Dear Creative Writing classmates,


You were fabulous and professional slam poets today.
Your words were so powerful that I got goosebumps!
I'm so proud of us all!!! :)


Have a wonderful Spring Break,


Maisaloon Al-Ashkar

Essential To Life, My Best Friend's Brain That Is

I was recently challenged to use water as an extended metaphor in a poem about my best friends brain. Since this poem was technically due today, I thought I would post it on my blog instead to receive feedback from my peers this way. I would love to read and give feedback to you on your poems, so I encourage all my creative writing peers to post their "my best friend's brain" poems.

(Let me know if you find out who my "best friend" is!) :)

Essential to life

My best friend’s brain that is

To me, it’s as transparent as could be

It leaks wisdom

That drenches the thirsty concrete of my home

With unconditional attention   

It’s filled with comforting words that rush

Swiftly down her flickering mouth

Splashing my frown with a drop of hope 

It overflows with sympathy

As she outspreads her hands to offer a

Refreshing embrace

It’s enrobed with laughter

As her lips crease aloft

Washing away my gloom

Pouring tiny dribs of clarity

Down the dry lanes

Of my polluted domain  

It’s not a commodity that can be

Trapped in a vain bottle

It’s a human right

For all the young and old

For every animal and plant

It’s a prudent resource

That nourishes

But is never nourished back –

Essential to life

My best friend’s brain that is

To me, it’s as transparent as could be.