A Writer's Notebook, Day Two-Hundred-And-Forty-Seven

A lot of the poems I write are not ones that I think have a great deal of merit, and it is often hard to get myself to keep going on a day when I am feeling less than inspired and the few pieces I have are not particularly worthwhile.  However, I also think I need those times, because I am not always thinking the way I need to in order to compose poetry.  It is a specific mode of thought and certain way of considering language, and it can often be hard to get to that place.  As I said, my approach is to be patient in waiting for something to happen. 

This waiting works, but can result in tried and silly concepts at times.  It does not guarantee the work will be great, but I know the odds of getting something decent go up the more I actually write.  As well, I also am realizing that often it is necessary to write those other pieces to get the ideas to come through.  In a way, it is like priming a pump before using the water, to make sure it is running clean.   In a way, writing the junk makes it easier to get to the other stuff.

Tonight, for example, I was rather exhausted.  The piece I wrote this morning was nothing much, I don't think, and I had a long and tiring day, so I was sort of not really wanting to do much more work.  Yet, when I did, it resulted in two poems which each surprised me in a way, and that demonstrates why this kind of practice is something that is really worth it, even at times when it seems okay to slack off for a bit.  Commitment is rewarded, especially at such times.

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