This acrostic poem offers a raw look at the unpredictability of life—how we stumble through without a guide, learning the hard way. The poem explores the beauty and failures, the hands we’re dealt and the ones we throw away. With an unfiltered voice, I hope it captures the tension between chaos and resilience, stripping away illusions to reveal life as it is—unpolished, unscripted, and relentless.

Sometimes, modern air travel is chaotic and can feel like the experience is stripped bare as we pass through an indifferent system that promises freedom. I think we can all relate to elements of this poem that hopefully capture the demonization of our journeys beneath the glamor of the travel culture.

Sometimes, a poem is a response to another poem or a poet responding to another poet. This poem is in response to Lemn Sissay’s “Some Things I Like,” upon his calling attention to the undervalued, the unpolished, and rejected, where he closes with an imperative for the reader to “see.” This poem delivers a raw portrayal of societal decay, juxtaposed with hope, and sharp, vivid imagery to highlight a world filled with brokenness and contradiction. 

That Is Poetry explores the essence of poetry itself—how it captures fleeting moments, deep emotions, and raw truths. The poem reflects on language as an art form, shaping meaning beyond mere words.