Poetry for Amateurs

There's nothing like shocking news:

I became the Junior Poetry Editor for Argus, our student literary journal.



I know.

Since when am I a poet?

(Since now, apparently.)

I figured that if I am to be a decent editor of poetry, I should also be a decent writer of poetry. So I sat down one day, and began work. I felt quite proud of myself that I managed to write a poem I thought was deep and brilliant. I posted it here originally, but after rereading it... Well, it was nasty. Everything about it. I realized it was a poison to my nowhere-near-perfect-but-always-dreaming blog of free expression, so I removed it from the post.

Next I tried to set a goal to write a small poem every night, but I couldn't write a single word. They say poetry has infinite possibilities--art--and yet, sometimes even the most freedom can be the tightest confinement. It's counterintuitive. Or is it logic, the enemy of all art forms? Perhaps.

So maybe I'm not a poet. But lucky for me, I don't have to be. I just have to recognize good poetry well enough to make a decent editor. Since I do that easily with other forms of writing, I'm hoping it will be no problem. If not, there's always plan B.

(Run away as fast as possible and hope nobody finds me!)

Well, here goes being the Junior Poetry Editor! Wish me luck.

When You Give a Kid a Camera...

What a kid!

You Will Not Be Missed

Dear Drama,

As far as I've understood it, you and I have had a shun-shun relationship for some time now: I ignore you, you ignore me. That was the deal.

But since entering high school, I've found that it's much too difficult to stick with the program. No offense, but High School reeks of you. You're everywhere, and it makes everything so much more complicated--I can't even have a normal conversation with my best friends without having to deal with a little of you. This has got to stop. Don't take it personally, but get the heck out of my life. I'm sorry, but it's over. We're done. Kindly remove yourself from my presence.

Oh, and while you're busy packing up, be a dear and get out of my friends' lives as well. They don't need any of your "products" (rumors). None of your yearly "specials" (prom drama). I bet you anything they don't even want your ad stickers (any high school relationship) floating around the school. Please.

I don't mean to be harsh, but this is the way it's got to be. I feel bad our earlier arrangement didn't work out, but honestly--how long can you ignore someone without eventually stepping on their toes?

Drama, it's done. Please take it and face the fact that Orem High is a lost cause. And if you find you have too much room in your schedule after this, go and bother the politicians for crying out loud! They love you! Just don't ever think to come back, and we're all good.

Thanks so much for understanding. You're a rotten peach.

'Till never,

Maestro