[Listen...]

You can't see the forest for the trees.

LISTEN, YOU IDIOT. That essay you’re writing is worth something. It’s not as magnanimous as ending poverty or achieving world peace, but it’s worth something. You’re not graduating yet, you’re not even going to be finished with the semester yet, but let me tell you what you’re doing is worth something. You are going to make a difference. You’re just not omniscient to see that, because you’re stupid. But one thing that you should know is that you’re still smart. You’ve got smart enough to write that essay, and that essay’s more than just a piece of paper. It’s a tree. One of the trees forming a forest. That essay’s worth something, you idiot. You just don’t see it yet.

Author's Note

An old thing from a collection of works involving word play.
Now re-grouped into another collection on WritersCafe (On Cliché and Blasé).

Reviews

[Debbie Barry]

This is really good! It's something every high school and college student should be told. I enjoyed your word play. Every student, at one time or another, thinks his or her essay, paper, story, or whatever is just some exercise in wasting time, assigned by a sadistic teacher or professor with some esoteric quota of student writing to fill. They think their work is worthless, if they aren't going to be the next Chaucer, Shakespeare, or Hemingway, but they are wrong about that, and your poem has captured that feeling, and overturned the arguments. I really enjoyed this!

[DiskartetHaraya]

Oddly enough, I wrote this as a student haha! It was during midterms and trying to get my panicked self together. I'd be honored should another student find this piece a good read as well. Thank you kindly for the review. I'm sincerely glad you enjoyed it. : )

[Debbie Barry]

I'm not a student anymore, but I was teaching English before I lost my sight. I find it a very good read. I have a lot of respect for the way you decided to chanel midterm stress into creativity, instead of letting it overwhelm you. I remember from grad school that midterms could crush many stdents. Your writing here suggests strength of character.