How I View Creative Writing and Writers in All Forms; Poems, Stories, and Songs.
My Example of Being A Creative Poet
© 2016 Missy Smith
Inspiration for creative writing, where does it come from? Well, for me, it comes from just about anything. It could come from a moment in which I’m sitting on a park bench watching people pass by, or like I have written about before; looking up at the moon and sun.
When I think back to some inspirational times that I have missed, but could probably still consider writing a poem about, one would be the time when I was driving home one afternoon, and in one particular tree, the only dead tree in the middle of all the alive trees, there sat vultures lined on every single branch of this lifeless moss filled tree, and the sky was gray that day, it would have made for a great poem if I could have snapped that picture. However, my creative juices, when thinking back on that day, will not flow with that scene anymore, mainly because I can’t get over that I missed the photo op to go with it. To this day, I sigh; I wanted a picture of that inspired moment so bad. To describe something like that in a poem would not be difficult, but I am disappointed that I couldn’t share the reality. It was unreal! I do believe I could still write a dark poem about that day, but without the picture, I had lost my motivation for that one.
And then, there was this morning, when walking out the back door around 7:15 am, and hearing such a glorious sound of geese flying low overhead, flying to where, I don’t know, but they sure sounded excited. I’m still inspired with that simple, but awesome sight. I may write a poem about it someday, even though, again, I did not get the photo. I think about another friend here while writing about the geese, she loves all nature and birds; you would have liked that small moment in time, Deb (Aviannovice); I’m sure of that.
Alexander Ebert
Being inspired by a simple song; The Creative Genius of Alexander Ebert's "TRUTH"
Inspiration, for me, also comes from listening to music. Lately, as I’ve mentioned before, I listen to the singer/songwriter radio station on iTunes, and a lot of these artists, I find, are poets who set their emotions to music, and it’s a beautiful way to recite life. Maybe I’m a bit envious, because I, myself, cannot sing or play an instrument. I’m certain if I could, I would take my poems to a different level just for the fun of trying a new creative outlet.
So now, I have come to the part where I would like to introduce a singer/songwriter I came across while listening to this particular radio station. Mostly, I would like to introduce the song of his that intrigued me so much, it inspired this hub. That song is called; TRUTH, and the creative singer/songwriter who is behind the masterful lyrics and sound of this song is, Alexander Ebert. However, his song depicts more than just one truth, in my opinion. It’s a poetic rendition of a song that could be the truth in many different scenarios for whomever takes a listen. When I heard it for the first time, It gave me my inspiration to write a poem about my own truth. The poem will be at the end part of this hub.
Please take time to really listen. It's an acquired taste, and that's the creative beauty of it.:)
Bill Holland; A Creative Storytelling Genius.
I have now listened to the song I posted above many times, and it is amazing, as in the fact, it gives me more than one vision. I did not only see it as truth for my own reality, but it took me to a story of fiction that I was reading and continue to read here on hubpages. The story is written by one of the most creative people I know here, Bill Holland, or as you may know him by his pen name “billybuc.”
Bill has enthralled and captivated us all with his story of “Billy the Kid," and his total inventive way of writing this story in such a way that we move along with the main character, Billy; through his journey of hard crime and his dedication to make a better life after he falls in love, this is a brilliant and inspiring story to read. Those who have read the story as it unfolds like I have, would probably agree that it shares love in a way that it is supposed to be. However, it also depicts a dark side of how life could be if you grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. It actually shows that a person could seem like such a cold-hearted killer, but inside has a heart of pure gold.
Bill’s story has twists and turns that keep us on the edge of our seats wanting more, and anticipating the next chapter. We smell the smells. We hear the gunshots. We feel the fear. We empathize with the characters. I could go on and on. It's a great story. Nevertheless, for me, it is centered around that particular character, the desperado named “Billy” who through all of his bad and dark days, after all the terrible things he has done, I still somehow want him to triumph through it all. This is the gift Bill Holland gives us through his genius way of storytelling.
