Art in Anxious Time
I’m anxious and it’s
hard to write
art expressed in pain:
I don’t know how
those artists do it
maybe it’s big fear
and nihilistic agony
that keeps them
going, that prompts
expression that might
change the world
and everything
beyond
the gardeners at
Hiroshima and
Nagasaki must
accomplish this
I have small pains
and many things that
trouble me—yes,
sometimes they are
bad as in raw—
unformed, unfixed,
though I think the
only one that might
be changed through
treating these in art
is me
still, through all
the small-town
clay-house conflicts
I might strive to
express something
new
something that might
relate to you
(the teacher and good
sport in me should tell
you that clay house
is a Puritan metaphor)
clcouch123 
May 25, 2016 at 5:51 pm
I love this first for its alliterations. Witty and clever title!
What a perfect poem to use the Puritan metaphor. Your knowledge knows no bounds.
Please have a beautiful Wednesday!
Dajena 🙂
May 25, 2016 at 9:47 pm
Thank you, Dajena! You’ve sent meaningful words and seintiments that frankly make me feel pretty good. If Wednesday wasn’t good (it’s been okay), it’s good now. Hope your Wednesday into Thursday is a treat!
May 25, 2016 at 10:56 pm
This is written well Christopher. Anxiety is tough. I have not experienced a lot myself but I know people who deal with and I see how they struggle. Art is an excellent way, whatever the art, to help forget,to calm yourself. It doesn’t have to be writing, it can be drawing or painting, it could be watching a movie or a TV series -another form of art. You will get what you need to get done in time, and I think when you get it done, you will already be on to other worries. The best help I can give is to imagine your worries as an object like pandora’s box, but place in God’s hands, giant hands, who will restore you and vanquish your anxiety and worries. Visualization I find is a tool that can be helpful.
May 27, 2016 at 5:03 pm
Ever since the (first) heart attack, I’ve had medication for anxiety on standby. It rarely gets that bad. But enough small perturbing things add up, and that doesn’t feel good. I imagine it goes that way for most of us. For a long time, I internalized it all. Now not so much. Writing and posting about anxiety provides the opportunity to reach others who feel the same way from time to time. And to inform the rest. Thanks for your thoughtful and helpful response, Mandi!
May 25, 2016 at 11:23 pm
It’s wonderful poetry, as always–you do interesting line breaks 🙂
May 27, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Thank you, Stella. A pause without a pause. A chance to have a second thought before going on, I guess.
May 26, 2016 at 5:30 am
Oh. the metaphor, the beat and the way you chose your words are just admirable, my friend. I hope you are feeling better now.
May 27, 2016 at 5:07 pm
I’m happy you like the word-choice and rhythm. I know you express these as you write. As for the feeling, it comes and goes. I suppose it does for most. I’ve learned ways how to feel better in the world. Now if the world would only cooperate!