Do you care about me?
Because I care about you.
How could you do this to me?
I thought we were meant
For one another.
I was a fool to think
That we would be
Happy together.
I knew I always
Wanted you, but
What is happening
Now makes me wonder
If my dreams were all a
Lie.
My days are dull.
And I escape in
Dreams to ease my mind
From thoughts of what’s
To come.
But now those hopes
Are dashed
You’ve seeped into
My nights now. Turning
Light into darkness.
Agony with a side
Of anxiety.
It will subside
As everything else
Has before it.
Being replaced by
Some new invention
Of madness. For,
Now I will suffer.
For, now I will toil.
To complete what lies
Before my sight.
Hoping to appease
Some dungeon master that
Lurks beyond my vision.
Tightening the constraints.
Trapping me within
My laborious thoughts.
They watch me like a rat.
Experiment upon experiment,
To see the results of
Their twisted abomination
Now standing before them.
Slouching and twisted,
But still erect.
Eyes gazing upwards,
Blocking the fluorescent glow
With my mangled hand.
You will consume my time.
Steal my freedom and
Manipulate my body, but
You will never
Have my
Mind.
Josh,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, hahahahahahahahahahaha!
You had me at the title, but your dramatized (though at times, spot on) descriptions of the dreaded KPTP and the emotions that it conjures kept me laughing. The part that got me the most was when you said, "Hoping to appease/Some dungeon master that/Lurks beyond my vision." Your metaphor rings true: I've never thought about comparing this assessment to a dungeon master, but I feel that you've articulated something directly out of my sub-conscience. Whenever I relax too much, it rears its head, reminding me that I should be working. What a ruthless tyrant!
Anyway, thanks so much for sharing this. If you ever want to talk about the KPTP (or anything else), you know where to find me.
best,
Mary
Josh,
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to reading your blog posts! You provide such an interesting take on common problems everyone of us is facing. I love the imagery in your poem, one minute I'm seeing a dark dungeon and the next I'm imagining you as a rat in a maze. Thanks for always giving us your honest and creative thoughts and best of luck with your KPTP!
Shea
Josh, This was fantastically done! Loved this bit in particular: You will consume my time.
ReplyDeleteSteal my freedom and
Manipulate my body, but
You will never
Have my
Mind.
SO TRUE! I really enjoyed all the imagery and clever metaphor you used in this piece. The KPTP does indeed seem like a cruel hurdle to get through this final semester with some dungeon master we'll never know wielding an all important decision upon our work. Thank you for sharing your creative voice with us - this piece was marvelous.
Mr. West,
ReplyDeleteI am LOLing at your blog post. You are so creative with your imagery of you against the KPTP. It does feel a little bit like we are lab rats being manipulated and tested, hoping to please the "dungeon master." I especially loved the very beginning: "Do you care about me?/Because I care about you./How could you do this to me?" The KPTP does sometimes feel like a boyfriend or girlfriend with standards that are WAY to high, in my opinion. Thanks again for sharing your insight into the KPTP. Can't wait to hear more about your experiences as a Student Teacher!
Ms. Brill
Oh, the agony! I can only imagine (thanks to your wonderful poem) how all-consuming the KPTP must be. You have created a wonderful ode. I hope the process of writing it has helped you to conquer the beast and keep it out of your dreams. Well done.
ReplyDeleteHoly hilarity, Batman! My favorite image:
ReplyDeleteExperiment upon experiment,
To see the results of
Their twisted abomination
Now standing before them.
Slouching and twisted,
But still erect.
Eyes gazing upwards,
Blocking the fluorescent glow
With my mangled hand.
Wow. Thanks, Mr. West. Perhaps KSDE should share your poem at its KPTP Workshops each semester. It would be a nice addition.