The song I Posted, Bill, is a dedication to you and your character. I feel it is Billy's anthem. When I hear it, I can see your character marching in slow motion through the darkness and despair, going towards a better light and life. If truth be told, I see you, Bill; you are “Billy the Kid” for me. Every chapter I read, every word Billy recites; I see you as that character. I can’t explain that, but I do. I can envision the other characters as well, but you are clearly the face I see on this character. I hope you don’t mind that. Most of all, I hope you like and understand the song that I have discovered and how I relate it to this character you have brought to life.
PS - I'm sorry I grabbed your profile picture without permission, Bill. If you wish me to delete it, that is up to you. If not, thanks for letting me use it. :)
How About Some Poetry Now?
Now, with all that said and out of the way, it’s time for me to be creative and share another inspired poem I wrote. I listened to this song, TRUTH, and I decided to tell my truth in a similar metaphorically spoken poetic version. However, I believe if you are a creative creature, you will totally get it. I hope you will, and if not, I hope you like it anyway.
The Strangeling
I believe I write differently from most, so...
How would you rate my hubs and poetry on a scale from 1 to 10?
My Poem of Truth
You think I’m dark, and that
may be true; darkness lives
inside my tomb.
My tomb of life is what I mean;
It sucks the light out of me.
Don’t be upset or think I’m
lost. I’ve fought too long to
be my own boss.
The only real truth is clear to
me, lost is something I don’t
see.
I see days that are filled with
the fight, and nights used to
rest my sight…
of seeing things like no one
else. It’s only complicated if
I don’t let it rest.
Inside your brain, this swims
around; I know you must
think I’ve lost my mind.
Have I done this, or could it
be; I make perfect sense to
only me?
I am weird, but I am happy
to know, that the life I’ve
lived through has made
me grow.
Grab some different thoughts.
Find a better Focus.
Take a closer listen to my
Denotations.
It’s a normal madness, a study
of me, an examination to be
free.
A talk, a chatter, a tit and tatter;
that really doesn’t take a genius
sleuth, to know I’m laying out
the facts of my own TRUTH.
Get To Know Alex Ebert and How His Mind Works. It's Really Fascinating.Don't Skip it.
© 2016 Missy Smith
Related
The Mermaid's Song (A Poem about Sirens)
Creative Writing - Seeing the Stories in Life Part II - Meeting Your Characters
Creative Writing - A Lesson on Seeing the Stories in Life (the Concept of 'Show, Don't Tell' in Writing).
365 Writing Prompts for Creative Writing Inspiration
Creative writing exerices and writing prompts for the fiction writer
Comments
- AUTHOR
Same here, aesta1. I find some of my greatest inspiration for poetry comes when I am in the dark. The dark, if you let it, will lead you back to the light. That's how I believe. :)
Sometimes, it is in the darkness that my light of creativity comes on. I enjoyed your hub.
- AUTHOR
I knew you would like his speech, Deb. I usually don't even watch award shows anymore, but I watched that one all the way through just to see Leo and what he would say. He deserves his award not only for his talent, but for his heart.
And I don't believe anyone is ever too old to make their voice heard or to make a difference here on this planet.
I saw Leonardo's video on Facebook this morning, and I did make a comment on it. I have always liked him, and his statement confirmed the fact that he is a good person. I really don't need recognition, just people to pay attention to our earth and animals. On line petitions are doing great things nowadays, and the people are being heard. This generation of young people is a good bumper crop, as many believe now what I have always considered important. I was born too late in the scheme of things! Thanks for the great compliment about being an inspiration. I truly hope that I can live up to that high honor.
- AUTHOR
Hey Deb, and thank you for the great comment. I am attempting my response back one more time, as my first try came with an error from hubpages.
