A New Story
By MF
A new community, new surroundings, new peers
A new school, new anxiety, new fears
A new hangout, new activities, new dangers
A new argument, new fight, new anger
A new blunt, new liquor, new pistol
A new case, new jail, new system
A new sentence, new celly, new state
A new officer, new politics, new hate
A new mentor, new program, new passion
A new computer, new laws, news flashing
A new judge, new evidence, new trial
A new witness, new acquittal, new smile
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The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
I love how this poem moves with the repetition of “new”. It reminds me of how things are always changing–and that if something can change for the worse, it can also change for the better. Thank you so much for writing this.
I also really like how this poem has many different meanings to it, it repeats the word “new” often to show change and mainly showing new beginnings, experiences, and emotions. This poem has a mix of new great things such as a new community, sounding, peers, activities, smile etc. these things show positivity. but this poem also has many new negative things, I wouldn’t consider them bad things because those things lead to new experiences I would just describe them as negative like new anxiety, fears, anger, danger, jail etc.
I agree that this poem shows that if things can change for the worse the can also change for the better.
I love the repetition in this poem because it makes it very powerful. This poem also shows that it can take a long time, but if you keep working hard and being kind things will eventually change for the better
I really enjoyed this poem. Each line had something “new” to offer. I think it was great how each line went together even though the words were different and had separate meanings. The last two lines were super heavy, but I think they were the best ones: “A new judge, new evidence, new trial. A new witness, new acquittal, new smile”. In some way, I feel like the poem goes in order from beginning to end, but I sense that was not the original goal. This poem is very powerful and has a lot of insight into what the prison system is like for someone. The choice of words and title were great as well.
Hi MF! The use of repetition in this work is captivating! Your words are powerful and speak volumes. It shows that there is struggle. I admire your strength and wish you all the best as you continue your journey.
I really like your poem. There seem to always be new things in life. I see new things that are both positive and negative and it reminds me that life is full of ups and downs even though I just wish it could always be full of ups. It’s important to just keep moving forward and wait for what is next which is an exciting feeling. I can see in your poem that there are a lot of new things in every aspect of life whether that is a new school or a new argument.
I really felt the emotions in this poem, even though it seemed simple. Your poem told a story that although it had few words, meant a lot. I’m wondering if this is a shortened version of your life story.
This is a great poem! I love how the lines rhyme with each other and the whole thing has a flow to it. It tells a great story from the beginning and it really goes through the legal process really well from the point of view of someone on the side we are used to hearing. As a criminal justice major, I really enjoyed reading through this and getting a different perspective than what I am used to hearing every day.
This poem was really inspiring. It can be scary to start fresh in an entirely different environment where nothing is familiar to you. I think the second, third and fourth lines are really powerful and important because they show the buildup of anxiety and fear. Everyone knows what happens when such intense feelings boil up inside of you slowly but surely for so long to the point that they become internally overwhelming. You’re bound to explode eventually if you can’t reach a point of relief. In this poem, it seems that the constant arguments that are mentioned might have been cries for help or cries for someone, anyone to acknowledge that things weren’t okay. It seems like the anger built up and things became progressively worse and eventually, everything just came to a head. It was really a warming feeling to see that hitting that point of rock bottom, allowed for guidance and support to finally be provided. Somewhere along the way, the feeling of relief seemed to finally have come and the minute that happened, everything started to look up. I really admired how instead of letting the negative feelings and events overtake and define you, you continued to fight for not just your freedom from jail, but you fought for yourself, and you never gave up. I’m sure it was an amazing feeling when you learned you had been acquitted, and it really was great to read that at the end of all of it, you finally felt the happiness that you had been yearning to feel for so long.
This poem is beautifully written. It captures the feelings of anxiety of starting new schools, the anger felt during a fight with a friend, the feeling of passion, and the relief and smile after being acquitted. I enjoyed the rhyme scheme and the way the poem flows and how it expresses so much in such short time.
