On the first day of my vacation, Manta went out to dinner with us. We go out about once per week. When we do, I bring Mantra’s notebook and a pencil. Except this time.
Should I not be surprised she was a bit miffed with this?
Meet the new CrackBerry.
In what has been the longest time in years, more than two weeks passed since I wrote anything creative. In plain terms, I have been writing in languages Mantra does not understand… HTML, php, CSS. She hates it all. She also is keenly aware when I am not paying attention to her; my temper gets a mite short.
Over the years, I have come to appreciate my creativity as the outlet I need to eject the stupidity and dysfunction which is routinely injected into my pragmatic and massively functional world. In short, Mantra was ready to have her say. It was my turn to be surprised.
After her sweet outing with Gail, I was looking forward to some non-hate-filled, no-homicide, no-serial-killers poetry. What was I thinking? I got in trouble, hence the name: Mantra’s Scold.
You can picture her with a hand on her hip, wings twitching in time with the wagging finger. Read this one aloud, and you will hear it as well.
Mantra’s Scold
You ignore the sound of the song.
You find excuses not to engage.
Too much work.
Too many calls.
Too much you.
I sing sweetly.
I fill the crisp air
With notes I know
You hear over
Too much work.
Too many calls.
Too much you.
I dance at the edge
Of your vision.
Waiting for you to
Look away from
Too much work.
Too many calls.
Too much you.
Give me your email.
Give me your phone.
I want you to give up
And hand over your
Too much work.
Too many calls.
Too much you.
Focus on me.
Listen to my song.
I want better for you.
In my verse dissolves
Too much work.
Too many calls.
Too much you.
050120131918
Do you get too caught up in “things” to ply your trade and engage your art? What can you do to change that? Can you commit to devoting at least 10 minutes per day to creating?
Hashtags: #poetry #positivity #art
Gail Thornton
/ January 14, 2013Dear Red,
Knowing Mantra as intimately as I do now , (smiles) I understand she is offering you something here. It may be a scold, but truly it’s an escape from too much work and too many calls. The too much you she is referring to is not enough creativity, not enough release, not enough play. You will likely listen to her now and hear a sweeter song. If not sweet, then direct and to the point as always from Mantra.
Gailxxx
Gail Thornton recently posted..Free Flash Fiction from Redmund Productions!
Red
/ January 20, 2013I am believing it will be more of the to the point kind of thing. She has spread her wings a bit lately in the arena of creativity, so I think everyone will be in for a treat 😉 xxx
Binky
/ January 14, 2013I never used to have to make time to write my scripts for the comic strip, but now it seems I do. I tend to ignore my inner muse much more than I should.
Binky recently posted..Snow Day
Red
/ January 20, 2013Perhaps, this is a good time to let the muse from the lantern…
Wendy Reid
/ January 14, 2013If your poetry is a reflection of how you feel (and it often is, at least for me) then it sounds to me like you need a much deserved break. Take care of yourself momma. xo
Wendy Reid recently posted..Were You Even Looking For Me?
Red
/ January 20, 2013I did, my sweet. Some of the creativity which surfaced when I stepped away from the work was fabulous…stay tuned 😉 xxx
Gail Thornton
/ January 14, 2013I didn’t answer the questions for myself. I need to be creative to keep a balance in my life. At the moment I have four projects in various stages of completion. Making jewelry is the most meditative for me, and after working on those two ongoing pieces, I can open up to writing. Poetry lines come to me wherever I might happen to be, and the poem comes quickly but another creative process takes over with editing until it is complete. My prose is more dense and I also edit as I write in chunks or chapters. It’s all creative, it just fulfills me in different ways. If I haven’t been creative for a few weeks to a month I am more anxious, sad, and brooding. It’s a real high for me to complete a project, no matter how large or small. It’s my identity in whole.
Gail Thornton recently posted..Free Flash Fiction from Redmund Productions!
