I'm sure I'm not the first one to suggest this, but I believe that great writing strikes a balance between the unfamiliar and the familiar. We love it when a story takes us to a place we've never been before, but in order for the story to truly resonate it must tap into thoughts and feelings with which we can identify.
To that end, I've been toying for a while with a poem that tries to connect to that sense of familiarity and resonance. My thought is that most people can identify with the situations and feelings I've laid out in the poem.
Sometimes It's Like the Feeling
by Andrew D. Doan
Sometimes it’s like the feeling
When you’re putting the dishes away,
And a plate comes tumbling down.
You watch it descending toward disaster,
And cringe when it breaks apart.
Other times, it’s like the feeling
When you save it from slamming the ground.
Sometimes it’s like the process
Of reaching your desired destination
From directions you receive on your phone.
Each step is meticulously measured
As an algorithm determines your path.
Other times, it’s like the process
Of finding your way on your own.
Sometimes it’s like the excitement
Of finding a new book to read,
And snatching it up for yourself.
Each page is crisp and clean.
Each line propels you forward.
Other times, it’s like the disappointment
When you’ve read every book on the shelf.
Sometimes it’s like the moment
When you open a liter of cola,
And the carbonation sputters and spits.
Peppered with sweet perspiration
You blink through the drops in your eyes.
Other times, it’s like the moment
When the soda is flat with no fizz.
Sometimes it’s like the chill
Of raindrops freezing and falling
On a day you thought it would snow.
Grey puddles and pools at your doorstep.
Ice layers as it coats the trees.
Other times, it’s like the warmth
Of basking in golden summertime glow.