High School Poetry Redux: Part 0.5 – Untitled pencil on paper

As I was rummaging through the abyss that is my book shelf, looking for some unused textbooks to give away to those that might put them to better use, I happened upon some yellowing, randomly folded bits of paper ripped from my high school notebooks and put away for “later”. It had been a while since I had looked at them.

It felt strange, liberating all those demons from the past. The faded trails of graphite rose in wonderous swirls and eddies and left me feeling quizzical, embarrassed, awed and amazed, all at the same time – some lines failed to make any sense; others were clearly worded by someone with too little verbal ability to write blog posts, leave alone poetry; yet others reminded me of times that had been confined to the past, and firmly nailed in place, in the hope that they would never escape their pointy captors.

I dutifully filled in the lines that had been erased out many years ago with the hope of finding better substitutes when plane polarised light wasn’t also begging for attention, swapped out a few words that might’ve caused Shakespeare to consult a dictionary, and did some weeding so that I may present what follows. Of course, if it seems like a half-baked attempt, it’s probably because two of me wrote it.

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Have you ever…
Loved something so much,
You started to hate it?
Wanted something so bad,
Everybody else found it?
Enjoyed something so,
It now brings you sorrow?

Words these fail me again;
Inferior relief
To constant incongruity

Have you ever…
Tried to douse a regret,
Only to magnify the pain?
Reached out for your one true want,
And found too short your hand?
Admired one sight so beautiful,
Your vision it now eludes?

Words these fail me again;
Inferior relief
To constant incongruity

Have you ever…
Tried to break free,
Only to sink deeper within?
Wanted to forget,
But were reminded forevermore?
Had coveted treasure granted
After desire had waned?

Words these fail me again;
Inferior relief
To constant incongruity

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