The Writing Zone Poem by Denis Martindale

This is the place writers go to when they are about to write something new.
It is a friendly place and anyone is welcome there.
What they write there is their choice unless God provides extra wisdom and insight.
If I visit there once more, the results may be profound or completely human.
The Old Testament psalmists were inspired even to the point of prophecies.
Billions have access to their words even now.
In the New Testament, I feel encouraged by the writings of Saint Paul as well.
His style was often meant to inspire others.
The same applies to the hymn writers and Gospel songwriters, too.
It is a legacy that comes as the gift of faith.
It is how writers followed the ideas that come to the mind and to the heart.
It is how they used discipline to edit from then on.
Even after they did what they could, there were editors to help improve their text.
If agreed to, then the partnership presents a finished work of art.

No wonder that I often go to the finished work of others.
My work is not finished yet and the future is unwritten.
There is nothing like the feeling of returning to the Writing Zone.
A chance to write something new, to receive as well as to share.
It is why so many poets use poetry resources.
They seek improvements to get their writing to the next level.
It is why millions of poets will not give up.
Whatever level they are at this very day, tomorrow is another day.
It is faith that grants them the hope to write even more.
If they make progress, then they will reach some measure of satisfaction.
That is just their share of the blessings they deserve.
Whether they will ever get paid or not.
Think of all the poets who wrote and wrote and wrote yet never got paid.
They wrote because they loved poetry.

Sometimes they wept at the things that they wrote.
It was because it meant so much to them.
They hoped it would mean the same to others.
Sometimes they cheered… Sometimes they even said, Halleluyah.
Despite all the editing, they chose to continue.
Learning what rewards there may be found beyond their initial thoughts.
They found them before and they will find them again.
The Mystery Tour can continue for years and even decades.
Patience always proving itself as the key to blessings.
And now, when I think of poetry, it has never been more precious to me.
I believe that appreciation is a stepping stone, a place in itself.
That is the place I must visit before I visit the Writing Zone.
Otherwise, I lose respect for writing itself and that would never do.
The Poetry Zone? That is just one of the streets in the Writing Zone…


Denis Martindale May 2020.