Saturday, September 4, 2010

Dark Night of the Soul

It was a dark
and stormy night.
Fit for spiritual torment
My soul ravaged, lost, alone
Like St. John of that Crossroads

"...In secret, when none saw me,
Nor I beheld aught,
Without light or guide,
Save that which burned in my heart"

Transformation desperate, needed
Needing hope...lost
Sense of self...disintegrates
Faith...in flight
Into this dark night...


This writing is posted as a response to Jenny Matlock's prompted, weekly creative writing meme, Saturday Centus.

Jenny Matlock

25 comments:

  1. Wow buddy, this week you went dark and deep. Jeff, your poet is blooming. Beautifully done.

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  2. WOW...this is awesome (now I feel a bit dumb with my "take" on our promt)..excellent job!

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  3. Seriously...this was fantastic. I kept reading it over and over...I usually find one or two a week that I do that with but this was different. My chest felt this - This is truly wonderful.

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  4. Nice poem! You have hidden talents Jeff!
    I spent the morning reading about the Brontë sisters before I even knew were going to get this wonderful gloom&doom Prompt! Love it! Love your post too!
    Best wishes,
    Anna
    Anna's SC #18

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  5. Oh, almost forgot Jeff. Thanks for stopping by.
    Truth be told, I don't have the foggiest what my protagonist saw. (I'm still struggling with getting everything spelled right!) Maybe you could shed some light on the matter?
    An UFO? A monster? A tax-collector?
    Hugs,
    Anna

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  6. Jeff this is an amazing poem. You are such a talented writer!

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  7. This was just wonderful. Good job. I loved it.

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  8. Deep and dark, captures torture and anguish...well done.

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  9. I adore this take. I like the different style you used this week. I so understand the tormented soul!

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  10. Wow, Jeff. This was just grand. Loved the visual impact, too, how you had the lines short and long in such a flowing rhythm. As Jenny would say, A+!

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  11. Very very impressive. Very much turned the hackneyed phrase into something quite special.

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  12. Jeff. Impressive. Moving. Visual.

    I think I need to make you a GF cupcake! And give you a hug!

    Even if this isn't auto-biographical at the moment it sounds like it might have been.

    Chocolate or vanilla?

    Thank you for linking. This was magnificent.

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  13. Godness - you've gone to another level with this! Brilliant!

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  14. This is a whole 'nother side of you, Jeff! Very nice!

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  15. I am new to Jenny Matlock and stumbled here. The title caught my attention...when the darkness and storm are "inside" rather than mere weather conditions. You captured it.

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  16. Jeff, this is just the kind of creativity that I have come to expect from you--you never disappoint me!

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  17. Jeff---The universe is off-kilter. Things are not as they should be. Anyone who revels in the science realm cannot be an artist. Not an artist with words and not an artist with film. You must stay within your "box." Go back. (The same for math folks.)

    I checked out both your blogs. Your photographs are phenomenal, and the styles/tones are so varied. How long have you been honing your craft with a camera? Are you self-taught (I hate you, if that's the case)?

    I am going to link your photography site under "cool sites for young writers," assuming there is nothing you snap that would make parents call me and froth at the mouth? Most of the student writers I work with enjoy getting inspired by a variety of sources; photographs are always a hit...

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  18. Jeff that was simply beautiful! Most of us try to slap some words together that tell a story with the prompt, but you consistently take it to another level with your elegant imagery and flowing verse. Kudos, my good man!

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  19. For what it's worth, I've added another 100 words.
    Best wishes,
    Anna
    Anna's SC #18 - 100 more words!

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  20. Hello! Are you sure you are located in Tennessee? That was heavy...and beautiful! Have I mentioned that I am impressed? Wow!

    I just posted two assignments in one post. I'm bad, but please visit me anyway!

    Malisa

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  21. Beautiful Jeff! I love the direction you took this prompt. Very original, and the poem just flows. Nicely done!

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  22. Jeff, you were so sweet to comment on my post about DENTISTS!! I still feel the same way about your photography, AND the prompt.

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  23. Sounds like a crisis of faith, and I oh so hope I am wrong! Good writing, but you know I embrace the dark side of our truths as well as the light. Peace.
    ..........cj

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  24. Wow I love where you took this prompt! It's so evocative and beautiful. Fantastic job!

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