There Once Was a Man From Nantucket
There Once Was a Man From Nantucket
(read with a light limerick beat)
There once was a gal from the city
Her way with the words were so witty
But when she sat down to write
Judgment set in and stage fright
What she wrote then didn’t feel pretty.
There had to be some of trick
How words become stories that stick
Coffee, late nights or red wine?
Brilliance evaded each time
Good grief when will all of this click?
Afraid to try new things and just be
She set off on a journey to see
Could she handle unknowns
Out of safe, comfort zones
Made the choice that it’s time to be free –
Of perfections, restrictions and “No”
Held her back and would not let her go
Shame, guilt and fear
Always too near
Tired habits she hoped to outgrow.
A blog this woman once started
One post and she was half-hearted
Point of view in the works
Pieces riddled with quirks
Concealed and heavily guarded.
I am that writer gone missing
Taking ideas then dismissing
I so doubted each choice
Am I sure of my voice
But enough with my own dissing.
The second-guessing, then the self-doubt.
Instead encouragement I now shout,
Like “Get outta your head”
“Write whatever instead”
Finished being scared and hiding out.
I am not a man from Nantucket
It’s just to include the phrase “Fuck it”
Done pulling my hair
I’m up for the dare
To fear I now say, “You can suck it!”
When my best friend’s cancer came knockin’
It made me wake up and take stock in
Life can be so much more
Exposure than before
Adventures are all that I’m wantin’.
Expanded the circle of trust
Took risks and I had to adjust
Swam with the sharks
Cave in the dark
Courage and bravery a must.
Reading books ignite and inspire
These authors fuel creative fire
Like Stephen King and Lamott
Gilbert, Shapiro are HOT!
Honest writers, I can admire.
Writing is the way I create
Empty pages are the clean slate
Imagination run wild
Reflect, observe all the while
Realization this is my fate.
Where once old thinking, now new
There is an attitude of “Can Do”
I progress no less
Jump into the mess
Shitty first drafts I pursue.
With writing I’m boldly exploring
Challenging myself and imploring
Write with humor and heart
Share the truth to impart
On your mark, get set, I am soaring.