I loved this poem! The rhythm and repetition keeps the story moving along at a steady pace, and the story itself is really intriguing as well. My favorite lines are probably “A new officer, new politics, new hate” and “A new computer, new laws, news flashing”–they really feel like turning points in the speaker’s life and the poem. “news flashing” especially was very clever, since it deviates from the pattern you already established (“A new…”, “a new…”, “a new…”) but still follows the rhyme scheme and reflects the change in the speaker’s life as they get acquitted.
I liked the poem, they are feelings that at some point I experienced when I had to move to another country, thinking that everything would be new was somehow desperate.
MF, I love your detail and everything you explained. I can relate to some of these aspects and it is not easy. Being in this position sucks and I can tell you from first hand experiences with myself and many of my friends. I really like this poem and liked how you ended the poem with a positive statement.
I think this poem is very impactful, it shows what one’s with new experiences. It starts off with new experiences you might go through like new schools or work and how you receive new anxieties from these new experiences. This poem then transcends into what these new experiences can turn into, like new bad habits like smoking and drinking. It then turns into what consequences those actions have like prison or jail time. The last part of the poem, which I love, talks bout how through this whole process you can still find new passions and a new smile. I love how this poem really shows the ups and downs of life. This shows that life is never going to be always filled with highs because all highs come with lows and every low one’s with a consequence. This poem also shows that you can find your way in life and end up on the right path, even if you might hit some bumps.
Hi MF,
When I saw the title of this poem, I was very excited to read it. When I come to college, I was excited for my ne story. I had a lot of negative things happen to me in my hometown, so I was excited to be in a new state and start new. Starting new is something so powerful that some people don’t really get. I’m wondering if you are writing this with a new start. If you are writing this for your new story, I wish you so much luck with your new story!
This poem really encapsulates the feelings of change and how new things affect life!
The concept of newness has been to me, similar to the author, one that cannot be embodied in the word itself. That is why I really like how the author uses the repetitive form “A new X” to slowly, yet steadily build a story of how different new experiences changed their perspectives and emotions.
Hello! I enjoyed reading your poem. The repetition really leaves an impact on readers. As I was reading, I feel like I was taken through the journey of fear, anxiety, adjustment, and acceptance. Great Job!
Hi MF
The use of repeating the word “new” emphasizes a sense of anxiety and stress everyone feels when changes and new things are made in their everyday life. The list after each sentence made me overwhelmed as it sets up potential problems that can occur as it was seen with “A new argument, new fight, new anger” illustrating a cycle that can occur with a new argument. Furthermore, the way you wrote the poem to me tells a story about an individual and the trials and tribulations they go through due to the accumulation of all things new. I think you executed your objective in this poem greatly!
I like how authors constantly use the word “new.” This suggest the fresh start of new life and the beginning of infinite possibilities. It also described a cause and effect relationships between the three elements in each line. It is more focusing on the physicals and realistic impacts in the worlds rather than fantasy.
To MF- Repetition is a constant in this poem and it’s something to be proud of, it’s not easy. Everything new is scary, especially if it’s a new change. I know personally that new schools, new people, and new communities gave me new anxieties that I never knew about previously. However, even though it’s new doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad, yes at first it might seem like the world has it out for you giving you so many new experiences. But you can make those new experiences into learning opportunities and make good out of the new. I’m sure in your life there are so many new issues that arise, and things are constantly changing. In the future, there are going to be new things as well, but I hope these new things are better for you than what you’ve experienced before, don’t always be afraid of the new it could very well change your life for the better. Great poem!
Hi MF,
I love the way you set this poem up. I love the broad things you bring up for your poem. New starts are one of my favorite things in life. Sometimes all you need is a fresh start with someone new, new place, or even new stuff. You don’t have to keep yourself attached to things in your life that are bad for it. I hope you have a great “new story!!”
One of the first things I noticed about your poem is the repetition of “new”. It made me think about how things are always changing, and how often that can be scary. New beginnings can be intimidating, even when it is an experience that we may have already gone through before. As you mentioned “A new judge, new evidence, new trial
A new witness, new acquittal, new smile”, I thought about how every experience that goes through the justice system is unique as its own. There are so many people in the system, who all share a roof, yet so many different life stories and personalities.
