I Blog

Posted on by 
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.

Daily writing prompt
Why do you blog?
View all responses