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This Poem was Submitted By: Kenneth R. Patton On Date: 2005-04-16 05:05:05 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Fits and Starts

My writing comes in fits and starts Random waves of crashing thoughts Don’t ask me inspired or not For me the strange and saddest part I’ve limited access to my heart

Additional Notes:
Just a little morning ditty.

This Poem was Critiqued By: Audrey R Donegan On Date: 2005-04-30 19:28:39
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.15789
An honest look at self. Brava! I love the line: 'my writting comes in fits and starts random waves of crashing thought' The line breaks are perfect creating such a wonderful flow. Thanks, Audrey

This Poem was Critiqued By: Rachel F. Spinoza On Date: 2005-04-30 11:41:14
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Poignant and light - and yet addressing a real problem that we have all faced at one time or another - with a fresh insight into why it is so terrible for a writer to not be able to express him/herself - and thus let other people in. Fits and Starts Neat title sets the mood for us nicely My writing comes in fits and starts Random waves of crashing thoughts [goods metaphor - very dramatic] Don’t ask me inspired or not For me the strange and saddest part I’ve limited access to my heart Pedant that I am I wouldn't change a word of this clever poem - which is in itself a tour de force - as it is a creation born out of a need to create. The lack of inspiration becomes it own inspiration - wonderful! Best Rachel

This Poem was Critiqued By: Tony P Spicuglia On Date: 2005-04-25 11:47:37
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.69231
Ken, this is a nice fit, to coin a phrase. There is an uncertainty about it that is overcome by the assonance within the poem itself. It is as if you are telling us something, but then denying us the pleasure of response. I like it. Fits and Starts – One would like to think this is about writing, when, in the end we find out this is about “access”. Great dualism. My writing comes in fits and starts Random waves of crashing Don’t ask me inspired or not thoughts – It would be interesting to read an essay from you on your writing “fits and starts”. Personally I write from where I am, no matter where I am, and it keeps it fresh. Dry periods occur when a person can’t take where they are, and make it “directive”. I think this is what you are saying, in so many words. For me the strange and saddest part I’ve limited access to my heart – I spent some time rereading these last lines to see how they fit with the first part of this poem. This piece has the spirit of a Sonnet, and so I took your opening six lines as the “problem” and the closing four lines as the “solution or cause”. Then why, I ask, has he “limited access to his heart”? Most poets would say, that, to write, the heart is “repetitively” transcribed. I guess, what strikes me in this “ditty” is that, because of the tumult which surrounds your writing, you find that you spend little time listening to the inner strains that emanate from within. You write the grand and noisy, but find that often it does not reflect the properties of you heart. An interesting piece, and although I may have missed the mark, I enjoyed the verse. Thanks for sharing.

This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2005-04-21 00:58:01
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.08333
Good Morning Poet........nicely structured, easy read, great word flow too......it sings and you are the melody player........perhaps you might consider opening your heart my friend and allow the words to just flow as the Lord wants them to......just a thought on my part.......thanks for posting and sharing......I am going to try to let my own feelings flow once more, though I have no clue as to when it might begin. God Bless, Claire

This Poem was Critiqued By: Helen C DOWNEY On Date: 2005-04-17 10:01:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.45455
Kenneth, A good title to your little poem! This piece I felt was pertaing to many of us writers where you have your good and bad moments of letting the creative juices flow. Rereading it several times this little poem did indeed grow. It appears to represent your writing patterns when a door opens in your mind that does not frighten you. Our minds have many closed doors inwhich some we do not dare open, but there comes a time when a particular door sqeaks open a little and wants to be told. At this time it is safe to let a bit of information leak out in oder to ease our pain. These closed doors may or may not have to do with love but the stories beg to be told. My favoite lines are ...and the saddest part I've limited access to my heart. This is a touching piece Ken, hope to read more of your work. Helen

This Poem was Critiqued By: hello haveaniceday On Date: 2005-04-17 07:14:10
Critiquer Rating During Critique: Unknown
Hi Kenneth, you have left me wondering on your last line. It's not so little a ditty if in its writing you hit on something more to write about! I picture the writer sitting at the piano with one hand on the keyboard and the other writing the words to the music. How will you sing this piece? Barbara

This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2005-04-16 09:39:44
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.41667
Hi Kenneth, My writing comes in fits and starts...me too! Sometimes the harder I try to write something profound and exceptional the more difficult it becomes...works much better if I am inspired...'random waves of crashing thoughts'....how many times I have started to write only to realize it is pretty awful and tear it up. I have several poetry books that I read when I am in a slump and I have noticed that some of the great poets only become great after they have died...much like the master painters. Also in some books poems they were writing are actually published, unfinished and after death. Does this mean we should not destroy our 'fits and starts'...'for me the strange and saddest part I've limited access to my heart'...this is my favorite part of this terse but well written poem. I think it aptly expresses your thoughts as you wonder , like all the rest of us, why the words won't come even tho they are just below the surface. Well done...I enjoyed it very much Peace....Marilyn

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