I need a poem,
a poem that will say
all of the things I have for so long stored up in my heart,
the things which I’ve
for so long longed to share
with you.
Send me that poem:
the one which pierces like
a poison-tip dart
tipped with love not poison.
Perhaps I will wake up with that poem
whispered in my ear
and when I do, I’ll go through my whole day
just singing it for you.
A poem that will heal the world;
a poem that will mend the scars
of whole lifetimes:
this is a lot to ask of
just one poem.
So I’ll just say
I need a poem
to change my mind
to change my heart:
to make me fall in love with life again.
I am that poem
the change begins with me.
© 2021 experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.
Sharing with dVerse
Tonight, Lisa hosts Open Link Night, where we’re invited to share a poem of our choice. I’ve chosen this one, which I entered into a competition. I had no idea what to write about, so I came up with ‘I need a poem.’ It didn’t win, but recently I’ve found myself wanting to enter more competitions. I was put off for a long time, because I couldn’t take rejection. When I was 19, I entered a poetry competition, and when I didn’t win, I decided I was no good, and stopped writing poetry for almost twenty years! Nowadays, I see things a little differently: entering a competition is like having an interview for a dream job. You might not get it the first few times you try, but every time you try, you gain experience of the interview process, and you learn from your failures as well as your successes. Entering competitions is really pushing outside of my comfort zone. But that is the only way to get stronger!
This was definitely worth a fresh airing. I enjoyed it. A poem doesn’t have to win anything to be a winner! 🙂
That’s true: if anyone enjoys it, it’s a winner in my book 😊
Exackerly!
You’ve written the poem we all need, Ingrid. Thanks.
Wonderful poem that is infused with so much positive energy and encouragement. It resonates like a beacon for tapping into hope. Good for you on entering more contests. I would love to hire a high school student a couple of hours a week to do the paperwork part of submissions. I just had my fill of paperwork in my old job and it feels like work.
Oh I know! I hate paperwork. But once I get the poems right, I have something I can publish in my own collections if nowhere else 😊 thanks Lisa!
You are very welcome.
Sometimes they fall out of the sky, waiting for us to write (or live) them. I really liked this, with the love (not poison) tips, the singing it all day, and the falling in love with life again. Wonderful stuff, Ingrid.
Thank you Shay, I appreciate your kind words!
“The change that begins with me” is the koan of the poem given to ourselves. Wonderfully simple and true.
Thank you Brendan!
pure energy
Thank you’
Such a lovely, positive feel to this.
Good for you with the competitions! 😀 I’m not sure how I feel about them at the moment (for myself, I mean).
Well, the way I see it, even if I don’t win, the poems that I send in are worthy of publication, by me if by no-one else. And I know some people will appreciate them 😊
That’s very true. 😀
“a poem that will say
all of the things I have for so long stored up in my heart,
the things which I’ve
for so long longed to share
with you.”
Such an intrinsic human desire–to express oneself–and yet so difficult for most of us. Poets are the gatekeepers of eloquence and it falls upon them to speak on our behalf. Wonderfully written hope-affirming. 🙂
‘The gatekeepers of eloquence’ – I like that 😊
how did that not not win? i am yet to enter any compertitions i might just have a lookaround to see any that my poems may fit thanks for the gentle nudge
I don’t think my poems fit anywhere as I have my own style! But I keep trying anyway because who knows, maybe one snooty judge somewhere down the line will like my simple lyrical style 🤣
You’ve inspired me to take part thank you
You should go for it!
A wonderfully accessible poem! Such great lines….and communal need…
Thank you kindly!
A poem can be /can do so many things – lovely write.
Thank you 🙏
A poem can do/can be so many things …. lovely write Ingrid.
Oops! Thought my first response hadn’t registered.
“a poem that pierces like a poison tip dart”
Oh yes.
Thanks Xan!
much resilience is vital in the publishing or competition process Ingrid and I’m so sorry you lost 20 years, and selfishly relieved you took to tapping out more poems for us! This is so lovely …
Thank you Kate: I didn’t use to believe in myself, but I’ve learned the hard way that if you don’t, no one else will believe in you either!
you’ve done it tough Ingrid but I’ve often found those that do go onto really shine … unlike those of us who trode the easier path don’t have the same drive or resilience!
