2nd Place, Adult Poetry

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Prompt Words: Shatter, Ember, Whisper, Crimson, Unravel, Reckon

 

And Yet We Create Anyway, by Andrew Walker

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There is a whisper well known to the heart. 

It rustles and creaks when you make something new: 

“I cannot believe you would call that art, 

I simply think your career is through.” 

It inflames your doubts and it tickles your fears, 

It douses your embers using your own tears, crying: 

“What were you thinking? This is all so wrong! 

You’re only successful when they string you along…” 

…and yet we create anyway. 

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There is a whisper well known to the brain. 

It buzzes and hums, playing loops of the past: 

“The last time you did this, you shattered from the pain, 

So you better be better now, better be better fast.” 

It sharpens mistakes, in crimson technicolor, 

Pounding nails in your head just to make you tougher, screaming: “If only you were smarter and you didn’t fail so much, 

If only you were harsher and you had a softer touch…” 

…and yet we create anyway. 

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There is a whisper well known to the gut. 

It squelches and thumps and unravels your mind: 

“There is danger coming, there is no one you can trust, 

But if you only work alone, you’ll always be behind.” 

It traps the butterflies in their cocoons, 

It bloats and swells like a metal balloon, hissing: 

“Your reckoning is coming, and they’ll see who you are, 

I’m honestly surprised that you even got this far…” 

…and yet we create anyway. 

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There is a whisper well known to us all. 

And while we can’t avoid its siren call, 

The best thing to do is to stand up and say, 

“I will create anyway!”