fandomhigh | How To Be Civilized, Friday, Period 3

"Every young Radchaai is expected to write poetry," Seivarden said, standing in front of the class. "The result is of course endless amounts of bad poems being sent to friends and family, possibly becoming an embarrassment years later. Only a few have the talent or learn to develop the skill ot actually write something good, of course."

She looked at the students.

"Understanding and appreciating poetry, even if your own writings are terrible, is fundamental to being civilized. That's why you're going to write a poem today, as long or as short as you like, read it to the class and then be prepared to discuss it. Apparently this planet has a lot of different poetic forms that you can try, or you could use something from your home. It can be as long or as short as you like."

She paused. "No, actually, not as long as you like, a maximum of two pages. It should be directed towards someone you care about."

"Pens and paper are over here, unless you've brought your own," Seivarden said. "Same with gloves." She glanced at Mae. "Please help yourself to some tea."

[~~Wait for OCD~~ OCD is up]

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The last time Tisarwat had written poetry was mostly out of joking around (mostly) over too much arrack with the friends she'd made back at Athoek Station, so she was actually a little excited to have another stab at it.

Especially now that she had a new subject for her poetry, and she was honestly a little surprised she hadn't thought to write her any so far.

Earth had clearly been skewing her sensibilities.

So, after a bit of thoughtful lip-chewing and more than a few scribbled out lines, Tisarwat felt that she finally had something pretty good. Far from perfect, of course; she would need to work on it a little more before presenting it to its intended audience, but she felt she had a very good start for reciting in class.

And it wasn't bad, really, not really bad at all, especially if you'd ever read any of the poetry Tisarwat wrote back before she shared a brain with the Lord of the Radch. But it was quite a bit heavy on some very admiring themes, such as blue eyes like far-distant planets, husky voices like the comforting rumble of a ship's engine, the strength of things forged in a fire of passion, and what she felt were some very clever plays on the word crumble.

And honestly? Once she finished reading it outloud, she thought it was some of her best poetry to date.

Even if it wasn't her most subtle.

Seivarden was kind enough to make an effort to keep a straight face.

"That was quite good," she said. "I think you manage to convey your feelings for the person in question. Is there any part of it you feel you want to develop further?"

"I think," Tisarwat mused, after a moment to consider it, "I might want to develop the themes of strength and steel a bit more. It is important, after all, to consider one's audience in matter of making really good poetry."

Ahem.

"Would you have any suggestions?" she asked, with an oh-so-innocent blink of her lilac eyes.

The suggestion Seivarden would have wanted to give was 'do not read this to Amaya', but she didn't want to hurt Tisarwat, and definitely not embarrass her in class.

"Perhaps something about plants?"

Unfortunately, that should have been the only suggestion.

Especially since that one only made Tisarwat's smile brighten.

"Oh," she said, "I can definitely do plants."

After all, a good deal of those Athoek poems had been for a horticulturalist.

"Thanks, Seivarden."

Which...were words that felt very strange coming out of her mouth, but she did really mean it. As odd as it was thinking that she'd just thanks Seivarden for helping her with poetry, but she just had to remind herself that that wasn't even the strangest thing she'd dealt with in the last year...

"So," Seivarden started, trying to think of a good way to put this. "Do you think this is a poem you would send to the person it's about?"

She said this cautiously.

"I would like to," said Tisarwat, who could pick up on the cautiousness and it made her a little less enthusiastic than she would have otherwise been, than she was just a moment ago. "Eventually. Once I've brushed it up a little more, obviously. Or maybe even read it to her..."

Which had been her original plan, but then Seivarden threw send into the whole situation, and there was a reason she was asking her advice on this particular poem, after all.

"Well," Seivarden said. "I think it's important to find the right moment.

In this case never.

How To Be Civilized, Friday, Period 3

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class

Re: Write poetry and read it to the class