I love to write, but I am one of those people who are frozen, waiting for the ideas to come. I know there are stories trapped in this brain of mine; it’s just a matter of breaking them out. What feels like a paralyzing inability to come up with a good idea has kept me from writing for years. Because of this, I have felt like such a hypocrite because I teach high school English where we read amazing literature and constantly write.
Up until a few years ago, I never tried writing poetry. I thought my paralyzing thoughts of failure would be best be expressed in a poem. I don’t feel that I’m a great poet, but everything I do write is extremely heartfelt. I hope you enjoy this one. It’s short and not so sweet.
Hypocrite
My hands hover over the keyboard.
The ideas just don’t come to me.
This should be so easy.
I teach English for Pete’s sake!
I’m such a hypocrite.
Pressure builds in my chest
The screen is still empty.
This should be so easy
Because I teach English for Pete’s sake!
I’m such a hypocrite.
Just one idea.
I just want one idea.
This needs to be easy
Because I teach English,
And I don’t want to be a hypocrite.
My hands hover over the keyboard.
Still the ideas don’t come to me.
I know this should be so easy for me
Because I teach English.
My students will think I’m a hypocrite.
Overcoming My Ink Monster 