To

Get

This

Player

I have to

Run faster

Play tougher

Get a grip on my

Brain because it is

Spiraling out of control

Saying win you must win

You always have to get the

Win and it never stops. Never.

The poem I’ve written is a style of Oulipo poetry. I chose this style because of how it looks, starting narrow and simple, then expanding as the sentences get longer. The reason I wrote this poem is because it’s kinda about myself and how I feel. I play sports and losing isn’t fun, we all can agree. For me though, losing a game or running bad in a meet after working hard and having certain expectations can get inside my head. I turn into a nightmare, and feel like I always have to win.

As you know, April was National Poetry Writing Month. In my creative writing class, we wrote a poem a day, 30 poems in total. Poetry before this project was kinda just there. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It was more neutral for me. After learning and writing with different styles and patterns, it opened a door. It showed me new styles and which of those styles I really like, like limerick’s, abecedarian and free verse are my top 3. Part of it was challenging though. I wanted variety in the poems I wrote. I didn’t want everything to be about the same topic so having to brain storm something I enjoy and will feel good about was a little tough on some days. When there was a certain rhyming sequence, I needed the perfect word too. Overall, this made me feel accomplished because I learned so much and wrote so many poems. I hope you enjoyed this poem and Happy May!