Poetry Expresses Our Souls

photo by Geralt 

I know it has been awhile since I last posted though I did say I would post more often. Unfortunately, work and life get in the way of blogging at times, especially for teachers during exam time. However, with Spring Break here and Summer Vacation just around the bend, hopefully my blogging will become more consistent. I’ll do my best.

Today, in honor of poetry month, I want to discuss what poetry means to me as well as share a new poem with you. I’ve been writing poetry since high school, and I actually published one in an anthology at a tender age. I was prompted to write more poetry in those years to express the loss of my close friend who passed away so young. So poetry became the vehicle for my emotions with that one tragic event and has accompanied me throughout my life.  After writing more poetry, I moved on to short stories, novels and screenplays. However, poetry is special to me because, unlike other writing, it allows me to express the depth of my soul. All of my thoughts, ideas, emotions, and even bits of my soul go into my poems. Some are positive while others reflect the dark moods that cloud my days. Poetry is like my diary, my counselor, and balm for my soul. Sometimes what I cannot put into words can easily be expressed in poetry. I enjoy painting with words, creating art, using rhyme and other literary devices to bring about the best poem that I can while expressing myself and hopefully sharing some insight with the world. Sometimes I might reflect my life, or sometimes I just enjoy creating stories about other personas. Poetry has literally saved my life many times (or my sanity).

I have many favorite poets like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath and others. Their poems speak to my heart. Poetry is like music that soothes my soul.  

The following poem was written after the death of my aunt; she was like a mother figure for me, so as you can imagine I was depressed and in a funk. Then some words whirled in my mind, as they always do, and I started writing a line. Then the words came out on paper, and I spent the next couple of days editing and rewriting my poem. But at least some of my sadness and stress was released and a work of art was created. Here is “Many Faces”; I hope it will touch your hearts.  Enjoy!

Many Faces

The many faces of Eve

From memory I retrieve.

All the habits and skills

To make life such a thrill.

What a façade…such a lie!

Yet, in this world we cannot cry.

The outside is happy and complete,

While the inside is broken and deplete.

Where’s the help and rescue?

On my own while sinking in blues.

Life’s joke…sink or swim…

Almost on the razor-sharp rim.

Tears are stuck and freezing,

Life laughs back and is teasing.

Yet, the façade is perfect and precise.

Hiding the chaos that at my soul slices.

The smile is statue-like molded,

While at my mistakes I’m scolded.

Perfect happiness is expected

But deep depression is internally reflected.

Who will I pretend to be today

Just to bring others sunshiny rays?

Successful, strong and perfectly living,

Yet drowning in self-doubting chaos while giving

My soul to the world so cruel,

And always retaining the last jewel.

World! You can’t have my best part!

This is the me you can’t have inside my heart.

The fortress is built and you get what you see.

Just take your due and please leave me!

How many faces of Eve are there?

As many as I need to protect my lair.

                                                --Lena Winfrey Hayat

photo from Creative Commons