Hello world, and welcome to my 36th edition in my Crap Poems adventure.
This time I’ve been focussing on the act of writing poetry, and why it’s so important.
In a meta kinda way, it’s fair to say that this poem is (partly) true of my poetic journey. I’ve used my spare time as a place to write poetry whenever I feel inspired and/or able, despite my meagre skillset.
Why? Because it helps. And no, it’s not essential or even important that you write another classic. All that matters is your distraction from stress and personal enjoyment. I’d encourage anyone to try writing their feelings down as a form of therapy, and adding rhymes makes this hobby a bit more interesting for me personally.
Here is my latest distraction. I hope you like it.
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The Poem
“Please write a poem.”
My mother said
“Siphon the voices
our of your head.”
But she didn’t realise.
behind my fake smile
we’re thoughts of self hatred
that droned on for miles.
The view in the mirror
I’d avoided so well.
Just like a turtle
I needed my shell.
I closed all my doors
To feel safe inside.
Guarded from grief.
At home, I should hide.
I forgot that my phone
Bypassed any locks
The doors became pointless.
I’m exposed in this box.
And a tweet and a ping
made me fidget and quiver.
The sadness of others
in an instant delivered.
I switched off my iPhone.
And soon life fell silent.
Then quickly, my narrative
fell personally violent.
I shut out my friends.
Silenced to the media.
Being truly alone,
made me feel much needier.
Day and night melded
Into one dream.
Isolation made louder
my internal screams.
“Your life is so pointless.
Why do you bother?
You could’ve just listened
to advise from your mother.”
I heeded my voice
and clicked into action.
Then sat waiting quietly
for a poetic distraction.
I closed my eyes tightly
and tried to remember
her final advice
as she passed in November.
“I know this is hurting
watching my pain.
Death can’t consume you.
So let me explain.”
I saw her force words out.
Just one final time.
As she drew one last breath.
And told me this rhyme.
“Please write a poem.”
She drifted, then said.
“Siphon the voices.
Out of your head.”
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Thanks for reading 💜
Creative Steph 