‘Twas The Night Before Publishing – Owen Mullen

 

I wanted to write about pre-publication. That moment between complete belief that you’ve written a masterpiece, and utter dread that you’re a self-deceiving fool. This is what came out. As usual, apologies to anyone who knows anything about poetry…

 

‘Twas The Night Before Publishing… a thing I know well

When angels and demons come forthwith to tell

How success and failure are lying in wait

For anyone knocking on literature’s gate

I pace up and down and I pace back and forth

Convincing myself of this novel’s great worth

Then the demon steps forward ‘Your dream is o’er

You fool don’t you know that your book is a bore’

 

 

‘Don’t listen to him for he does naught but lie

Even when staring you straight in the eye’

My angel reminds me to look for the light

Tho’ fear tries to win on this darkest of nights

From start to this point such a momentous task

Why put myself through this torture I ask

 

 

The writer in me he leaves me no choice

Determined the world will list’ to his voice

My characters clamour to get centre stage

Me?  I’d be happy to wrest out a wage

The plots and the dramas all scream to be told

‘Come on man’ they shout ‘It’s time to be bold’

‘Have faith in what you alone have created’

The sound of my nemesis now is abated

 

 

But again he arises my mind to torment

‘Your voice is naught but a childish lament’

He bellows at me with scathing and scorn

‘Your phrases and language are tired and worn’

I look for my saviour but she’s not in sight

I’m left with this monster alone in the night

‘Don’t try to defend what you thought was so good

The paper you’ll waste was best left as wood’

 

 

‘Don’t listen to him for he does naught but lie

Even when staring you straight in the eye’

My angel reminds me to look for the light

Tho’ fear tries to win on this darkest of nights

From start to this point such a momentous task

Why put myself through this torture I ask

 

 

Dawn brings me hope for the day that’s now here

I’ll take my chances yes I’ll face my fear

I’ve written my story now it must be told

Even if it turns out reception is cold

Be true to myself as true as I can

Trust in the talent of my inner man

As worries and cares arise and are calmed

To publish or not…each way I’ll be damned

 

 

So reader dear reader I lay myself bare

When you judge this novel please do so with care