Student Blog: A Theatre Major's Plea for Change

I recently participated in a poetry contest where I was tasked with writing 21 poems, one for each day of the contest.

Until recently, poetry was one of my least favorite genres to write. When I write, I tend to get straight to the point. I don't spend a lot of time on imagery, which in poetry, you need.

However, last school year I took a poetry class where the professor had us answer a series of questions. He told us to write each answer on a separate slip of paper. Then, rearrange the slips of paper and use our answers to write a poem. I fell in love with this process and have been using it ever since. I often write down interesting thoughts that come to mind and hold on for them for future poems.

The first two poems I wrote for the contest were made up of my answers to questions from the New York Time's "36 Questions That Lead to Love." Obviously a pattern of answers about theatre began to emerge but so did something else. A series of paper slips had my fears of my goals being cut short due to the climate crisis.

I realized how much of what I wanted from life may end up not possible because the world simply might not last another 40 years. I decided to write a poem that is my plea for people to realize just how dire the climate crisis is, especially on a generation like my own that has future hopes and dreams that might just not be possible. So here it is:

"Theatre Major" written by Maddie Davies

Once in an acting class I played a Russian assassin

so well classmates were genuinely afraid of me.

Space here

Not being able to read sheet music causes more problems in my life than it should.

Space here

I write my diary with the intention that it will be found after my death.

People will think it's so interesting

they will publish it.

Space here

My goal is to win an Oscar

Because I want to give an acceptance speech people will remember for years.

Space here

Alas, we are barreling towards a worldwide end,

too late to change that.

I might never see 50.