New experiences can be frightening, yet I have found that looking forward to what you are working towards can be a great motivation to get you through this experience. I feel that looking at it as an experience to learn and grow from may help you through the low parts of life.
I think your poem was written beautifully, and I wish you all the best in your new story.
I like how you use the word “new” to show a variety of emotions. How in every new instance, you don’t know whether it is going to turn out good or bad. The repetition of this word shows how frequently new situations arise yet how differently the outcome may be, which sends a powerful message.
The poem is simple yet so empowering, It’s repetitive yet inspiring. The author is excited for their new life, the good and the bad. “New” is such scary word, change is scary, the unknown is scary. But accepting it in its entirety and still going into the new, is an accomplishment.
I really loved this poem, it was simple yet brought up the complex topic of how everyday people are confronted with “new.” With each day we are all confronted with new people, new situations, new thoughts, new ideas, and that really connects us all as people. The complexity of this thought is inspiring and was brought to us in a simple, digestible way. This poem is beautiful and really gives readers perspective and great food for thought. Amazing job!
I thought this poem was very impactful because of the story it told through the repetition of the word “new.” It is very impactful.
Hi MF,
Thank you for sharing your poem. Your use of parallelism and repetition of the word new was effective in conveying your message that each new experience in life brings a new challenge.
I really like this poem because I can relate to it right now. This year, I’ve taken on a few challenges and changed my life for the better. However, it appears to me that with each new level I reach in life, there are both added benefits and added challenges.
Thank you for reminding us to embrace the challenges that come with change.
The word “new” comes in many forms throughout the poem. “…new anxiety…new mentor…news flashing…new smile” these stood out to me because they are so different yet they all connect. All of these new things may be uncomfortable for someone because the shifts of new things are uncomfortable at first. Getting used to one thing as a “new system” and even a “new smile” can be challenging.
Hello! I really like your repetition of the word “new” to create a story that the reader can follow along. You build a double meaning using this word: where newness can be traumatic that puts once in poor situations such as incarceration but it can also be a source of hope in the end. This was a great piece of storytelling!
I love how this poem repeats the word ‘new’ in every line but even though it’s repeated every line brought me a new feeling. The new anxieties, the new fears and the new dangers I feel like are something that no matter what is happening in someones life they feel that way when things change in their life. It talks about physical and realistic impacts that things can bring to ones lives. Each line you are creating a story, or cycle of something that happens. This poem is simple but so beautiful as well. You truly have a gift.
Hi MF, I loved this poem! The repetition really reiterates the fact that everything is always changing and new things are always coming.
MF,
The shift that occurs in your poem is impactful! It goes from lighthearted to heavy. I hope you find joy and peace in everything new that lies ahead!
This is a really creatively formatted poem. The attention to detail caught my eye. It is really cool how you rhymed the lines in an AA, BB patterned but also that within the lines themselves, the three objects you mention are in relation to each other. Really well thought out!
I like the A for all the sentences and some of the rhymes. The title is beautiful and relatable being a new story that everyone hopes to rewrite in life. But just like you said, new can be scary like new anxiety, new fears, new school, etc. Sometimes a new thing is bad again or it actually changes and is good. You think that a new system would be good but it’s still corrupt. A new argument could be just another argument but in a different way. Sometimes the argument could be good arguing for a good cause while sometimes it could be bad arguing for a bad cause. I see how the line a new officer, new politics, new hate go together as being bad and negative while the other line a new mentor, new program, new passion is good and positive. It’s awesome how the last two lines go together and relate to yourself. A new judge, new evidence, new trial, a new witness, new acquittal, new smile.
I really enjoyed your poem! Change is a scary thing because people are afraid of the unknown and the what ifs and how a new experience could occur. The repetition of the word new emphasis the importance of new experiences and fears occur in life.
This poem seemed so simple, yet so complex. It was filled with loads of emotion, both scary and surprising. This poem first reminded me of how “new” everything was at my university when I first went on campus, and the emotions that come with it, as mentioned in this poem: anxiety, and even loneliness. After reading the poem a bit more, it seemed to turn in a way I did not expect with knowing that change is always occurring and never stops. Thank you for sharing your feelings.
