Poetry Exhibition
For this project we were assigned the task of creating our own poetry. We wrote and memorized poems that we each created based on topics influenced by what we learned during the year. To prepare for our exhibition we each were put on teams from tech to publicity, publishing to design, we were in charge of creating our own poetry cafe.
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An Apology to Society
An Apology to Society
By: Ava Stills
We are told that it’s our fault,
We are taught to hide ourselves,
We are scolded for our bodies,
I’m sorry if my shoulders are too much,
I’m sorry that you teach us to cover ourselves but don’t teach them not to stare,
I’m sorry that it shows that our education is valued less when you send us out of class because they cannot handle seeing our skin,
We live thinking that we are not good enough,
We learn to take their critiques and wrap ourselves in them like a blanket,
We are thought of as prey but are treated like we were wanting to be caught by the predator,
I’m sorry that our precious skin is a problem,
I’m sorry that they grow up with the idea that we are simply a blank canvas for them to paint their desires on,
I’m sorry that they are not taught to respect us like the humans we are,
We have to learn to protect ourselves from them,
We have to start everyday planning and packing for the worst to happen to our bodies,
We have only a whisper against their roar of accusation,
I’m sorry that you teach us how to hide but don’t tell them not to do the seeking,
I’m sorry that when I love myself you are offended,
I’m sorry if my body contradicts the notion that we should be a Barbie,
We must start to be at home in our own skin,
We must learn to welcome in the love as if it was a dear friend,,
We need to fight for a say in ourselves,
I’m sorry that your teachings are opposed by our self love,
I’m sorry that these are our bodies and our decisions,
I am so very sorry that we love ourselves for everything we are worth.
By: Ava Stills
We are told that it’s our fault,
We are taught to hide ourselves,
We are scolded for our bodies,
I’m sorry if my shoulders are too much,
I’m sorry that you teach us to cover ourselves but don’t teach them not to stare,
I’m sorry that it shows that our education is valued less when you send us out of class because they cannot handle seeing our skin,
We live thinking that we are not good enough,
We learn to take their critiques and wrap ourselves in them like a blanket,
We are thought of as prey but are treated like we were wanting to be caught by the predator,
I’m sorry that our precious skin is a problem,
I’m sorry that they grow up with the idea that we are simply a blank canvas for them to paint their desires on,
I’m sorry that they are not taught to respect us like the humans we are,
We have to learn to protect ourselves from them,
We have to start everyday planning and packing for the worst to happen to our bodies,
We have only a whisper against their roar of accusation,
I’m sorry that you teach us how to hide but don’t tell them not to do the seeking,
I’m sorry that when I love myself you are offended,
I’m sorry if my body contradicts the notion that we should be a Barbie,
We must start to be at home in our own skin,
We must learn to welcome in the love as if it was a dear friend,,
We need to fight for a say in ourselves,
I’m sorry that your teachings are opposed by our self love,
I’m sorry that these are our bodies and our decisions,
I am so very sorry that we love ourselves for everything we are worth.
Growth as a Poet
As I have gone through this process as a poet I have been able to change and develop my writing and style to display a deeper and more poetic message. In the first draft of my poem my message came through as very aggressive. I was able to change my perspective to create a message that would resonate with listeners more. In my first draft of my poem I had a line that stated, “I’m sorry that they think that they are the ones who control us.” I was able to develop my skills and figure out a calmer and more poetic perspective to write from. As I changed my work I was able to come up a line that now states, “I’m sorry that they grow up with the idea that we are simply a blank canvas for them to paint their desires on.” I truly feel that as my poem developed I was able to communicate a more poetic yet powerful message.
As I have developed my poem I have discovered ways to change and deepen my message to affect my readers more. I feel that in my first draft I used the line, “We have very little power when it comes to whose word against whose.” I really believe that I was able to change the line to create a more poetic and metaphorical phrase. The phrase that I edited and refined from my 1st draft came across as one that had no depth. It felt like a line that lacked emotion and emphasis. I was able to change my emotional impact of my poem by changing my line into one that said, “We have only a whisper against their roar of accusation.” I think that I was able to create a line that adds more depth and power to the message I have in my poem.
During my growth as a poet I feel that I was able to improve many aspects to create a strongly resonating poem. One improvement I made was editing the line, “I’m sorry if you feel demasculinized when I wear my body proudly,” into a softer yet powerful line. The line that I changed ended up reading, “I’m sorry that when I love myself you are offended.” I decided to change this line to change the intellectual message. The original line was one that talked about only the body. Then line that I ended up writing was one that was more open about loving yourself entirely. I believe that my change to my line was a change that created a more generally self loving message to my poem.
As I have developed my poem I have discovered ways to change and deepen my message to affect my readers more. I feel that in my first draft I used the line, “We have very little power when it comes to whose word against whose.” I really believe that I was able to change the line to create a more poetic and metaphorical phrase. The phrase that I edited and refined from my 1st draft came across as one that had no depth. It felt like a line that lacked emotion and emphasis. I was able to change my emotional impact of my poem by changing my line into one that said, “We have only a whisper against their roar of accusation.” I think that I was able to create a line that adds more depth and power to the message I have in my poem.
During my growth as a poet I feel that I was able to improve many aspects to create a strongly resonating poem. One improvement I made was editing the line, “I’m sorry if you feel demasculinized when I wear my body proudly,” into a softer yet powerful line. The line that I changed ended up reading, “I’m sorry that when I love myself you are offended.” I decided to change this line to change the intellectual message. The original line was one that talked about only the body. Then line that I ended up writing was one that was more open about loving yourself entirely. I believe that my change to my line was a change that created a more generally self loving message to my poem.
