The Manifesto of Steven L. Drake

Remember the sacrifice, and the struggle that emancipated the dream. Never forget those ten cold years, or where you came from. Check your ego at the door, so to keep the vision clear. Accept constructive criticism to perfect the craft, but never stop fighting 'til the art is made flesh. Be true to your soul, and no longer deny the whispers of your ghost. Trust in instinct if faith goes dark. Let the voices guide you when the light leaves. Do not allow fear to blind, cripple, or deafen you. Nobody knows you like yourself. What are you waiting for?

4/27/10

Poetry

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I've been writing poetry since my sophomore year of high school, and it is true what they say... if you wanna be good, ya gotta keep workin' at it. The selections below are from what I call "The Vault," which is a place all writers store their work. The pieces seen here are from last year, and years passed... any new stuff will be located in the main blog area! 

"I am the Eight"

I am the Eight
in America
but the door
was closed
like eyes and mouth
silenced
in the name of
Glory

I am the One
in America
but its okay
men wear plastic suits
playing God and Father
like their agendas
and in 500 years
Decompose

I am the Second
in America
but we don't talk about it
my name
a number
on a piece of paper
with a coffee stain
Faceless

I was the Last
in America
but if I were braver
I would have cried
I came to escape
but you got lost too
now we're both
Missing

I didn't choose this mountain
I didn't choose this fate
but it happens
in America
when you're one of the
Eight

11/20/11

"I am the Eight" is the last poem I wrote in 2011, and it was inspired by the victims coming forward in the Sandusky/Penn State scandal. Ironically, the lines "I didn't choose this mountain/I didn't choose this fate" have lingered within my notebooks for many, many years, and they never fit perfectly until now. To see them a part of this piece is a writer's blessing.

"Against The Ropes"

Against the ropes 
glistening chain 
Dangle 
like a Hangman 

Did I step on too many butterflies? 

Blood-burnt-fists 
can't tell my tale 
invisible space 
between palm and fingers 

You can save my life 
in knuckles worn to bone 
Fragments of a different time 
Round 13/take the call 

The Choke... The Grain... The Dive... 
You can't save my soul 
Did I step on too many butterflies? 

10/8/08

I remember writing this during my venture back to Weight Watchers in '08, and being inspired by images of Madonna as a boxer, as well as the painting "Between Rounds." The line about stepping on too many butterflies is a reference from the third season of Heroes, and its something Peter from the future kept saying, which is a reference to The Butterfly Effect, but I never saw that film!



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