Repetition in poems is so impactful! I love the reuse of the word new here, it drives your point and meaning really well! The beauty in poems is that you have the freedom to create a story through the repetition, something you don’t get through many other forms of writing! I loved this, thank you for sharing!!
“A New Story” by MF is a powerful poem that tells the story of a person’s journey through a range of experiences and emotions. The poem describes the challenges of adapting to a new community and environment, including the anxieties and fears that come with starting a new school. The subsequent verses introduce more serious and dangerous situations, such as substance abuse and legal trouble, culminating in the person’s imprisonment and a sense of hopelessness. However, the poem takes a turn towards hope and redemption with the introduction of a mentor and a program that sparks a new passion. The poem ends on a positive note with the person’s acquittal and a sense of relief and happiness. Overall, the poem is a testament to the power of resilience and the potential for positive change, even in the face of adversity.
I love this poem. i switched schools a-lot when i was younger and i was always scared, and about the new community and peers i also relate to that because i lived in many different neighborhoods and i was always in a new community and meeting new peers, i feel like its sometimes a blessing to have a new story because some people may need a fresh start. keep writing
I’m not sure if this is the right word for it but I love the tonality of the poem. Although the words are all different, they flow well together and the last words rhyming make it soothing to read. The repetition is done in a way that I do not get bored of reading the word ‘new’ but instead start to understand the word ‘new’.
I enjoyed this poem as it told the story of your life by how many things changed. Your life was full of changes you couldn’t control such as new schools, new friends, and new surroundings. As the poem goes on, there is a general theme in the beginning of a normal life, but in the middle of the poem, there are a few bad choices that lead you to being incarcerated. At the end, the poem takes a delightful, inspiring turn to show that you are working on making better decisions and even got out of jail, so you are now happier, more satisfied, with your life.
I really liked this poem. It reminded me of when I move and go to a new school or meet new people or new anything. Sometimes I think it’s hard to move or be in a new place for a long time but this poem makes me feel better about it. Like I’m not alone.
I like how this poem symbolizes that things in life can change in both good and bad ways. Every “new” represents a twist in life’s roller coaster.
I like how you repeated the word new so many times so it made a big impression. The poem flowed so smoothly.
Hi MF,
I just can’t stop reading this poem. I think it is so relatable. I love how it shows that somebody can have to go through so many changes. It has you having a normal life. But even the smallest change can lead to you being incarcerated. But as the poem goes on you eventually work very hard and make some amazing changes. Eventually you get out of jail and have a new life and are making a good living. Keep up the good work ethic. 😁😉
Wow I love the flow of this poem. The rhythm is great and I love that change from new passion to “news flashing”! Great line and the flow of the poem is a clear flow of your life and the changes that happened. It’s so cool to see someone take a step back and reflect on their life from a sort of third person point of view. The theme is great and good writing!
I really felt this poem. starting new for me often feels like a new sentence. I think that the repetition and the worsening conditions within can speak to a lot of people in different circumstances. I think that eventhough i have never been in jail I have been in relationships that feel like it, but things get better. they have to!
A new beginning is a new story. Change is scary but it can also be a very good thing. This is formatted of this poem is very creative. The way you repeat yourself really engrains what this poem is about into your head. Great job
This art uses repetition in an interesting way. Despite the poem’s seeming simplicity, I was really moved by the emotions it expressed. This poetry has a profound effect. It displays one’s fresh encounter. I appreciate the detail and your thorough explanations.
The repetitive use of the word “new” makes a very strong impact on this piece. Nobody likes the feeling of being new because they may feel out of place. When it comes to acquiring new things, then there’s this feeling of excitement because people love new things, but this poem specifically seems to talk about how new perspectives, new settings, new people, etc. can be intimidating and overwhelming at times.
Your poem captures the idea of a new beginning, but also the new challenges and obstacles that can come with it. The repetition of “new” emphasizes the idea of a fresh start, but also suggests that each new experience brings its own set of difficulties and uncertainties.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-crafted poem that explores themes of change and transformation, as well as the challenges that come with them.
