Lines Like Espada
Poet Martín Espada, in his "Advice to Young Poets," writes:
Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head.
Our 2019 AP Literature class analyzed this question, writing our own three-four line poems that mirror Espada's style and message. Concise and provoking, what follows is our take on personal authenticity and introspection— lines like Espada.
Acknowledge that apples
in winter, were once ripe
in the wrong season
Eleni Papiacovou
Don't trace beauty
and call it creation.
Jessie Castagna
dont try to keep gluing back
together
what has already been broken
over and over
Julianna Licona
Don’t try to be a carpet
by letting people
walk all over you.
Nick Arthur
Don't preach
Unless the words you speak
Are more beautiful than the
silence they break
Aleena Nasser
Never pretend
to be an angel
by walking on a tightrope over the fire
Emma Graff
Never dissolve
your mystery to
doors and knobs
Lauren Gotard
Never sell
Your heart on the black market
Looking for love
Emily Murphy
don't jump
into a barrel just to
get rolled
Lauren Redelman
don't pretend
to be a bird by
flapping your arms
Adil Khan
mirrors provide the clarity we
think we want, while puddles
reveal the perspective we really
need
Subhana Zafar
Don't be a chameleon
Always changing your colors.
So much that you don't know
who you really are.
Nick King
Never try
To read a book
without opening the cover
Brianna Hansen
Stop Trying
To draw a snowflake
By looking at the ones outside
Eliot Yoon
Never pretend to be Jesus
Just because you put your foot
on water.
Chris Borges
Advice to Politicians
never pretend
to be a patriot
by simply wearing an American flag lapel.
Riley Turner
Never forget to pull the string of your parachute,
because you were too busy saying,
You only live once!
Annelise Campo
Advice to a So-Called Best Friend
Never pretend
to always be listening
when your head is in the clouds.
Kayla Sakayan
You can't masquerade as Mother Nature
without dancing
on a few ants.
Brady Mondry
Don't try to be a ghost
by putting a white sheet over your head
Stephen Verderame
