Nightmarish Anxiety (in Verse)

slapdashmonuments

Inspiration hits with a flash, stories written on the go. A rumble of laughter and the tale is heard only in echoes. The wind blows me in a new direction. Whom shall I visit next?


I'm heading on a trip quite soon

My open suitcase nearly filled

I should be glad, I shall see friends,

And, honestly, I should be thrilled.

.

But something close to nightmares loom.

Such anxious visions crowd my dreams:

My bag's misplaced; I'm lost in gloom;

I'm mugged and no one hears my screams.

.

Oft and anon the nights are rent

By visions vicious, drear, disturbing.

Then I wake up, my vigor spent,

My thoughts distracted, weird, perturbing.

.

How can I summon strength to go?

Distraught and trembling, do I dare?

Excited for these travels? No!

I fear, I fear! I can't go there,

My nerves are shot! It works me woe!

I'll cancel, braving friends' despair,

I'd have no pleasure trav'ling there.


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Comments (6 so far!)

Fantasist

Fantasist

I'm so honored that you wrote this. I love the rhythm of this!!

  • #2202 Posted 8 years ago
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slapdashmonuments

slapdashmonuments

Your words "filled" and "chilled" made me think at first glance that your post was a poem without line breaks. I'm glad you don't mind my reiteration! If this was a real trip you were anticipating, I hope it goes/went better than you imagined!

  • #2208 Posted 8 years ago
  • 0
Fantasist

Fantasist

I'm a poet and I didn't even know it. LOL! And yes my flight leaves on Sunday. But I'm sure things will go fine. Despite the anxiety haha

  • #2212 Posted 8 years ago
  • 0
Jim Stitzel

Jim Stitzel

I love seeing the way the English language can be reformatted to give it new meanings and new weight.

  • #2219 Posted 8 years ago
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slapdashmonuments

slapdashmonuments

@Fantasist, I wish you a safe and pleasing visit. I know a lot about anxiety from my own life, and I would never want others of goodwill to suffer through that.

  • #2240 Posted 8 years ago
  • 0
slapdashmonuments

slapdashmonuments

This reworking of your original story helps me reflect on the "reasons" behind some choices poets make. I had to add some details myself, not because I thought the events you imagined were likely true or worth mentioning, but for the very banal reason of finding suitable rhymes. But that can help shape the upcoming sections of the story, in any case. It's just interesting.

I guess that the character limit here also shapes the choices we make at Ficlatte. Characters are renamed to save space, word choices are reconsidered. Formatting is repealed.

I feel a new story coming on....

And @Jim, I definitely agree with you!

  • #2241 Posted 8 years ago
  • 0

Author's prompt text:

With love and best regards to the generous muse of Ficlatte

Inspired by (sequel to):

I'm heading on a trip soon. I'm trying to be excited about it. I've got Pinterest boards, my suitcas…

Nightmarish Anxiety
  • Published 8 years ago.
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