before

I find I am taller since

I learned to express myself.

You doubt me?

I could not reach the sky, before

I could find no light

when my growth

was stunted by fear.

From this height,

I can touch stars and clouds.

I hear new notes

in melodies and giggles.

A creator divine, I build castles in air--

word by word.

And I can fly. . .

(you doubt again)

when the birds aren't watching.

They might laugh, you know.

And I am vast--

I can reach round the earth

to care, to soothe, to touch

an aching heart.

Standing tall, I know no stranger

only travelers

walking, working, living,

learning like me.

I might have been the vaguest,

the slightest person in the room--

but that was before

I found my words.

Author's Note

I'm not really here to share my poetry, you know. It's all about giving that one word where it's needed. Maybe it's my purpose in life.

Reviews

[Kara Emily Krantz]

jeeeeeeeeezzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeee. i love this!! i was really suprised. this poem is really unassuming, and present like it will be just like a lot of other poems, but you wrap it up nicer, with more inspiring words and images, and it just works wonderfully!

"And I can fly. . .

(you doubt again)

when the birds aren't watching.

They might laugh, you know. "

love that. love the humor, love the fact that you're aware others doubt us, as artists.

and the last line? lakjd;faklsjdkfl;aklfja

loveyou :)

[J]

I read this again and find myself nodding more and more, because of the purity of message you express here. And I guess this has a lot of elements of myself in this; I was a wallflower when I was a little boy, atrociously shy and self-conscious... now, I'm up on stage a lot, singing, playing music, speaking poetry... in general, an opinionated young larrikin with nothing to lose haha, because... we only have so much time on this earth to do something meaningful... and I might get hit by a bus, or infected with the Ebola virus the next day (worst-case scenario!)... and then, what would my life mean when on my deathbed? These eternal worries will always plague me, no matter how silly that may be, but it's what gives me impetus to create, explore, and love this world fully.

I have to save this one, I do. This message is pure. And that's what I look for.

[Samith Pich]

this poem was taller than i expected it to be lol, tho it still holds itself with grace and poise. i like the questioning in the poem, whether it's inner questioning or an unseen protagonist, it brings to light the questioning we have as poets with our writing and it makes it clear that poetry is a form of dialogue we have with our readers. the tone is lovely, the poem is lovely. keep it up :)

[TL Boehm]

I am so glad you found your words. Actually I think you always had them - you just had to find the impetus to speak them out or write them out on paper. But your words have always inspired me. I love the perspective of this poem...it has a lift...a hope of its own. And real eloquence.

[An Ordinary Woman]

Oh Emily, yes are are so tall, I am tall too. We can fly- as long as we have our words, we can do anything.
We prove it every single day! I love this!

[Angel Bird]

Impressive, and immensely profound! The essence is not quite fathomable so enormous it is.
Wonderful write. This needs more reads to completely sink in. Marvelous!

[victoriaplum]

Reminds me a little of Maya Angelou. The strength in your words is inspiring.

[AK]

Another one of those pieces I wish I had written. Well done!

[PoemRodent]

Well presented and penned as always. Your words set in like a fine seamstress in application and imagery. Great write and deliverance.

Love and Thoughts,

Dostani

[Raef C. Boylan]

This is fantastic, no exaggeration.
You've covered everything: the element of growth and progression, the doubting of others, aspiration, improved communication and sense of self.
Excellent parallels and metaphors, lovely tone and language.
It's a really uplifting piece; invokes the same kind of feelings as standing at the top of a mountain surveying the beauty that lays all around you and absorbing the air so fresh it seems like you're the first to breathe it.

Great work.
Thanks for posting it; I'm glad you found your words and shared some of them with us.

[Ken Simm.]

Divine in more ways than one and meaningful for the same reasons.