Followers

Friday, January 13, 2012

For Real Toads: dangerous

Poetry is a very dangerous word.
—Tom Waits


Marian’s musical prompt today for the writers’ group Imaginary Garden with Real Toads features the song All the World is Green by Academy Award-nominated singer/songwriter Tom Waits. His lyrics are wondrous.

Marian included the above quotation from Tom, and it reminded me of the times in my life when poetry had a death-grip on my mind.
*

poetry is dangerous
it takes you by the heart
and by the neck
it wakes you in the night
and keeps you up
it hits you at your job
so you can't work
it calls you on the road
so you can't drive
it haunts your every mood
and so you think
never
will you write it again
until the next time
and the next
and the next
© Kay L. Davies, 2012

9 comments:

Marian said...

TOTALLY. yes, indeed that is exactly what poetry does! dangerous, man.
just tonight i had my notebook out and was trying to write down a few words WHILE DRIVING IN THE DAMN CAR so i wouldn't lose them.
HAH! i love this. also, you, Kay.
thanks for playing! glad you liked the prompt and Tom Waits.
xoxo marian

Fireblossom said...

As someone who put the poetry away for twenty years, I identify with this a lot. I'm glad every day, though, that I rediscovered it.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

So true - especially not being able to drive. I am always having to pull over to scribble thoughts.......good one, kiddo.

Mary said...

Yes, Kay, that is indeed just what poetry does! It hooks you, and you just can't escape. I appreciated your poem.

Laurie Kolp said...

I agree... it's addicting!

Hannah Pratt said...

Wow. These words ring true for me. Sometimes the words spin in my mind until I write them down. I definitely enjoyed this one.

Kerry O'Connor said...

This is so true. People who are able to find their poetic core and use the gift are very blessed.

hedgewitch said...

Definitely can relate--have a pad or notebook in almost every room in the house, AND by the driver's seat in the car--it comes when it comes and if you don't grab it it's gone. Worst is in the shower--where yesterday I had three stanzas come which I couldn't get out fast enough to write. ;_) Enjoyed this--very sharp and succinct piece.

Unknown said...

It does!
It does!