If you know me (which not many yet do since I just transferred), then you would be aware that I adore poetry. The story behind my adoration of poetry started with a children’s encyclopedia section on haikus. I had hated writing before I was exposed to haikus. I somehow had the notion in my head that I was not creative enough to write, and that since writing never had a perfect solution (as elementary mathematics tends to have), I was constantly frustrated over this inability to achieve perfection in writing.
This striving for perfection has haunted me past my elementary years of writing. It followed into job after job, into friendships, and into my attitude toward myself. This is one of my greatest areas I am working to improve on. To accept oneself, not with complacency, but rather, to accept oneself as a work in progress, but a beautiful one at that, is a goal of mine.
But how better a way to initially expose myself to writing creatively, then to give myself the perimeters of haikus? The simple form bound by restrictions over the amounts of lines and syllables used helped me ease into writing creatively. And now as this semester ends and I wish to reflect on lessons learned, the form of haikus seems like a familiar way to simply analyze and put forth a few of those lessons.
1. Why worry so much?
Isolation is not key
Just try harder girl
2. But don’t try too hard
At the end of the day just
be kind to yourself
3. Boys and girls will come
and they certainly will go
but just smile through
4. Are you there, right now?
Depression go away and come
back another grey day
5. But right now, I feel
okay. And that is progress.
Making myself proud
6. Thank you family
Grandma’s phone’s calls at midnight
They make me smile wide.
7. 3 A.M. drives
Rolling bridges with washing tides,
Me, myself, and I
8. Mid-semester blues
Red heels and sexy fine shoes
Girl, get your mind right
9. Find a new safe space
Switch it up; study all night
Don’t give up the fight
10. I am – Sylvia Plath
Words of writers on my wrist
Lessons learned with bliss
And with those brief stanzas, I reflect on the people, the lessons, and the memories of this semester. Have a great winter break and see you next year!
HCXOXO,
Emily