The sudden calmness
The eerie silence
The prickling of my skin
I try to breathe
I try to find,
Any peace left within
A hear a movement
I turn and strike
Finally!
Success!
But then,
As i try
To open my mouth
My walls begin to break
No words are uttered
No sound is heard
No one to help
I’m stuck
I’m alone,
With the enemy still at large
For years,
I’ve battled and swung my sword at,
“Huzzah!”
This life-long foe.
But even with
My rusted sword
And battered shield,
I will not stop
I will not be silenced
I will not let it win
Public Speaking,
I shall conquer you soon!
Please give a detailed explanation about the meaning and main idea of this poem.:
The main idea of this poem was to personify the battle I faced as I tried to overcome my fear of public speaking. I wanted to inspire others, especially my younger siblings, and show them that conquering this fear is not impossible.
Please explain your writing and thought process regarding this poem.:
Often, I like to take inspiration from past experiences and pop culture. On this particular occasion, I re-imagined my struggle with public speaking as a knight fighting a mythical creature. As I child, I used to love reading stories about King Arthur. I took these two distinct ideas and wove them into a storyline (in poetry form).
Why did you choose to write this poem?:
Poetry is such a powerful way to reflect on one's past experiences. It feels cathartic to release pent-up emotions. I use poetry is a personalized diary that allows me to express myself comfortably.
Do you have any tips or anything to share with the youth writers who may be reading this?:
Let yourself have fun. Poetry is meant to be a safe space so feel free to write about anything; whether it be a social commentary on injustices in society or what you had for lunch.