One Word 2

After entering the 'One Word' contest, I thought to myself, 'What a concept for a poem'. I believe that I and other writers are the better for it when we are called upon to be creative and original. My congrats to the contest sponsor*. At first, I wasn't sure that I really understood such a contest. Being relatively new to poetry, I had never heard of such. Just when I was about to allow my ignorance to take over, I decided to 'go for it'. After all, what did I have to lose? As I seriously thought and meditated on a possible entry to the contest, it seemed to have come quicker than I anticipated. Perhaps there was something inside of me, something cornered, something trapped, needing a cause and a reason to dislodge myself of my forbearing ways and come out. The coming out often does not involve others longing to assist. So often, the one holding the poetry captive is the only one capable of letting it out. Sadly, often the poem never gets out. It is in challenging offers like the 'One Word' contest that awakens the poet to the poetry trapped inside. The word "Inside-out" occurred to me when I realized that for more than 50 years I allowed the poetry inside of me to lay dormant, unignited, and unstirred. It was inside, but until I allowed it to exit, it would never become "Inside-out",. Unfortunately, the life-giving words of poetry were being held hostage, bargaining for the unknown. Moreover, the trouble with that is the misery that boiled inside of me, the torment inside of me, the fear of the possibility of leaving this world with something meant to be left behind. 'Inside' was the poetry, but serving no one's interest, not even my own. "Inside-out" was born when I dared myself to begin the journey. Now, I am a happy camper. 090620PSCtest, Completely Your Choice (5), Brain Strand. NA *Bobby May. Contest 2, Second Chance NA, Chantelle Anne Cooke