How to How to

Today's poetry prompt was to write poem that is a "how to" about writing a poem. I had fun with it, using the metaphor of painting a room (stanza). 

Pushing past the little "I can't" voice is becoming a daily habit. Self-doubt and mini bouts of despair aren't lessening. And while having a deadline - such as tonight's zoom poetry critique group - sometimes helps, there are also times when it makes it worse. But overcoming that insecurity and those niggling shame-laden intrusive thoughts is not lessening, either. 

What really makes a difference? Coffee. (Or, what I like to call "the drug of optimism.") I have given up a lot of things in my diet. But coffee has, so far, been more helpful than hurtful. Coffee can stay.