An Ode to the Writer

An Ode to the Writer

The Writer
Journalists

When a poet takes his pen in hand and sits down at his desk

A passion burns within him that he’ll soon put to the test.

His muse will be beside him as he starts to form his lines

Inspiring and composing like a symphony of rhymes.

 

When a writer of non-fiction thinks his research is all done

He takes a temporary break and lazes in the sun.

Invigorated and inspired, he’s now prepared to start

The manuscript that he has had locked safely in his heart.

 

A writer’s heart is bursting with the things he has to say

So each one does the best he can in his own unique way.

A novelist, for instance, takes his time to set a scene

And to develop characters his readers can believe.

 

A poet counts his syllables, sets structure, meter, rhyme.

To achieve a pleasant cadence often takes a long long time.

So, don’t compare one writer to another in the field

For each one has that special niche that only he can yield.

 

They hone their craft for years and years until they get it right,

Many pages that they’ve written never ever see the light.

Please give respect and value to the hours that they have sweated,

Their strength and dedication deserve unbiased credit.

 

So, to all the writers of today, I dedicate this ode.

I’m pleased that you contribute to the sacred writing code.

For while the world has readers there  will always be demand

For information, news, and fun created by your hand.

 

by John Hansen © 2018

 

 

 

 

John Hansen
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John Hansen

Longtime poet but not in the traditional technical sense. I enjoy rhyme but like to experiment and dabble in many different forms and maybe even make up some of my own. There is always a message or lesson I want to promote through my writing, for that reason, my poetry generally shies away from the abstract and obscure. Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction. I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren. My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials. It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems. I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.

12 thoughts on “An Ode to the Writer

  • August 22, 2018 at 10:31 PM
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    Nicely rendered of we writers, no matter what genre. We toil for hour after hour to get it right, and never quite satisfied, perfection our intention. But it’s who we are, and that’s that. We are writers! Great work John.

    • August 22, 2018 at 11:41 PM
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      Thank you, Tony. where would the world be without writers? There would be no written recorded history, stories, poems etc. All forms as important as each other for different reasons. It is our job to keep the torch burning.

  • August 22, 2018 at 11:09 PM
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    Passionately penned John. Indeed writers toil and sweat through the midnight oil. Keyboards clicking as minds empty onto a blank page before them. Writers come in all shapes, sizes, color and gender. Their genres are plenty. They are passionate scribes wanting only to convey to the world what their Muses inspire them to pen to their vast audience. Nice work John.

  • August 23, 2018 at 2:14 AM
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    Wonderful tribute to writers everywhere. In our close group here we so understand and support what you say, John, yet to the outside world it is not often considered or known just how much work and spirit we put into our works. Excellent and emotive penning. Well done.

  • August 23, 2018 at 3:34 AM
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    Thank you, Phyllis. Yes, I know my peers here understand how much sweat and blood all writers but into their craft. We can just continue to try and get the message across to the general public.

  • August 26, 2018 at 4:12 PM
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    Awesome piece and so very true. Each of us as writers in some ways resemble the other, but in the end we all are very unique in what we do. Nobody knows the turmoil and sleepless nights that wqriters go through just to pen a sentence or two.

  • August 26, 2018 at 7:29 PM
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    Yes, we writers are very unique in what we do, as you say, Kurt. But the effort and sleepless nights etc are things that are common to most of us. I never know when my inspiration may strike so I can never just designate certain time to sit and write. Thank you for reading and for the generous comment.

  • August 29, 2018 at 9:15 PM
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    A most wonderful tribute to writers everywhere. Hoping for inspiration and help from the muses throughout the writing process.

  • August 30, 2018 at 12:58 AM
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    Thank you, Rasma. No matter what we write we have so many things in common and are constantly seeking inspiration.

  • August 31, 2018 at 1:31 PM
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    Excellent ode my friend. It is true how much time we spend trying to perfect the art, whether poet and meter, which I’ve spent countless hours trying to perfect, or novelist and character development. We all have our niche and uniqueness. I do love on this site how we all embrace each other’s different styles. It is a nice home to freely write. Great piece John

  • August 31, 2018 at 7:07 PM
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    Thank you, Paul. We may not have a lot of active writers here at the moment but each one is uniquely talented and a valuable member. After all, quality is better than quantity, and this is a great home to freely write, I agree. Thank you for your kind comment.

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