At the beginning of this semester, Professor Bickmore asked the class - what does poetry mean to you? I did not know how to answer, I did not answer, but instead used this question, to question my writing. Why do I write? What motivates me to write poetry? All these questions kept coming and going but I felt that if I could not answer the initial question,what does poetry mean to me, then anything else that followed would be half-assed. As the semster progressed I learned many forms of poetry, better language usage, and began noticing my approach to writing. I used metacognition to analyze my stance and position to writing. I felt that I was close to finding what poetry meant to me. I was right. By incorporating myself into my work, I began noticing the details, my thinking process, and I began appreciating this form. Poetry to me is a continuance of one ones identity and darkest feelings, the recesses of ones emotions, and ones desires. This fuels my desire to write. What better form of expression! Because I have placed meaning behind poetry, I am able to better appreciate it and it allows me space to write freely. Poetry is unlike any writing because it is independent and not reliant on the world but it is, and solely depends on the writer - any direction can be taken, any world can be created, and any ending can result. I really enjoyed this class and I have learned so much about myself, my peers, and the world.
Moment in Time - version 1
Raising my arm, hoping to capture natures tears in my bucket,
Kneeling in despair, ground moist, shoes torn.
I spot a rose before my sight is consumed by darkness, I reach but fail to grab,
I feel hot, my body aches, pores open, beat slows.
My soul exits, separate I am now from self,
I have free reign, no longer chained by flesh, I run - my run is eternal
Kneeling in despair, ground moist, shoes torn.
I spot a rose before my sight is consumed by darkness, I reach but fail to grab,
I feel hot, my body aches, pores open, beat slows.
My soul exits, separate I am now from self,
I have free reign, no longer chained by flesh, I run - my run is eternal
Moment in Time - revised version
Raising my arm, spread like an eagle, hoping natures essence cascades upon me.
Filled with despair, ground moist, shoes torn. I am tired.
I tilt my head and before my sight is consumed
by darkness, I spot a white rose. The end is near, my
bones tremble and my heart succumbs to the inevitable. My last act is to reach
for the rose, but I fail, my arms to weak to handle the strain.
I feel hot, my body aches, pores open, beat slows.
My soul exits, separate is now my body and mind, distinct.
I have free reign, no longer chained by flesh, I run - my run is eternal
Filled with despair, ground moist, shoes torn. I am tired.
I tilt my head and before my sight is consumed
by darkness, I spot a white rose. The end is near, my
bones tremble and my heart succumbs to the inevitable. My last act is to reach
for the rose, but I fail, my arms to weak to handle the strain.
I feel hot, my body aches, pores open, beat slows.
My soul exits, separate is now my body and mind, distinct.
I have free reign, no longer chained by flesh, I run - my run is eternal
The Jordan is Lonely - version 1
The current is lonely,
Desperate for human presence.
No longer a place
Families come to visit, rather
Avoid if all possible.
When I look at it,
I see nothing,
Not even my reflection, shocking
Isn’t it. The water is tainted,
By human waste in all forms.
Disregard to mother nature,
Garbage flows and appears
To be endless. What has become of
This river?
Desperate for human presence.
No longer a place
Families come to visit, rather
Avoid if all possible.
When I look at it,
I see nothing,
Not even my reflection, shocking
Isn’t it. The water is tainted,
By human waste in all forms.
Disregard to mother nature,
Garbage flows and appears
To be endless. What has become of
This river?
The Jordan is Lonely - revised version
The current is lonely,
desperate for human presence.
No longer a place
families visit, rather
avoid if all possible.
When I look at it,
I come up empty. It has lost its
spark and life essence. It saddens me
to see such a place.
The water is tainted
by human waste in all forms.
I cannot even spot my
reflection, shocking isn’t it.
To see a once beautiful form
become degraded and unrecognizable.
Its beauty was eternal, the flow endless.
Now it only runs out of obligation to
nature. It has lost faith, faith in humankind.
desperate for human presence.
No longer a place
families visit, rather
avoid if all possible.
When I look at it,
I come up empty. It has lost its
spark and life essence. It saddens me
to see such a place.
The water is tainted
by human waste in all forms.
I cannot even spot my
reflection, shocking isn’t it.
To see a once beautiful form
become degraded and unrecognizable.
Its beauty was eternal, the flow endless.
Now it only runs out of obligation to
nature. It has lost faith, faith in humankind.
The dead pursue the living
Fear resonates in the hearts of those being pursued,
Hate is inflicted upon them, but
They will not be silenced.
Oppressed are the ones that cannot afford luxury,
That were not born light skinned,
Whose voices are chained and thrown away – not important, they claimed.
How wrong they were and continue to be – we united,
We observed, we learned, we educated, we advanced.
Fear the ones you silenced.
