An Essay About My Poems

My poems are parables. They are real but they are not true. The writer braids true stories experienced in linear time into a singular moment. She also leaves room for fantasy—fictitious flirtations with moments yet to come. And projections into what might have been.

My poems are intentions. It’s impossible to be anyone other than me and fully understand the essence of each word chosen and feeling expressed. Find meaning where you find meaning, keeping in mind these poems are not about me. Unless you literally are me.

I hope that makes sense.

My poems are easy. They are in my brain ready to dump onto a page or they do not exist. I’m precious about writing essays. This is me showing up to my writing in a very different way.  With poems, I just let it go. Sometimes they look like hard work and sometimes they are entirely lazy, me rolling to my side and downloading my latest epiphany “as is” into my notes app.

My poems are a promise. This is where I let go. I no longer give a fuck if it’s right or wrong or (gasp!) indifferent. I will use too many adverbs and em dashes. My verbs will be flat if they want to be. No one ever needs to read them for me to feel good about having written them.

My poems are surrender. To the moment, to perfectly imperfect creative self-expression. 

Have you ever been invited to let go of a version of yourself and jump into something entirely uncomfortable and strange? I’d love to learn your story. Leave a comment!