The Rise

I’ve been so inspired to write poetry lately. It’s not usually my go-to, but sometimes its good to change it up a bit and write in different styles. Poetry is a simpler way to express how one is feeling using fewer words and oftentimes can be way more effective than writing an extended read. So, here’s my latest poem ‘The Rise’ followed by an analysis.

The Rise
Sitting in the tall, prickly grass of the wilderness,
I watched the creek water ripple as every drop of rain hit the surface.
The strands of wheat swayed back and forth,
Mimicking the rapid movements of the old growth.
I could almost feel the weight of the black clouds on my shoulders,
Tempting me to join their torrential downpour.

Even as the thorn bushes tried to cut into my weakened skin,
I let the earth feel my heart beating loud.
I let it sense my veins push blood to all the parts that bring life,
My strands of hair blowing rapidly in the wind.
And when my palms pressed against the flattened, prickly grass of the wilderness,
I stood tall as the earth felt my presence and watched me.

My poetry is inspired by true events that take place in my life and I always choose to write and share the moments that hold a deeper meaning to me. It’s honestly so interesting because you never truly realize how significant a moment is until you have a chance to reflect. So, the story behind ‘The Rise’ takes place at Thanksgiving 2017 at my grandma and grandpa’s farm. I was sitting across from the creek with a close cousin and we were talking about everything that is happening in our lives from stress, concerns, to relationships. Everything was mentioned with such ease and its moments like these that I appreciate greatly. I love it when there are people in life we feel comfortable opening up to about areas – so personal, it’s almost second nature to just keep them hidden.

Overall, this poem has a mixture of feelings attached to it. The poem has a ‘man against nature’ feel to it contesting notions of power and authority. The first line begins with a woman sitting in tall, prickly grass in the wilderness, striking the concept that nature is superior to her. This line can be perceived as irony because many may argue that man created earth, therefore it is superior to the wilderness. However, to put a more in-depth twist to this poem, I wrote it from a stance that the woman is viewing nature as the rest of humankind against her. Meaning that the visuals of nature throughout the poem are a metaphor for the people in her life and that the “wilderness” represents a harsh reality she must endure.

In line 2, the woman is explained to be watching the creek as the rain slowly hits its surface. The rain can be viewed as little drops of criticism that make an impact slowly, but surely on the water’s surface. Also viewed as a direct reflection of the woman and each drop affects her by making a small ripple on her ‘skin’.

In line 3 and 4, the strands of wheat and old growth are noted to be moving rapidly or swaying back and forth. Using the word “mimicking” to show how the wheat imitates the forestry from a distance. Again, representing how mankind walk in each other’s footsteps and often follow suit with actions of the past. Then with line 5 and 6, the black clouds are described as a weight on her shoulders and they tempt her to join the storm. However, this woman does not interlace with the negativity drifting in the atmosphere and avoids crying in comparison to the “torrential downpour”. Notice that there is a break of stanzas, meaning that there is a shift in the poem. The first stanza captured all the movements of the wilderness in detail, as the woman watched everything unfold before her eyes.

In the next stanza, line 1, it appears that nature is still trying to weaken her through the reference of cutting her weakened skin. The woman is noted to have a fragile quality, but remains strong in line 2 when she wants the earth to feel her heart beating loud. In contrast to the first stanza, suddenly the woman is showing her strength and power. With the words “push blood to all the parts that bring life” (line 9), identifies that the woman is proving her worth and that aside from the pain she’s endured, there is so much life in her body. Furthermore, this stanza captures the woman’s movement instead of natures seen in the first stanza.

The next three lines are my favourite in the poem because they reveal the power and worth that the woman possesses. With line 10, there is a direct comparison to the 3rd line between the strands of wheat and to the woman’s hair. In this line, instead of the wheat swaying with a sense of detestation, her hair blows wildly in the wind without a single care. As if she has finally realized she is as free as her hair and understands that the opinions of others do not define who she is. With the next line, her palms press against the now described as, “flattened, prickly grass of the wilderness”. I intended this line to show how she is reclaiming a sense of authority by pushing down on the land which displays similarity to her veins pushing blood. It reveals a deeper truth that all human beings are equal, and no one should feel less than another.

In the final line, “I stood tall as the earth felt my presence and watched me” concludes that the woman feels empowered. Ultimately, she believes in herself and recognizes that she is human too; full of mistakes, yet still standing above it all. Overall, this poem is about a woman in the world who is constantly fighting for her worth against mankind (nature). Finally, through recognizing who she is, she can stand taller than the grass and let the earth feel her presence.

The world may question her existence by criticizing all that she is, but standing tall with calmness in her heart, she illustrates ‘the rise’.

And I can proudly admit, this woman is me.

Written by Tessa R. Adamski