MDX Redbeat

Expectations – Poetry Pieces

The poet of the month competition, held by Poetry Club, saw this month’s theme as ‘Expectations’.

“Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” 

― Brandon Sanderson

With this inspiring quote and a picture that showcases the world’s expectations for the current generation, let us get into the beautiful winning entries of this month’s unique theme.

Anirudh Krishnan, a 1^st year BSc. Psychology student, achieved first place with his written entry titled “The quiet monstrosity within – Surreptitious expectations” in the writing category. This intricate poem captures the essence of desolation with a wonderful rhyming scheme.

Where has it gone?

The beauty that once lay in the meaningless

The meaning that once lay in the senseless

The pleasure that once lay in the lightness

The simplicity that escaped the darkness

Where have I arrived?

There is a fitful rage in the meaningless

There is a painful agony in the senseless

There is a fearful deprivation in the lightness

The simplicity, broken down by the darkness

Escaping…

Escaping this escapade

It is no longer fun to me

Escaping this masquerade

There is no time to flee

Flee like the flying fawns

Float like the dying gods

Fling yourself like the flightless birds

Begin your journey with a frightful hope

…

…

…

You are still here?

There is nothing for you in the dark

It is time to go!

Your time has come, to disembark

2^nd year BA Early Childhood Studies student, Faareha Salman, reminds both herself and everyone with this golden piece of poetry – that although being kind and helping the world is important, it is equally essential to love yourself and go easy on yourself. Her poetry titled “Expectations I fall for… every single time” won first place in the open mic category.

‘Expectations’ is a word I despise,

But something I look forward to.

A love-and-hate relationship.

Why do I keep expecting when,

I know I shouldn’t.

Why do I say it’s okay,

When I am not.

Why don’t I tell them it has hurt me?

Why do I smile and say, ‘It’s okay.’

Then, I cry as I lock myself in a washroom,

Washing those tears away.

So I can face the world with a smile and say,

I am okay, yet again.

A family member says,

‘Don’t have expectations, or it will hurt you.’

She is right, and yet…

I still expect.

Why do I expect so much?

Maybe because my hand is always stretched out,

To help selflessly.

I should understand that people

Aren’t me, they are their own.

Maybe I should be more understanding,

What if they are going through something that they can’t tell me?

Maybe, I should be happy that I make people happy for some time.

I should just pat myself on my back instead of expecting something back in return.

I should remind myself,

Be selfless but,

Take care of yourself too.

Don’t beat yourself up,

For expectations.

Be happy,

Like your name.

Congratulations to both the winners for portraying the theme so well with their words. Here is a little quote by a German Psychologist on expectations:

I do my thing and you do your thing.

I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,

And you are not in this world to live up to mine.

You are you, and I am I,

And if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful.

If not, it can’t be helped.

—Fritz Perls, “Gestalt Therapy Verbatim,” 1969

Expectations, a single word that has the power to either make us or break us. An intricate word that could inspire one to pursue their dreams or degrade one to lower their self-esteem. It is all in the way we acknowledge ourselves, how much we listen to the voices that matter or do not matter to us. So, where would you bury the seed of expectations?