Day 5: “Meditation”
Introspection
Motivated Listening
Mindless buzz
Endless thoughts
Everybody QUIET!
Close the eyes
Relax the body
Follow the breath
Focus
Listen
Relax
Open the eyes
Rejoin the day
Day 5: “Meditation”
Introspection
Motivated Listening
Mindless buzz
Endless thoughts
Everybody QUIET!
Close the eyes
Relax the body
Follow the breath
Focus
Listen
Relax
Open the eyes
Rejoin the day
Day 4: “Rainy Day in College”
Trickling rain
My brain listens
I am cleansed
A new day
A new motivation
A new resolve
Artistic expression
Devoted attention
Intrigued interest
Exercise the body
Exercise the mind
Cleanse the spirit
Day 3: Untitled
Acceptance
Accountability
Asking questions
Acceptance
Understanding
Letting it go
Accountability
Acknowledging
Calling out
Asking questions
Digging deeper
Continuing
Acceptance
Accountability
Asking questions
Untethered
Free
Alive
As I continue this series, I find myself wanting to edit, change, and make excuses for the poems I create. I decided when I started this that I will not edit or judge what I create; I will just allow the poems to help me get things off of my chest. This is a challenge for me because I always seek perfection and want people to like me and like the work I create. As I share this poem, which happens to not be my most favorite thing I’ve ever written, I will grant myself grace and release the words into the void (aka the Internet). Maybe I will use this internal struggle as inspiration for my poem tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Day 2: Untitled
Tears threaten
My brain is flooded with nothingness
My only success
from the day
is learning about musicians and the making of music
But I have no motivation for actual classwork.
I feel like shit.
I need to calm down.
I need to loosen my reins on control.
There is a lot going on in the world, and I often struggle with letting out my internal thoughts and emotions. I decided to start writing a poem every day to help me let go of things I tend to hold on to that don’t serve me. The poems are short and not necessarily the best things ever written, but they are a therapeutic outlet for me. Maybe this is something that would interest you, or you have another artistic outlet you would like to explore on a daily basis. So, you can tag along for the ride and maybe even create something for yourself, too.
Day 1: “Procrastination”
Apathy pulls me
Laziness moves me
The screen controls me
I sit up
The blanket falls
I clean
I cook
I work out
But nothing gets done
The light shines, glistens on the pond
The green so sweet; I’ve grown so fond
A bird chirps and sings her melody
A dream so far, a distant remedy
The sky so bright, a sacred bond
A fear so big for what’s beyond
I don’t want to leave, to end this song
Nature floats, a sight so heavenly
The light shines, glistens on the pond
Mother calls, waves her heavy wand
A change too big; I don’t respond
Here I want to be so desperately
This transition could end in tragedy
I promise to return, to correspond
The light shines, glistens on the pond
Out from under clouds
Raindrops fall on tired ground
Eager for new life
Hate
Bigotry
Pain
War
Ignorance
Repeat
Repeat
No listening
No learning
No communicating effectively
We bicker
We raise our voices
To reiterate the fact that we are right
And you are wrong
There is no gray area
I hate you because you don’t believe what I believe
I will not listen to your experience
I will not try to understand why you believe what you do
Instead
I will complain
I will yell
I will cry
I will scream
That it’s not fair
That people are crazy
That our country is doomed
I will feel helpless
Hopeless
All fight gone
All drive gone
Limp
And lifeless
I will continue the cycle
Hate
Bigotry
Pain
War
Ignorance
I will live in my bubble
I will not listen to you
I will not love you
I will not do anything
But wait
Wait for the time when I do not have to feel angry
For a time when all of those around me believe like me
For a time when we can all agree
For a time when I do not have to raise my voice just to try to be heard
I will wait
And nothing will get done
I stand
Shoulders back
Which is hard for someone so used to using poor posture
To cower down
And hide away
I stand
Smile wide
No longer to try to make up for something
But showing what I know is inside
What I know I can do
I stand
Ready for anything
Instead of butterflies
I feel the quiet
The calm
I can do it
I stand
Ready for conversation
No longer shying away
No longer trying to skate by
But wanting to form relationships
Wanting to make a difference
In someone’s life
In my own
I stand
Thoughts positive
Radiating outward
Spreading love
To others
To myself
I stand
Excited
With what I’ve done
With how far I’ve come
For the future
For my life
So I push my shoulders back
I smile bright
I stand
Ready for anything
Ready for my life
I know now
That I am brave
That I have changed
That I am strong
That I am confident
That I can do this
That I have done it
That I will continue
Improving
Changing
Smiling
Standing tall
I will continue
I can do this
Home
Is it where I have been all my life?
The same room
The same kitchen
The same yard
The same life
Is it who I’m with?
My mom
My brother
My pets
Can it only describe one place?
Stationary and unmoving
No place just like it?
Or can it be reinvented?
Can moving be creating a new home?
Will change create a new home?
A new normal?
But what happens to the old?
Leaving behind the life I knew
What is next?
Where will I go?
How will I feel?
Can home be created a thousand times
A million times
In a lifetime?
The next home I go
Will be far away
Far away from the life I knew
Loss and change have taken people away
There is sadness and triumph
Who will fill my new home?
All of this
Change
Excitement
Fear
Will be used to create
A new life
A new normal
A new home
And it all starts with me