ysabetwordsmith: (Fly Free)
ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2018-05-01 05:30 pm

Poem: "Let It Fly Away"

This is the freebie for today's fishbowl, prompted by [personal profile] gingicat and Boychik. It also fills the "despair" square in my 5-1-18 General card for the Pro Wrestling Bingo Fest.


"Let It Fly Away"


Middle school students
know more about stress
than adults would believe,

responsibilities and
expectations piling up
on them like backpacks.

Between school and homework
and extracurriculars required
for even the hope of college,
they despair of finding
a moment to relax.

So they turn to electronics --
Let's Play videos and LOLcats,
Happy Habits and Take a Break --
to relieve the unending stress.

They grow succulents in Viridi
and goldfish in Zen Koi.

It's a way to remember that
they're not stuck in a world where
all they can ever do is endure.

They can give their stress wings
and let it fly away.

* * *

Notes:

"Give your stress wings and let it fly away."
-- Lydia Sweatt

Teens are often more stressed than adults. Notice that nobody in the article suggests actually reducing the pressure on students, only giving them "better support" to cope with the overload. It's abuse to demand so much of people that it ruins their health. Remember that no diploma does any good if you're too sick to use it. Unsurprisingly, constant stress can damage the growing brain. Know the signs of stress in middle school students. Parents can help their children learn healthy coping skills.

Today, many apps exist to help stressed teens relax. Consider Happy Habits, Take a Break, Viridi, or Zen Koi.
thnidu: a dandelion plant, the symbol of filk (filk)

My take

[personal profile] thnidu 2018-05-02 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
("Ttto" is filkish for "to the tune of". If you've never heard the original song Rich Fantasy Lives (YouTube 3:59), which [personal profile] technoshaman links in his comment, listen to that before reading further. Or listen to Tom Smith and Rob Balder singing it (YouTube 3:53); Rob sings the first verse, Tom the second. Best of all, listen to both!)






Rich Fantasy Lives
(In Which I Rob Balder)
words copyright 2007 thnidu
ttto Rich Fantasy Lives (words by Rob Balder, music by Tom Smith)
This isn't Rob's tune (it's Tom Smith's). It's not his lyric. It's not even his title— trust me.

The critics are crying that the genre is dying,
Bled out into romance and horror,
That tales paranormal that turn into porn'll
Be just one-way tickets to nowhere.

But fandom all knows of the wonders that rose
From the pulps while the critics were shriekin',
And yesterday's scandal, today's brightest candle,
Tomorrow may shine like a beacon.

        Rich fantasy lives.
        The pleasures it gives and the faults it forgives
        Escape all the pigeonholes, slip through the sieves.
        Rich fantasy lives.
        Rich fantasy lives.


technoshaman: Tux (Default)

Re: My take

[personal profile] technoshaman 2018-05-02 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, lordy, I gotta be careful around you, that's *twice*... ;)
thnidu: a dandelion plant, the symbol of filk (filk)

Re: My take

[personal profile] thnidu 2018-05-02 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
(evil laugh) That, my frien', is the whole idea!
technoshaman: Tux (Default)

Re: My take

[personal profile] technoshaman 2018-05-02 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
Ysabet, the DM is smiling at me!!! ;)
technoshaman: Tux (Default)

Re: My take

[personal profile] technoshaman 2018-05-02 06:14 am (UTC)(link)
*looks down* Crit. *grins back at DM* Bring it.
zeeth_kyrah: A glowing white and blue anthropomorphic horse stands before a pink and blue sky. (Default)

Re: My take

[personal profile] zeeth_kyrah 2018-05-04 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
*casts Protection from Evil 10ft radius*
Stay close, this isn't simply a goblin raid! :D