Monday, October 31, 2011

Not Now, I'm Busy





I stare at teacups
and blank walls

squeeze a ball
of bubble wrap

as if some kind
of juicy inspiration

might ooze
through my fingers

onto the keyboard
surrounded by books

none of which I read
start to finish

anymore, but graze
from a smorgasbord

dip into my favorite
playboy phrases

then toss them out
for the dogs to enjoy

secretly hoping
they will boomerang

back in the form
of something sexy

something hip
like a trilby or a kiss



tk, October 2011


Listen to the talented R.A.D. Stainforth's reading of this poem:
(visit his excellent blog Black Dogs here)














Join Magpie Tales interactive writing blog here
at
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68 comments:

  1. Mimi FoxmortonSun Oct 30, 09:38:00 AM

    Oh, for the time to write........
    ;)

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  2. christopherSun Oct 30, 09:49:00 AM

    The driver lost his keys somewhere and looked for them under the lamplight because there was light right there. The poet lost his words somewhere and looked under the typewriter because he could.

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  3. AnonymousSun Oct 30, 09:50:00 AM

    Having a little issue with the writers block are we???

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  4. Tess KincaidSun Oct 30, 09:54:00 AM

    My best inspiration comes from staring at teacups and walls...

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  5. Sioux RoslawskiSun Oct 30, 10:12:00 AM

    Teacups and walls...I'll have to try that ;)

    Thanks, Tess, for yet another inspiring photo.

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  6. R. Burnett BakerSun Oct 30, 10:19:00 AM

    Sometimes putting on your thinking cap can provide inspiration: What style of trilby were you wearing at the time you wrote this neat piece!? Nice!

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  7. MartinSun Oct 30, 10:27:00 AM

    I really like this, Tess.

    I live in hope that some of my own phrases will, eventually, "...boomerang
    back in the form of something sexy..."

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  8. Tess KincaidSun Oct 30, 10:30:00 AM

    Rick, a 1960s Stetson "Playboy"...

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  9. steviewrenSun Oct 30, 11:50:00 AM

    I can see the writer sitting there...hopeful, impatient, a bit bored.

    I had to look up trilby. That was a new word for me.

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  10. UnknownSun Oct 30, 12:01:00 PM

    mmm.. I like that. Thanks.

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  11. Ann (bunnygirl)Sun Oct 30, 12:17:00 PM

    Squeezing bubble wrap is oddly satisfying, even if inspiration fails to come.

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  12. Heavens2BetsySun Oct 30, 12:31:00 PM

    Writers block so cleverly described. penny

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  13. Glenn ButtkusSun Oct 30, 12:36:00 PM

    Hard to believe that our Tess,
    might get that thousand yard
    stare, poised at her keyboard,
    naked but for her Stetson, and
    admiring teacups, wallpaper,
    and old Hugh Hefner mags;
    for the dogs of poetics reside
    within the manor, beneath
    every cupboard, in every drawer,
    tenth in a pile of china, fourth
    in a line of milk white sculpture,
    tenth of a shelf of Gee Dub
    treasures, in the stained glass,
    in the trees outside, in the garden,
    upstairs, in the cellar, or the cleaning
    products under the sink. How deep
    is the crease in your trilby?

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  14. ElizabethSun Oct 30, 12:54:00 PM

    Fabulous -- and I love the photo, too.

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  15. robkistnerSun Oct 30, 12:56:00 PM

    This day many will celebrate with chagrin, the angst of the creative void, hanging white-knuckled, waiting for the rush and thrill when suddenly the void fills...

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  16. Brian MillerSun Oct 30, 01:07:00 PM

    ha...grazing books looking for inspiration....been there...love the pic...this one will be fun...

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  17. Templeton's furySun Oct 30, 01:51:00 PM

    if it were only that easy! lol

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  18. donna bakerSun Oct 30, 01:53:00 PM

    Sometimes a walk in nature helps me. The right word or phrase will comes. The wind and bird calls are the noisiest it can be. I think it is strange, but usually, it has to be dead silent when I write.

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  19. JefferySun Oct 30, 02:13:00 PM

    Word for the day is TURGID..Playboy Indeed!..Hehehehehe
    Cheers M'lady!

