Writing Prompt
POEM STARTER
Inspired by Maranda Quinn
Write a poem centred around the theme of destruction.
Writings
Sharking
I’m tired of waiting Always waiting Wondering when you’ll notice
I gave you so many signs It’s not hard to understand That I’m not what you Want me to be
When do I have to Destroy the perfect picture Of the girl you think I am
I’m sitting here My world spinning My heart pumping Too fast Too slow My thoughts scattered But you don’t know You can’t see it You won’t see it
“They can find it in anyone” That’s not how it works
When do I have to tell you When do I give up The hope of being perfect Fitting into your box Fitting in
Some people won’t like That I’m saying all of this It makes them feel invalidated Or something like that But when do I get to say That I know myself Well enough to tell
I don’t want to destroy her The dream daughter That you see me as But she never really existed in the first place
When I walked in circles Around Around Around you You told me “Stop sharking” Like I wanted to in the first place That was a sign
When I sast in class And my mind started reeling My heart running When I felt dizzy At the thought of being called on That was a sign
When I wouldn’t eat anything That wasn’t beige And cheesy And simple When I didn’t finish my cereal If it got even a little soggy When I wouldn’t eat anything That I didn’t deem “normal” That was a sign
When I used the carpet To dry my hands Because I hated the feel Of the towels That was a sign
When I couldn’t sleep Unless you held me Read to me At the same time every night In the same place The same voice Or I wouldn’t sleep That was a sign
How many signs does it take To break the box To free myself To get what I need
How many signs does it take To destroy the person You think I am
Napalm Rain
Liquified flesh
Incendiary screams
Makers of the death sky’s
Pure souls deflowered
Innocence is lost
Upon the sludge flames
A concophony of choas
Animals and humans in discord
A chorus of hellish screams
War of the unholy heroes
Jungle of the burnt man
Wasted time
Wasted lives
Lost to the fumes of time
Earth that is beyond scorched
The scars of the unfair
Breathe stolen; life ablaze
The dinosaur’s coal
Turned into another extinction attempt
Gorillas won; patriots lost
Like a dog being scolded
Forgive us not
Naplam rain; knows no end
Naplam destruction left innocents
Naked, burned and afraid
History remembers
"Echoes of Ruin"
Beneath the weight of shattered skies,
The earth ignites, the silence dies.
In crumbling streets, the ashes fall,
A broken world, no voice to call.
a place so pretty, now in ruins. nobody sure what to say. will the world continue after this day.
people work, people sleep. but the world they once had, is now obsolete.
they try to fix it. they try to ignore but this place is now unfit.
they try to apologize. they beg for forgiveness. the world is a lie. the world is a mess.
they try their best to fix it all. but humans, their world is simply meant to fall.
analysis
Theme
Central Idea: The poem explores themes of destruction, loss, and the futility of human efforts to restore a world that has been irrevocably damaged. It reflects on the consequences of human actions and the deep sense of despair that accompanies the recognition of a broken society.
Subject Matter: The subject matter revolves around a post-apocalyptic scenario where the environment is in ruins, and humanity grapples with the aftermath of its own choices. The imagery suggests a once-beautiful place now devastated, highlighting feelings of helplessness and remorse.
Language
Word Choice: The language used in the poem is stark and evocative. Words and phrases like "shattered skies," "ashes fall," and "broken world" create vivid imagery of devastation. Phrases such as "a place so pretty, now in ruins" juxtapose beauty with destruction, emphasizing the loss.
Literary Devices:
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Imagery: Vivid descriptions create a strong visual representation of decay and destruction.
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Personification: The earth "ignites" and "silence dies," attributing human-like qualities to nature to emphasize the emotional weight of the scene.
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Repetition: The use of "they try" emphasizes the futile efforts of humanity to mend what has been broken, reinforcing the theme of despair.
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Contrast: The poem contrasts the past beauty of the world with its current state of ruin, highlighting the depth of loss.
