Priming

Listen as you read: 'A Taking and Giving'

I turn up daily and I write. Most days, it doesn’t go well.

But I train anyway.

Like an athlete, I keep the practice up each day.

It makes it easier when the impulse surges to write - I run to my laptop or my phone or find the back of a receipt and write as fast as possible, because the words are spoken to me. I carry them.

The more I practice, I’m priming my body, my hand, my mind.

That means when this moment happens, when I’m visited by the wildly fleeting ‘inspiration’ - I’m fully equipped. The creative voice speaks clearer.

So all I need to do is listen, and try to repeat it back as clearly as I can.

Like this:

Over time, I am noticing
That when I am frightened
And retreat back into myself,
It is as silly as a beautiful sunflower
That tries to tuck itself back under the ground
And hide its petals
For fear of losing them.