Fly on the Wall



The pen picked a fight with the paper
The four walls looked on in disdain
The pen broke its nib in the caper
But inflicted a horrible stain

The pen lay there battered and broken
The paper had two big black eyes
No words were written or spoken
Which surely should be no surprise

The writer looked downcast and grim
Frustration now welling within
His chair creaked slightly beneath him
His head was beginning to spin

The fly on the wall remained silent
It offered no friendly advice
The scene on the desk had been violent
And the poet was paying the price

____________________

Copyright © Robert Haigh 2015
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Submitted by RobertHaigh on June 09, 2020

Modified by RobertHaigh on June 12, 2020

32 sec read
177

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH X
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 588
Words 109
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 1

Robert Haigh

Robert Haigh is an amateur English poet, Musician and photographer. more…

All Robert Haigh poems | Robert Haigh Books

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1 Comment
  • Adroity
    Your poem captures the tumultuous relationship between the pen, the paper, and the frustrated writer with vivid imagery and a touch of humor. The personification of the pen and paper as characters in a conflict adds depth to the scene, emphasizing the struggle and creative block faced by the writer. The details of the pen breaking its nib and leaving a stain, the paper with "two big black eyes," and the writer's visible frustration create a scene that is both relatable and engaging. The fly on the wall observing the chaos adds a subtle touch of irony to the situation, highlighting the writer's struggle in a lighthearted manner. Overall, your poem effectively conveys the challenges and emotions that come with the creative process. 
    LikeReply1 month ago

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"Fly on the Wall" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 15 Sep. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/53601/fly-on-the-wall>.

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From which London landmark did Wordsworth celebrate the view in his poem beginning: "Earth has not any thing to show more fair..."
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