31 Comments
User's avatar
Gael MacLean's avatar

Only a great writer would understand the violence of a blank page.

Debdutta Pal's avatar

Thank you!

No matter how many stories/poems I’ve written, it still feels like day one. 😁

Gael MacLean's avatar

The beginner’s mind is not the opposite of expertise. It is the proof of it.

Sloan James's avatar

The violence of a blank page. Ugh. I understand that on such a soul level. And I’ll do everything in my power to avoid it, knowing the terror that flashing cursor will cause.

Debdutta Pal's avatar

We need to bury the cursor. It’s way too happy. 😁

Sloan James's avatar

lol. It is too happy. That thing needs to F-off.

Mark Armstrong's avatar

"... is it really poetry if everything doesn’t hurt and includes runny blood."

Exactly the question Ogden Nash used to ask himself, and Robert Frost, too, I believe... 😅

Well, you're pretty hard on yourself, even when you're doing it tongue-in-cheek. But don't change a thing, because your voice is absolutely unique, and I always look forward to hearing it.

P.S. Enjoyed the Author's Notes as well, hope May is turning out better than April!! 🙏

Debdutta Pal's avatar

Thank you so much! 🖤

Yes, May has been more peaceful.

Claire Torquil ♡ (Noire)'s avatar

This is such an interesting poem, Debdutta. I particularly love all the asides in brackets because I can relate to that itch to want to add certain lines just to land it, but then there's the rules for good writing...😂

Debdutta Pal's avatar

Thank you!

I won’t make a habit of it, but in this case I found it very amusing. 😁

Nevena Pascaleva's avatar

A lot of bitterness for April. I hope your May is better. :)

Debdutta Pal's avatar

I am prone to bitterness. And blaming the weather. 😁

I hope so too! 🤞

Seajade's avatar

Yeah, bring on the merry month of May-hem! 🖤💛

Debdutta Pal's avatar

I love that. Thank you! 🤩

Karin C's avatar

I believe I said this before but I imagine your drafts folder stuffed with so many gems like this. Keep unearthing them, Debdutta.

Wishing you happier days ahead. 🩵

Debdutta Pal's avatar

It’s nice to think of it as an archeological expedition.

Thank you so much! 🖤

Patrick Eades's avatar

Well done on getting through the drafts and finding gold. Most of mine I don't think I can bear to look at.

Debdutta Pal's avatar

Thank you! It’s a new thing for me. Not so long ago, it was death by cringe.

Robert Gowty's avatar

I hope May turns out bad. And I mean bad, as in good. And May, as in the month, not May the person, as she is already bad, but in a good way. Which is to say, I'm often not the best person to ask for a critical opinion. I'm really bad (good?) at it.

It's tough being a chef. Every time you go out to dinner, all you want to do is take a peek in the kitchen.

Debdutta Pal's avatar

I like this. At the end of every story we must ask the audience to provide an adequate answer. Was it too good, or too bad, did it loop around? If not, they should read it again.

Robert Gowty's avatar

Thank you! I do feel my comments are a bit stupid sometimes (including this one), but if I filter out too much the good ones won’t get through.

Debdutta Pal's avatar

They’re not. I love them. Sometimes we need a little fun to break into the poetic dread. Like sunlight through grey clouds.

Rivers + Robots's avatar

May you reemerge even brighter than ever 😎

A pleasure to see your work today

Debdutta Pal's avatar

Thank you! Fingers crossed. 🤞

Gustave Deresse's avatar

Thank you for sharing, Debdutta. 🖤🌱✨ Perhaps May will be different for you, creatively.

Debdutta Pal's avatar

I certainly hope so.

Thank you. 🥹

Gustave Deresse's avatar

🫂💞

Steffany Ritchie's avatar

Tell me who blocked you, I shall block them to infinity. Sorry April sucked. Such a wishy washy month. 🤨 At least you are setting drafts free, I do believe they wilt and stagnate in their stuffy folders.

Debdutta Pal's avatar

Oh, sorry, I meant creatively blocked. But thank you. 🖤

I like that. Maybe I should stop calling my folder purgatory and come up with a gardening metaphor.

Steffany Ritchie's avatar

Omg sorry of course. 😅🤦‍♀️

Debdutta Pal's avatar

That word is triggering. We need a different one. 😁