I take control of impulses with the help of paper and pen.
If endorphins run wild, I write
Like I am taking a selfie after summiting
K2 on a self-guided winter expedition through the Abruzzi Ridge
If melancholy creeps, I write
Like I am swimming with the bell-shaped dumbo octopus
In Mariana Trench after a straight dive into the Pacific Ocean
If anxiety lingers, I write
Like I find a comfortable place to breathe
Near a waterfall while playing hide-and-seek with a mermaid
If resentment knocks, I write
Like I am rising at dawn from a tranquil sleep
Without an alarm to witness the sunrise next to my favorite person
If difficulties arise, I write
Like I just finished finding a dress in ten minutes or less …
And buying it with confidence without having to try it on
If frustration shrieks, I write
Like I am having a good hair day
While cruising in a drop-top through the city
Completing each item on the to-do list with ease
To reach understanding and acceptance, I write
It is like receiving a standing ovation
From an audience positively impacted by
the eloquent delivery of my unrehearsed speech about sustainability
Writing brings me clarity and most of all it is my closest friend.
Roma S. Khan is a Pakistani Punjabi American who comes from a Muslim community. She was raised by her mother after her dad passed away from Cancer. Her writing journey began after becoming a teenage mother. Poetry helps her express challenges and solutions to overcome adversity while navigating towards a prosperous reality.
