Why Can't Poetry Be Like Math?

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I sit in my English class every day wondering the same old thing.

“Why can’t poetry be more like math?”

I just don’t understand.

There’s too much grey! And not enough black and white!

What shade of grey is poetry anyway? Dark, light, or somewhere in between? No one knows.

“It’s how you interpret it,” they say.

“Oh…ok…” I reply.

But I still don’t understand.

 

In math, two plus two equals four.

It is four, has always been four, and always will be four—

For all of eternity! THAT’S how poetry should be.

VERY black and white perspective, I’ve been told. But hey, they’re classy colors.

But I swear, if we had math problems in poetry, two plus two would somehow equal six.

Or thirteen… or EVEN 258!

I don’t know how, but my teacher would make it work!

 

I sit in English class and feel so stupid half the time. Others understand poetry. Why can’t I?

I try so hard, but still can’t work with poetry. I JUST don’t understand.

I definitely don’t appreciate my literal mind in my English class every weekday morning.

I’m ready to throw in the towel. I give up. I’m done.

I will never understand.

Especially, classic literature.

 

But wait, I can’t quit just yet!

Even though poetry isn’t my passion, I know it is for others!

To others, poetry is a beautiful art! And I should learn to appreciate it!

So I’m not giving up yet!

It’s April 23! Only one more month!

I KNOW I can do this!

 

So even though poetry is a thousand shades of grey, all at once, instead of black and white,

I’m learning to appreciate the complex, oral language of the many colors of grey.

If others love the deep pool of poetry, then they should dive in!

Because poetry is a pool worth swimming in!

 

I guess it’s the thousand shades of grey and incorrect math problems that make poetry beautiful.

But for me, I’m going to stick with black and white, and the statement “2+2=4”

Because that’s how I think. That’s how I’m made. All for a reason. I just don’t know what.

So I’m not giving up! I will make it through just one more month!

But this determined mindset will never stop me from wondering,

Why can’t poetry—

Be more like math?

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