i write to know myself,
see myself,
bare myself—myself,
bare—
to scratch my
existence,
my witness made
manifest,
on the conflicting world’s
wall,
jen was here—
1971-20??
that is all.
and maybe my scratch
offers a
differing/similar
view?
changes
a
thing or two?
time will tell.
and that
is
all.
© 2014 Jennifer
Wagner
For
dVerse—Meeting the Bar: Poetic Movements and Manifestos. Gay Reiser Cannon has us
writing manifesto poems. Come take a
look and join in!
To use a pharaphrase of a primitive greeting - I see you Jen - I see your writing on the wall.
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps more than that - because sometimes an arrangement of words or notes touches a soul, changes a life, causes a turn in direction, stops one where one would not have otherwise, graces a moment, forgives a transgression, fills an emptiness. I believe you can and will do that!
ReplyDeletemy witness manifest...i like that...
ReplyDeleteand yes to scratch on the wall...like a graffiti artist leaving our mark
and you never know who will come along later and run a finger
along that mark...and take something with them as well..
smiles.
I so identify with writing to know oneself!! I often find out what I think or what I feel when I write.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the idea of writing to give meaning to the two dates that in the end will define us. A great poem!
ReplyDeleteNurturing people change the world – with their love, and their actions and their words. And I suspect, Jennifer, you a Champion Nurturer . . . and a writer, to boot!
ReplyDeleteI can identify with knowing oneself in the writing journey ~ Enjoyed this one ~
ReplyDeleteEach of us a witness, making our scratches on the wall...simple, yet profound manifesto.
ReplyDeleteOne writes to be seen. Hopefully the impact will come later. That is true Jennifer! Wonderful write!
ReplyDeleteHank
Me too. Good write Jen.
ReplyDeleteah - leaving our marks on the wall of life.... a good thing... and who knows who will read and how it make them re-think things... getting a different perspective - that's one of the beauties for me in reading others as well..
ReplyDeleteTo leave that imprint on the wall... yes I like that.. so concise and concrete .. .I adore this sentiment.
ReplyDeleteTime will tell indeed. I hope the rest of your story becomes more beautiful and more happiness-filled by the day :)
ReplyDeleteIt is done, once it is done. It's the scratches and the etches that make all the difference. You be around for some more while Jen. There are so many more walls that await good graffiti. :)
ReplyDeleteI see your scratches on the wall. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThe poet as witness, yes indeed...and leaving your mark is such a strong and primal human desire.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this. It's wonderful that while we write for our own reasons, our stories and poetry can have an impact on others...more than we may ever know.
ReplyDeleteLovely manifesto! :)
This was nice..a witness to your writing and to your own journey..
ReplyDeletethe opening echoes my own thoughts. keep scratching away!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, we can write on - and on, and yet there will be more to know, more to learn. A cool write Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteI hear myself in your words, the journey of writing has taken me places I never realized had such an impact on the person I became. Lovely work, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling me, in a poem, why I write!
ReplyDeleteDitto what Beachanny said.