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Inspired by Elegance and Mommyhood: Writing Poetry & Link Up On the Edge #163

September 20, 2019 / 47 Comments
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This is not a sponsored post.

I used to write poetry all the time when I was younger. I felt it was easier to express myself in the shorter bursts of emotions that lend themselves better to poems than prose. In fact, in one of my elementary school yearbooks, I am quoted as saying that I wanted to be a poet when I grow up. That quickly morphed into the broader classification of writer once I realized how very little contemporary poets are appreciated in this world.

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Jacket and Bralette: Torrid (Old)
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Shorts and Tights: Target (Old)

Once upon a time, I had dozens of journals filled with my poetry. But that was all lost in a fire. Not the kind of fire you would suspect by my phrasing, but a fire that I started and threw all of my journals into it, page by blessed page, because I was reprimanded, chastised, and judged in the harshest way by the man I was about to marry. Needless to say, that marriage didn’t last, but too late is too late and the poetry of my youth was nothing more than an ashy memory. And as memories do, they fade away until there is simply nothing left.

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Shirt: Charlotte Russe (Old)
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Boots: Durango (Old)

And then I never really felt inspired after that to write poetry. I began journaling again in the aftermath of the fiery end but it was always in prose form. Journaling eventually led to blogging and now my life is filled with piles of notebooks that contain only the erratic scribblings of a distracted and overwhelmed mind. And only a fraction of these incomprehensible scrawlings ever takes form in digital print.

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Hat: Linda Gibbs Handmade
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Belt: Bed Stu

But my friend Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood has been sharing a lot of her poetry lately on her blog and it planted a seed. It inspired me to try my hand at it once again. With some other outside sources offering inspiration, I have been able to create a few pieces.

Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood

However, there is something scary about sharing one’s poetry. More so than our prose writings. Poetry is more raw, more emotional, more transparent even though it may appear on its surface to be cryptic and subject to interpretation. Poetry sort of exposes everything for the vultures to find and feed on with criticism and judgment. But I am not one to cower in fear for long…so with great trepidation, I am going to face that fear and share a poem. One that was inspired by my time at Hickory Fest this Summer. I don’t know why this is so much more intimidating to share than all of the other raw and corny details that I share on the daily. But here goes nothing…all I ask is that you please be gentle in your critiques and remarks.

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shorts with tights, patterned tights, red leather jacket, cowboy boots, fall fashion, fashion over 40

There is something about poetry that rhymes that makes it seem so juvenile and naive to me. I feel uncomfortable. It doesn’t suit me. But I wrote a rhyming poem anyway.

I Thought I’d Known You Before

I ventured down the highway
Looking for something new
But everywhere I’ve headed
I kept running into you

I’ve logged a million miles
Seeking someone I didn’t know
Hoping to be uplifted
But ending up so low

I thought I’d known you before
I thought I’d know you still
I thought I’d know you forever
But I guess I never will

Staring down the winding road
Into the stained glass sky
Heading in the right direction
Where I met those broken eyes

I’ve met you time and time again
I’ve tried to learn your rules
But I woke up in my own bed
Feeling like a fool

I thought I’d known you before
I thought I’d know you still
I thought I’d know you forever
But I guess I never will

I look into the mirror
The haunted eyes are there
Glaring back in wonder
At my vacant stare

I thought I’d known you before
I thought I’d know you still
I thought I’d know you forever
But I guess I never will

August 2019
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Necklace: c/o Happiness Boutique
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Earrings: Old

As I was preparing this post, I did stumble upon some poetry and creative prose that I had penned about 10 years ago. I browsed through it and it is not completely mortifying. Maybe it is worth sharing here. If you are interested, do let me know in the comments and perhaps it can become a weekly occurrence. Sometimes it is refreshing to change things up a bit, tap into a lost art form, revisit a previous passion. You never know where it will lead.

Perhaps you are interested in delving more deeply into your creativity. You can find helpful advice for improving your craft at https://www.singularsound.com/blogs/news/4-beatbuddy-tips. Or maybe you are able to just pick up where you left off. You can turn your favorite creative hobbies and passions into a career or simply enjoy them as part of your self-care routine. Regardless of where you take your artistic expression, the key is to enjoy and appreciate the creative process.

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shorts with tights, patterned tights, red leather jacket, cowboy boots, fall fashion, fashion over 40

And now your featured favorites from last week.

Johanna of Johanna Grange shared a powerful message about body positivity in her post, Show Your Stripes. So many of us in the blogging world make it a point to inspire others to feel great about themselves, but then we forget to take our own advice. Johanna is making strides in her own self awareness and I think many of us can follow her lead. I know I sure I can.

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Johanna of Johanna Grange

Lauren of Lauren Sparks also shared a very powerful post, Why I Re-Love the Word Tolerance. She brought up some issues with the word tolerance that I often took issue with myself. This post is enlightening, informative, and plain old powerful from a standpoint of love.

Lauren Sparks

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
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shorts with tights, patterned tights, red leather jacket, cowboy boots, fall fashion, fashion over 40

Are you a fan of poetry? Do you prefer rhyming poems or free verse? Do you ever write poetry yourself? Would you share it publicly?

Feeling poetic on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

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I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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