A writer is still a writer
when they’re not writing
its not like some other profession
one you've retired from
or a membership you've let lapse
it’s more like a nationality
born to
or become a citizen of
the Principality of Writing
you will always belong
even if you've gone native
in some foreign occupation
still hand on your heart
called to attention
singing the anthem
rearranging the words
in your head
and even if you’ve been turned
traitor traitor tergiversator
your tongue decoded
the lead freed from your pencil
still last of all
you will scrape a signifier in the dust
with the toe of your boot
I like the idea of a writer being like a nationality.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed - that never ever leaves. Love this poem and the desperate toe scratching ending.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I started to write something for the Metablog in response to Kit's comment on your post Lizz about feeling like a fraud if you are not actually writing. it turned into this poem.
ReplyDelete