Jun 13, 2014 / Inspiration

“Writing: often it is the only thing between you and impossibility.”

Need a jolt of inspiration? This Bukowski poem reminds us of the power of writing, and make us feel good about putting pen to paper.

Writing
often it is the only
thing
between you and
impossibility.
no drink,
no woman’s love,
no wealth
can
match it.
nothing can save
you
except
writing.
it keeps the walls
from
failing.
the hordes from
closing in.
it blasts the
darkness.
writing is the
ultimate
psychiatrist,
the kindliest
god of all the
gods.
writing stalks
death.
it knows no
quit.
and writing
laughs
at itself,
at pain.
it is the last
expectation,
the last
explanation.
that’s
what it
is.

Charles Bukowski, “Writing.”

 

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  1. And when you come
    To the blank sheet
    Full of words
    Bursting
    Clamouring
    To get out…
    When you need
    To relieve yourself
    With thoughts
    Translated into ink…
    It’s a letdown
    To discover
    That your ruddy biro
    Has run dry….

    Always
    Keep a spare

    Liked by 9 people

    3. Exactly. It’s why I keep my pencil so full of lead – that way I don’t have to try to find my container of extra lead when the words are coming full steam. 🙂

      Like

  6. Writing lets me express myself. I sometimes write about fictional characters. While these characters are not me they are a part of me.
    I have an idea about a fictional character I’d like to be or an expression of a person I am suppressing or holding in.I
    I’ve just discovered something in writing this post, writing can also be a means of living your fantasies through writing.

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  7. I have just discovered how important it is to write everyday. To find the time to write is easier when you get so much return from the results that it brings. It brings in thoughts that you would never have thought of and it turns a cloudy day into a sun fill one. You have wrote an inspiring piece of thought that I just had to comment on.

    Like

  10. Thank you for this. I’m coming under fire for my writing, and that’s the public blog! The one where I keep my true feelings is one I can’t tell anyone I know about. This is perfect, it’s the only exhaust I have and I won’t stop no matter what! I can’t.

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    1. I’m in a similar situation with my writing. I’m not allowed to talk about certain family members because it might ruin their business (they own an ice cream shop an hour away from me). They have completely disowned me and my son, yet remain friends with my ex husband. Some things I don’t think I’ll ever understand in this lifetime. I read a few of your stories… keep it up You write beautifully and honestly. If others don’t like it, it’s their decision whether to press the “look and read” button or not. YOU keep being you.

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      1. Thank you for the encouragement! Im being accused of using my blog to “publicly verbally abuse” my stepkids. Just like with you, I will never understand!

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      2. My sister betrayed me in the worst way possible. She turned her back on me and my son (her only nephew) when we needed her the most and then, to add insult to injury, she remained friends with my ex husband. Who does that?! Only my family I guess. Well, I guess yours too. So, stick in there!! The world hasn’t stopped revolving because of our situations. YOU know what your intentions. If anyone has a problem with it, it’s exactly that…THEIR problem.

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  12. nothing can save you except writing.
    it keeps the walls from failing.
    the hordes from closing in.
    it blasts the darkness.

    This is exactly how I feel about writing.
    Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem….

    Like

  18. Thank you for this! I have rediscovered writing with my blog, and now that I am blogging almost daily I have realised I cannot do without it. It is an old love rekindled. We should never have been apart but if not, I would not have realised how important it is to me.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. This is a great way to explain the true purpose and meaning behind writing. I’m actually working on a piece describing the same thing. Such a motivational piece.

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  21. Thanks for sharing. It seems writing is therapeutic and an invited addiction, whose cure is to continually feed into itself.

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  29. Love This! There is no better feeling in the world than writing your thoughts down on paper. It’s fulfilling on so many levels.

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  30. the joy of writing open and honestly does help to put things into their proper perspective. But then with the meds I could not even contemplate doing it.

    Like