I've Never Read This Poem

really, I haven't.

I’m on the fourth week of Julian Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way.” The main challenge of week four is reading deprivation, which as it sounds, is simply not reading for an entire week. So I’m typing this article, and this poem, but I’m not going to read or revise them (sorry if that means there are mistakes). I improvised today’s poem in my notebook, and the hand written version will appear here in the article. Since I can’t read the poem to type it up, I will simply try to type it from memory, which means almost for certain that the two will be different. If I can’t remember a section, I will simply improvise something new. I’m actually really excited about this. It sounds fun. Also, since I’m not reading, there will be no voice recording this week. You guys can live with that right? One more thing, I also won’t read any comments on the poem until Thursday when my reading deprivation is over. Without further ado, “I’ve Never Read This Poem.”

I've never read this poem—
I only wrote it.
It is my orphan,
out begging for revisions.

I've never kissed this poem,
or even embraced it.
Nightmarish visions
have filled my absince.

Even a mountain cannot rech the stars,
and an ocean cannot reach the heart.
I cannot reach you—
my phone is off the hook.

I've never forgotten this poem
even though I've wished to
on every birthday candle
and on every star.