Congested
Brain freeze
during a five-minute
free write
at the beginning
of class
like
sitting
in an empty
room
when
wifi fails
immediately after
clicking search
cold air
blowing
in your face
keeping
words locked
outside
your head
Dealing With Brain Freeze
Congested is about that stuck moment every writer knows—the mind going blank when the pressure is on. In this case, it happens during a classroom free write, but the metaphor extends further. Comparing it to a wifi failure or cold air keeping words outside your head makes the moment feel mechanical and human all at once.
It’s a reminder that creativity doesn’t always show up on command—and when it doesn’t, it can feel like sitting in a locked room, just hoping for a signal.
If you’ve ever felt stuck while writing, the Poetry Foundation’s guide to writer’s block explores how poets have wrestled with silence—and what they’ve discovered in the gaps.
Your Turn:
Write a short poem about being stuck—mentally, creatively, emotionally. Don’t try to force a breakthrough. Just sit with the freeze, the static, the loading screen. Let the stuckness speak.
Post your poem in the comments or share a link to your work. We all get locked out sometimes—but sharing opens the door a little wider.
Check out these poems about the writing process: Writing Rebel, Dreamspace, Drowsy Inspiration.