For they have been climbing up the ladder,
They will pursue and bring to light the injustices inflicted upon them, and
Not be silenced.
By no one, especially you.
Hate is inflicted upon them, but
They will not be silenced.
Oppressed are the ones that cannot afford luxury,
That were not born light skinned,
Whose voices are chained and thrown away – not important, they claimed.
How wrong they were and continue to be – we united,
We observed, we learned, we educated, we advanced.
Fear the ones you silenced.
For they have been climbing up the ladder,
They will pursue and bring to light the injustices inflicted upon them, and
Not be silenced.
By no one, especially you.
Student
The night seeks out the day,
Like I seek out food.
The earth rumbles and shakes,
Like my stomach does when
I am hungry.
-
Expectations always there,
Good grades are a must.
Else, I fear for my GPA
--
Time is eternal,
I wish for it when I sleep.
My eyes closed,
Eyelashes tied down
By tiredness
---
I am a student,
This is how I live
I will survive,
Hopefully
Like I seek out food.
The earth rumbles and shakes,
Like my stomach does when
I am hungry.
-
Expectations always there,
Good grades are a must.
Else, I fear for my GPA
--
Time is eternal,
I wish for it when I sleep.
My eyes closed,
Eyelashes tied down
By tiredness
---
I am a student,
This is how I live
I will survive,
Hopefully
The Cycle is Broken
Oblivious to my surrounding
I speak my mind without fear
Of repercussion, noticing late
That people listen.
My opinion spreads like wild fire
But I stand firm.
My thought process is firm
And now my surroundings
Cause an ache in me, like fire.
They will fear
Messing with me, I will make them listen.
Or might it be already too late?
This cycle began because I was late
To dinner. My father has always been firm
With being on time, but I did not listen.
I chose to stay longer absorbed by my surroundings.
Now my family’s reputation is at stake and I fear
For them. They will be absorbed by fire.
This nation is fire.
It burns and kills, it is already too late
To escape. I fear
That I will waver and no longer be firm.
My surroundings
Slowly wither and diminish, I cannot listen.
I will not listen
Anymore. Because to extinguish fire
One must sacrifice their surroundings
To the earth, and hope it is not too late
For brave souls to unite and become firm.
Death will follow, I fear.
My body’s engine runs on fear
Because I listen
To the sorrow of my people, and that makes me firm
With choosing to declare war on fire.
I believe it is not too late
To regain our surroundings.
I speak my mind without fear
Of repercussion, noticing late
That people listen.
My opinion spreads like wild fire
But I stand firm.
My thought process is firm
And now my surroundings
Cause an ache in me, like fire.
They will fear
Messing with me, I will make them listen.
Or might it be already too late?
This cycle began because I was late
To dinner. My father has always been firm
With being on time, but I did not listen.
I chose to stay longer absorbed by my surroundings.
Now my family’s reputation is at stake and I fear
For them. They will be absorbed by fire.
This nation is fire.
It burns and kills, it is already too late
To escape. I fear
That I will waver and no longer be firm.
My surroundings
Slowly wither and diminish, I cannot listen.
I will not listen
Anymore. Because to extinguish fire
One must sacrifice their surroundings
To the earth, and hope it is not too late
For brave souls to unite and become firm.
Death will follow, I fear.
My body’s engine runs on fear
Because I listen
To the sorrow of my people, and that makes me firm
With choosing to declare war on fire.
I believe it is not too late
To regain our surroundings.
Who am I, you ask
Sometimes I walk a little faster in
Fear of pissing you off. The fact is, I
Tremble and am in constant heartache. You
Lied, your melody is toxic and your
Presence is atrocious. I never used
To hate, now my hate knows no reserve. I
Hate with ungodly passion. What have I
Become? No longer do I recognize
Myself. Who does my reflection show? I
Distrust because I am broken. Alone
-
In this desolate world, no soul to turn to,
No prince charming. Illusions plague my mind.
Time knows no stop for it is eternal.
I feel claustrophobic in this body,
My skin holds back my true self, bones do not
Permit the shift and natural order.
Sometimes I walk a little faster in
Fear you will catch me and feed on my soul.
It is all about the chase for the dead.
Fear of pissing you off. The fact is, I
Tremble and am in constant heartache. You
Lied, your melody is toxic and your
Presence is atrocious. I never used
To hate, now my hate knows no reserve. I
Hate with ungodly passion. What have I
Become? No longer do I recognize
Myself. Who does my reflection show? I
Distrust because I am broken. Alone
-
In this desolate world, no soul to turn to,
No prince charming. Illusions plague my mind.
Time knows no stop for it is eternal.
I feel claustrophobic in this body,
My skin holds back my true self, bones do not
Permit the shift and natural order.
Sometimes I walk a little faster in
Fear you will catch me and feed on my soul.
It is all about the chase for the dead.