An Ode to Poetry

Poetry is a powerful art 

It's like getting bull's eye with a dart; 

It's something that takes practice, no doubt, 

But the outcome is sure to make your proud. 

Poetry has taught me many things, 

One of which is to always be me. 

As a child, I had been shy 

Of being directly in the spotlight 

Because I was too afraid 

Of what the crowd would say. 

So, I didn’t take the chance 

To go on stage and dance 

Or read poetry 

Or even sing. 

Instead, I sat back in the shadows 

Where most cowards go. 

Then one day I put pen to paper 

And found that sooner, rather than later,  

Is the best time to try 

And claim the spotlight. 

So, I wrote a poem while on a mission 

To be in a poetry competition. 

I stepped on stage, shaking as I spoke, 

And did much better than I had hoped. 

Surprising to me, I won over the crowd 

So much that I won my school's Poetry Out Loud! 

I went on to compete at both county and state 

And embraced the new person that I became. 

All through this journey, poetry has been my teacher, 

Giving me courage whenever I need her. 

She taught me to express myself simply through words 

And changed my life for the better.