After the Burnout
The Depths of Creative Depression
The end was swift and absolute,
Although you simply sighed.
No warning bell, no last salute,
The fire inside – just died.
~
And those who saw, reached out in vain
To find coals, cold and hard
And words were offered, to sustain
But came back, acrid, charred.
~
And one by one, your saviors fell
With sulfur on their tongues,
Cold brimstone from the depths of Hell
That issued from your lungs.
~
A solitary shell remains,
A lone and crumbling husk
With sightless eyes and empty veins
In stale and pungent musk.
~
No force will raise you from below
No spell, nor scream, nor lash,
'Til winds of inspiration blow
An ember from the ash.
***
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About the Creator
Dana Crandell
Dad, Stepdad, Grandpa, Husband, lover of Nature and dogs.
Poet, Writer, Editor, Photographer, Artist and Tech/Internet nerd.
My first published poetry collection: Life, Love & Ludicrosity
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'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan6 days ago in Beat
Comments (27)
So D-Bud ~ You BreakingUP with me because I made fun of your 'Swat' fishing vest? - Miss U'z - J-Bud
I love this. Cleverly done - taking "burn out" and running with it. The very end is my favourite. Til winds of inspiration blow/An ember from the ash. Perfect!
Truly relevant sentiments in these verses. I relate very strongly to this. I love how dark you make a period of no inspiration seem, as that is how it can feel, especially when it continues on for a long time. I heard recently that writer’s block is just a period where you have to rely on your skill as opposed to inspiration, and to push through. I haven’t tried that yet, but is sounds good 😂.
That last line is wonderful. It exudes so much hope. ❤
Powerful! While I do write for fun, I do really enjoy it.. but I stopped for years, couldn't really even begin writing.. this really captures it
Excellent play on words to convey this beautifully sad message. Loved it!
Well composed and expressed Dana. Dammit, why didn’t someone warn us? I really like this. Dark yes , but last two lines … inspirational. 🥰
Spot-on portrayal. Loved the invocation of smoldered fire.
You killed with this. My heart is in pieces
To be allowed to attend to someone as they pass is both burden & blessing. Our hearts break, we want to rage our grief, even as the tenderness of this excruciating moment brings tears to our eyes & love's ache brimming over.
Beautifully and accurately expressed ❤️
smack to some foreheads buddy, just one spark excellent piece of writing 😊😊
I felt every line. Burnout is no fun, but may we always come back from the ashes like a phoenix. So well written, nice work.
Wow, Great Story Told here ❤️😉📝
Excellent words that really make you feel
I feel this one 😥. Beautifully said, Dana!
Brilliant piece & images. I wish I could rhyme like this. Really great job. 😄
Oh my. This is brilliant. I love those last 2 lines so much.
Hi 'D' ~ This elegance from a "Fellow~Crotchety~Senior" You certainly have a lot of faces ~ Don't know what's next from you? Glad to Read - Glad you Wrote! Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, California 'Senior' Vocal Author - Vocal Authors Community -
Wow that was impressive
Oh my gosh, Dana- Wow, this is truly magnificent and brilliantly crafted!! From the title to each piece of a dying fire to “Til winds of inspiration blow An ember from the ash.”- I can’t stop re-reading! Really impressive work!! This one is lit… 🔥 😉
Impressively written!!! 💖💖💕
This is so relatable! Another stunner, Dana!
a breathtakingly fine work woven with carefully chosen words!
Pretty powerful Dana! Have you read William Styron's "Darkness Visible"?