Preface
The Writer's Invitation
As you prepare to immerse yourself in the verses that follow, pause for a moment to consider the journey of a writer. What compels someone to chase after the elusive whispers of inspiration? Picture a blank parchment, a silent canvas filled with untapped potential, longing for the touch of creativity.
The Poem
Parchment longs the pair
Relentless hunts for truth
With boots to spare
As melodies ensnare
Whispers weave through air
Ashes that gaze and glare
And that, I called despair.
“Parchment longs the pair”Line 1
This opening line suggests that the parchment, like a magnet, eagerly awaits the writer's touch. The word "longs" gives the inanimate object human desire — a personification that immediately places us inside the creative act itself, where even the medium yearns to be filled.
“Relentless hunts for truth”Line 2
Here, the songwriter embarks on a profound search within their mind, seeking the elusive essence of music. The word "relentless" conveys obsession — a hunt that does not pause for comfort. The "truth" represents the authenticity and depth that every serious artist chases, knowing full well it may never be fully caught.
“With boots to spare”Line 3
This line conveys that despite the exhaustive search for inspiration, the writer remains equipped and ready for further exploration. The "boots" symbolize resilience and determination — worn but not defeated. Having boots "to spare" suggests the artist is not just surviving the journey; they are prepared for it to go on indefinitely.
“As melodies ensnare”Line 4
Once the writer discovers their music, it captivates their mind, creating a powerful emotional connection. "Ensnare" is deliberately predatory — the melody is not merely beautiful, it is a trap. The enchantment of inspiration can cross into obsession, blurring the line between the artist controlling the work and the work controlling the artist.
“Whispers weave through air”Line 5
The delicate imagery here shifts the tone momentarily — inspiration is not always a roar; it is often a whisper. "Weave" suggests it is threaded through the world invisibly, always present but never tangible. The writer must be attuned enough to catch what the air carries before it dissolves.
“Ashes that gaze and glare”Line 6
Through relentless searching, the writer must discard unsuccessful attempts — burning parchment that holds unsuitable lyrics. The "ashes" symbolize the remnants of failed ideas. But crucially, these ashes are personified: they gaze and glare. The failed work does not silently disappear — it watches, it judges, it haunts.
“And that, I called despair.”Final Line
In the final line, the writer steps back and names the entire experience. The term "despair" encapsulates the emotional toll of this creative process — not as a surrender, but as a precise and honest diagnosis. The use of "I called" is significant: it is a personal, retrospective act of naming. The poet does not say despair overtook them. They are the one who gave it its name. In that act of naming, there is, quietly, a kind of power.
"Every poem is a story of its own creation — the hunt, the trap, the wreckage, and the name we give the wreckage. Minds of Music is no different. It is a confession disguised as a lyric."
— KingEdem