Why I Couldn't Write A Poem | Riya Vishwanath

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

I sat quizzing myself for days at end.

I found myself staring at the darkness,

For inspiration was what I was trying to fend.

I looked through the mountains

I skimped through the views

I jogged through the memories,

Still couldn't find my muse.

As days passed by, so did my hope.

Smothered with worry,

I saw my chance slipping down the slope.

After days wasted searching in vain

Came the deadline,

and brought with itself agony and pain.

I scribbled, as if my life depended on it

For it did.

Fifteen minutes before the deadline,

Head berried in the device

I wrote a poem about why I couldn't write a poem before

And I think, it turned out fine.

I sat quizzing myself for days at end.

I found myself stairing at the darkness,

For inspiration was what i was trying to fend.

I looked through the mountains

I skimped through the views

I jogged through the memories,

Still couldn't find my muse.

As days passed by, so did my hope.

Smothered with worry

I saw my chance slipping down the slope.

After days wasted searching in vain

Came the deadline,

and brought with itself agony and pain.

I scribbled, as if my life depended on it

For it did.

15 minutes before the deadline,

Head burried in the device

I wrote a poem about why i couldn't write a poem before

And i think, it turned out fine.

But that's for the judges to decide.