The days that pass blankly
A little empty
Shake them upside down
Nothing much falls out
A crumpled to do list
With nothing crossed off
And the idea that my Nordic socks
Are now all out off order
and I’m wearing odds
That somehow match each other
I stacked firewood inside
Now I watch it burn
Where did Sunday go?
It began on a high
A good morning run
And then sort of slid
Into an inward sigh
But it’s okay
I think sometimes
Those days
Are the ones
Just to watch go by
Realising
Our weight in this world
Feeling it all
Anchored
*I did do a lot of writing and rearranging. Took some photos that felt like me, of me because I lost a bet with myself on Instagram – actually made it to 60 photos in my photo a day challenge.
The other profile shots I use are very 2020 and to be honest I rarely wear dresses and certainly not while wandering through the paddock. The header photo is more the real Kate.
I got a post away on my other susbstack account – Whys not Why – It asks the question “when is a creation ready to launch?” I’ve had a manuscript ready to go for ages. The link is in the caption if you have ever struggled with this dilemma yourself – advice welcome.
Have a beautiful week X
The poem is so evocative of the soft not-quite melancholy of a winter day (and it’s high summer here, so you really accomplished a feat in getting me to feel it!). Love the header photo of the Real Kate (although unless we meet personally I will probably always envision you as pensively wandering a paddock in a gossamer floral print dress 🙂 ).
Hahah I think my poetic side wanders in ephemeral paddocks but my adventurer, and even my writerly side is definitely jeans and boots. I’ve let that jeans and boots side have a crack at writing too (we are full of voices) and that’s where my substacks are springing from – I really am enjoying the process Camilla. But yes, athousanbitsofpaper will wander paddocks in dresses – and it’s nice to have the contrast, I think the two sides may finally learn to live together and compliment one another.
Being a multifaceted individual has challenges, but rewards, too. My boots and backpack side is balanced by the high-maintenance alter ego I lovingly refer to as Princess, LOL! 😉
Haha I think we need a few of us to carry the load in this life 😂
For sure! ❤️
I have a manuscript ready, too, by the way. Or never ready, because isn’t that the way of it? I’m ready, anyway, to let it go (by which I mean hunker down at some point in the near future and, with the help of an expert who has graciously offered his assistance, attempt to self-publish it). I am still not fully persuaded that it should be a full-length book, but I am ready to let it fly mostly because I’m sick of looking at it. That’s my best advice, I guess: when you’ve moved from being single-mindedly obsessed with a project to being disgusted at the thought of it, it’s finished. 🙂 I’m ready to do other things. In her book “Big Magic” Elizabeth Gilbert mentions the value of a lesson she learned from her mother, which was something to the effect of “sometimes done is better than perfect.” I’m TRYING to let this be my manuscript mantra.
Yes done is better than perfect. I agree. But then my inner perfectionist kicks into gear and an argument ensues and I get so frustrated I walk away from the pair of them and leave them to it 😂 I think I’m going to self publish too. I did that with my poetry books and really enjoyed the process of creating them. I have since pulled them down to reformat and change a few things, but there is a beauty in being able to do that too. I don’t think our books should stagnate and stay the same – and with self publishing we are wholly in control. I’ve just convinced myself while replying to you to Do The Thing! Thankyou X
Yay!! Keep us posted!
I like this, Kate: the metaphor of being anchored; something we all need —
Thanks John, yes we do.