Sitting Behind the Eight Ball

Writing Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond, the Force that Drives Me

Slice of Life Post March 26, 2023, by Barb Edler

This month and last month have been full of writing pursuits. I submitted several poems for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Iowa Poetry Association, and more. Tomorrow I will submit my final sijo poem. I revised my prison sijo. I’m still not sure I like it, but I will include it at the bottom of the post. I’m not submitting that one to the contest and only one poem can be submitted.

Today, my post is short. I need to compose spoken word poems, not a personal strength so it requires an extra kind of effort. Often after I’ve written something, I will think the poem is pretty good, but then when I put it to bed and come back to it later, I think, what they hey! This is not good. This in fact sucks! I think what I actually feel good about is that I crafted something.

My plan today is to start sketching out a few poems that will be about meth, war, violence against women, gun violence, dreams deferred, an ex-president’s vile tweets, and the discriminatory bills our governor is signing. There’s so much harm happening in our state. These poems will not be easy, but I hope I can get some drafts composed. Afterwards, I’ll pick three I think are the best and polish them in hopes to memorize and invigorate through voice and gestures.

My sijo poem I shared before, but this is a complete revision. I’d hope to share how I do not think people with mental health issues and addictions should be imprisoned.

https://unsplash.com/photos/aIRBGPafi74?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink
Hopeless

Prison walls hide pale pink skies, butterfly wings, evergreen trees.
Locked inside my addictions fester; increase until I’m crazed.
Is this life right for one afflicted? Will I turn to pure evil?

Thanks for reading my post today. Please feel free to share any resources about my poetry topics as I want to get the best facts into them as I can. Peace!

Barb Edler Avatar

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Barb Edler
Hello, I am a retired English teacher. I live along the Mississippi River and enjoy watching birds, the river, and nature in general. Writing for me is a gateway to healing, and I love to wrestle words in hopes of capturing an emotion or image others may relate.
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10 responses to “Writing Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond, the Force that Drives Me”

  1. Glenda Funk Avatar
    Glenda Funk

    Barb,
    That harm you cite is like a wildfire engulfing all of us. Billy Joel sang, “We didn’t start the fire.” Well, who is responsible for this conflagration. Ugh. Good luck w/ the writing. You’re not alone in thinking something you’ve written is good and then returning and thinking it sucks.

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      You’ve sparked an idea for me, Glenda! Thanks!

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  2. kimhaynesjohnson Avatar
    kimhaynesjohnson

    Barb, you are so strong to expose the evils of mental illness. Until someone has known someone with this or experienced it themselves, it’s hard for them to understand that it’s a lot like waves in the ocean. One minute, things are calm and sunny and everyone is laughing and enjoying life. The next, a storm brews and the whole place is churning from deep beneath and there is a monster raging. I love what you have written here – – every poem, every blog post, every effort to shed light on this dark place is a step in the right direction. I think that if there were ever a live human heat map that shows those suffering with mental illness on the face of the planet, eyes would be opened and hearts would be changed. I firmly believe that most of our problems today are rooted not in the political divide, not in religious or racial differences. They’re rooted in untreated mental illness. And we have GOT to get our arms around people with love and understanding. And help and treatment.

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      Kim, you are so right! Thank you!

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  3. Maureen Young Ingram Avatar
    Maureen Young Ingram

    Barb, I am absolutely awed by your sense of purpose and advocacy in your writing. This is life-giving writing, to write about these ills and how our society must do better. I, too, get that instant “high” when I craft a poem, and then later return to it and find it lacking. I love to read/listen to Padraig O’Tuama (Poetry Unbound) and he speaks of how he spends months and sometimes years on poems – this was eye-opening to me. Here’s to your day(s) of writing!!

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      Thanks for sharing about O’Tuama. I’ll be sure to look for his work.

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  4. Denise Krebs Avatar
    Denise Krebs

    Barb, so many topics you are considering: “meth, war, violence against women, gun violence, dreams deferred, an ex-president’s vile tweets, and the discriminatory bills our governor is signing” Wow! You will need a lot of mental stamina to conquer these drafts. I know three will rise to the top that you will perform for the poetry slam. I don’t have any suggestions, but I am rooting for you, thinking about you, and praying for you!

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      Thank you, Denise!

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  5. Rita K. Avatar
    Rita K.

    Your poem stops me in my tracks and prompts me to consider what life is like for those suffering from mental illness, but locked behind bars. I admire your purposeful writing, especially having the courage to write about the troublesome topics affecting our lives today. Bless you!

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  6. Barb Edler Avatar
    Barb Edler

    Thank you, Rita!

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