Okay, so I’ve had various versions of this blog post lurking inside my computer for months. The first one came across too gloomy, but my revisions all sounded like those “You can do it!” pieces that frankly irritate me.
So I decided to write a poem. Why? For one, I’ve been brushing up on my poetry lately, so my mind’s already in that mode. Also, I think I can manage more frequent blog posts if I choose to write them in verse.
Anyway, here it goes.
Layers
With shaky finger, racing heart,
Novice Writer taps the pop-up
message, and learns they’ve been
“Denied!”
Another gets a postcard punch
or envelope they inked and stamped
and hoped would never find its way
back home.
Pathways blocked, dreams denied,
some will toss their hands with
nonchalance belying pain—
and just give up.
Yet others,
hurt but spurred, with things to prove
(or nothing else worthwhile to do),
change, recast, create anew
and more denials come.
Through all the pinpricks, ego slaps,
True Writer doubts but carries on
as layers thin as onion skin,
thicken bit by bit.
Then suddenly, SUCCESS!
Hope and light surround the body,
fires kindle in the heart,
dreams begin to ponder
heights unknown!
That is, until that day arrives
when someone yanks the plug—
and hope and light and dreams
will end...for some.
Yet others,
bruised but driven, pricked but prodded
answer “No!” with earnest work.
Achievement may be redefined
but still they realize over time
“Denied!” might simply signify
“Not yet.”