Weekend Mini-Challenge: Art with Me

I believe in the power of words.

Writing and reading poetry and stories do things for me that no other activity (or person) could ever do. I can lose my Self… and find her again in the right tale. A poem is a kiss and a hug and a secret and… a gentle smack on the back of the head that reminds me that no one can be without thinking and doing (I enjoy being). A story is, well… a story is everything (to me).

I love words in the same way a mad soul adores her obsession. I keep the sweetest and darkest verbs close to my heart, value hurt-filled nouns, respect the danger that burns in adjectives that jump out of enraged tongues to do nothing but break (and unbreak) speaker and subject alike.

I’m convinced that creating and sharing poetry and certain stories (and other arts) can be a way towards healing. Yes, my dear Toads, I am that crazy writer lady, the one always saying, “Write it out. Trust me. Words will help.” I believe so many things about the art of shaping feelings and living into words, so many things… 

For today’s prompt, I invite you to write a new poem that explores one or three (even thirteen) things you believe words can do for you and others.

 feel free to repost my blackout bit

Feed the direct link to your new poem to Mr. Linky.

Visit other Toads.

Art with words… and delight in the pleasure.

Bits Of Inspiration ~ Prisoner Of Words

Here I am in a garden where words flow free. Where poets explore creativity, go out of their comfort zones, and yet there are P.O.W.'s (Prisoners Of Words) among us. I know I am one. I have poems I have written, thoughts that play in my head, words I should speak trapped as caged birds. They have wings, yet "I" keep them from flying.

The following excerpt is from the poem, P.O.W., which is the work of the talented, singer, songwriter, musician, Alicia Keys.


 P.O.W.

I'm a prisoner
Of words unsaid
Just lonely feelings
Locked away in my head
I trap myself further
Every time I stay quiet
I should start to speak
But I stop and stay silent
And now I've made
My own hard bed
Inside a prison of words unsaid

I am a P.O.W.
Not a prisoner of war
A prisoner of words
Like a soldier
I'm a fighter
Yet only a puppet
Mostly I only say
What you wanna hear
Could you take it if I came clear?
Or would you rather see me
Stoned on a drug of complacency and compromise
M.I.A.
I guess that's what I am
Scraping this cold earth
For a piece of myself
For peace in myself

(You can read the rest of the poem here.)

The challenge today is to write from that inner voice you silence. Perhaps you are better known for your darker poems, but you have this happy space in your head just bubbling for expression. Write it out. Or perhaps there is something you've wanted to speak out about, yet you haven't. Write it out. Maybe you have wanted people to actually hear you say those words you've held so close, create an audio or visual poetry reading. Pen a new poem for the challenge, post it on Mr. Linky and visit your fellow poets to read/listen to their work.