For today’s prompt, Kyle Dargan suggests writing out a list of all of your different layers of identity. For example, you might be a wife, a grandmother, a Philadelphian, a dental assistant, a rabid Phillies fan, a seamstress, retiree, agnostic, cancer survivor, etc.. These are all ways you could be described or lenses you could be viewed through. Now divide all of those things into lists of what makes you feel powerful and what makes you feel vulnerable. Now write a poem in which one of the identities from the first list contends or talks with an identity from the second list. This might turn out to be kind of a “heavy” exercise, emotionally, but I hope you will find the results enlightening.
When I started the poem, it felt heavy just like it was said. The entire process felt like an introspection and somewhere along the line, I felt the vulnerable me had to change to the stronger me for I wanted the world to know me only as a strong person. That was the part of me I liked, got the praise and got me recognition. However, writing the poem made me realize that the strong me would be incomplete if not for the other side of me. I enjoyed the journey I took while writing this poem. It was enlightening, no doubt. A wonderful exercise for everybody, not just those who write poetry.
Confident, stylish, smart
That’s how they see me
Naive, sensitive, simple
That’s how they see you
You’re really quite the opposite of me
Dependent, indecisive, sacrificer
That’s what I think of you
Independent, decisive, go-getter
That’s what you know of me
I’m truly quite the opposite of you
Those that know you are clueless about me
For when you’re around, I’m not.
Those that know me are oblivious of you
For when I’m around, you’re not.
They say I could never be you Or you, me.
I hear them say, “She’s different” –
Demanding yet understanding
Quick yet patient
A fighter, a forgiver
She doesn’t give up, she’s focused, she’s fun…
I like what they say… I really do
And truly, I believe it’s all thanks to you…
Go on…Be who you are,
Don’t change and don’t let me too,
Remind me like you do, if ever I do,
You’re you and I appreciate that,
You make me a better person. That’s a fact!
You and I, two sides of the same coin…
I like how we meet, diverge and join…Again!
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