First, give up trying
it's going to do no good
writers do not know
where ideas come from
Second, when something doesn't come
wait, just wait, like on a bus stop,
railway platform, for your love to come back
wait like there's always going to be tomorrow
with a blank slate attention
on your pen or on your cursor
Third, give up even giving up and waiting
go read other people, read
about mountains, people, democracy,
love, letters, things you might
not really read otherwise,
forget about writing.
Fourth, come back, wait again
see magic happen, and even if
there's nothing coming,
words are constipated, don't worry
write all the words that you can think of
down, and play with them, jigsaw puzzle.
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