You Know You'Re In the Zone When:

When the poem jumps on you, wholly formed,
Needing only you to let it out.
When you lose track of what the other person's saying,
Because your inner monologue is coming together.
When you forget all else you're doing,
Because now you realize how to say it.
When traffic's so slow that you feel like screaming,
Because you want to get home and write it down.

When you take those incremental steps of becoming a writer,
-- One of them is like that first time you ride a horse,
It's big and it's powerful,
And you are ON THIS THING.
Or when your consciousness really starts smiling back at you,
Because it's gotten bigger and deeper,
Or at least now you're better at shaking hands with it,
Seeing more of what's in there,
And sometimes what's in there is laughter,
Because now you can make yourself laugh.

When that sad line pops into your head,
And you give that initial gasp or gulp or sniff,
Because you're going to start crying,
But you're in a restaurant so you try and resist it,
Make it into a cough or clear your throat,
Trying to disguise it,
And your jaws and ears hurt under the tension
Of not letting the sobs out.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Seeker Avatar
January 18, 2022 at 1:09 AM
Thus drawing in by resonation, divine inspiration
Marcum Wong Avatar
January 17, 2022 at 3:31 PM
Congratulations on having this wonderful poem featured Doug. I can totally identify as most of us poets can. Blessings xxoo
A'Hern Avatar
January 17, 2022 at 2:01 PM
Well done Doug, or should that be well written. Real coming to life poem, we have all been there and done that, you have managed to describe it to perfection. John
Jackson Avatar
December 28, 2016 at 9:26 AM
Congrats Doug...
Vinson Avatar
December 28, 2016 at 11:03 AM
Thank you, Trice. : )
Canerdy Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Perfect descriptions of those in-the-zone experiences, Doug. Congrats on your well-deserved win! Janice
Vinson Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 11:41 PM
Hi Janice. : ) Gracias - maybe there is a point where it's "too much," but sure wouldn't want to never be in the zone again.
Burch Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Big congrats Doug!! Well done!! :) Big Hugggs!! Deb!!
Vinson Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 11:37 PM
In your debt, Cap'n! : )
Haight Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 7:16 PM
Amazing write, Doug, that says it all. Been there done that! Congratulations on your fine placement in the contest. Sandra
Vinson Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 11:40 PM
Thank you, Sandra! Sometimes the mind will stay on auto-pilot, but the Muse can take control too...
Marcum Wong Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 7:14 PM
Your wonderful poem so aptly describes the urgency a poet feels when the muse visits. Excellent! Congratulations on your fine win Doug. : ) 7
Vinson Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 11:38 PM
Merci, Connie. I can see that Muse, thinking, "Okay, she's sitting at a desk right now... I'll just wait until she goes out, when she's a couple miles from home..."
Stoner Jr Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Congratulations Doug on your placement. The tale and lament of the struggling poet, one we all share. I enjoyed your form and imagery, we'll done.
Vinson Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 11:35 PM
Thanks, Robert. : ) It's like a feeling of wealth, i.e. now I've got something that I didn't have a little while ago, but also of panic - oh lord don't let me lose this.... : p
Hamilton Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 6:47 PM
Congrats on a fine placement, really enjoyed second and third read!
Hamilton Avatar
December 14, 2016 at 11:44 AM
Forgot the seven, see...bad memory.
Vinson Avatar
December 14, 2016 at 4:33 PM
Ha! I do that too, John. : )
Hamilton Avatar
December 14, 2016 at 11:44 AM
Just perfectly describes when it hits us, Doug, you captured the essence of the poetic spirit. Sometimes I can't wait to go home, gotta write it down in the car, bad memory these days. Great writing, bty, just discovered you, will do more digging for gems on your page.A7
Vinson Avatar
December 27, 2016 at 11:33 PM
Hey John - cheers. : ) Have to laugh - wrote most of this in my head on one of those days: running errands, then eating in a restaurant.
Baughman Avatar
December 4, 2016 at 3:27 AM
Doug, really does hit the nail on the head. Thanks!
Vinson Avatar
December 4, 2016 at 9:09 AM
Was all fired-up last week. ; )
Kroll Avatar
December 2, 2016 at 8:14 AM
Wow! You have captured the feelings that inspire us to write. A very powerful write. Will come back to this one--a fav! Thanks, Kathy
Vinson Avatar
December 2, 2016 at 8:35 AM
Hey Kathleen, thanks! I am just so pleased when writers like this.
Dillenbeck Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 9:47 AM
Beautifully co-empathic. Thx. Gerald Oliver
Vinson Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Hey Gerald. I appreciate that. "When the spirit moves you..." well then you gotta move.
Robinson Jr. Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 7:21 AM
Very existential cool poem, Doug. You got the right take on how the creative spirit comes on someone. Fine piece of poetry. I love it. Will read more of your work for sure. Ty for the support on my page. Love and peace to you. RW (Romantic Warrior)
Vinson Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 9:09 AM
Thank you, RW. Romantic Warrior - I saw you more as a wrathful preacher, laying down the law. ; )
Chitondwe Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 4:46 AM
This poem explains exactly how i feel when i get that raw feeling that i gtta write something down before i forget it , knowing that someone might read it and feel the same way gives me a ick an adrenaline rush without the ''fastcar'' .or just the simple fact that it might touch someones heart and change their life for the better , for me is the greatest award ever.Thats how this poem is for me.
Vinson Avatar
December 1, 2016 at 9:07 AM
Rachael, just reading your words gives me some of that feeling. Going way back to when cave people painted on walls, there has been the creative impulse.
Wolf Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 9:58 PM
Doug Vinson... Spot on brother. And I often don't like broccoli! But not all the time. Ha.
Vinson Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 11:10 PM
Gracias, Rick. Rock on, spot on, keep on keepin' on.
Roper Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 4:48 PM
So me, I love your free verse, Doug.. thank you for sharing :)
Vinson Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 5:48 PM
I'm honored, Eve, and glad you read it and like it. It's not really "equal" out there in public, either - no problem to smile or laugh a little; that doesn't really get noticed. But when you're alone and break down crying in a restaurant, then it's like, "Dang, Holmes - you really don't like broccoli, do you?"
Green Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 4:25 PM
I think you've about got it all right here. I know each and everyone of the feelings, scenarios and situations you wrote about today my friend. Very descriptive and spot on.
Vinson Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 4:40 PM
Thanks, brother! Surely it helps us figure out who we are. : )
Bauer Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 4:15 PM
i can so relate to this, doug! you've done an outstanding job of describing that feeling...
Vinson Avatar
November 30, 2016 at 4:34 PM
Maybe it's a life that chooses us, Ilene....? Or, at least partially. And - there are a lot worse things.
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