I have been in a writing slump lately and have not posted any new work in a while. This is temporary and I'll get some new things out soon. Please check back often. Steven
"To put it all short, writing poetry is a deep form which like cool water, refreshes and often temporarily soothes the pain of the poet." --Steven Leake
Introduction
A young man dealing with the affects of Schizoaffective Disorder uses writing to cope and promote self-healing. Steven refers to his style as "Grunge Poetry." He is also an advocate for the mentally ill and those individuals who live on the fringe of society, a place where he involuntary spends much of his time.
Use this site to get to know Steven and the sometimes unbearable torment one faces everyday in the world that is mental illness.
He seeks not fame, but a good night's sleep, not fortune but friends and normalcy. He seeks relief from the erratic thoughts that are interfering with his ability to see things as others around him do. He understands what is at stake, a future that is void of things that most people take for granted. The intelligence is there, at times the wit, generosity always. He has trouble handling some aspects of daily living but at the same time can discuss complex geo-political issues here and abroad and delve deeply into philosophy.
Steven is very proud of his heritage, his lineage; he has a great love for South Carolina and his country.
He hopes you will enjoy his site and his poetry.
Steven - Writer
Steven Working Late in His 2nd Floor Studio in York
Col. William H. McCorkle my Great Great Great Grandfather fought and was wounded slightly at Antietem. He Returned to York and lived to be an old man. He died in 1904.
What Writing Is to Me
Writing allows the many swirling, puzzling emotions floating around my head to escape from the air and down onto paper. From this form, not only do I create a temporary clarity but it allows me to make something beautiful out of something overlooked and ugly. Ever since I was clutched in the corner, crying from a lost love at the time, it dawned on me the true purpose of life. In mere existence as human beings I've found that the only way to cope and thrive and evolve is to take the pain which hits you in the stomach, and accept it to make beauty out of it. It never passes a day when one sees those in lower positions than us, there lives askew and (against Hollywood movie hopes) are likely hopeless. Then you see one who took the same pain and now is great at what they do. It's how you take the pain and form beauty from it. With poetry, the writer feels the ugliest, most nefarious sentiments; this includes feeling of self doubt to feelings of scary, ranting moments of mania. So, to sort such sentiments and put them into a poem for not only you but others to read, enjoy, and hopefully grow by, it is nothing short of amazing to alter something from horrid to life-changing. In addition, considering that poetry is not all sadness, to have an outlet in which to express joy as well is equally as liberating. To put it all short, writing poetry is a deep form which like cool water, refreshes and often temporarily soothes the pain of the poet.
"From his poetry can you cut each individual phrase and find something magnificent. When you hold each phrase and line by itself, the tremendous amount of imagery put into each word creates and outstanding power. It literally feels as if someone dead bolts you into your chair and your eyes can only follow the remaining words. The words of this talented poet swirl and swim inside of your consciousness in a pleasant, artistic stew within your imagination. However, in the end the obscure shadows and colors which he delicately, cleverly sculpts appears into your head, transforming into a clear image which not only is pretty and expressive, but has a significant lesson to tell the reader. In many of his poems, a unique glimpse is put into an otherwise ugly or taboo lifestyle. However, at the end of the reading you see the beauty which only the very few see, altering your perception for mere moments, although that in itself expands as far as the greatest of poets." -- Sarah Marie MFA
Many thanks to: Sarah Marie, Deborah Hobbs and Clint Alexander for supporting my literary endevers.
