a natural state of perception acknowledging that possible negative truth of our universe behind its mask lies that face of decay hiding always ready paranoia declares the end result of all eventuality is death intimacy with death the essence of creative thinking fuels our passion tending not to be life-affirming rather, a negative potential taking to its logical conclusion life in its abundance that’s the secret to life eternal paranoia that’s how we do it
© 2017 michael d emmerich
in the still of the night silence reigns until it is rent asunder ….. by that chilling sound …....... the silent scream …... it rips across the valley floor for all who do not hear … to hear condemning them to a sleepless night …..... filed with dreams ….. just another night of the waking dead
© 2017 michael d emmerich
air goes in and out blood goes round and round that says the medic keeps you alive in sickness and death illness and injury not all goes as it should this is well noted blood and guts sickness and death that last ….. potential breath affirms our quest intimacy with death fuels our passion in life in its abundance ours and yours … the next patient
© 2017 michael d emmerich
the evil that men do
in the name of a god
is not in god’s name
but rather
evil enacted
in their name
hypocrisy prevails
in whose name?
some faceless god?
no…….
just greed
and the face on the lucre
the victorious
the arrogant
the ungodly
there is no god of the righteous
only the greedy
might is not always right
but greed trumps
"in god's name"
is now a lament of regret
what have we become
© 2017 michael d emmerich
that wall of time over the years it just gets higher the great separator that great divide shuffling out the old ushering in the new breaking bridges along the way conformity that builder of walls destroyer of bridges ensuring, at best only memories remain bridges built across time memoirs adsorb the unwanted safely travelling back allowing old to become ….. the new, new
© 2017 michael d emmerich
The ideas are there, still flowing, my ideas journal is being topped up, writing is taking place; but I am just battling to fully translate the ideas into a completed poem – that is ripe and ready to enjoy – in my opinion. The branches are thick with fruit, they look tempting, ready to pick, but no; they are still to green, so there they must hang and just be viewed by me and not enjoyed by others. Each day I return to see if they can be picked and posted, but no, so I just have to sit and stare at them, hoping they ripen, so frustrating. At present, I am writing, but all the poems are either incomplete or unsatisfactory – just missing that something.
My usual tricks of the trade are not working:
They say that writer’s block, is often caused by conflicted emotions, outside pressures and distractions outside the norm. Most of us who write are marginally OCD, (or maybe I should only speak for myself) when it comes to our writing and the finished product. We can see the finished product, but just battle to map the route or are confused by the multiple routes available, or as in my case; I am at point A and can see that I need to be at B or whatever! but have no clue as to where the path lies. I have a few finished poems, but am afraid to post them, afraid that they will not measure up to the readers expectations, which is really bullshit, as how can I presume to know what the reader will read or interpret. As they say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
My writing is at times cathartic and I write even in the deepest and darkest moments, but not today, (or yesterday or the day before that). Is it possible that to much angst, can be a bad thing?
“A great deal of poetic work has arisen from various despairs.”
Lou Andreas-Salomé, the First Woman Psychoanalyst, on Depression and Creativity in Letters to Rilke
What do you, dear gentle reader, do if you are a writer and/or artist?
© 2017 michael d emmerich
To all of my followers and gentle readers, I am busy preparing my anthology of poetry for publication later this year. To this end I have started a crowd funding campaign, donors are also eligible for a personal signed copy, shipped to them once published.
help-me-to-publish-my-first-poetry-anthology
The introduction has been drafted, cover has been designed, back stories for some of the poems penned and possibly a few interesting photos of my working notes have been taken to (hopefully) insert into the anthology. This is where you dear gentle reader come into the picture, by helping me to select 30 to 35 poems, some of which are listed on my site:
The working title of the anthology is yet to be decided, but I am dabbling with; Shadow Chasers or Chasing Shadows .. as many of my poems delve and dive into the gray, darker parts of my mind
Thanks again for all the likes and follows, and hopefully some of you, by year end, be a proud owner of a signed and inscribed copy of Chasing Shadows.
see you in the web world 🙂
grief disorder or disease sign of weakness some would say but, it is the price we pay for living an emotional, physical spiritual necessity part of who we are the price you pay …… for love the cure for grief it is to grieve own it hold it close treasured, nurtured it is the price we pay for caring the journey of life requires travel luggage grief is our carryon luggage our constant companion the price we pay for being
© 2017 michael d emmerich
I have set myself an impossible task – choosing my 10 best Dylan songs – I still feel guilty for the 100 or so I have left off the list 🙂 They are in no particular order, as that would be nigh on impossible! My favourite album happens to be Nashville Skyline or is it Modern Times, or wait maybe Tempest, but wait there’s also Another Side of …. so I have omitted songs from Nashville Skyline from this list. The songs that do not have a specific reference or reason are just here coz, they mean so many things to me… in so many situations. I have used many of these songs for inspiration, solace or just contemplation. Those who follow my poetry might pick up some hints of Dylan and others in my writings … 🙂
In alphabetical order:
Girl From the North Country – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) – I know this is also on Nashville Skyline, but it was played here first, so there …
I Feel a Change Comin’ on – Together Through Life (2009) – just listen to the lyrics, and I dare you not be moved to contemplate life ….
I Want You – Blonde on Blonde (1966) – was on my wedding playlist, so it just has to be here 🙂
Knockin’ on Heavens Door – Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (1973) – A powerful poignant song, about life coming to an end …. such simple but gut wrenching lyrics.
Make you Feel My Love – Time out of Mine (1997) – this song is very close to me, has been for many years. I was listening to this song (and 2 others) when I wrote my last poem – Feel Our Love
Masters of War – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963). For me this is his greatest and angriest protest song of all time, second only to Pay in Blood, Tempest.
Mississippi – Love and Theft (2001) – an underrated classic drifters Dylan song … just take a listen and ramble along with our man Bobby
Not Dark Yet – Time out of Mine (1997) – these lyrics .. man they just get to me, sad, dark, but with a sliver of hope
One More Cup of Coffee – Desire (1976) – a special sentimental favourite of mine and my wife. Its off (one of) her favourite Dylan albums, and she always asks me before I leave home … One more cup of Coffee?
Tempest – Tempest (2014) – This song all of 15 minutes, and still gives me goosebumps and brings a tear to my ear, so powerful, visual, visceral … and sad.
Thunder on the Mountain – Modern Times (2006) – I love the feel and vibe of Modern Times, and Thunder on the Mountain for me encapsulates the feel (Spirit on the Water was a close second)
When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky – Empire Burlesque (1985) – from an underrated album but with a few hidden gems, this being one of them.
Okay for those who counted there are 12 … not 10 .. lets call it a Dylan dozen 🙂
If you enjoyed this post pop over and read:
Learning from Creative People – Bob Dylan and Bob Dylan and His Many Muses
I’ve been hit hard seen too much I need your touch to be healed now falling in love with you ‘twas the right thing to do as the evening shadows lengthen and the stars appear you are there to dry my tears and offer me a warm embrace as I feel your love tomorrow night when the sun dips I know what I’m gonna do hold you for a million years to feel your love dreams come true in the enfolding love blows away all the pain that I'm living you believe in me bleed for me I know what I’m gonna do …… feel our love
© 2017 michael d emmerich
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