Young Writers Society

Hello! The alpaca was intrigued by the title and dragged me here. Good thing the alpaca has a good sense and I was not disappointed by this work. Far from it. The title is indeed something that awakens a deep memory back in the mind. We want to relive it so we replay it in our minds, yet perhaps it's time, maturity, or something else. Well, I must stop babbling and start reviewing.

everything happens
for a reason. that's what
my mother told me the summer
i didn't speak a word to
my father. there is something
beautiful about tragedy:
the sun still shines, she says,
and you shine with it.

it's like i am seven years old again
& the world is only what's
in front of me. i look
in the mirror and see every
version of myself i've ever been.
i see my mother staring back at me.
it's terrifying how people can
change;

my ears pop
& i still see the sun
sneaking through the blinds.
it puts things into perspective.
if i keep running, i think
i'll fall off the face of the earth.

Greetings @weathervane,



It's been a while since I've done a poetry review, and I just happened to come across yours, which makes it the perfect opportunity to share my thoughts on this lovely piece.

First of all, your poem begins with the sentence "Everything happens for a reason," a sentence that immediately caught my attention.
The first sentence of an article or story, and in this case a poem, is one of the most important things when writing anything, not only to grab the reader's attention (which you definitely did), but also to give a slight hint of what your work is going to be about.

This particular quote that you used is one that I came across recently and it really made me stop what I was doing and just think about it for a moment. I didn't think I'd actually read it again somewhere, but coincidences are a funny thing.

Your poem was easy to read, but it is a poem that kind of twisted your mind for a while, in a good way. You told a story through poetry, a story that I find quite fascinating.
The poem is about the narrator's experience of dealing with what I assume is a difficult situation and receiving advice from their mother. There is this thing about advice, it always comes in the form of a riddle. And this "riddle" given by their mother is quite appealing and in a way beautiful.

Suddenly, the poem shifts to the narrator's perspective as they reflects on their past and sees every version of themself. Looking back and reflecting on the past are two very different things, so close together that the line of separation is almost blurred. But in this "story" the narrator goes back and sees what they could have done differently or maybe taken something differently. But yes, it is really frightening how people can change. Looking back, this person might have seemed different in the past.

The poem ends with the narrator seeing the sun sneaking through the blinds and realizing that it puts things in perspective. This poem seems to be about finding hope that may seem so far away and perspective in difficult situations, and also learning to accept change.

In many ways, your poem is a unique work. Your choice of words and quotes were something that I loved from this poem. Not to forget, you chose a very captivating title for your poem.
Keep on doing what you do!

Yours in puzzling shadows,
Rose

Hey there! First off, I hope you're doing well wherever you are in the world. This makes me wonder if the narrator's father has passed, trying not to assume it's from personal experience, but sometimes what we write, especially poetry, is directly pulled from our lives. If it is personal and my assumptions are correct, I offer my sincere condolences. It could be a metaphorical or literal death, but death nonetheless. Losing people, regardless of your relationship, is not easy.

On to my review...

1) I'm gonna comment on this per stanza, but before I do that, I want to acknowledge that the way this is broken a part adds to its quality. Given that there is no rhyme scheme, you could have broken the stanzas up many different ways, but I can see intentionality and reason behind where you decided to do so.

2) Now, for the stanza commentary. The first stanza reminds me that when we lose someone, people, although well-meaning, can say things like "everything happens for a reason" or making comments like "you still shine with it." Like yes, I know the sun still shines and things happen, but that does not ease any pain or mourning I feel.

2) The second stanza's flashback and the way you bring it back to the present with the language of "I look in the mirror and see every version of myself" was heavy and wonderful simultaneously. The way you acknowledge seeing your mother within yourself reminds me that we, whether aware or not, may end up looking or acting like our parents or caregivers. The existential crisis this poem can pull is crazy lol!

3) The third stanza circling back to bring up the sun was a nice full-circle moment, but then you add another element by describing the need to run and fear you'll fall off the earth. When we are in pain, the insatiable urge to avoid it and flee from it like a desperate escape is felt here. It was a nice way to end the poem because no matter if we are seven or seventy-seven when we lose someone or experience pain, it follows us as we sprint through life.

Well done! Wishing you well wherever you are in the world♡ ♥