Just "Venting"

Although I've been pretty busy with a Christmas project this week, that's actually just a lame excuse. Fact is, I've run out of steam. Mind you, that's not a bad thing. For me, it's simply the way I write...or rather, the way I don't write.

You've seen or heard about Old Faithful at Yellowstone? Well, once every ninety minutes or so, the famous geyser builds up enough internal pressure, a massive irrepressible force seething just beneath the surface, until it suddenly erupts, spewing a great plume of steam high into the sky. On and on, the jet of steam escapes, violently at first then slowly, ever so slowly, that pent energy is gradually spent and the once-great geyser simply fades away into its vent.

Not to worry if you missed it because, regular as clockwork, it'll be back to erupt once more in about ninety minutes. Time and time again, it will be just as hot and just as magnificent as it ever was or ever likely will be.

After so long a time, I've come to realize I'm a bit like that geyser. I can go along for weeks or sometimes a month or two at a time, spewing whatever comes to mind all over the page here until, eventually and at last, I feel drained. I just don't have any words left to offer. Then I'll rest, all but exhausted by the effort.

However, I know the compulsion to write will always be there, perhaps not as urgently for the moment but slowly building over time until I'm full beyond capacity, ready to bust with the need to say something—anything—to get the words off my mind before my head explodes.

Steam Engine
Now—while I'm just sitting here catching my breath, waiting for the inevitable—if only I could devise a means to harness all that steam, you know, make it more productive, put it to work for me....

Ah, now that would be a marvel!

~ Robin