Disillusioned
Kate L.
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I wrote these poems to process the complex emotions I’ve felt while nearing the end of my childhood. In the first poem, “Bon Appetite,” I touch on the double-edged sword that is creating art for public consumption. While creation is often cathartic, it has also made me feel naked and vulnerable—like a pig set for slaughter. As I’ve grown up and infused my work with more heart and truth, I’ve sometimes felt more like an object of others’ opinions than my own person. In the second poem, “Ivory,” I explore how humans justify and romanticize our often-selfish behavior. Everything we create and every decision we make comes with hidden costs, and all too often, we ignore these costs to appease our conscience. As I mature, I’m trying to confront and correct the ways in which I do this. The final poem, “Older,” is inspired by my changing relationship with an adult figure in my life, who I once idolized. As I get older, my eyes become more attuned to their flaws and their painful humanness. It’s almost like I’ve taken off the rose-colored glasses of youth, and while this is empowering to an extent, it also leaves me feeling… disillusioned about everyone and everything I once thought I knew.
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Creativity is an escape and a unique lens through which I can view the world. It’s self-introspection and connection. It’s creation and imagination. For me, creativity is fluid and not restricted to one mode of expression—it transcends mediums and permeates all facets of my life.
