Keep writing, keep going

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         Keep Writing, Keep Going

My eyes fixed on the pen
My hand hesitant 
Body heavy in the chair.
Write something, anything
I pause—images flash in my mind 
I want to erase them—
forget 
"Pick up the pen and face yourself,"
cheers Natalie Goldberg
I grip the pen 
My hand begins from left to right
Words appear—
memories printed 
along 45 miles of nerves
making up my body.

Tingles, zaps, burns shout 
in protection
Keep writing, keep writing
The pen moves fast across the page
Words not allowed to be said
Truth swept under the rug
black ink stares back at me
Keep going, keep going
I hear the whisper from the page
My fist loosens
I breathe deep—
notice the tension in my neck,
stomach, and shoulders 
begin to soften
Inhale
Exhale
My vigilant nervous system 
is standing down
My heart slows
no longer racing
There is no lion
Keep writing, keep writing
is all I hear

"You have the right to write,"
encourages Julia Cameron
My back releases it's grip with each word
safe to slump over the page
I am safe
The sentences 
move down the paper
to confront
to heal
My shoulders lower
good enough
I set the pen down
I'll return tomorrow 
and write my story
and find my voice
And start again. 

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Today’s poem out loud was published in Staring Down a Dream: A Mom, a Marathoner, a Mission. I re-wrote and changed a few stanzas.

I hope it encourages you today to keep going.

Take good care,

Julie