A difficult word to say (Poetry)

Name: ~*pink-pilgrim*~

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Product:	Poetry
Date:	03/11/07 (68 review reads)
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INTRODUCTION
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For a few months now between finding out I had graduated and actually attending the ceremony I have sat up night after night wondering how on earth to thank the two people who helped me throughout.
Graduating for me has been a major part of my life so far. Through my GCSE's, A Levels and then my degree I had a dream. A bad day or a poor mark would send me spiralling into despair. I worried day and night about assignments, exams and presentations. I know that for some students graduating is an effortless achievement or means very little. I just found out that my ex-boyfriend who failed the final year has been allowed to graduate. Not because he is good enough to earn that status but because the college has now gained 'university status' and awards its own degrees. If he had to re-take the year and graduate next year it would have meant more time, effort and money on the college's behalf and obviously it was easier to pass him as an unqualified professional. Why his mum is bragging about it or feeling so proud I will never know and least I know my parents are truly proud of me and have reason to be so proud of their efforts.

Mixed with the worry of family problems both big and small and it hasn't been easy at all. My dad lost his job half way through my degree, I was so worried for him and it came the day before my end of year exam. He forgot it for a night and helped me prepare for my exam. I seemed to forget the fact that my dad had worked in the Dockyard since he left school at 15 and now at the age of 38 would have to start looking outside the only workplace he has known…yet in my selfish way I worried about my exam. My mum has been worried about my Nan and grandad. My sister has not helped much…in fact her boyfriend caused a lot of trouble for us last year whilst I was doing my dissertation.


To me graduating is one of the most important days in my life, much more important than my 18th or 21st birthday was, as I have worked four years to achieve my degree. Throughout the four years my mum and dad have put up with my stressy moods, tears, and my health problems (salmonella, asthma attacks and 1 operation to name a few). Its not been an easy time for them especially with health, money and work problems of there own have managed to see me through to the end. Whilst I know all families have their problems not many parents would have acted as selflessly as my mum and dad have.
I was sitting quietly pondering…how could I thank my mum and dad? Money wasn't an object I would buy anything I could afford…but it wouldn't have the same sentimental value of something more personal like a poem!

POETRY
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Poetry is excellent at getting a point or message across to somebody. It would be much better than anything I could buy in the shops.
The word poetry is derived from the Greek word poiesis which means 'making' or 'creating'. It is used as a form of 'linguistic art' to communicate to others a strong opinion, a point or message.

So where would I get a poem that expressed my appreciation, love and pride in my mum and dad…how would I find the perfect card? I looked for days…weeks even. I just couldn't seem to find the right card…the card that would sum up my feelings in a couple of verses. Then I thought long and hard…would it really hurt if I sat quiet and still for a few days creating my own poem?
I knew that poems didn't have to rhyme to be an effective poem, but I really wanted mine to rhyme I wanted it to flow and feel natural to read both aloud and to ones self. I wanted my mum and dad to read it and feel something.

I didn't want my poem to be restricted by certain rules e.g. 6 syllables in one line and 7 in the other, or 14 lines of verse. I just wanted a poem with some meaning and a poem that would eventually mean something to my mum and dad when they read it.

CREATING
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Creating the poem was very stressful, I am no poet and getting my feelings down on paper was easy…arranging them into understandable verse however was another matter.

I felt an overwhelming sense of emotion whilst writing the poem, simply because I found it so hard to write these things. I started to realise that without my mum and dads support I wouldn't be where I am today, what a lovely gift they gave me. I ended up writing a list of rhyming words to go with the other words I had written e.g. Graduation - appreciation, cope - hope or there - care. It was then time to start writing them in a poem. When a verse was written and I was pleased I cut it out. When I had 3 verses I started to arrange them into a poem…I soon ended up with this.

Now its time to graduate,
I have something to say,
just how much I appreciate,
The support you gave everyday.

The days I thought I could not cope,
You gave me a lot of hope.
because you always believed,
That I'd get my degree.
I can not thank you both enough,
For everything you have done.
Although some days were really tough,
And others were quite fun.

I was really pleased with what I had written but knew I could do better. A poem with three verses was fine but I knew I could put in a little more effort and get a little more. I wanted to add a concluding bit about how their support helped me pass and without them I wouldn't have done it. I also wanted to let them know I appreciated the fact they were always there fore me. At this point I have tears in my eyes…silly I know but I was quite overwhelmed by the poem myself. I soon decided on two new verses to add to the poem…

The main thing that I learnt,
A lesson very rare.
Was that despite the highs and lows,
You were always there.

Although those days have now passed,
The memories will always last.
You've supported me all the way through,
And I couldn't have done it without you.

I started to arrange the verses on a table and read through several times but was surprised to see that the verses fitted perfectly with very little tweaking required. I placed the number of syllables next to each line to see if one more or less would make any difference to the flow or rhythm. Not long after creating the final two verses I was ready to type the poem up.

THE FINAL POEM
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Now its time to graduate,
I have something to say,
just how much I appreciate,
The support you gave everyday.
The main thing that I learnt,
A lesson very rare.
Was that despite the highs and lows,
You were always there.

The days I thought I could not cope,
You gave me a lot of hope.
because you always believed,
That I would get my degree.

I can not thank you both enough,
For everything you have done.
Although some days were really tough,
And others were quite fun.

Although those days have now passed,
The memories will always last.
You've supported me all the way through,
And I couldn't have done it without you.
© GA

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I graduate in two weeks and am looking forward to finally showing my parents how much I appreciate the support they gave me. I may not always have shown my appreciation especially the days I was so stressed but I now want them to know. I will be moving out of home soon and I want them to know that they did a good job and have been great parents.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my poem and I would appreciate any 'last minute' tips you may have for improvement.

Summary: Thankyou can be a very hard word to say...a poem can make it a lot easier!