Creativity and Distraction

As a youth my mother raised me

Away from video games

Minimized the TV

Started my creativity

So I couldn't lose myself

In the works of others

I wrote and drew my own

Built my own up with stumpy Lego bricks

The friends were few

And far between

So I created some that would love me

When no one else was around

Sure my mother was around

But that is not the love of your peers

I personified my stuffed animals

They were living friends

That kept me company

I gave a couple to my dog Happy

But she bludgeoned to shreds

Man that hurt

She slaughtered a couple friends

So my creativity grew and gradually

I wore my mother down

I played video games

And watched more television

She couldn't always supervise

Especially when we moved to Salt Spring

Gradually the moth without the light

Saw the light and danced around it

Hypnotic the colours and sounds so perfected

Unnaturally beautiful in ways

The television the video games the music the internet

My transformation from a human boy

To a cybernetic young man

Moved on

As the friends became even fewer

As the loneliness increased

And as I disliked my real life a little more

So grew more in love with the machines

The television kept me from being lonely

And DVDs of Friends that I watched way too much

Till I hated the shows

But I still create and am creating

I'm a creative creator craving

But now it's noisy and unfocused

I create alongside my friends

The podcasters as I listen to their conversations

As if they were best friends I had known for years

Living in a city is like living in a Zoo

The noises and movement outside make me psychotic

So I drown them out

Reviews

[Blue]

"Gradually the moth without the light
Saw the light and danced around it"

I particularly like this metaphor pertaining to the moth that has seen light.

You shared a fascinating personal story, Luke. This gave me an idea about how an ineffective parenting can affect children in the long run. Don't misunderstand me here, though. I'm not saying your mother raised you inappropriately.

[Luke L]

You talkin s**t on momma?!! :p Thanks for the review :)

[FlatLineBeauty]

It's like you just hit the center of the target. This was very well written and I greatly enjoyed it. All of my friends are animals and books. Sometimes I read and re-read over and over... In the end it only makes me miss my friends and adventures more when I close the book....
hmmm, you certainly have inspired something. thank you my friend. xo FLB

[Baby Ricochet]

Interesting story bro. I grew up in the rural south. We went fishing, hunting and camping alot. I didn't know what a computer was until I was a teenager. By then we ran around in pickup trucks and drank Wild Turkey and beer in tobacco fields. I joined the Marine corps when I was 18 in large part to get out of that place. Whenever I go back I can't stand much more than a few days because it feels so f*****g repressive there.

[Luke L]

hmmm you must have some awesome stories! Good for you for joining the Marines man. You are a savage, sir.

[Bri]

Your story was very interesting. I can relate to the creativity part but, I've never been engrossed in video games. You told your story exellantly and expertly. Well done.

[kublakhan27]

Sounds like our childhoods were pretty close if this is autobiographical...I didn't have to watch Friends to loathe it but that's another story haha Great work Luke.

[Ohhhwillow]

The ballast of this piece, for me was the closing line; we drown out the shrieks of our external world that can numb the senses of our pens. This appeared as more of a diary entry than a poem - while you incorporate slight metaphor, the form you create is the main division this piece has between being journalistic. This is of course no insult, merely an observation.. Perhaps this is intentional irony, as it is fitting that the vessel through which you which choose to question our ability to create, is one of clarity and immediate reading. Either way, i believe you have some great, strong ideas, and I look forward to seeing them find their way in the writing world! :)

[Praveeta]

With the advancement of technology more and more people are spending time alone than socialising with friends and family. Nicely penned.

[Pryde Foltz]

I could really relate to this piece. For a time, I really looked forward to be half and hour with Frasier. As immersed as we become in these electronic offerings in the end, when abused they take more than they give.

[David Trounce]

Mankind was made to imitate his Creator. It is a craving. Well said Luke. I like the sound of your mum!

[Luke L]

thank you sir :)

[Sapphire Naylor]

I enjoyed it. It is defiantly a poem most readers can relate to. I love the flowing of it. I'm sure you have a ton of friends :) Well done :)

[Luke L]

Thank you very much :)