I was wondering if you saw " The Oscars" this year? Leonardo DiCaprio's speech was one to pay attention to. He won the most prestigious honor; best actor. However, instead of accepting the award by thanking way too many people, and talking about the movie industry, he took that platform to instead talk with urgency about planet preservation and climate change and how it is affecting everything. He reminded me of you!
Deb, I think you are the truest humanitarian and animal welfare advocate we have, and I hope you get recognized more, as you too have much to say not only about the planet but the animals that live on it. I hope you get your platform one day.
You are an inspiration. You certainly inspire me. By the way, I saw a beautiful hawk today sitting on a telephone line staring over in a tree bare green covered field. I love how those birds look so proud. His breast was a beautiful color of light yellow. I'm not sure I've ever seen one like him. The ones I see have deeper brown and black features, this one was of a lighter tone. It was really pretty.
Thanks again. Your comments are very much appreciated. :)
NOW you're getting to know me. My world revolves around every animal and how to protect it, as well as pounding into people's heads that we must take care of this earth and her natural resources. Some will agree and do their part, others will not. I can only call this to the attention of all.
The song is a great one, there are so many artists out there that need a little plug like this one to introduce them to other folks.
I understand your poem, for you walk your own path. I walk my own, too, so there is camaraderie happening here.
Thanks for mentioning me, as the more people that hear about me, will associate my name with the preservation of the planet and the lives of animals.
- AUTHOR
It is so nice that you stopped by to read this hub Chitrangada. It means so much to me that you, and some others have really noticed my unique style when I write. I want to be recognized for my own individual style, so your words to me mean more than you know. Thank You!
- AUTHOR
What a great comment you give me, Venkat. I thank you tremendously for noticing my individualism when it comes to how I write, and the way I try to inspire. I thank so much!
I liked the way you have captured Billy's story--really beautiful!
I appreciate your views on creative writing and writers and there is a uniqueness in your style that is interesting as well as expressive.
The poem is excellent. Wonderful hub as always!
Very nice hub expressing your attitudes on writers, poets and songs. I like your uniqueness in each of your presentations. That shows your courage and determination of adapting to your own styles of creativity and presentation. I admire it very much. And your adoration of Bill and his "Billy the kid" is much commendable and worth of him. I admired both the videos also.
Thank you, Missy, for all this nice hub. My blessings to you.
- AUTHOR
I like those two words; interesting and fascinating. I can't think of any other words that could describe my poetry that I would like any more than those two. Thanks Gypsy!
This is one interesting and fascinating hub. Nice poetry. Thank you for sharing.
- AUTHOR
Thanks Frank! I've been saying to myself that I need to take a break and freshen my brain up. Sometimes I feel if I did that, I could be inspired on many different levels. You know, take time off, and while out in the world jot down things that inspire me. I don't know, but maybe I can relax enough one day to do that. lol...:)
a wonderful hub Missy, and as always you gift us with your poetry loved it!!!!
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Eric, I'm so glad you stopped by to check this hub out. Sometimes, I think the thought of it goes away because we are unprepared for the inspiration. I was driving at the time and couldn't stop. By the time I got home, I had other things to do, so it just went away. Although, I still think about that moment in time, and wish I could have stopped and captured the photo at least. I feel it would have helped keep the inspiration for the words later. They say writers should always have a small pad and pen to jot down thoughts that will pop up in an instant; however, that would be hard to do driving. lol... I like to look at it as just a missed opportunity that if God wanted me to write it, I would have. He may still find a way to bring back that particular scene and inspire me again. Thanks again. :)
Hi Missy, the part that stuck out to me most is the concept of inspiration striking you like lightning and for whatever reason you don't pick up the pen that moment or day and then it fades and the idea isn't nearly as vivid as it once was. I sympathize and have had that occur to myself often.
