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| 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
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| photo from Creative Commons |
