something tugs at the membranes of my gut
roiling my stomach, pushing bile upwards
the hair at the nape of my neck stands up
a headache starts skull deep, pounding outwards
my ugly fearsome enemy skulks near
identify, name it, writer’s block, then
take the time, the care to relax, look deep
even pray – then with caution examine
this beast from the crown of head to toe tip
record each inch I can discover here
and he/she will shrivel, tremble, and flee
for it wields power by being unknown
once named and identified correctly
it has no recourse except to be gone
my stomach settles. I have fought my fear
not slain, not won the war, but this battle
is mine. I have set down words. I settle
for this much, at this moment, but know well
the next time around I must surely kill
even if I must ignore rules, enter
and fight in the zone of interior
or never write again
November 12th, 2005
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