The Existance of ANGST Writing

she hides inside her little room
waiting to be released
she locks the door, just praying that
the pain cannot increase
yet no one wants to free her or
acknowledge that she's there
but so shut off, she hasn't learned
existence isn't fair

hiding in the darkness
so afraid to see the light
she doesn't know what's wrong but she
assumes this isn't right
curled in the corner by the
petrifying fear
cannot do a thing with out
being called insincere

freedom is a mystery
dependence is the way
self-control is worthless when
you have nothing to say
because she's never happy
she could not know that she's sad
and how could she know pain when
it's the only thing she had?

ANGST poetry has been around since Edgar Allen Poe, whose works, such as "Alone", marked the beginnings of the genre. His history of bad experiences provided the psychological push over the edge of depression that produces truly great ANGST writing. That is the cross of ANGST writing, that not everyone can write it. True ANGST writing requires true ANGST in your own life. The aforementioned 'psychological push' may come in many forms, that of a single or series of traumatic experiences, being an outsider in social settings, or many other things. This is what sets ANGST apart from other styles of poetry. Not everyone has that push, so not everyone can write it. Romance can be written by anyone, because anyone can fall in love or be infatuated, be it with another person, an object, or even a thought, for example, but they may never have the severe hardship, depression, or torment of the ANGST writer. This also makes it quite clear when a person who hasn't had these experiences attempts and angst-style poem, because it is lacking certain stylistic characteristics that make up truly great angst poetry.

"A Vortex of Wishes"
Š 1999, Kurt D. Kross
Used with permission

Somewhere
there is a vortex of wishes
where all our dead wishes lay.
Hoping one day
they will come alive.
We walk around praying
on other people's lands and
fallen promises.
Wishing that past wishes
come true in time.
This plane holds them still.
Not moving. Not shifting.
Awaiting to be cracked
at which time the wishes will
flood out and maybe...
Just maybe, we will all get
what we have always wanted.
Until then,
let us keep filling that
vortex... That dam will break...

"The Dance"
Š 1999 by Lacey Brake
Used with permission

we danced as the sun
came up over the mountains.
creating a breathtaking
scene, that only paled
to how much I loved
you
we danced in the
pouring silver rain.
the water smearing my
make-up, you touching
my cheek and kissing my
lips
we danced in the
hospital late one
night, as I gently
held your hand but
held on to you so tight
never wanting to let
you go. the air was cool
as we danced our final dance
as I said my final I love you,
as you gave me the courage to let
go
I haven't danced since you
left, but I often see you in
my dreams calling to me. So as I
sort my lethal combination of pills
and swallow them, I think of you.
as I lie down listening to the rain
tap against my window, I close my eyes
and I take your hand and we
dance....

ANGST...
is characteristically dark. It explores all the emotions that people would not normally express or even discuss. It expresses as much emotion as it can in as few words as possible, and evokes those emotions in the readers. I personally have never cried after reading any style of poetry other than ANGST, which has brought me to tears countless times. ANGST nearly forces you to sympathize with the writer, even if you haven't been through what they're describing. As you read it you begin to take pity on their hardship.

ANGST...
is limitless. Whereas most styles are limited to their title, ANGST can run through any number of subjects. True, all are themed toward the dark nature of humanity, but they can be about so many aspects of that, from drugs to hate to depression to suicide and so many other things. The breadth assists in the ease of originality in writing, while still evoking the same emotions both in the writer and the reader.

breathing in the life of all those who would smother mine
i transcended all their hate and i became divine
no longer beneath them i exerted my control
above them for the first time, for the first time feeling whole

falling down among them, i wish they could know my pain
without their understanding my whole life would be in vain
though I do not know them I don't want to meet their scorn
their stubborn disapproval of this pessimist reborn

tortured by their laughter stabbing deep into my mind
and though their mouths are silent, so their silent taunts defined
they burn under my flesh like there were acid on your lips
my whole world is falling and I just can't come to grips

count the dead and realize the bodies are all mine
realize i've fallen and i'm no longer divine
not a word was spoken not a blow had struck this shell
still I lie here broken in denial of this hell

opened up, examined by myself and many more
psychological autopsy of this broken, bitter whore
wasn't your intention but that was what it became
but here i am in pieces, just one more forgotten name

The subject matter of ANGST lends itself only to certain types of people, and because of that, any ANGST community is tight-woven. Because the members of the group have had many of the same experiences as the other members, they can sympathize and help the others with their troubles. Unfortunately, it makes it rather exclusive, and people who aren't normally of this persuasion can be turned off by this.

ANGST naturally lends itself to a message-board/comment able environment, rather than a post-and-read without possibility of response. It is the responses that encourage people to open up, and share their emotions. After all, it's a lot healthier to write about, say, suicide than to actually do it. I can honestly say ANGST has saved my life, and probably numerous others. It is the release when there is nowhere else to go, the key to the prison cell. Hearing the responses makes you feel appreciated, just when you thought no one did. This is why ANGST exists.

About The Author: Trent R. Burton is the pseudonym of Derek Selle, who lives in Northeast Wisconsin. He has been writing ANGST for about 3 years. Interests range from computer programming to music like Machine Head and In Flames to online gaming and varied subversive activities (I'll leave that one to your imagination.) He has a Chapbook in the Empire of Chapbooks [apply for your own free Chapbook] at Spyder's Poetry Empire which is my original and permanent home and posts in the Empire of ANGST within Spyder's Poetry Empire. He also has a library in the Pathetic Poets' Society.