Under Pressure? Always as a Writer

Pressure: pushing down on me,

Pressing down on you.

Written by Queen and David Bowie

Pressure Raining Down on Me
Overthinking

Yes, OVERTHINKING was what I was doing last night. As I struggled to complete notes for my first presentation on Sappho for Monday Poets, my head sunk, my shoulders rounded, and I began feeling so small. How could I have the courage to present such a workshop to seasoned and well-published poets? A few of our Monday group happen to be former professors of literature!

Yep, I did a good job scaring myself. All at the last minute, too. Mostly due to fear. Fear of not being good enough, fear of making a stupid mistake, fear of leaving essential parts out, fear of putting too much in, etc.

So glad it went a whole lot better than I imagined. My overworked mind found ways to state overviews on Greek history, to set the scene for Sappho’s life and songs in the archaic Greek language.  We read aloud two versions of Sappho’s Hymn to Aphrodite and even a few verses that mentioned the forests and the gardens of the island of Lesbos.

Music to my ears was when Abby said, “You’ve got everything right.”

WOW. Abby teaches English, poetry, and literature at our local college.

But man, that overthinking thing had my mind divided and deep in CRAZY for long hours.

[image error]The ever-present challenge to write better.
On the Other Hand, I’m Feeling Grateful

I am grateful for the workshop that I prepared an introduction, historical background, and selected various poem translations to read. The last few wrapped my head in the wealth of song fragments we have from the Greek poet Sappho.

The result of any given workshop so often comes as odd. But this day finished on a high note. It came off so well. Plus 90% of the poets in attendance wrote poems inspired by Sappho’s songs and poetry.

It Does Not Get Much Better Than That
Being Well Is a Gift

This weekend I suffered a migraine in the wee hours of Sunday morning I could not get back to sleep. I wondered if a headache had started. But did not take any medicine until 8:30 am when I got hit with nausea.

So I had to bow out of leading Youth Services at the Center for Spiritual Living and lie still.

Called Marc, my editor and teaching partner, to discuss my illness. He was a complete dear, and insisted I not go out until I was well. Then I took the medicines.

Unfortunately, it takes more than medication to kill my migraines.

It is a good thing that these days I don’t suffer from four-day migraines. To clear the thing taking over my brain, and gut, I have learned to lie, eyes closed with the base of my neck on an ice pack, and a robust cooling fan aimed at my head. This often gives me a chill, so I keep my legs, and feet covered by a blanket.

My Reward? Besides a new poem?

Listening to Queen sing Pressure.

So take the PRESSURE off and do some listening.