My Two Allies— A Guest Post!

My Two Allies (an ode)

By: Leah Schiffer

Sometimes

I write

in a controlled manner.

Words are formed,

my pen marches

obediently

across the lines,

filling the space evenly-

an edited staccato

of thoughts recorded.

Then there are times-

that the pen

or coloured pencil

is a funnel

that pours out of me.

Emotions

hatreds

hurts

spurt forth.

The funnel falls

and I am retching-

gasping-

words spitting-

over the page,

as sobbing lava

from deep within

surges up up

and out.

A potent stream

of white-hot

unleashed energy

now lies unclothed

raw-

in a sobbing, juddering

mess

no lines can contain.

Yet the sheet of paper

is unflustered.

It accepts every word-

every droplet of pain

that gushes

and bleeds

onto its space.

And never

does my pen pause

to question

or raise an eyebrow

at the validity

of the words it transcribes.

Pen and paper

as a compassionate team;

contain my turmoil,

and translate it

into something finite.

They give it a voice

so that I

can relax mine.

And aah…

My psyche

And ego

have so much to learn

from these two

all-accepting

unflappable

buddies.