I personally really enjoyed reading this poem. I like the feeling of how everything new that comes into your life always has its pros and cons. But those new experiences are who make you who you are. It makes you unique and builds up your character. Change is good in my honest opinion if you do not like change or refuse to change for the better then you are refusing to learn. Everyone needs to learn in order to grow as a person.
Your poem is a powerful reflection on the challenges and experiences of entering a new environment and having to constantly adjust to change. The poem paints a picture of the harsh realities and injustices that can be associated with entering a new community. You describe this with vivid imagery and raw emotions. change is always a hard and scary thing and the idea of having to always accept ‘new’ and work through all these changes is a difficult struggle.
This poem explores an individual’s journey through various stages of adversity, from new anxieties and fears to new dangers and incarceration, before eventually finding hope and redemption through new mentorship and personal growth opportunities. The repetition and parallel structure create a sense of momentum and transformation throughout the piece, and the final lines offer closure.
The description of the many twists and turns that come with new experiences is both captivating and relatable. Your words paint vivid pictures of the highs and lows from starting over in a new community that display courage and hope. I love the final words of the arrival of a new smile, because they show that even in the face of adversity there is always the potential for joy.
My favorite part about this poem is that you began each line with “A new”. I think using this word pattern helped create a theme and help get your true message across. I also liked that each line had its own theme within the general theme of new things. Even though most of these themes have something to do with each other, the categorization is impactful and makes the poem more interesting to me. Lastly, I enjoyed that the poem ended on a positive note with “a new smile” because it helps add to the positive message of the entire poem
Hey MF,
I find the use of repetition here to be very interesting. The constant use of “a new” over and over showcases how changing and moving to a new story changes so many things in one’s life. The tumultuous journey of starting over in a new world is something we have all experienced, and this really speaks to it!
New is good, and i love that you look at all the new things that add to your life. New can be scary and you seem to not need that feeling because you are so excited. I am excited with you for your new version of life.
Hello! Thank you for sharing this poem and the constant use of the word “new”. It was very impactful in this poem and shows that there are always things constantly changing, and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
I like the repetition in your poem! Really shows what you are emphasizing! Great work!
I really enjoyed the repetition of the word ‘new’ and how it can correlate to a cause and effect event. Almost like something reborn or something new opening up with each new experience! Great poem!
This is a great story of how with life there is something new to life every day. Whether that is good, bad, mundane, normal or otherwise. The use of New throughout the poem is a clever way to introduce all of these feelings, events and thoughts.
The repetition and superposition of the word “New” makes your poem so beautiful and rich in layers. Seemingly insouciantly different “new” is actually telling a repeat of an “old” story. Everything in your poem is new, but what I feel in your heart is old, tired and tired of repeating the old story. I’m a stranger and I don’t the right to say “change it if you don’t like it!”. Unfortunately, that’s the only one thing I can say to you.
Maybe I understood your poem. If so, that’s the appeal of your poetry, like a hundred Hamlets in a hundred eyes. thank you!
Mei
MF,
I enjoyed your poem and the repetition of the word new, it shows emphasis on starting over and experience something fresh. New things can be scary but you painted it as something beautiful and sacred. Thank you for sharing.
I love that this poem revolved around newness and the use of the word new in every line just pushes the narrative that nothing stays the same and every experience is a new one. Starting a new line with the words “a new” is a self aware look into how all these same old systems are still new to the ones experiencing them.
Hello MJ,
I love the repetition of the word new because it introduces the emotions of being in a difficult situation and then eventually the acceptance of having a new smile. It shows how things are always changing. If things feel horrible at one point then it also has the possibility of becoming better as well. thank you for writing this poem.
I think the use of anaphora in this poem does in excellent job in conveying the chaos (yet underlying and unexpected tranquility) of life, as it details moments of fear, excitement, anticipation, anger, and joy. The readers are taken on a journey with the author.
Thank you for sharing this poem. I really enjoyed reading it because you can really feel the emotions.