EWF
- AUTHOR
I thought so, Faith. You used the word observant, and I am very observant, and I think a lot of people who write and paint, and even sing, are observant. You, yourself, are observant. I can tell by how you write your stories of family, and the way you expressed in your last hub how a child will react differently if they just have the right kind of love. Your son gets it from you. :) And I agree with him on the leaves; I never have understood why people break their backs to rake them up. When I was young I used them as a playground, the sound they made running in the yard kicking my feet through them, and then piling them up so I could fall back in them and bury myself. lol. Fall is my favorite season. :)
Yes, Missy, he is the son (well, my only son) who writes and paints and blessed me with four grandchildren LOL ...He is very artistic and creative too like you. One year when all the leave fell off the trees in fall and were covering our yard, and he came home from school and actually had gotten upset that we racked the leaves up because he said the yard looked so cool with all the colors of leaves on the ground LOL. I knew then he was very observant of life's colors.
Have fun with your sweet son and friend.
Enjoy!
- AUTHOR
Thanks Dana! :)
- AUTHOR
Hey Faith, yes, I feel that everyone should stop at the amazement of all those little things that make life beautiful; like the birds flying. It certainly sounds like your son grasped this concept at a very early age. Is he the one that writes? I think you told me one of your sons writes if I'm not mistaken?
My Saturday has been pretty peaceful, thank you! I'm spending it with my son and his little friend who moved away this year. He's here on a visit; another thing to marvel and be happy about when you see friends that are so joyful to be with each other after time apart. They're sweet.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Faith. Have a great weekend!
It will be my pleasure Missy, I am honored that you asked me.
- AUTHOR
That means a lot, Dana. Thank you! I think there comes a certain point in everyone's life, that they just stop pretending. They stop working so hard to fit in with other peoples' perceptions of how they should be. I have reached that point more than ever these last few years, and I'm happy that there are people in the world like you that understand. Have a wonderful weekend, Dana. Hey, if you think about it tomorrow in church, I wouldn't mind if you said a little prayer for me. Thanks again, and God Bless! :)
Missy, you are certainly a creative and beautiful spirit and it shows in your expressive poetry. Oh, yes indeed, Bill is certainly a fine writer and captures the human condition in all he writes. The wonder in you is revealed in telling of your excitement of the birds migrating. It reminds me of when my son was a young boy sitting on our front porch and he saw and heard geese flying in formation low and he was so excited and ran inside to tell me about how cool it was. Life is full of inspiration. I, too, get a lot from songs. I really enjoyed your poetry here. Hope you are enjoying a peaceful morning.
Missy, beautiful tribute to Billybuc and you know how much I admire your free spirit which is perfectly displayed in all your poetry. You are not afraid to be different and that is what I admire most about you.
- AUTHOR
Hey Jodah,I cannot explain how unique that scene of all those vultures sitting there on a single dead tree, the only dead tree, but on a dark day was really a magnificent sight. I have never forgotten how that looked, and it's truly indescribable unless you see it. It was kind of like that picture at the top of this hub I took; well, in a way at least. I took that picture driving along the road, or I should say riding, I wasn't doing the driving that day; that's how I got to snap a few. It was a foggy, misty, day. The sun was trying to peak through without much luck, and I snapped a few pictures of how that looked. That picture was not touched up at all, that's how the day looked. It's not a black-and-white image. That's how the picture would have looked of the vultures in the tree if I would have been lucky enough to capture it; no filters, just real.
Yes, the song made me definitely think of Bill's story, and so, I wanted to write a special dedication to him. He deserves it. I have enjoyed his stories immensely lately. I never get to go to the library to check books out or read books anymore; I just don't have that kind of time with two children, and I am grateful for Bill's stories. They are better than anything I could pick from in the library. They are just the type of stories I love to read, and I don't have to search for them. It's wonderful for me.
I'm thankful that a few people get me here on hubpages. I know there are probably some that don't, and I get that as well. However, the ones who do get me, are supposed to. You all have become such great friends to me. I thank you for that. Sending many blessings to you and your lovely family, John. :)
- AUTHOR
Hey Manatita. Yes, any birds for me are poetry in motion. But out here in the country, I've rarely seen geese fly so low as they were flying yesterday morning. Those I posted, are unfortunately, not the ones I saw, but I picked that photo because it was two geese I saw, and they were flying in just that formation.
