It’s back!
My Mojo is back.
A few weekends ago a friend came to stay. He likes to write. I like to write. So naturally we got onto the subject of writing. He’s got such a quick witted, creative brain. His spoken word is something else. His rapping next level. I am in awe when I listen to him.
He said he only writes when the words come to him. I could totally relate. It’s what I’ve been doing a lot recently – hence not racking up as many blog posts as last year. That conversation led to me gifting him a book I bought to deal with that very issue ‘The Five Minute Writer’ by Marget Geraghty.
Clearly I wasn’t taking my own advice when I was imparting my wisdom as I had to go searching for the book that once sat on my bedside table.
Fast forward to last Thursday, My friend has started to use some of the writing prompts in the book. I was feeding off his energy. His enthusiasm. I wanted some of the buzz.
I asked him to send me Exercise 18 of the book – I was going to write for 5minutes the next morning.
That free-writing ignited some locked up creativity and over the weekend I wrote a poem. It came to me as I was questioning my lifestyle, my age – on a Saturday afternoon, in London whilst drinking a Punk IPA.
I used to write poems all the time when I was younger. My ‘Dear Diary‘. And I’m pleased to say that writing poetry still helps to ease my mind.
So here I present to you…..Thirty 7!
Recently I feel like I’ve been holding back being vulnerable with my creativity. I feel it’s a lot easier to be open about my feelings as I know that whatever I’m going through someone else will be feeling the same.
With my work. My musings. It’s me. It’s raw. It’s open to the viscous critics, some that lurk behind cartoon images and fake names on social media.
But I signed up to this vulnerable life so to add to my anxiety – I recorded me speaking through the first verse. Gulp. Camera was off (one step at a time) I’m pleased to say – I kept my Yorkshire tones.
Happy listening.
Love Emma x
p.s. if you’ve enjoyed this post or the poem, drop me a comment, give it a like or give it a share 🙂
This Vulnerable life 
That’s a great poem, I really enjoyed it, although I’m not much for poetry (which you may know if you’ve ever read any of mine). I’m left with a some questions and observations. First, I thought you were older, maybe 40 or so, although it isn’t much different, it was still a “truth” I knew about you. I didn’t know it until well after it passed. but thirty seven is the year I became an adult. Why is your poem an posted image? Lastly, it bums me out that if I knew you in person, I wouldn’t be able to understand you. There’s something weird in my brain that make it hard for me to decipher language. Anytime I watch something british on the TV, I need to turn on subtitles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jeff. I can’t recall ever reading any of your poems. Can you point me in the direction? Would love to check them out. Haha! I’ll take 40 – gives me a few years. That’s interesting that you felt you became an adult at 37. What makes you say that? Definitely something to note to all those in their 20s and early 30s that are worrying about it. I posted it as an image because 1) I couldn’t get the text right on WordPress (it was leaving so much space inbetween the lines) and 2) I’d posted them as images on my Instagram.
Haha. This makes me smile as I was thinking about you when I posted the video. I was going to do a shout out to all my friends state side who may struggle to understand my Yorkshire accent. I did at first read in my office voice but then recorded again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you hold down the shift key while you hit return, wordpress won’t put that space between the lines. Although posting it as a image makes sense for other social media.
I can’t really recall what it was about 37 that made me feel adult, but by the time I was 40, I was sure of the change. Possibly, that’s when my wife and I agreed to start a family (I was the hold-out).
Poetry: A couple of years ago, I started experimenting with a style of poetry I’d seen on wordpress. Really tightly written prose, careful word choice, creating an image or a feeling rather than telling a story. I’ve recently learned that this is called a “prose-poem” (not very creative). Here is one of my examples: https://jefftcann.com/2018/01/14/resolve/
I think it’s interesting that you have an “office voice”. As I think about it, many people do. The self-proclaimed rednecks in my community tone down their “country-grammar”, I know that African Americans in cities do this frequently as well, and while I don’t necessarily have an office voice, I definitely have an office demeanor. If I’m vehemently offended by something you’ve said, you would never know it. I’m a blank slate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aaaah you star. Thank you. I shall edit my post tomorrow as really didn’t want to use images for it (had to get over that it wasn’t aligned properly).
I guess starting a family is a big push in the adult direction. Having to take care of/and guide someone so helpless. I do see a difference between myself and my friends that do have kids.
I like that you experiment with your writing. It’s not something that I do a lot but can see how worthwhile it is. Will check your posts out.
My office voice has been with me since I worked in a call centre at 18 and was told we had to speak clearly. I do it without even realising now. It’s interesting that you’ve noticed that others around you do it. That’s a skill that I struggle with. Blank slate face is hard for me. My fave says what words don’t a lot of the time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant! 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course!
I totally forgot to reply to your last comment and now, gawd knows where it is.
Really enjoying your writing since I’ve re-found you. Hope all’s well
Hugs
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww thank you. So pleased to have you back. Looking forward to checking out your work again. All is well here. Hope it is with you. Big hugs 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is very cool to connect with you again. I’ll have to do some catching up on your blog too.
Things have changed a bit on my blog since the previous one lol. Hope you like my stuff!
Have brilliant day
💕
LikeLike