Hola! This poem is part of my Ars Poetica – BlogchatterA2Z 2025 series, where I explore the art of poetry through 26 stanzas, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. Every day, a new stanza unfolds, building upon the previous ones intuitively and organically. If you’re just joining in, feel free to read from the beginning or simply dive into today’s reflection on poetry.
Stanza 17 of the Ars Poetica—Questioning what’s Never Questioned
Quiet defiance hums beneath my pen.
Why must poems always rhyme?
Why must pain wear blood and thunder to be heard?
Why has joy been dismissed as shallow,
And grief crowned the only truth worth telling?
Who will hear the ones who flinch in silence,
While standing tall for someone else's truth?
And when those same voices pause
To speak for themselves —
Why are they criticised,
Disowned,
Branded selfish?
Isn't this voice mine, too —
To speak for myself
Before I speak for others?
Or has my privilege of voice
Made me a vessel
Only for borrowed pain?
(to be continued...)
“I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z“.
Your poem really resonates with the idea that poetry should be a space for diverse voices, including those who may not fit into traditional narratives of grief or pain. It’s a powerful reminder that a poet’s truth is just as important as the collective truths we often amplify.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection. Yes, that was exactly the intent—to hold space for personal truths that may not echo the usual narratives, but are no less valid or powerful. I’m really grateful it resonated with you.