It’s a Blessing Ingrid, take it in both hands and blossom as you are 🙂
Thank you Kate 🙏
Good thoughts, Ingrid, both poem, and explanation. (K)
Thank you Kerfe 😊
Ingrid, your poem feels like a prompt, an invitation, “to send that poem.” Oh, what a powerful poem that would be! Or several powerful poems. 😆 A moving write and I love the ending, reminds me of Gandhi’s quote, “We must become the change we want to see.” Best wishes on competitions!
What a lovely idea to use it as a prompt 😊 Thank you Michele ❤️
I need a poem, I like the feel of this poem, the reader can relate to the message. There is a poem just waiting to be written to change the heart. So many of your poems do touch the reader. Good luck with the competitions.
Thank you, Truedessa: winning competitions is nice, but touching the reader is essential 😊
This is great Ingrid! What an interesting twist at the end. Yes, we are the poem needed to change our world!
Thank you Dwight!
You are welcome!
I am that poem
the change begins with me.
Very true Ingrid! It is within us and not anyone else to trigger off the change Wonderful write!
Hank
Thank you for your kind comment, Hank!
I like the way you turn your feelings around within the poem. Good on you for going in competitions. I’ve tried a few with no success and so stopped doing it. I wish you success with your endeavours.
Thank you Suzanne: I don’t expect I’ll win any, but it’s good practice anyway.
I needed to read this poem today, Ingrid! Thank you for sharing this positive, moving verse. Maybe it did not meet the stringent rules of competition, it is ruling our hearts here. ❤️
That is more important to me, Punam, thank you! ❤️
Always a pleasure. 😊
Lots of truths in this, nicely woven through the aspirational approach you took. I like the blending of purpose which is very real in poetry, to write for others, in particular, but also universally, to heal, to illuminate, and to write for ourselves as well for exactly the same reasons. The words are always a gift when they are right, and that is one of the best feelings we can ever have, Enjoyed this very much.
Thank you so much, I am very glad you did!
Excellent done Ingrid.
Thank you Gabriela 🥰
My pleasure. It should have been excellently done. Sorry about this. Sending love.
I didn’t notice, don’t worry! ❤️
I needed your poem and it is poignant and straight to the heart. I would have voted for it and love that you always kept going because you gift us with truth and heart always! 💖💖💖💖
Thank you Cindy: so glad you liked it ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I loved and you’re so welcolme💖💖💖
All our universal longings so beautifully expressed, Ingrid, and rewarded by the wisdom of your last stanza. May it be so.
pax,
dora
Thank you Dora 🙏
I wish wings to your words — peace!
Thank you Rob, and peace to you!
So lovely! We all want to write the poem that says it all. And we all do each time because we are the poem.
Exactly! Thank you Mary 🙏
The message of the poem is true, and I love the process bit too… I hear you on submissions! I submitted one to a contest a few months ago, just got the rejection and was oddly… relieved… haha. So this is progress for me I think :)) 😆😜 Good job inspiring to keep going, it’s definitely practice and a numbers game (so I’ve heard anyway ;)) xo
Yes, we all get rejections at one time or other, so it’s good to learn to put them in perspective. Thanks Lia! ❤️
Ingrid,
This is wonderful. A poem can give me this type of shift and when it does, it is like magic.
This stanza, in particular, calls to me,
So I’ll just say
I need a poem
to change my mind
to change my heart:
to make me fall in love with life again.
Thanks for sharing your voice with the world.
Ali
Thank you so much, Ali, your words mean a lot to me!
Beautiful poem.
Thank you 😊
Relatable poem and post, Ingrid. I was touched by the story of your 20-year writing hiatus.
When I was in high school, I submitted some poems for publication. I was crushed by the rejection letters and never tried to submit poems again.I did continue to write sporadically. In retirement, I started to write a lot more poems and enjoy writing very much.
I think as poets we can be very sensitive, especially when we’re younger. In time we learn to have faith in our own words and poetic spirit ❤️