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  20. keiths ramblingsSun Oct 30, 02:55:00 PM

    All comes to he (or she) who waits! A delightful tale of the frustation brought about by an errant muse!

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  21. MaggieSun Oct 30, 03:14:00 PM

    Ooh, this was good. I've been reading the magpies, and many claim to suffer from writer's block. I'm not seeing that from their fabulous writes.

    I love the prompt. Thanks.

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  22. AnonymousSun Oct 30, 03:41:00 PM

    I love the ending of this--the boomerang, trilby, hip, kiss, dogs. The block lightens. K.

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  23. C.J.Sun Oct 30, 04:46:00 PM

    Hi Tess, been reading a little about you lately. what an inspiring woman you are! the way you have with words is incredulous, I love reading you. when i grow up i want to be a little like you (wanting to keep my good stuff) lol take care my friend, I have been away for a long while but hopefully I am back...i think i am.

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  24. sukipoetSun Oct 30, 05:02:00 PM

    i like this snapshot into a writer's life. wonderful photo. nice form to the poem too.

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  25. paysanSun Oct 30, 08:21:00 PM

    Lovely piece Tess, there's nothing cooler than a trilby...

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  26. Maude LynnSun Oct 30, 08:24:00 PM

    What a terrific ending!

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  27. L.A SpeedwingSun Oct 30, 08:32:00 PM

    lovely images.

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  28. Tumblewords:Sun Oct 30, 08:59:00 PM

    I would settle for a trilby and a kiss - wordless, even. Great lines in this piece!

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  29. Gemma WisemanSun Oct 30, 10:36:00 PM

    Tinges of melancholic drama and a lyrical crescendo! A beautiful celebration of writer's angst!

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  30. kelvin s.m.Mon Oct 31, 02:05:00 AM

    ..hello Miss Tess! it's good to be back here at your lair... i wonder if you ever been in that situation when you can't think of something to write? your words are always rich and full of substance.. and, i agree, your end's terrific! Hope the ghosts at the manor don't disturb you too much this hallooween..hehe..(:

    ~Kelvin

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  31. NankaMon Oct 31, 04:13:00 AM

    Inspiration just strikes!! No amount of 'trying to find it' will help!! Interesting poem and a lovely picture choice, loved it!!

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  32. Doctor FTSEMon Oct 31, 04:25:00 AM

    Start by pretending that scrumpled paper left of the typewriter is actually a pair of white knickers . . .

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  33. chiccorealMon Oct 31, 04:35:00 AM

    Dear Tess: Wonders what are your "favourite playboy phrases" :) and of which dogs do you speak; re: "toss them out for the dogs to enjoy". I must have a trilby now! :)

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  34. Tess KincaidMon Oct 31, 09:40:00 AM

    Thank you C.J. ... it's so nice to see you again at Willow Manor!

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  35. Tess KincaidMon Oct 31, 09:42:00 AM

    Chicco there were once two big ol' yellow labs at Willow Manor, but I could be speaking metaphorically here...you decide...

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  36. Tess KincaidMon Oct 31, 09:43:00 AM

    Doctor FTSE now you're talkin'...

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  37. Ann GrenierMon Oct 31, 10:09:00 AM

    Love the poem AND the voice of R.A.D Stainforth reading it! I have never listened to him before but have wondered.

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  38. Tess KincaidMon Oct 31, 10:21:00 AM

    Thanks Ann, R.A.D. Stainforth is very talented...he even had a full blown case of man flu, as he called it, and still was kind enough to make this recording. Cheers, Mr. Stainforth! Feel better soon, dear friend...

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  39. Kristin HMon Oct 31, 11:04:00 AM

    Very, very cool!!
    Happy Halloween!

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  40. Renée FinbergMon Oct 31, 11:23:00 AM

    tess,

    ok.
    i know you are busy...
    but come over and see me.
    i am doing my 1st ever give-away.
    you might win.
    and it is a great prize.

    love xx

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  41. LynMon Oct 31, 11:40:00 AM

    You really captured that hopeless search...brilliant!

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  42. Isabel DoyleMon Oct 31, 12:03:00 PM

    tempermental creature!

