Glad you enjoyed it! It’s something that I forget way too often. There’s something about just “putting it out there” even if I never actually put it out there for everyone else.

Thank you for sharing. This poem made me feel less alone because I have the same thoughts about how I used to write. And feel. The line about the ever fleeting light receding is exactly how I see my emotions, they are intense and overwhelming and I need to capture them somehow before they disappear.

This is beautiful, I actually cried! You are not alone in these feelings. Thank you for sharing your poem!

This is a beautiful poem. I can relate to the creative obstacles that can result from life’s troubles. I hope you keep writing. Thank you for sharing.

thankyou for sharing this poem :) i was lowkey hoping to come accross a poem about this topic as i have been struggling lately with multiple periods in which i can’t seem to write at all. beautifully put into words and i really hope you continue writing

i enjoyed this poem a lot. it’s very relatable for most writers, as many of us suffer through stages of lost creativity. especially with poetry, i think. writing is a passion, but it can also become a core. i also enjoyed the imagery. i could imagine someone sitting at their desk, crumbling up notes and papers as they write.

Feeling this lately! At least you're writing about it. 😉

Most of us who write could relate to this I'd imagine.  Great use of repetition.  It hits home the theme, while expressing a desire to reconnect with the craft, yet struggling to.  Also think the line "Mostly finished drafts before it's on to something new" is great.  Really hits home to those of us who have ideas in mind, start writing a piece, and stop, thinking there will be a chance to return to it.  For me, a lot of times those pieces remain unfinished.  Thank you for sharing!

Not all successfully come to fruit. Some lay smoldering in the back of a drawer to hopefully be joined with others.

Thank you for the feedback and glad you enjoyed it! That was one of my favorite lines too!

For the mostly finished/unfinished, I think it could go either way depending on the message that you wanted to convey. For me (and maybe it’s odd for a “sad” poem), it’s that optimistic view of “yeah this is mostly finished.” I tend to start multiple things at once because of the “that’s a greater idea” moments. It’s also my way of creating the doorway for myself (that is often needed) of it’s not that much work or it’s not that big of a thing for you to do because it’s mostly finished already.

Wow, this was really incredible. “Pen to paper, clatter of keys” is a line so clever I don’t know where to begin. It was enjoyable all the way through, the consistency provided through repetition and toying with formatting entirely elevated the experience. Although I do ask, is line 6 intended to read, “Mostly ***un***finished drafts before it’s on to something new?” Otherwise, I loved it!

Your poem is the first I opened and I think it’s amazing. I can’t necessarily relate in regards to poetry or music because up until today I’ve never written anything that wasn’t required of me, but it made me think of different aspects of my life that seemingly feel forced now. It’s hard to see passions fade but it’s also beautiful to see where the evolution takes us. You are an amazing writer to be able to hit home to a multidimensional audience. Bravo. I like the “Pen to paper, clatter of keys” line the best and your line “i remember when I felt alright” had me in sort of a chicken or the egg debacle of were you alright because you were writing freely or were you writing freely because you were alright!

I have never related to something so much on this subreddit! If only my notes could speak of how many were opened with the intention of writing something amazing just to have put down one thought in 10 minutes. This did an amazing job of conveying a struggle and being a poem at the same time. Thank you for blessing my feed with this.

I agree with a number of other commenters that you are not alone in this struggle. It beautifully represents the frustration of being a creative when you feel uninspired or unable to write. There's nothing worse than the self-loathing that comes with looking back on when something came easily when now it seems like a huge struggle and thinking there must be something wrong with you. Congratulations on writing again, and thank you for being vulnerable.

the repetition is just gorgeous… juxtaposed with slightly altered phrasing really pounds the point home! an honest yearning for that initial feeling of wonder experienced when one first puts pen to paper! an amazing mix of nostalgia and mourning, bravo!!!

Thank you all for the feedback and kind words!

This is incredibly relatable. I have tried to encapsulate this same emotion, and it’s so comforting knowing it’s a normal feeling in someone’s practice of writing. I love the subtle language and poignant imagery.

A absolutely beautiful poem! Such great use of repetition when building your meanings around those emotions. Really thought provoking and amazing word choice

This was awesome! And completely relatable. I love “I remember when it wasn’t always a fight”. Makes me want to start writing more.

I know that we're talking about scribblings but this poem is easily applicable to so many other aspects of life. Reminds me of hobbies forgotten and friends lost. Thank you for sharing with us

**I remember when I used to write.**   
Snippets of some half baked thought  
New song idea or maybe just a poem.  
A release valve for an ever shrinking finite space.

**I remember when I used to write.**    
Mostly finished drafts before it’s on to something new.  
Scribbles of “flush this out” or “this could be something!”  
Pen to paper, clatter of keys.  
A brief moment of respite, to create, to renew

*I remember when I felt more alright.*

**I remember when I used to write.**  
Glimpses of something resembling peace  
A chance to create even if no one else would ever know  
Pieces of myself not discarded but for a moment allowed to be free. 

*I remember when it wasn’t always a fight.*

**I remember when I used to write.**  
Emotions allowed to flow out instead of staying confined.  
A chance to express, to unload, to break free, to ignite feelings long kept bound in a dimly lit corner before the ever fleeting light begins to recede.  

**I remember when I used to write.**  

(Side note: just a step back in after taking too long away from scribbling and a needed release. No need to worry.)

Edit: figured out mobile formatting finally 

My feedback for others:

[https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/uxua2l/bookmark/ia2nvwk/?utm\_source=share&amp;utm\_medium=ios\_app&amp;utm\_name=iossmf&amp;context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/uxua2l/bookmark/ia2nvwk/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=ios_app&amp;utm_name=iossmf&amp;context=3)

[https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/ux8trz/the\_heaviest\_gift\_that\_exists/ia2pmrx/?utm\_source=share&amp;utm\_medium=ios\_app&amp;utm\_name=iossmf&amp;context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/ux8trz/the_heaviest_gift_that_exists/ia2pmrx/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=ios_app&amp;utm_name=iossmf&amp;context=3)