This is an odd confession for such a public forum, but here goes. Recently, I found out that someone with whom we swore love to each other—a forever kind of love—said she can't talk anymore because it might upset her new partner. The news slipped into my consciousness with the subtlety of a downtown wrecking ball.
After somatizing it first, then taming it through prayer and meditation, it still lingered. And then there was, of course, writing.
I'm by no means the first or last person to use a short story or a poem to overcome a failed love story, but it feels as if I were. Writing this as a short piece was a way of rewriting it in my mind, with ripple effects across my mind and my emotions as new versions of the story cascade across my self. Finding the perfect word or the perfect metaphor (and never finding it, but continuing to look) becomes entangled with the story itself—and off we go to the world of fiction, where I can do lots with it, and maybe it will empower me to try things out in the nonfiction world, too.
Bummed out with you on such a bummer experience -- but you are most definitely the scribe of your own script and can very much re-script your experience through your scribing -- I trust you have the talent to do exactly what you said! Sending a hug -- keep writing!
Thank you. I agree. It is helpful to write together and support each other. Research strongly suggests that writing and reading nurture our empathy, much needed in today's society.
Anne Michaels, talking about her novel 'HELD' said, "There has to be room on the page for the reader. The book must listen. ... I believe that when writer and reader meet each other on the page, there is the possibility that something can be mended. ... I want to bring the reader to their own life."
I love this post, Meg. Especially this, “how to make hurt okay, how to make myself strong and come home.” I didn’t realize that’s what was happening when I started writing, but it resonates deeply with me, now. Thanks for posting ❤️
This is an odd confession for such a public forum, but here goes. Recently, I found out that someone with whom we swore love to each other—a forever kind of love—said she can't talk anymore because it might upset her new partner. The news slipped into my consciousness with the subtlety of a downtown wrecking ball.
After somatizing it first, then taming it through prayer and meditation, it still lingered. And then there was, of course, writing.
I'm by no means the first or last person to use a short story or a poem to overcome a failed love story, but it feels as if I were. Writing this as a short piece was a way of rewriting it in my mind, with ripple effects across my mind and my emotions as new versions of the story cascade across my self. Finding the perfect word or the perfect metaphor (and never finding it, but continuing to look) becomes entangled with the story itself—and off we go to the world of fiction, where I can do lots with it, and maybe it will empower me to try things out in the nonfiction world, too.
I’m with you! And have been there. And so sorry to hear about this painful moment. Thank you so much for sharing. ❤️
Bummed out with you on such a bummer experience -- but you are most definitely the scribe of your own script and can very much re-script your experience through your scribing -- I trust you have the talent to do exactly what you said! Sending a hug -- keep writing!
Thank you for those kind words, Roni. I appreciate the warmth and the good wishes to keep writing. Sounds like a plan! :)
Thank you. I agree. It is helpful to write together and support each other. Research strongly suggests that writing and reading nurture our empathy, much needed in today's society.
Thank you for this, Meg! I was thinking about something like that last night and I remembered a post by MythicPicnic on Twitter a few years ago:
'Write away the sad'
And this is going to be my mantra from now on 🌟
Yes exactly! ❤️
Anne Michaels, talking about her novel 'HELD' said, "There has to be room on the page for the reader. The book must listen. ... I believe that when writer and reader meet each other on the page, there is the possibility that something can be mended. ... I want to bring the reader to their own life."
I love this post, Meg. Especially this, “how to make hurt okay, how to make myself strong and come home.” I didn’t realize that’s what was happening when I started writing, but it resonates deeply with me, now. Thanks for posting ❤️
So glad it resonates Kelli!
That's beautiful and so inspirational. Thank you.
<3