The Gifted Egomaniac

wrote this in under ten minutes, busy with school and it’s hard finding time to perfect my pieces. Criticism/ comments appreciated :)

How?
So easy for them,
so dreadful for us.

Fascinating-
they flow without training…
no book in sight,
words that puncture-
with ease.

Stabbed from syllable to sentence,
their effort meager…
ways of capturing a feeling,
through context we mustn’t understand.

Convincing.
Communication.
Brilliance;

To bellow mere verse is a gift few of us successfully achieve…

We like to call ourselves poets,
frantically write ‘til something worth words is born…
we love the validation,
a review,
a comment;
ecstasy.

Unfortunately,
it seems as though,
the narcissists have beat us at our own game.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

If I may borrow the words of another "Franklin" here, "He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals." Benjamin Franklin (laughing) I've always thought and felt that the proper course of writing, any writing, is communication. To communicate our thoughts, feelings and references in such a manner that we not only entice, inform and entertain our readers but that we make them feel at home. A good writer to me, is a good host or hostess. The reader is their company, come to dine. If the host or hostess insults the guest, it's not likely they'll be back to visit. The insult can come by way of condescension, pedantry or repetition. It can come by boring the guest to pieces with minute and unwanted details. That's where I hear the voice of Thoreau shouting, SIMPLIFY! In poetry, I prefer slices of real life on my plate as opposed to lofty idealism and suffering longwinded egotism. This is a brilliant little gem of poetry here. It takes a slightly humorous look at the insecurity of self and the efforts of communication. I'm always working at my craft, reading, learning from others and studying different avenues of inspiration. But I also feel very much like the quote of Thomas Jefferson when he said, "I cannot live without books." Reading was my first great love. I grew up dirt poor and had very few toys or playmates. I began reading as a means of escape and entertainment and the love of it just consumed me until I began to write and find my own voice. My brother told me a story of his encounter with a millennial who boldly told him, "It's not fair that you have so much money and stuff and I don't have that." My brother was dumbfounded considering he has worked all his life for everything he has, served his country fighting in Vietnam and saved countless lives in his service as a civilian nurse and combat medic. Sometimes, it's a skewered perspective on what we perceive rather than a personal insult on what we have achieved. I like what God asked Cain in the Bible, "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" And as old Shaky Spear would say, "Ah, there's the rub!" If you can churn out such works in ten minutes, you needn't worry about the narcissists, after all, they have their own self-love to sustain them. (smile) I enjoyed this poem. Thanks for sharing your considerable talent, Bless, F.

[lovelymarina]

This review was more extensive and detailed than I could ever ask for. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every bit of it...seriously, thank you for this. I loved when you said "I prefer slices of real life on my plate as opposed to lofty idealism and suffering long winded egotism", because I couldn't agree more. There's something about poems that aren't over fabricated with pretty words and feel a little more relatable in nature, that's what I try to do, at least. I'm glad you enjoyed this. All of my poems stem from all of my beautifully dark, brutal, and picture perfect moments I've experienced in my life... and I hope people can relate to them, or just even feel them! I loved hearing a little about your story... reading and writing can be the biggest escape, and is for a lot of us. I'm glad that you had it as an outlet as a kid and grew to love writing and as you said, "found your own voice".

I appreciate this review immensely...thank you dearly again...sadly the narcissists seem to get in my way quite frequently despite my writing!

Marina :)

[Fabian G. Franklin]

"just feel them" That's the whole of the matter, there. Poetry is feeling conveyed. You've got this. F.

[Crowley]

This is brilliantly put. Heavy sigh… the way I feel every day. Although I’ve never said oh to be a narcissist, I secretly wish I could be for a day. You know I love your writing…bees knees!

[lovelymarina]

Thank you dearly for the review, I'm sure a lot of us wish we could turn on that little narcissistic voice in our head for a bit to see what we can create..
missing you friend!
Marina

[heavenscentgirl1]

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR WORDS WITHIN THIS PIECE, WRITING POETRY DOES COME EASIER TO SOME THAN OTHERS BUT IF WE JUST LET THE WORDS/FEELINGS FLOW AND YOU’LL DO FINE. BTW:THANKS FOR THE FRIEND REQUEST. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO READING MORE OF YOUR WORK.
HSG 😇

[lovelymarina]

Thank you love, for the review. I will take a look at your stuff soon!
Xx,
Marina

[heavenscentgirl1]

YOU’RE WELCOME, MY PLEASURE 😇 HSG

[Chris Shaw]

Reading you Marina, I think how we are all our own worse critics. We all want to write a decent poem that gets recognised. You know, I would love to be able to write something in ten minutes. Sadly my brain ain't that accommodating. I would also like to be more prolific, sadly that ain't happening either. I do what I can, much the same as other poets do what they can.

Good to read your thoughts.

Chris

[lovelymarina]

We do what we can is right. We all long to create something that makes anyone feel everything...but all we can do is our best.
Thank you for the review, Chris.
Marina

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome Marina 🌹

[mattavelli]

Hello, Amanda! :)
This was a fun, relatable read. We all get frustrated at times. Some of us use it to dredge up thoughts. Haha
We can share all of our moods in writing if we choose. Thanks for sharing.

[lovelymarina]

And that's the beauty of poetry...
Whether sad, frustrated, blissful, angry, the list goes on... being able to capture that feeling with words is a gift seldom really have. Thank you for your comment, Matt.
Marina

[Relic]

I wish I could write 5 poems a week like some of the others here but...I can't. Maybe someday.

[lovelymarina]

We are all our biggest critics...
Thanks for the comment Relic,
Marina

[jacob erin-cilberto]

those who think they are great poets?
Seldom are....
those who are humble, blue collar poets...are better than they think they are.
Your writes are always thoughtful and make us reflect.

funny....since 1970 when I started writing, all I ever wanted to be was a poet.
And I still don't feel that I am there Yet....

maybe someday.
j.

[lovelymarina]

We all feel so much doubt, don't we? It's crazy...I look at your work and feel as though you should have at least three books out already, while you are your biggest hypercritic. It's dreadful that most of us feel this way... but you are great, keep going, and believe in yourself a little more.

Thank you for the great review, J
Marina

[Chris Shaw]

Excuse me butting in Marina, but Jacob is so damn modest. He has published at least 18 volumes maybe more now. He is an excellent poet and we are very lucky to have him resident on WC. Plenty of books to choose from.

Chris

[lovelymarina]

He said he’s wanted to be a poet since he started writing in 1970, so I just assumed he hadn’t published anything. Nothing about my reply was supposed to come off as offensive… I said he’s an outstanding writer… just wasn’t aware that he had books published…Thanks for letting me know
Marina

[lovelymarina]

Very modest to the point where I had no idea!!!!

[lovelymarina]

What a great guy.

[Chris Shaw]

Nothing you said Marina was offensive, I just wanted you to know how modest Jacob is and what a great bloke he is. He doesn't blow his own trumpet, so as one of his friends, I am doing it for him. All his books are on Amazon. He won't broadcast that though :)

[lovelymarina]

Cant wait to order them …. thanks for letting me know.

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome. 57 and Beyond is one of his latest. I can thoroughly recommend it. Happy reading.