..."Inducing the artistic coma"...

When Will I Find The Time

by Monica Sharpe

Today

I stopped writing

to make coffee

to read the newspaper

to shower

to put a load of wash in

to water the outdoor plants

to check the mail

to pay a bill

to send a birthday card

to call a friend

to put the wash in the dryer

to vacuum

to mend a snagged sweater   

to make lunch

to fold laundry

to go for a walk

to check my email

to answer a letter

to plant flowers

to make a cup of tea

to run errands

to make supper

to check my email

to chat on Facebook

to put laundry away

to shut off the computer

and then I wonder

at the end of the day

where I will find time

to write great things

This poem depicts how some days, my busy little activities along with the more serious commitments nibble away at my concentration. I get mad at myself when I cannot achieve a significant amount of words, whether it is in the form of a poem, a short story, or my novel. Trouble is, I want it all. I want to make more quilts. I want to learn how to do stain glass. I want to be like Martha Stewart in and around my home, and I want to paint with ease like Bob Ross.              

It occurred to me that my mother was at heart an artist. She never had idle hands. She crocheted tablecloths, afghans, doilies and baby clothes. She was a seamstress and designed her clothes. She wrote songs and stories. She could draw. She did a lot of different things, a little bit. As I recognized this about my mother, I also saw myself. I know how to do many things, a little bit.

A fellow writer told me that the achievement of a mature artist is a balanced life. We need the benediction of daily necessities, such as cleaning, gardening, cooking and playing. Ordinary life informs our writing, heals our spirits, and keeps us from going, simply nuts.

Maybe, I will never turn out to be the notable writer I dreamed I would be some day, simply because I want it all. There are too many forms of self-expression and so many things I like, and want to do. So, until I can figure out what venture will come next, I will take another walk and think about what I will write about next, then try my best to “induce the artistic coma.”