Words, or: Attention

Poetry Partners #43

‘Words’, a prose poem by enchantedwords of ‘Enchanted Words’

I feel this anger, and the resent and bitterness. And happiness. And depression. I feel life too, just like the masters of word do.

But I want to crystallize my feelings in art, make them eternal through beauty, make them as eternal as beauty.

I want to paint them out so grand, that my mind is pushed to feel more to make me feel wider spectrums of emotion, just so it can see them materialized in words of honey and cinnamon, to see it etched in silver and platinum, to hear it in the desolate ballads and sunny anthems.

How do I pour my diamonds into this mould of alphabet, in such a way that they become a prism unique, a cry unheard and a calamity unforeseen?

How do I make my words the ruthless storm that tears hearts with the shards of its broken mirror, but also the warm hands that string shattered souls back together, as strong and real as the very truth of existence?

The real question never is what to write, but how to.

Now let me marvel at this impossibly omnipotent tapestry with the rising storm in my head, being a hopeless romantic as I am, still wondering about the perfect in my storm and the aesthetic set by my leaking ink of thoughts.

Now let me stare into the reflections of others to make my illusion clearer,
now let me hail the finesse of someone else’s woods as my willows grow taller.

• enchantedwords: https://enchantedwords313540032.wordpress.com/

A haibun by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

EPIGRAPH:

I want to crystallize my feelings in art, make them eternal through beauty, make them as eternal as beauty.

–enchantedwords

Many moons ago, a high schooler wrote poems for himself in a notebook; none of those sheets remain, but I will always recall the tumultuous angst that filled them. That high schooler never once shared his verses; he didn’t presume to think of them as art; pride was not a factor. After graduating from high school, he continued to write poetry, which he eventually shared with several fellow students, but that creative impetus gradually petered out, as he increasingly became involved in various university extracurricular activities.

That purity of creative intention has been lost to me.

Today, more than two decades later, I write poetry to be read by others. Read this; like this; praise this; tell me I am wonderful. Oh, David, you are simply a genius at playing with various forms of poetry; I love visiting your blog, David; you are a true creative – you should publish – you should write a book, David! Oh, David… Oh…

One of my dirtiest secrets is that the poets whose verses I most enjoy are not seeking validation from others; they write because they must.

Jerusalem snow
generates great excitement
melts away to naught

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Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!

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List of Poetry Partners