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  43. RNSANEMon Oct 31, 01:19:00 PM

    Isn't it frustrating when words don't come? I've had to resort to photography these days for my blogs. I've been to busy for poetry, packing up my home, giving half of it away to Goodwill and preparing to move to India for five months. Arrive there the 19th after a two day stopover in Korea. Perhaps I'll have more inspiration then!

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  44. MargaretMon Oct 31, 02:00:00 PM

    This is one of my favorites! And WHERE in your poem did Glenn read in that you were naked? LOL

    And my 19 year old son loves these hats!

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  45. Tess KincaidMon Oct 31, 02:09:00 PM

    Margaret, Glenn is...well...er...Glenn...

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  46. UnknownMon Oct 31, 03:42:00 PM

    perfect....smiles

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  47. Carrie Van HornMon Oct 31, 05:20:00 PM

    I can so relate to this one Tess....love it! :-)

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  48. Susie ClevengerMon Oct 31, 05:55:00 PM

    Oh how I relate...I am surrounded at times by poetry litter...that is what I fondly call all those uncompleted attempts at writing.

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  49. GailOMon Oct 31, 07:20:00 PM

    Wonderful look into the mind of the poet:) This is one for the second book!

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  50. Carolina LintheadMon Oct 31, 09:06:00 PM

    Funny, really, your title. I was so busy yesterday, assembling my t&p portfolio, and your prompt was so enticing. I remember with great fondness my little portable typewriter from college (late '70s). Still haven't had time to contemplate a poem...maybe tomorrow. Love yours, very, very much! Laughed out loud at Glenn's comment :-)

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  51. Chronicles of IllusionsTue Nov 01, 02:07:00 AM

    Oh Tess - you always have such wonderful images - even with writer's block

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  52. ArtPropelledTue Nov 01, 05:13:00 AM

    First the photo... and then the words. Lovely post! My best inspiration sometimes comes on long leisurely walks through forests.

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  53. Arnab MajumdarTue Nov 01, 08:31:00 AM

    That was beautiful! The title got me hooked to the poem instantly :)

    Cheers,
    Arnab Majumdar on SribbleFest.com

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  54. gautami tripathyTue Nov 01, 12:33:00 PM

    Liked it..

    innards

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  55. ChristineTue Nov 01, 12:58:00 PM

    I have so many of those books too, now I have a new determination, by reading start to finish the books my children are reading, how can a writer not read, I think, I am getting better at, terrific Magpie

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  56. LolamouseTue Nov 01, 02:41:00 PM

    You even make writer's block seem attractive! And trilby is such a delightful word! I had to look it up, as I wasn't familiar with it (always just called them fedoras!)

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  57. EarlybirdTue Nov 01, 05:00:00 PM

    I particularly like this:
    'secretly hoping
    they will boomerang

    back in the form
    of something sexy'

    Brilliant!

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  58. IntelliblogTue Nov 01, 05:34:00 PM

    Writing about not writing makes for good writing!

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  59. Kristen HaskellTue Nov 01, 07:44:00 PM

    Isn't it what we all hope for? As always, you nailed it perfectly.

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  60. philTue Nov 01, 08:18:00 PM

    Wonderful, Tess. :)

    I am totally blocked, in the dark this week.

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  61. The Blog of BeeTue Nov 01, 10:04:00 PM

    Love this. The Muse does go on strike sometimes!

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  62. AnonymousWed Nov 02, 04:45:00 AM

    Beautifully penned Tess...a great way to describe writer's block... :)

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  63. Nana JoWed Nov 02, 02:34:00 PM

    "boomerang into something sexy" ... Oh yes! You've expressed it, exactly. The whole poem is just brilliant. I feel humbled.

    (Lovely to be back at the Manor!)

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  64. Tess KincaidThu Nov 03, 08:47:00 PM

    It's always fun to share my stuff with you, dear peeps, thank you!

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  65. miss pieThu Nov 03, 10:42:00 PM

    love the humor....

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  66. C.J.Thu Nov 03, 11:46:00 PM

    That's cuz we love you

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  67. WyomingDivaFri Nov 04, 10:42:00 PM

    Interesting images (bubble wrap! playboy phrases!) to describe the writing process. Thanks for sharing!

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  68. EmilySat Nov 05, 09:20:00 PM

    I love the photo and the poem! It's always inspiring to "graze from a smorgasbord" of favorite books when the page is looking blank :)

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)

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