Red
/ January 20, 2013I, too, love the finished project. What I really wanted to do this vaca was not available, as I had already packed away the materials. I think my alternative was nearly as satisfying because it meant learning a completely new art. 😉
Valentine Logar
/ January 14, 2013Mantra and I have been discussing this…listen with your heart instead of your hard head.
Please
I love you, so does she
Valentine Logar recently posted..Flash in the Pan
Red
/ January 20, 2013I know you both do. Now, to get my heart to pay attention to the correct things instead of all the dented and tarnished things it so enjoys polishing. I love you, too. Mayhap, it is advice you should also take. <3
Sue Dreamwalker
/ January 15, 2013GOoD Morning Red. Its early hours here. At Work on a afternoon/night sleep. But Sleep is gone as I wake up this snowy cold morning. Excuse any mistakes as I can barely see as my ‘!Blackberry’ screen so small :).
Did I put some Time to be creative ?? YES. Yestaerday my day off after chores I got out my watercolours and started a painting.
Too Much Work.!!! Makes us forget the Peaceful Calm we get as we just sit and Listen. Or we just sit within our creative space. Within our creations we get lost but some times we need to be lost so we can be found.
Loved your Muse 🙂
Love lighT and Peace
Sue x0x
Sue Dreamwalker recently posted..Getting in Tune with Your Self
Red
/ January 20, 2013So very true, Sue, as always. Being lost in the creative space is healing to the soul. It mends itself with a beautiful web rather than the industrial materials our conscious mind would practically choose. So glad you liked this one. {HUGZ} xxx
prenin
/ January 15, 2013Sounds like you need a time-out for the better things in life! 🙂
You are an amazing woman Red, but even you need a break to just ‘be’ yourself! 🙂
Love and hugs always!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Monday – Doug makes a few calls.
Red
/ January 20, 2013Aye, and I am rather glad I took one. I hope everyone likes what I did with my time 😉
Lorre Lyons
/ January 15, 2013I don’t ignore appointments, so I guess I need to make them for writing. I also don’t ignore my friends when they need me. Maybe I need to view my inner creative-self as a friend and make the time.
Geoff
/ January 15, 2013Hey Lorre can you please click on my comment and request access to my Space I have been trying to invite you since I started this new Space of mine my great friend but without any success 🙁
Oh and be good too 🙂 lol
Geoff xxx
Red
/ January 20, 2013Not sure yet if she responded, but I sent her a note to this effect. 😉
Red
/ January 20, 2013That is a trick I learned ages ago. Some of my most productive “meetings” are the ones with my keyboard. Make a date with your muse. It will never be considered cheating. 🙂 xxx
Geoff
/ January 15, 2013Yes we all get tied up with one thing or another these days (hey) but there has to be a time for some recreation, just a moment in the day or evening to unwind, push the stresses of a chaotic life out of one’s reach and breathe easily, all work and no play as it were.
And let’s face it you have certainly been pushing the envelope on working too hard, yes the fruits of your hard labour are now coming to fruition but still you need that extra time to relax.
This is a brilliant offering Red but then all of your work, creativity and incredible imagination, sheer drive and perfection to truly shine shows through, and what great results too.
Well done you 🙂 🙂
Geoff xxx
Red
/ January 20, 2013I am very glad to have taken it as well. It made it possible to relax and be creative in a very different arena, as well as stimulated some learning skills I will need shortly. Time to press on and raise the bar a mite. I happen to love heights! 😉
LScott
/ January 16, 2013Hi Red,
It’s Wednesday, so I apologize for being tardy! This is such a wonderful post implying that we all need a break from too much….
I can now write and it feels good again, and of course, I’m already feeling a bit stressed b/c my emails are multiplying! 🙂 Breathing…okay, I hope you get that break you deserve, too, my friend! Hugs! Lauren
LScott recently posted..New Beginnings
Red
/ January 20, 2013I did. And you need feel no stress for pressing the delete button when there are just too many to read. Glad you stopped by for this one. I hope you caught Lorre’s this week as well. xxx