Letters That Shape Me
Ashlyn,
of Irish origin,
meaning dream
It is the colour
of sage green
touched with gold mist
like the ocean mixed with morning light.
It is a pheonix,
rising through the fire,
showing strength
in glowing wings.
It is like a Saturday
slow and unhurried
my favourite day
to simply be
It is like cherry blossoms drifting
In the soft air of Spring,
the season I arrived,
one fine April day.
These pieces
come together
To shape a name.
Ashlyn.
Unique,
belonging to me
Something no on
Can take away.
by Ashlyn Mathew
A poem that concerns itself with a name, and the importance of identity, the tone here is quiet and reflective. The language and images are imaginative while being accurate and recognisable and work together nicely. They follow each other almost like echoes and are very well placed throughout the poem. I especially enjoyed how stanza four’s, ‘It is like a Saturday/ slow and unhurried,/ my favourite day/to simply be’ is followed by stanza five’s reference to spring, and the narrator’s birthday. I enjoyed this poem assertive, warmly-inclusive narrative.