I love you like a negative STD test

When was the last time you wrote a poem?

My freshman year “Writing the Essay” teacher, Rajiv Joseph assigned each student to write a weekly poem. Poem day, which I think was Wednesday, was always something I looked forward to. Before we began the typical class lecture, we’d all share our weekly genius with the class.

A few things I remember about my freshman year classes… I read a lot of plays and essays, I wrote a lot of essays, and POEM DAY.

The poems were never graded. It was simply a chance to create art just because.

So today when I was working a L’Oreal promotion at Duane Reade; a far from glamorous gig, I noticed a cashier writing in her notebook.

She confessed that when the store wasn’t busy… she writes poetry. She proudly announced that just yesterday she wrote a love poem for her husband. When she read it to him, it brought tears to his eyes. (I got that warm fuzzy feeling all over)

For the sappy romantics out there, an ode to your lover is probably apart of your daily routine. But for everyone else, when was the last time you wrote a poem?

She brought me back to freshman year Poem Day. Besides the fact that poems are artsy and such… I couldn’t help but wonder why my teacher had us write poetry??? Was it…

To hear the crazy thoughts of college freshman?

To take time away from “Writing the Essay” curriculum?

To spark creativity in general?

Who really knows, I’d assume to spark creativity, and to get us out of our heads and into our souls… Or maybe the method of his madness was just to have fun, to break up the monotony.

I wonder if Rajiv writes weekly poems… I do know Rajiv writes brilliant plays. 

I find myself creating art solely for an intended goal… it’s been awhile since I’ve created art, just for art sake. So I’ll try my luck at a poem this week. And maybe, just maybe it’ll lead to writing brilliant plays. 

I'm not super proud of this jargon below... but I thought what the hay!!

22 February 2006

This is a testimony of my true love:

I love you like a negative STD test

I love you like an afternoon rest

I love you like my easy bake oven

I love you like some late night lovin

You can preheat my oven any time

You're my consensual sex crime

I love you coat check boy

I want to make you my bedtime toy