"Personal Hellicon"

I was recently trapped by writer's block--a condition that plagues me every so often--and having read through this poem again, I believe I have found a directed remedy to my plight. This poem, "Personal Helicon" by Seamus Heaney, shows the speakers growth as a man from carefree child to self-aware adult. Interestingly he uses a well to symbolize his ability to see himself as others see him--humanity is a well of experience (or some such quote in cliche). The first well has no reflection, and that is when Heaney's play seems most full of mirth. That is when true creativity and fun are taking place. Then a face starts to take it's form: first as a hovering, white apparition, then a fully fledged reflection (like the of Narcissus).

I thought to myself, having come to terms with the fact that I have writer's block, what am I trying to write for? Fame? Publication? Money? No, I was writing for the sake of creativity and expression. In this poem, I found that intended audiences, people we assume to be critiquing our work, force us to see the mirror and polish, rather than create. As thus, I have taken to writing in privacy. No expectations, no reflections about appearance, and no stress. I am cured at last.