avatarJonathan Greene

Summary

The website content is a reflective poem titled "Sadness Drips Like Water" by Jonathan Greene, which draws inspiration from Charles Bukowski's work and explores the theme of overwhelming sadness.

Abstract

"Sadness Drips Like Water" is a poignant poem that personifies sadness as a relentless force, likened to water that floods and soaks the speaker. The poem conveys a deep wellspring of emotion that is inescapably tied to the speaker, manifesting as tears that fall without end. Despite attempts to stem the flow, the sadness persists, creating a pool that symbolizes the accumulation of the speaker's emotional turmoil over time. The inspiration for the poem is credited to a passage from Charles Bukowski's book "Burning In Water Drowning In Flame," with Greene emphasizing the impact of powerful words on his writing process. The poem is a testament to the cathartic nature of writing, as Greene channels his emotions into his work, allowing the reader to connect with the raw vulnerability expressed.

Opinions

  • The author, Jonathan Greene, expresses a profound connection to the act of writing, using it as a means to cope with and express sadness.
  • There is an acknowledgment of the influence of Charles Bukowski's poetry on Greene's work, indicating a deep respect for Bukowski's ability to evoke emotion.
  • The poem suggests that sadness is an intrinsic part of the speaker, emphasizing the depth and persistence of emotional pain.
  • The imagery of water is used to illustrate the overwhelming and uncontrollable nature of the speaker's sadness.
  • The poem is presented as a form of therapy for the author, with the act of writing serving as a release for pent-up emotions.
  • By sharing the poem, Greene invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with sadness and the ways in which they seek solace.
  • The inclusion of an affiliate link to Bookshop indicates the author's support for local bookstores and the broader literary community.

Sadness Drips Like Water

A Poem

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Sadness drips like water from my eyes and pours onto the streets, flooding

A wellspring of emotion tethered to me is released into the stream

Late at night, my eyes are a faucet as the drips roll down my cheeks and soak me through

Sadness drips like water from me to you because it’s the only way I can stop the pain

Even when I shut off the main water source my sadness drips without remorse

I look at the pool around me that started with a drip and realize how long I’ve been leaking

Sadness drips like water and I am the source

This poem was inspired by a passage from a poem in the book of poetry, Burning In Water Drowning In Flame by Charles Bukowski. I find myself highlighting words or passages that move me every time I read, no matter what I am reading. When I find the highlight that projects to a poem, I don’t read the source again before I write, I just allow the nerve to be touched. And then I spill my words.

A snippet from the poem, straight on through, where I got my inspiration:

sadness drips like water beads in a half-poisoned well, I know that my chances have narrowed down to almost nothing — I’m like a bug in the bathroom when you flick on the lightswitch at 3 a.m.

© Jonathan Greene 2020

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*The link for the book of poems is an affiliate link to Bookshop. Supporting local bookstores.

Poetry
Sadness
Self
Water
Emotions
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