Our (optional) prompt for the day asks you to engage in another kind of cross-cultural exercise, as it is inspired by the work of Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer who lived more than 1000 years ago. She wrote a journal that came to be known as The Pillow Book. In it she recorded daily observations, court gossip, poems, aphorisms, and musings, including lists with titles like “Things That Have Lost Their Power,” “Adorable Things,” and “Things That Make Your Heart Beat Faster.” Today, I’d like to challenge you to write your own Sei Shonagon-style list of “things.” What things? Well, that’s for you to decide!

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I found the challenge today interesting and I think I will come back to it once the 30 day challenge is done because today’s prompt serves as an introspection. Among the many lists that I made and erased, I finally decided to share this which truly defines me.

My poem for today is – Things that make me run

Small talk, pasted smiles

Sweet lies, narrow minds

Screeching sounds, condescending tones

Uncultured folk, messy homes

These are a few of the things that make me run

Meanness and hypocrisy
Selfishness and dishonesty

Throwing around of clout

Envy and doubt

These are a few of the things that make me run

When friendship means partying

And lively chatter is ‘backbiting’

When simplicity is an unkempt look

And a woman’s role is only to clean and cook

These are a few of the things that make me run

When I need space

And I feel like a horse in a race

When love means control

And I am losing sight of my goal

I simply know the time has come for me to run

Then I run-

And I run so far

And I run so fast

I don’t look back

And I don’t slack

Until I’m feeling back on track

© SmithaV

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