In English, we say “I’ve moved on from all that,” but poetry has never been that concise. In poetry, we never say it straight. Behind layers of metaphors and images, poets hide the raw emotion so that the painful is made beautiful. With each etch of the pen on paper, we say that we mean it; we say that this is worth the ink. We respect the perfect page.
In poetry, we bleed slowly, figuring out the emotions behind each drop and giving words to the splatters so that others might understand what we mean by a sinking heart, a racing mind, a numb body. The audience says they understand. The poet doesn’t feel as alone anymore. In poetry, “moving on” is tying a sturdy rope around our middle, securing it to the past so that, at any given moment, we may give that rope a small tug to be transported back to crowded hallways, silent classrooms, or dirty bathroom floors. Three steps forward, one step back. Slow progress, but full pages.
In poetry, “all that” could be a name, a place, a thought process, a past self that is not needed anymore. “All that” means everything. It means nothing. It means something different depending on the angle.
In English, we speak words to move on from certain topics of conversation, but in poetry, we immortalize the discomfort. Welcome the reflection. Crave to confront those that we wish to erase. No topic is off limits. No stone of humanity left unturned.
In the mind of every poet is a list of anniversaries, a map of locations, a catalog of emotions. No matter how hard they aim to continue, a poet never truly means it when they say they’ve forgotten it all.
In English, we may say “I’ve moved on.” In poetry, we make sure that we never really do.
People get frustrated with poetry- with its flowery and fluffy language that does nothing butcloud the intended message, but in discussions with my friends about what my writing “means,”I always respond with “whatever you want it to mean.” I wrote this to try and answer those kindsof questions better. I truly want the things I write to make sense to the audience- not for theaudience to make sense of me. I may have had my original meaning, but even my view of myown writing changes every time I read it. This poem also reveals the heart and mind of the poet-too complex and overwhelming to be blunt. Poetry is the escape from needing to have a reasonfor everything, and that’s what I wanted to get across in this piece.
Emily Axtman is a senior from Wisconsin studying Professional Writing. She writes to provide perspective and to thank the people who have impacted her most. Her process starts with ideas in her notes app, and if she’s lucky they’ll find their way into a finished piece. Her writing is centered around a theme of human experiences and her own faith.
Emily Axtman is a senior from Wisconsin studying Professional Writing. She writes to provide perspective and to thank the people who have impacted her most. Her process starts with ideas in her notes app, and if she’s lucky they’ll find their way into a finished piece. Her writing is centered around a theme of human experiences and her own faith.
Emily Axtman is a senior from Wisconsin studying Professional Writing. She writes to provide perspective and to thank the people who have impacted her most. Her process starts with ideas in her notes app, and if she’s lucky they’ll find their way into a finished piece. Her writing is centered around a theme of human experiences and her own faith.
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