A LIFE WITHOUT CROSS OUTS
A Mid-week Boost Embracing The Flow of Creativity
As part of a 31-day writing challenge #justwrite2024 throughout March 2024, I came up with this little ditty. It arrived like many poems show up: through a quick phrase from another. I was a guest on the “Empowering Chats” podcast with host Susan Burrell, when she repeated the phrase “no cross outs” referencing those times we let words flow effortlessly in our expression. In the podcast, to air on May 10, I even told her “that sounds like a poem I will send to you later.” And here we are!
________
“NO CROSS OUTS”
Moving along in life, one mistake after another
Man-oh-man, blowing it again – ohhhhhh brother!
Should I have made a left or right on that path?
Do I carry the one or leave it there in math?
First dates, prom yeah right, what am I – born to lose?
These socks don’t match, and definitely not the right shoes
Feeling feint on the trail, I just might have to black out
World – here I come, ready or not – just another cross out
Writing long hand my first reports, crossing out the words
A paper filled with a bunch of black smudges – geez, what a nerd
Spelling bee, spelling “acrylic” – A K R I … that’s what I heard
Fighting on the playground, and giving and receiving the bird
So many messes, so many mishaps, what’s a guy to do?
Dating scene way past the teens, still not the right shoes
Shall I act mellow, cool, aloof, or just simply freak out?
It’s like my life is a page with one humongous cross out
But then one day, it’s like I figured who the hell cares
I realized it’s not what one loses, but rather what one shares
Giving and receiving more than the bird, maybe just a laugh
Awakening to not right nor left – but just your own true path
Singing as loud as you want – rockabilly, country, opera, the blues
Going barefoot this time, you can throw away my shoes
Sharing experiences as they come … as it all turns out
A prose flowing effortlessly through – not even one cross out
A lifetime, a journey – as it is revealed – with or without a cross out
James Anthony Ellis is a writer, poet, and producer living in the flow in San Diego, California. His book Breadcrumbs Vol. 2: Poems & Prose Found Along The Sacred Path can be purchased HERE: https://tinyurl.com/breadcrumbs2
I once had a teacher share with me super obvious but profound advice. When you have writers block, because the page in front of you has too many “cross outs”, start on a new page. I do that in life now too! Wonderful poem with a great reminder that shucking off the expectations that make you feel “crossed out” in life is OK! Who needs matching socks anyway😆