A Writer's Poem; reflecting on the gift, the hope of it, the struggle in it.
And, a letter to my fellow writers.
This week, I am reflecting on my origins and, in turn, the spring from which I write. I have come to see that there are questions I try to answer in my writing that I have carried my whole life, turning over and over. Each question arises out of heartache and, in turn, wonder about how to live with them and help others through them. I explore this more in this article on The Writer’s Quest: Answering The Questions We Grapple With.
Such ponderings took me back to a poem I wrote about my writing many years ago. It sounds so bold. I would like to say I am every word but I carry many struggles on the writing path. The struggle to hold true to a kind, soft space despite the judgement of not having a louder voice comes to me at times. But my reflections on this rocky writing path remind me that it is ok. It is ok that I cannot be everything. It is ok to do what I can. I am enough in my own space. This poem is an inspiration for me to live up to. May it inspire the parts of you quaking at the vulnerability required to be a writer too.
MY GIFT
It is my job to reveal how we feel in the deep, dark corners of our bones.
I acknowledge the days when we are scared and feeling all alone.
I hold my heartbreak in the light, so you know your pain is shared,
show you how I’m struggling, so you find hope in your despair.
It is my job to pick the scabs, of wounds that cut the deepest,
to take the mess of my life and give you goosebumps it’s so realist.
I accept the challenge of baring soul, revealing all my faults.
I accept I’m laid bare, vulnerable, here’s my wound, pour the salt.
I’m a writer, a poet, a storyteller, emotion collector.
I have been judged for this, but accept there is no protector.
I wouldn’t want to change it, for in my weakness, I rise strong,
showing how broken I am, suddenly we see we all belong.
I ask for strength to go deeper every single day.
I want to reveal all we feel, everything that we don’t say.
I am called from an internal silence to show you all my violence,
but it is in this very silence the words scream the loudest,
and suddenly you feel it, that moment all around us,
when we cling together in the dark, bound by what’s out there,
when we come together and grow strong from all that we share.
I am a revealer of all the things we keep deep down inside.
I am the one that sings, the heartache others prefer to to hide.
~
Fellow writers, you have a unique writing space and path.
Hold true to what is right for you.
Together, we can strongly go forth, baring souls.
It is ok, what we aren’t, for it is in what we can do,
even if you can only hold love and kindness, still do, go on,
the world needs you.
I needed that reassurance today, too.
All my love for ALL YOUR beautiful, unique parts.
Ta
PS: Do you know a fellow writer who needs these words, too? Please share it.
All photos are credited to Jorunn Lorenzen Photography.
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I loved this beautiful writing. Thought’s it brought: To be truly who you are you need to reveal your heart. It makes one vulnerable and it’s possible to get hurt. But it would hurt even more if you didn’t live from the heart.