Congratulations to PostFracture for having their following poem chosen for publication on Blank Canvas Post. The poem that follows is a truly wonderful exploration of the complexities of grief and loss. Please read the follow conversation between us at Blank Canvas Post and PostFracture to understand more about the writer and the context for this brilliant poem.
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Writer Spotlight: Post Fracture.
From Indonesia, PostFracture has been writing on and off since college, but has recently started taking their practice seriously again.
What was it that made you start writing?
I was in a band in college and we didn’t want to do cover songs, so we ended up writing our own. That was where it started.
What experiences have you had that have shaped the writer you are today?
Being in a band taught me that every word matters. We had free space in a song. And after years of not writing, I realised that when something finally needs to be said, it comes out in fragments.
What genres are you writing at the moment? What genres do you enjoy writing?
Fragments and ultra minimalist poetry.
What inspires you to write? Where do you take your inspiration from?
Longing, solitude, and memories of the past.
What does your writing process look like (e.g., environment, tools, setting)?
I write from emotions, feelings, memories, and pain. I put everything in my notes, randomly and unsystematically. Until something moves me and makes me finish them.
What do you envisage when you are writing something new? Are you writing with the intention of sharing your work, or are you simply writing to write, for example?
I write for myself first. I never start with the intention of sharing. It usually begins as a feeling or a memory that needs somewhere to go. Sharing comes later, when I feel the piece has said what it needed to say and needs a space.
Why do you think community is important for writers and creative people?
I don’t really believe in this concept, because we are living in an era where everyone is competing and we are all just super selfish.
But I do believe we need a common mind with the same direction and purpose. So we don’t bite each other, at least. And that could be what you call a community.
What I’m trying to say is, a lot of times people in a community just want something from it. They take what they can and leave when there is nothing left.
So we need souls that connect to each other, not just a bunch of people calling themselves a community.
That is only my opinion. I could be wrong.
Where do you currently share your work?
I have a Substack but I have set it to private for now, as I am currently looking for a publisher.
Why did you submit your work to Blank Canvas Post? What drew you to our publication?
Honestly, I don’t know why.
What happened was I got an email from Substack that highlighted a couple of contents on the platform. I scrolled and found Blank Canvas Post. I read a word poetry on it.
I clicked. And voila. I submitted.
About the Poem: Crack!
Regarding Crack!, what inspired you to write this piece?
My long past memories and the pain that still randomly pops up in my mind.
What is the context for this piece? What is the main feeling or message behind it?
Literally and metaphorically, it is just a crack. But it hurts. And it stayed.
What was the process of writing this piece like for you? What did this process look like?
It started from feelings, memories, and pain that stayed. I put it in my notes, random and unsystematic. Until something moved me and made me want to think about it and write about it.
Why did you choose to submit this piece specifically to Blank Canvas Post?
Mostly it was destiny. But also I think this piece is unique, it uses onomatopoeia. I wanted to share it so people notice that there are millions of ways to express how you feel, and that it does not always have to use fancy or super beautiful words.
So, without further ado, here is Crack!, a poem by PostFracture.
Crack! by Post Fracture.
Crack! It made a noise… just a little. And there you went. Ouch! Why don’t you take this away with you? —Postfracture
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The silence between these words does more work than most poems do with a hundred. 'Ouch!' hitting harder than any elaborate metaphor could — that's the kind of controlled restraint that takes real courage to leave on the page. Beautifully fractured.
Your analysis is spot on. It’s a compelling point, and I’m totally on the same page as you.