“Light in the Dark” was an experimental piece, in which I was playing with the idea of telling a story through poetry. Many of the poems I write tend to be centered around a particular event or emotion and I wanted to break out of these personal restraints. As a writer, it is easy to fall into one comfortable style and become stagnant and predictable. In order to improve your skills and writings, it is essential to branch out of your comfort zone and experiment with various subjects, genres, types of work, etc.
The sky is pale blue like lilacs.
The color of your eyes after you cry.
Those September nights when
we used to drive
100 down the highway,
screaming and singing until
we were reduced to whispers.
We had nothing to lose except
our voices. Lying awake
to the light of a match,
like young girls at a sleepover.
We were 16.
We used to go to the supermarket –
2 A. M. – the only place open
at quiet hours. It was then
that we felt most alive, when the
world went silent and all we could hear
was the overpowering hum
of the parking lot lights
and the ting ting ting
of bugs colliding with them.
Good thing I’m not a bug,
for I would be the first
to go – flying towards the light,
seeking a brighter tomorrow.
You were my light, and I flew
into you, hoping to soak up your
warmth, but being rewarded with
maroon streaked legs and indigo
wrists. If I was a bug
and you were the light, you
would have killed me
right away.
The content of my poem is fictional, but loosely based around experiences and feelings from my teen years. During those years, I fit the bill for “young and reckless,” acting as if I was invincible against the world. At the same time, however, I was vulnerable to the words and actions of my varying love interests, and I allowed many unworthy boys to drive me to the brink of insanity and self-harm. Looking back, I wish I could slap my younger self across the face because of how pointless it was for me to worry about such meaningless relationships. Just as many high schoolers do, I yearned for the comfort of a relationship, seeking a comforting light in the arms of another.
Ultimately, I hope that readers can gain a sense of empowerment after reading this poem. Although it may seem easier to survive the difficult times in life if you are in a relationship, don’t seek a relationship just for the comfort aspect, and don’t seek shelter from the wrong people. Whatever you are going through, you are strong enough to prevail on your own, just as you have done thus far in life.
No matter what, always keep going.
