joy of poetry - this is no VIRTUAL community
11/01/2002 01:47 p.m.

I am feeling renewed by the response to my "Birds" poem.  To think that I almost removed it because I thought it wasn't good enough for publishing on the site.  I wrote it in a very tired and numb state and didn't initially feel very much inspiration as I started writing it.  As I got into it  the words flowed out but I still didn't "feel great" - joy, whatever.  But I did try to craft something worthy of the subject.  It shows me that you don't have to feel in the mood or very inspired to do good art.  I have heard novelists and other artists talking about that.... how they get up every day at 5:00 am and work for 8 hours.  I don't think I could do that, but I sure would like to have a lot more time and energy for my poetry.
I also love reading other folks' work.  It does inspire me and loosen me out of the tensions of the day, of work, pressure, etc.  It is a kind of intimacy.  Well, no, it IS intimacy.  The way my fellow poets like Lavonuna and Anne reveal themselves and their struggles and feelings is just beautiful and inspirational to me.  They en-courage me... put the courage in me to do the same.  I am really starting to feel a part of this community.  I've heard my fellow sociologists talk about "virtual community" ... this is not virtual, it is real.  I can be my worst self when I come here and still feel accepted.