hypergraphia
hypergraphia
by D George Gawlik
I should draw something
but no plaything
comes to mind
I should write something
but there is not a thing
to write about
and should I
out of hubris
draw or write
something
I am sure
I will find it
base and gross
and certainly
dull
but would I
could I embellish it
to make it a thing
worthwhile in my
eyes
and
scratch
scribble
erase
rewrite
add
subtract
mold
push
and
force
it
but sickened by the
madness of the once
once drab dead thing
reanimate now and
a staggering drunk
maniac
upon the page
I tear
the po
em
I tear
the dra
wi
ng into
as many halves
of halves of
halves as the
tendons and carpals and
metacarpals will allow
then walk these to the
front porch to the
recycle bin where I
place the shreds
on top of a flyer
advertising a
56 inch plasma TV
free delivery
no credit
no money
down
I go inside and
close the door and
pick up the phone but
I should draw something
though no plaything
comes to mind
I should write something
though there is not a thing
to write about
Yeah, this definitely portrays the sense of uselessness of art in the face of other forms of public communication, particularly feeling guilty for not coming up with something when one thinks one “should.” I like, near the end, the poem’s shredding apart as the poet tears it up, and then at the end its recycling back to the beginning. We all go through this but keep on doing it.
I hadn’t even thought of it like that, I just WROTE the damn thing…but thank you for the praise, Randall…so you’ll see me again in a month or so…I think the next will be called ALL POETRY IS VOMIT.
Inspiration takes perspiration they say. But working too hard at it can sometimes be like kicking a dead horse. Relaxing and letting epiphany envelope you is preferable though I’ve found that a rare luxury at times. Everyone writes different. For me I have to unwind from the world and ‘decompress’ and open myself up. Anyways, I appreciated someone addressing the topic of writing itself and delving into the creative process complete with its frustrations and anxieties. It’d be lovely for us to ‘live in’ that artistic zone of seeing/expressing beauty 24/7 but like any good thing, it tapers off, short but sweet with the intensity of an exploding sun. Then comes the regular doldrums of life. lol
thanks for sharing, sir!
Not literally, of course but…ah-ah-ah…I’m not giving away my ace..