
faded scenes and sinking dreams,
missed connections,
and narrow streets in all directions,
immense,
impending structures,
intense,
irrational stares,
dizzying stairs in random rooms,
that lead to rooms,
commanding,
tangled thoughts,
unravel reality,
erase familiarity,
hands sweaty,
legs heavy,
breathless,
and thready,
turning,
reverting,
blurring,
escape,
escape …
ahhh, yes … awake … yes … awake.
________________________
Do we all have pieces like this? Words we write, and we re-write, and re-write. It never feels complete or just right. I have at least five versions of this one. I’m not comfortable with this style of writing, but the words don’t fit well in sentences and paragraphs. Just maybe … it’s the sort of thing that should take me out of my comfort zone.
I just completed a small collection of written pieces and photos to give as presents this holiday. I did this last year too, and although the project is always surprisingly time-consuming, the end results are gratifying. This time, I tried to bring in plenty of bold colors and some of the dreamier layers of life. This piece is probably atypical, in terms of style, but it was one of the bits I included.

Wonderful idea! Do you have the words printed with the photo?
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Yes, I think it’s about 28 pages. Sometimes it’s a picture on one side, and the writing opposite, sometimes one page includes both the photo and writing.
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A little book, then.
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Yes.
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I love this poem, I felt like I was lost and tracing a path that led to nowhere and everywhere simultaneously. I love even more the idea of gifting your writing, though it must take so much time and effort.
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Thank you!
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What wonderful and thoughtful gifts for those fortunate recipients. I love how this piece narrows and the intensity builds as the lines shorten here:
hands sweaty,
legs heavy,
breathless,
and thready,
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Thanks so much. We try and hope with our words.
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I like this poem very much. I love your idea of the gift of poems and photos!
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Thanks so much!
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Such a lovely gift!
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Thanks. I hope so.
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Do you have a favorite site you like to work with to create them, if I might ask?
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I’ve only used Snapfish. Their regular prices are expensive, but they have good discounts this time of year. And the product is good…nice quality paper, etc. (Just my honest opinion…I don’t advertise for them.)
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Thank you, I would love to give something like this a try. I appreciate your help.
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Good luck. I think it would work well with your writing style. I found it to be a fun project.
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I always like to push myself to try different types of writing and expressions of my art or arts. This is a wonderful poem.
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Thank you!
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I really liked this poem! It reminds me of the night terrors I occasionally experience and the relief of finally waking up.
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Thank you! That sort of dreaming is awful. It always feels good to wake up and realize it was a dream.
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I enjoyed the poem. Some writing lends itself to prose, some to poetry. This works quite well in poetic form. I, too, like your idea of gifting words and photos for the holidays. How do you bind the little books?
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Thanks so much! I use one of the companies that does photo books (Snapfish). The formatting allows you to add stretchable text areas.
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Thanks so much. I will look into that.
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Bravo you for creating your own book. I was thinking about doing this to give to a friend. It is a labor of love.
I enjoyed the openings in this poem. It is one to ponder.
Thanks for sharing your words.
Ali
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Thank you so much! I enjoyed the project. I would encourage you to do this for your friend. It takes some time, but I think both you and your friend would be pleased with it.
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Wow, this is a brilliant poem!
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Thank you so much!
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My pleasure.😊
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Thanks!
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I love this, Etikser! It feels like getting lost in a building made from a stream of consciousness–probably makes zero sense, but it’s what sprung to mind as I read this.
What a great idea for a gift.
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Thanks so much! I appreciate hearing what it makes a reader feel, and yes, that makes sense to me.
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