I keep coming back, hoping.
Some mornings I’m holding my breath
in anticipation.
Usually, I leave disappointed.
I find stories about important things, to be sure.
Stories about Racism, Feminism, Rape, and Harassment, to name a few.
Often, horrible things.
Topics that indeed warrant discussion,
discourse.
Stories about illness,
physical sometimes, but seemingly more often mental.
Stories about loss,
Struggles. Open letters.
Tutorials on how to be a man or a mom. Memorials for recently passed celebrities.
Earnest
Deep
somber
Grave
I would welcome the addition of more warm prose!
or
“Feel good” verse strewn about the grid like the freckles
scattered across a red-headed kid’s nose
The writing is always superb
The voice is most often eloquent
The subject matter – too frequently:
earnest, deep, somber, grave
I do not mean to marginalize your cause
That is not my intent.
I seek a more balanced diet of ideas
I seek art without an agenda.
Sometimes, I just want to smile,
is that too much to ask?
Something to read that leaves me with a light in my eye,
A spring in my step.
I’m gonna climb down off my soapbox now
I’ve pulled on your coat enough here.
I haven’t stopped by Freshly Pressed lately, but I’m surprised that you don’t see any humor posts featured. I’ve always found a balance between prose/poetry, fiction/nonfiction, writing and art to reflect the diversity of WordPress users. I hope they don’t lose that.
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Like I say below – I too remember humor there. I haven’t found much lately though. Thanks for the comment Cyn
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All that stuff that you’re looking for? That’s why I read you. May not help you, the reader, much, but you the writer is most enjoyable. I haven’t checked out Freshly Pressed in almost a year, but I agree with what Cyn said; it used to be balanced and it would be sad if that has changed.
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Maybe I’m just hitting it at the wrong times. I remember laughing when I was there – you’re right, it would be sad if it changed.
And, thanks for saying nice things and reading my stuff. Good to have you stop by!
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I haven’t checked FP in a while. Last year I got that badge for an essay I wrote about my hometown in India. On other blog, I got it for a story I wrote on online relationship. I do remember it being fun and insightful. Now that you have mentioned it, I’d like to visit it again. Thanks for the reminder.
As always, great post.
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Right there with you…
It seems that this week was even more somber and intense than usual. I included a gratuitous puppy photo on my post today because it made me smile and I felt like we all needed one after a week of heavy. Good to know I’m not alone 🙂
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Sigh, haven’t been reading much or blogging much of late, thanks to the shoulder. Always good to stop by here though 🙂 Haven’t really worked out how Freshly pressed works, since I have only been on WP for about 6 months now.
*Shailaja- Put Down that Tablet*
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Well put Tnkerr. I’m not too sure about FP because I haven’t read it lately, but I think this principle needs to be applied to life in a general sense!! Thanks for writing that 🙂
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You know… I noticed this too the other day. I try to visit once a week for inspiration and sometimes, yes, a really good laughable post. But it had been sort of somber, hasn’t it? I was on FP not for my writing, but for my creative use of Breaking Bad memes. lol Oh well.
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It’s been a while since I scanned FP, but I remember being a lot of the fiction/poetry featured being usually forgettable and mediocre, but still better than most of the fic/poetry on WordPress.
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I feel like in general certain topics are considered more desirable when it comes to blogging. I’m with you, I want humour!
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I find that often in writing contests, too–the higher the drama and misery, the higher the vote.
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