The Lone Wolf

This is poem I like to call "The Lone Wolf"

Riding in the underground
Everybody stares
The faces are nameless
And I don’t really care

Wrapped up in this mask
And hiding my face
The world through a screen
Is a different place

This one has the courage
To be the black sheep
But beneath his makeup
He won’t make a peep

A sea full of uniqueness
And each one the same
The oddball has rules
But it’s still the same game

A black sheep is different
But still a sheep in the crowd
Who among them has courage
To be the lone wolf?


As I've said before I'm not much of a poet, but I am actually really proud of this one because of the character created. I think it could be more elaborate, but I wrote it from the view of a Middle-eastern woman riding the London underground. Her view of the world is different than mine, and I enjoy stepping into her perspective. I think one of the most challenging things for me, with poetry or writing, is to think outside of my own head. Many of these thoughts are still my own; the black sheep thing in particular is something I have often pondered. But I think the objective point of view of this woman is fascinating.

Just another day at the Zou,
Kathy

The Thread!

Since the start of this school year, 15 of my friends from high school have been keeping track of each other via our epic thread. For those not familiar with Facebook, a thread is a lot like a group email, except much easier to use. The thread started out with a poem by me, about what I was feeling the night before leaving for college. After a really lame good bye to my friends, I just couldn't leave without saying something more than that. The poem is called Our Separate Ways:

All my belongings, packed into a box,
Packed up my hairbrush, a lamp, some socks,
Soon I'll be leaving the city, the state
Got somewhere to go, and I just can't be late.

And you'll be gone too, off your own separate way,
But I'll see your face again some day.
You'll be older and wiser, drunker too,
But I pray through it all, you'll still be you.

Cause you're someone worth knowing, a one of a kind,
And even though I'm leaving, you're still on my mind.
We've grown up together, never really been apart,
And now I'm a little scared because the future's gonna start.

May you learn so much more that this little place can give.
May you make new friends and learn how to live.
And in times of laughter or with tears in your eyes,
always remember these are not final goodbyes.

'Cause a friend's a friend forever, or so I've been told,
And I hope our jokes are funny, even when we're old.
The times I've spent waiting to leave this small town,
were the times with you, and I want those to stick around.

So I'll leave with good memories, erase all the mistakes,
forget the days when our friendships were at stake.
And instead I'll remember the best of our days,
even as we head our own separate ways.

From this interesting beginning (my poetry is nothing to get excited about), the thread has grown into a way to share info about classes, lives, boys, feelings, stress, and much much more. Our thread has had ups and downs, and created some animosity, but I think we are all much tighter for having stuck with it.

So why blog about the thread? Well, I think the biggest thing for me has been the realization that maybe our lives won't be quite like our parents. I know most people hardly speak to their high school friends when they're adults, but I can't imagine living like that, and maybe we don't have to. Technology has made us all more connected than ever, and even if it's just a Happy Birthday, or a Merry Christmas message, I like to think I'll stay in touch with each of the lovely ladies on the thread.

Just another day at the Zou!

Kathy