What is a list poem? This poetry style collects a list of people, places, things, ideas, or even words strung together somewhere within a poem to form a list. It is not necessary for the list to rhythm, but the words used should be memorable. I find the freedom when creating a list poem fascinating. The wordplay can be wild and free similar to Indiana weather in the early spring. Therefore, in March, I plan to write a series of list poems. I will title this one Writer’s block to-do List.
Writer’s block to-do List
Sit down at the desk
Try to make it a decent hour
No time to bask
In past wordsmith labor
Don’t trip yourself up
With tiny details
Time to drink the writer’s cup
Without caring about the winds and fails
Try to recapture
Your former frame of mind
Some of the rapture
Your characters defined
Type away, type away
Until your fingers fail
Try to remember what it felt like to play
On a keyboard of letters and detail then exhale
Breathe deep, breathe hard, breath with all your might
You know you got this girl
It’s not time to give up the endless fight
Time to let the words unfurl
Pep talk is over so get to work
Think about apologizing to Word Daddy
Look past his little quirk
He can be masochistic and a little shady
With a fickle stye
But he is a muse
And before your fingers walk a mile
But on a little blues
Who is Molly Shea?
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!
Love the ending, “And before your fingers walk a mile/But on a little blues” That’s so beautiful.