Hi again, I don't know that anyone can really answer that query but you, I think if you asked all writers how they go about writing each would differ. Personally I would encourage whatever you did here & whatever works for you. Certainly that's what I do ("letting the words flow out of me with my mood, instead of mixing and matching to construct something") & even if I do "construct something", there is always a large element of the former involved anyway... Most of my writing is really stream of consciousness, sometimes with a topic or theme, or an idea of outcome eg writing a song to be sung by the singing group I run, or for me, or writing a rhyming poem or expressing a sentiment specific to current events etc.... or not. Often I just write & am almost like a witness to what turns up, whilst consciously shaping also. Neo is teaching me to be more vigilant & edit where I never used, but then, back then no one ever saw any of my poems, only the songs got any public attention.

Most of all, if advice is useful for you, mine would be to just write & keep writing & don't be afraid to try different approaches, but in the end, do the thing that makes your heart sing... you know what I mean. All we do here is share opinions mostly, but I find, any input usually helps us think over our own processes & must be useful.
Enjoy
Cheers
Anni

Might I just add here, I have just read other comments & your responses, I'm wondering if you want feedback also on the content, or effect of your write here? Sounds like you did. For what it's worth, I try to avoid writing the darker stuff in a public arena, somehow I believe we are what we express, & it is stronger if that is public (I will say that is purely MY perspective, worth some thought I think, but not meant to be forced on you), in that light I got a bit edgy at some of the ways you expressed your circumstances in this write, purely because it doesn't give you options, which are critical for us, humans I mean, we need option to pull out of darker places or we are very distressed... but the main thing here is that regardless of the content I had to keep reading, that is the mark of a good write... & content is purely a personal things... Your first response above just asks how the write landed on the reader, my response to that is that it will always be personal, but for me, I had to tighten up my sensitivities & switch to exploring the form & flow of the poem because the content had elements of hopelessness & finality that I find too "ouchy" to absorb... as I said though, despite that, I respected the poem for the use of language & imagery etc. The story IS sad & is only one way to look at things, that's all, I guess I avoid posting stuff with this much dark passion because it can dig up depression in a reader if it is well written, probably depression has to be there to dig up though, so just post whatever you feel comfortable posting, just letting you know how it landed for me.

Cheers
Cloud

yes that will happen but if we are aware, as you have stated: "is there a chance that all our poetry will begin to sound the same" then we can search for the other voice we hear, because as I do, I am sure you hear many.
"Isn't choice grand"

Eddie
...

you"re welcome, but remember this thought came from you. I am just standing on the outside looking in through the window of your mind which you have left open for a moment for all to see. So it's about you and your perspective.

Thanks,
Eddie