The Process
If you have a "process", an algorithm, carefully constructing a story with reliable little blocks... then I love you. I envy you. You fascinate me. I have wondered if it's better, or worse, but I feel sure it's neither - just different. Maybe our "processes" are as unique as we are. But, one way or another... we all bleed, no? This is **my** process. Please be assured, the entire thing is metaphorical. A content warning is included, please proceed with caution.
Additional content warning - the picture should give you an idea of what to expect. If you keep going, that's on you.
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Last chance to back out.
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I
make a gash
bleed
on to the page
bang away
at the keys
to pin ideas down
before they can escape
nailing them to the page
in a weird stigmata
of creative wossname
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I
stand back
admire
the spatter.
critique
the fall of
each juicy droplet.
balance
on a knife edge
between perfecting and
preserving
unadulterated
authentic
expression
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I
slash joyously
gurgling euphoria
eyes shine
teeth white
amongst red
soak in it
soak it in
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or I
look down
dismay
meagre drops
stubborn black sludge
congealed ink
bleed damn you!
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I
open myself
to you
grotesquely
look
but also
sorry
gross?
too much?
but then
the secret
you bleed too
just as red
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I
cut
and cut
and cut
spinning
pain
catharsis
glorious
shower of red ink
drops of laughter
a thousand paper cuts
sigh
breathe
pulse
bleed
write
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Thank you for reading! I welcome your feedback. I do my best to reciprocate reads, so please leave a comment to make that easy for me!
The story behind the story: This is my raw and heartfelt attempt to describe what writing is like for me. I've used visceral imagery, because that is what writing is like for me. It can be messy and painful... and yet we glory in it, don't we?
If you enjoyed this poem, try this one:
Or if you like fiction, here's my most recent entry for the Tales Retold challenge (and it got a Top Story, which made my whole day!)
About the Creator
L.C. Schäfer
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I'm not a writer! I've just had too much coffee!
Sometimes writes under S.E.Holz
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More stories from L.C. Schäfer and writers in Poets and other communities.
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By L.C. SchäferExclusive • about a month ago
Comments (19)
Your writing flows so well, drawing the reader in more and more with each line
This is awesome, Let the splash happen! I have so many times where it’s just like a gash just opened up and it was bleeding out so fast I felt I couldn’t keep up the speed to write it out fast enough. At the same time I’ve had thoughts for storylines that came in yet I had to just write down quickly the gist and come back to later. At times with poetry I’ll get lines that I’ll later tie together into something that works. If you’re not gushing out, are you truly feeling connected to your work? Somehow in reading this I switch(good old dyslexia) a few words around making it cut even deeper, awesome poem!
Very vivid and painful to read - (I mean that in a good way)- I do think we all experience pain and process individually, but this is a good description which likely resonates with many writers!
I love that the poem is like a stabby stiletto , great work
An expert process of writing there, brings up the algorithms that really work. So well stated in the freeflow of blood verse ;)
This was great. Perfectly describes how it feels to struggle with getting something on the page.
That was visceral I love the imagery you choose for writing! It makes your process so shockingly clear! Messy business isn’t it? The art of creation
Deep!!! Very moving yet oddly motivating!!!
Oh I absolutely loved how bloody this was! Brilliant work!
Oh, damn! I gotta put more blood on the page! Very motivating piece.
Sometimes, not writing is just as hard. Loved it, LC!
Sometimes...that's just what it feels like. Original writing!
Awesome!!! Bold dark and bloody!!!♥️♥️💕
Sounds about right. I still need to bleed out a fairy tale. Ugh.
I am just starting to write for the first time in several years. This feels like my journey to begin the process again. Excellent piece! Thank you!
You have to let your soul bleed to write what you feel.
Dark and deep. Love it!
This. Was incredible. Honestly. Love it. And if people aren't doing this. especially when writing poetry...especially when writing autobiographical stuff...what are they actually doing? Well done LC!
I'm kinda like you. Capture the chaos before it disappears... then maybe it can be moulded into something hahaha. great and open poem