In Honor Of National Poetry Day - Poetry by Scott

This comes from my book, REFLECTIONS OF A COMMON MAN in honor of National Poetry Day!

Dilemma over 3 eclairs,

Two maple bars and a

Twinkie

Well, it’s now 3:00 in the morning,
     and once again, my editor wants something on her
     desk at 10:00 am and once again, I still don’t
     have anything to say.

I‘m sitting here,
Staring at this blank piece of paper,
     (which of course, has not moved for the last 3 hours).

The clock,
     ticking away the minutes in the background, telling
     me, “You better get moving buddy or you won’t
     have a job at 10:00 in the morning.”

Maybe I’ll have another cup of coffee.

No, I’ve already had three pots already.

I’ve been at this job for 6 years now,
     I know how to write.
I didn’t have to struggle like this in the past.
Ideas for stories use to pop into my head,
     born, fully developed,
     living creatures.
     ready to hit the page with zero…

O.K…maybe one rewrite…

     But that was just to check the grammar.

All I had to say was,

“I need an idea!”

     And poof,
             there it was.

Now I scream,
“I need an idea!”

      What do I get?

A blank sheet with crumbs of too many doughnuts that I shouldn’t have eaten.

O.K.

Relax.

Calm Down.

You’ve done this before.

How would you do it if you were
     still in college?

What would Professor. Fitzler say
     if you were in the same situation?

             “Didn’t you take notes that day?”
             “Were you sleeping again?”

I never did like that man.

Uninterrupted writing!

       No, that only works if I have
       An idea to start with…

Free-association…

Oh, that takes too much work!

Writer on something you know,

       Something you have experienced.

                 Rule #1: Always write on experiences that you have had
                 because you can’t write on something
                 you don’t know…
                                             Or something like that.

What I am I feeling now?
         Other than an upset stomach
                  from too many doughnuts.
Frustration…

                      Why?
Because I can’t think of anything to write!
                                                               Why?

I…

I…

I DON’T KNOW!
                              Why?

Because I have writer’s block!

Idea!

                        Well, it’s now 3:00 in the morning,
                         and once again, my editor…

Eagan, 2002
Pulpit To Poem, Grandfather To Grandson - By Scott Eagan
Reflections of a Common Man - By Scott Eagan