Young Writers Society

Hi! This is a random weirdo here to review.

I just read your series up to this one, and I gotta say I'm intrigued! And after writing this review, I'll read the rest.

I love this part:

Just

Having

Fun

The fact that you separate these words gives them a sort of eerie feel, though the words themselves give a sense of relief or happiness. It makes me think something bad is about to happen, something worse than camp ending.

And the descriptions are short but vivid; I can almost imagine myself there.

The whole poem has an underlying... I don't know what to call it... dread? It makes me want read more so bad..

Anyway, this is an amazing poem series. Series poem. Bunch of poems. And I will read the rest!

Keep writing!

For an interesting and heartfelt poem, I wonder why there aren't more reviews on this. So I might as well leave a review

The elements of nostalgia, time, and the temporary in this story is quite prominent. You started by setting the story beautifully, describing the soft glow of lights dancing around the camp. You left what the "lights" are to the readers imagination. They could be several campfires situated around the place. They could be a swarm of fireflies flitting around with a soft light. They could be stars that give their generous light from above.

I’m not supposed to be wandering

But it’s their last campout

They’ll be gone soon

The boys who taught me, soon to be off to college

This can infer to one of two things. The narrator is either going to another college away from his friends. The other option is more likely. The narrator is probably younger than his friends and looks up to them as mentors and older brothers. The succeeding lines show the friends having a good time and it shows their close bond.

I find it interesting how you emphasized "just having fun". It gives so much room for interpretation. I first thought it was the narrator being breathlessly happy to spend time with his friends. When I thought more, I realized it can also be the narrator tricking himself to believe they were having fun, trying to ignore the fact it's their last campout which serves as a melancholy goodbye.

The last few lines hold as a cliff hanger to the poem. The narrator follow one of the boys. If I were in his shoes, I would follow him because I greatly respect that person. So let's say the narrator followed him because he cares and respects him a lot. The question that this boy ask is enough to make someone sad, given the entire situation. Imagine the bitter and melancholy nostalgia the narrator would feel if he returned to that place alone. Void of the laughter of his friends and the friendly insults they throw to each other.

Overall, it is a poignant poem that makes one remember similar experiences. If this is a real life experience from your life, I want to applaud you for sharing it. It's not easy to talk about change especially when it comes to matters close to us. I find writing a great way to write down raging emotions and confusing experiences. Change can hurt a lot and it can take away the people we care about the most, figuratively and sometimes literally. But that's just how life is. We need to pick ourselves up and face another day. Know that your loved ones, friends, and even the people of the YWS community (like me) be here to support you

This is alpacaboss, signing off.