Shortly after college,
disillusioned,
down,
distraught
over the cold-hearted
disregard
upper management
showed for my
economic and emotional
well-being,
I attempted
to take control
of my life.
I started
a weblog.
I researched,
wrote,
and published
a website
about swimming.
I published
weekly
on Geocities,
working
hour after hour,
intent
to build
a community
of passionate
swimmers.
I failed
spectacularly.
A decade
later,
I tried again—
this time,
we blog
as an Examiner.
Unfortunately,
I was clueless
and couldn’t
drive traffic
to my work.
I failed.
Again.
But
I
persisted.
Again
and
again,
I wrote
about community
and kindness,
but the clicks
never clicked.
And here
I am
a few years
in,
as the other
KLM,
penning poetry—
my hopes,
my dreams,
my blog,
my plog.
If this
takes flight,
maybe,
just maybe,
I’ll add a vlog.
Lesson Plan: Life Timeline Poem
This poem models how short lines, repetition, and time can tell a full life story without explanation, rhyme, or polish. I put together this simple lesson plan that could be used as a writing assignment in any class.
It is especially effective for reluctant writers
The Task
Write a poem about one aspect of your life:
- something you tried
- something you quit
- something you keep returning to
- something that did not work
Structure Rules
- Short lines
- Plain language
- Line breaks matter
- Repetition is intentional
- Failure is allowed
- Resolution is optional
No rhyme required.
No figurative language required.
Optional Layer
Hyperlink single words or short phrases to:
- a video
- a photo
- a song
- a project
- a definition
- added context
Links replace explanation.
The poem stays clean.
Getting Started
List moments in order.
Not sentences.
Moments.
Then turn each into a line.
If You Get Stuck
Write the next thing that happened.
Then the next.
Then stop.
Sharing Options
- Silent reading
- One stanza aloud
- Pair share with one noticed choice
- Publish digitally
No critique yet.
Assessment
Completion over polish.
Risk over correctness.
Intentional structure.
Why This Works
This form removes pressure.
The structure carries the writer.
The voice stays honest.
