hamtramck and Plymouth. Whereabouts in MI did you live?