Don’t tell me how to write
Encourage me instead
Don’t be critical
That kills my spirit
Don’t give me formulas
I don’t like them
Don’t give me rules
I will break them
Don’t dictate
I won’t listen
Don’t pretend you know it all
You don’t
Don’t expect perfect
It won’t be
Don’t tell me how to fix it
I don’t need it
Don’t patronize
It pains me
Don’t criticize
I will cry most likely
January 29th, 2018
Imagine having a thousand ideas
But being unable to express them
At least not eloquently
Imagine looking for words and stammering
Each time you want to communicate with someone
Imagine having to start your life over again
But with new rules and different road signs
Imagine having a career but
Having to put it on hold or abandon it for a while
This is how immigrants feel
They feel fortunate to live in freedom
But there is a price to pay
After all, nothing is free in life
Imagine being stuck between
The culture of your parents and your friends
Imagine living under a lot of new rules
Some of them not so obvious
Imagine competing with those for whom
Your new language is their mother tongue
Imagine seeing your friends do things
That you are not allowed
There are the challenges of children and teens
Who immigrate
Most of these issues gradually get resolved
Going through these challenges is an education in itself
But let’s give immigrants the respect they deserve
They literally start their lives all over again
May 1st, 2016
East and West
Like two sisters competing
For the affection of
Their father
East and West
Like two sisters desiring
Freedom
From rules and restrictions
Sister East
Still tied with shackles and chains
Sister West
Turned loose and free
Sister East
Wondering when her turn will be
Sister West
Wondering if freedom has set her free!
Sister East
Needing to be free
Sister West
Wondering what happiness lies in
Sister East,
Sister West
Together
You are free!
Lida Berghuis
Fall 2003
I don’t wanna!
You can’t make me!
I’ll do it my way!
What is that?
Is that rebelliousness?
Is it being strong willed or hard-headed?
Is it being unreasonable
For no good reason?
Whatever it is
It’s a part of me
It’s been that way
And it will be
It can be seen as
Being independent-minded
Not a follower
But a trendsetter
It can be problematic too
Because sometimes
Following directions is what is needed
But that’s so boring
So predictable
So normal
Much better to be different and stand out!
There is however the risk of
Being wrong
Been there, done that
Many times!
Nevertheless
I still tend not to follow some rules
Don’t like to be told what to do
Don’t want to be like everyone else
And that will sometimes mean
Learning from my mistakes!
I value independence of thought
Trying the way that has not be tried
Doing things that haven’t been done
Going somewhere I’m not sure of
I will follow most rules most times
But not all of them, all the time!
Lida Berghuis
September 14th, 2013
Why do I rebel against meter and rhyme?
Why don’t I like constraint that much?
Why do I desire freedom from restrictions?
Why do I run away from convention?
My spirit yearns for freedom and flight
My nature does not like rules that bind
The rebellion of adolescence perhaps I missed
But now I want to do as I please!
There are constraints,
There are some rules
But don’t like to analyze too much
Don’t like to brood
Meter and rhyme comforting to some
But they act as a prison when I write
I like my spirit to decide these things
I want flow, not construction, mechanical
I want spontaneity, inspiration and fun
And somehow these don’t go along with meter and rhyme!
Rhyme I will, when I want
But to analyze every word, every line
Kills the spirit for me
Reduces the poem to mere mechanics
Meaning and beauty what I seek
That’s why I write, that’s why I read!
Lida Berghuis
September 14th, 2011
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