Sound and Rhythm
Syllabic Patterns and Stresses: The poem does not adhere to a strict meter, giving it a free verse feel that aligns with the chaotic themes presented. However, there are moments of rhythmic emphasis, particularly in lines that convey strong emotional weight (e.g., "A broken world, no voice to call"). The varying syllable counts create a disjointed rhythm, reflecting the disorder of the subject matter.
Structure
Framework: The poem consists of several stanzas of varying lengths, which contribute to the overall feeling of fragmentation.
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Stanza Breaks: The breaks between stanzas allow for pauses, giving space for reflection on each part of the narrative.
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Rhyme Patterns: There is an irregular rhyme scheme; some lines rhyme while others do not, creating an unpredictable flow that mirrors the chaos described within the poem.
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Punctuation: The use of periods and commas contributes to the poem's rhythm, with periods signaling finality and despair at the end of thoughts. The absence of punctuation in certain lines allows for a more fluid interpretation.
Context
Who: The poem could be interpreted as a collective voice of humanity grappling with its failures and the consequences of its actions.
What: It reflects on the state of the world following destruction and the struggles of individuals to come to terms with the new reality.
Where: The setting can be imagined as a dystopian landscape, representative of any place affected by war, disaster, or environmental collapse.
When: The poem speaks to a timeless theme of human suffering and resilience, but it could be particularly relevant in contemporary discussions about climate change, conflict, and societal breakdown.
Why: The poem serves as a reflection on the fragility of human existence and the impact of our choices, urging readers to consider the consequences of their actions on the world around them. It highlights the emotional turmoil faced by individuals in the wake of collective failure.
Author Of My Own Destruction
One day, the earth cracked open And another asshole leapt out, smirking with malice I ended up marrying him Like an idiot
A red dawn appeared out of the blue And I threw a thunderbolt at it, but it eluded me I ended up causing a landslide I hit bottom
A trash compactor with teeth yawned widely And I threw everything I loved into it I ended up alone Like garbage
Ups And Downs
Life has its ups and downs Why is it always down I can’t find an up And somehow it keeps getting lower
Why can’t it stop I think the same thing every morning Why can’t my thoughts, My questions be answered
I just want to know something I can’t get answers
I want to be done with life So does my brain So does my body Why can’t it just stop
burning tyres
You've gotten sloppy; Your poems don't read like they used to. Hand sanitiser, drying up. What use have you for being clean? Or maybe you should down it.
Tell me why You only write when your lungs are Asbestos and dynamite. So you can spill onto a screen Your godless coughing, and Un-literary prowess? Whispered screams And puppy eyes, You're barking mad.
When did you forget what poetry is? Why have your words gone Cold and meaningless?
Why has your body?
You wish you knew how to write about beauty, Or to write beautifully about tragedy. To describe love; If only you could see it.
Write that essay, that Christmas card. Know that none of it means anything. Don't type that comment, that compliment; You no longer have the words.
You crumpled the sheet into an Origami fireball. Fight for love. Destroy yourself. When did you start hiding from the bombs?
What's left to do?
You're scared that poetry Has fallen out of love with you.
Are Some People Made For Destruction?
Everything I touch shatters The fire in my eyes turns it to ash My heart is a rock, it was turned to stone.
I should stop touching things They may stop breaking But then how do I survive?
Stand back! Don’t come any nearer. I don’t want to break you too…
Oh my darling, Oh my sweet child, Oh my love.
Must you be confined to such pain? Have I trapped you in that prison, The prison of your mind?
You worry and it’s nobody’s fault Save for my own. The only solution Is for me to leave. I can’t.
Destroy:
i don’t know what to do i wish i knew what used to bring me so much joy became building blocks for you to destroy i put myself on a silver platter all for you to push me down after i need a new sight to show me how to fight this fight im done with these expectations like i am one of your presentations i don’t want to be shoved in this mold but one mistake turned into a scold i met the smoke before i saw the fire the flames became higher and higher i need this to end but where do i even begin?