constrained

Recently in one of my english classes we were told to do an exercise writing with a constraint. This basically means that you write without something, or with some sort of rule, applied to your writing. For our exercise, we had to write a piece without using, in any of our words, one vowel of our choice. I really enjoyed it, because first of all it was almost comical how many things i couldn't say, or had to figure out how to say in a new way. And it was also a great way to learn about my own writing style - certain words would come up constantly that I couldn't use, and I could tell that it was a pattern in my normal writing. So the poem below is a spinoff of this exercise as well as Ulipian writing (look that up if you have time, it's a long story but SUPER interesting). Enjoy my important thing of the day:)

Vowels of Survival

After another apple, Anne asks -

And all always leave?

Artemis answers, absolutely.

Anne asks, what reason?

Artemis answers, human nature.

Everything leaves, changes

Eats, then departs.

Exceptions are none.

Nature becomes cruel.

Besides, we leave.

This tactic is working

In its unkind fashion

It instructs in time;

Living is possible.

It is essential.

Often one wonders

Reasoning for our callousness –

However, our only tools for livelihood

Continue on for our own good

Constantly evolving.

Understanding ourselves

Undoubtedly uncovers true courage -

Unchanging, unwavering, crucial.

Undermining ourselves bequeaths results

Untrue unto ourselves; malicious.