The song drifted me through my life, and then, the words struck me, they seemed to be a determination of what Bill's character portrays too; walking in darkness, but believing there is something better. "My darkness is shining, your darkness is shining" I love that part of the song. I took the opportunity to give Bill his props on his storytelling. He deserves it for sure.
Yes, I think I wanted you especially to watch the video, because this guy is similar to your thoughts I think. Well, he's a bit more cosmic to your light, but you are on the same wave length when it comes to peace and glory to all. He is an interesting character. A poet that has turned to music to make a living, as simple poetry doesn't get the recognition it deserves anymore. That is sad. It's the most elegant, and the most real art form.
It's always a delight to discuss thoughts here with you Manatita. You are an inspiration as well. *Hugs*
Missy, I can see why you thought of Bill's character "Billy the Kid" when you heard that song "Truth." I agree with all you said about billybuc and his stories. He makes you feel part of them.
I can relate to how you lost your inspiration to write a poem about the vultures in the dead tree because you didn't capture a photo at the time. The same thing has happened to me, and I kick myself for not having taken a pic of special events. It just isn't the same if you have to use a photo from the Internet.
Great poem to finish up as always , and I score you a .........well I'm sure you know it's somewhere between a 9 and 11 :) Oh I am like you...can't sing or play an instrument. Wish I could. Beautiful hub.
Your birds are simply poetry in motion!
Now I love whistling! I did this for fun in the Caribbean and my Spiritual Teacher use to teach us in New York.
I really, really like the way that you've captured Billy's story. So Beautiful! Yes, I enjoy your take on creative writing, and you express yourself here so well!
The poetry is excellent as usual, and your last video is funny, at times. Much Love to you and kids this weekend ...plus ...
- AUTHOR
Hi Stella, so glad to see you here, I love to read your feedback. I bet your songs are poetry, and I bet they are beautiful. I don't know if I would have the talent to write lyrics to a song or not, because, although I think songs are poetry, they seem to be written differently in order to be set to music. Even so, I might just try to write one someday. I mean, you never know, I may be a natural at it. Thanks so much for your pleasant comment.
Hi Missy, I really like your work and find your poems easy to understand. They probably would be good for a song. I don't know that I write poems but what I have written can sometimes be set to music. You should try this. Great work, Stella
- AUTHOR
I love all your comments, Paula. You are unique yourself, and just by the way you talk,I can tell that you also move to the beat of your own heart. There is something in the way you comment, that makes me want to be your best friend. Now that is a great quality indeed.:) I love your new profile picture also. Take care and thank you again!
And right behind my bro that genius storyteller, ....is his pain in the butt, sis. His stories literally pull me in....right smack dab in the midst of all of it. I become involved with his wonderful characters who remind me of people I've known and loved forever. I don't know how Bill does that~ but he does~with everything he writes.
I think your poem is fabulous and by the way, I gave you a 10! You deserve the highest score. You are unique and I can admire a woman who moves to the beat of her own heart.
I haven't written anything to speak of in months. I do that. My muse is stubborn and I'm lazy. I think that's why we get along! LOL
Have a great week-end. Peace, Paula
- AUTHOR
Hey Bill. The fact that you said you were truly touched was more than enough thanks for me. I'm so glad you were the first one to read this hub. :)
Well aren't you sweet? I am touched...truly touched. The words I need disappear when I'm faced with this kind of praise and kindness. Thank you seems so lame.
You see me, don't you, Missy? Yes, Billy is me....I believe there is darkness in all of us. I also believe that most of us choose the light rather than the dark, but we are constantly battling our demons. I've battled mine for years and for the most part I have won those battles. The times I have lost have shaped me....taken the edge from my ego....and allowed me to be more empathetic towards others.
All I have to give you is thank you!
34