What do diamonds mean to you?

What do diamonds mean to you?

Nostalgia.

I recall my journey with words and my first poem. I vividly remember the excitement I felt when I created it. It was like handing diamonds to a child, but instead of being excited about the value of the diamonds, I was thrilled by the sparkle they emitted. The poem was about a middle school crush, and I remember the effort I put into making the words rhyme. I wanted to impress my infatuation with my writing skills. Looking back, I realize that the actual value of that poem wasn't in the sparkles but in the meaning behind it. It was my gateway to falling in love with poetry and writing. Reflecting on my experience and the wisdom I have gained; I understand that the actual value of my words being on paper is in the message they convey.

Wisdom..

Wisdom comes from experience and growth. I often reflect on my first poem, filled with innocence and heartfelt words. Although the format may have resembled Shakespeare's style, it was the feeling I had that stuck with me. To this day, I appreciate the evolution of my writing skills, especially when it comes to romantic poetry. I have gone from simple phrases like "Roses are red, violets are blue" to being able to capture every tiny detail about a person and my feelings, weaving them together into a cohesive rhythm that feels like music. Even though I cannot sing, my heart and soul sing with each new creation. Writing allows me to express how something has influenced or captivated me, reminding me of the beauty of life.

Magic…

Many people in today's world may not believe in magic, but to me, writing is a kind of magic. It allows me to express my emotions on paper and bring the world around me to life with words. As I reflect on my growth as a poet, I realize that my experiences with heartache, sadness, death, and betrayal have shaped my writing. My first poem was one of innocence, as I had not yet gained much life experience. However, as I began to appreciate and understand poetry more, my growth as a poet flourished. There are many poets and pieces of work to admire, but for me, Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" is the masterpiece that I hope to create one day. I aspire to captivate every emotion and build suspense through my writing, just as Poe did. I want to transport my readers into the story, as if they were sitting beside me, listening to the Raven speak. Through my lens, Poe is truly a profound writer.

Influences….

The most influential teacher I've had regarding poetry and writing is not something I've read but rather something I experience daily: life. Life is the most fantastic teacher, and the journey we take step by step is the greatest poem or piece of work any human can write. Each experience, whether positive or negative, mundane or extraordinary, equips us with knowledge. Sometimes, words come to us seemingly out of nowhere, and through this growth with words, I've captured emotions. Innocence has been lost, anger has clouded my judgment, sadness has stained me, and love has rejuvenated me. But each of these processes has helped make me who I am today. My story is still unfolding, and as I sit here today reflecting on this, I realize that the gift of writing is to capture a moment in time and put our thoughts and emotions on paper. It allows our mind to comprehend what our heart and soul are feeling, and in that moment, that piece of art we create becomes priceless. No matter what happens in life, we all reach an end, but the things we can leave behind, such as poetry, art, and literature, are timeless. They represent a piece of ourselves to the world at that point in time, letting the universe know that we exist and that a part of us will always remain, even if our physical body no longer does.

Life….!

It's a beautiful feeling to know that I've never met Edgar Allen Poe, yet I feel like I've been their student for life. As I type this up, I smile because I think about how Annabelle Lee helped me grow from my first poem. "You are my sunshine too" and "You are the reason I breathe" are simple lines, but they hold significant meaning. Understanding the importance of those words is crucial to writing at a different caliber than a young, innocent boy who has never experienced life. As life progresses, we learn the value of things like a diamond. It's not just because it sparkles but because it holds value, and we can sell or keep it.

Similarly, our experiences, like sadness, anger, and betrayal, can be turned into words. We may lose things, but we can put our feelings into words and share them with the world. Even if only one person picks up a poem and understands its meaning, it speaks volumes. Our most remarkable change comes from life experience, wisdom, and value. Each word we write holds value, and that value is within us. So, for every poet and writer, continue to share your story and grow. Even if you have an audience of one, let the world know that you exist. Become infinite, even though time here is finite.