Prompt: Kermit the Frog famously lamented it's not easy being green. Do you agree?
I wrote a poem for it...which I'm pretty sure is OK. I'm not sure it makes sense to anyone but me, though. Thoughts?
How hard can it be
When all are born green?
Your unseasoned mind
Has had zero face time
With life.
How hard can it be
To travel lightly?
No memories to carry
No taste of wild berries
On your tongue.
How hard can it be
To be free?
Free of experiences building up
Filling your heart like a drinking cup
Of "been there done that."
How hard can it be
To sit by idly?
Don't grasp for that open door,
Don't ask for anything more
Than existence.
Do you know how hard
It is to truly see,
No, not merely watch,
The opportunities?
Do you know how hard
It is to truly do,
No, not merely try,
Anything new?
Do you know how hard
It is to shed your green,
To dare to draw
Upon your slate so pristine?
How hard can it be
To be green?
I'm not sure I get it...but I like it...and I will do you one better than me editing it. I have a friend who happens to be a published poet, and I will have her look at it. If it makes sense to her, then it is great. I'm just not very good with poetry. I'll let you know what she says:)
Like the previous poster, I don't have much experience with poetry, but I understood your message: It's easy to be young and new. You do a great job of saying things people always say in college admissions essays ("I'm a go-getter", "I am open to risk-taking") in a unique way, and it is brilliant.
Here's something I thought you could change:
Your unseasoned mind
Has had zero face time
With life.
The length of the sentence doesn't really let the reader breathe in between, so it seems inconsistent with your other stanzas. Otherwise, great work!
Thanks Michael & Anita. I'll see what I can do about the first verse..another thing - the prompt specifies the "essay" should be b/w 250 and 400 words, but mine is much shorter. D'you guys think it's alright, given the fact that it's a poem?
I think the optional essays are really open to interpretation - the length is fine! I'd much rather read a shorter-than-average piece that's this powerful than ten extra space-filling stanzas. I love your interpretation of this prompt; I didn't think anyone else had done it! Mine is very different than yours - I'm a little jealous that I didn't think to write a poem haha!
The second-to-last stanza is definitely my favorite.
Fantastic. Concise, clever, interesting. It has a wonderful speed to it and its message is creative but clear to the reader.
Good luck in your college search!
