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 really like how unique AG’s attitude is with regard to this piece of art. The lack of title and rejection of typical style and format choices really forced me to take a step back and think about the message AG wants to send me and anyone else reading. The final three lines about origami and interpreting the work however I want made me feel almost uncomfortable because in a way I feel overwhelmed in trying to attach my own meaning to the work. There isn’t much in terms of actual content to ground any initial assertions that I have about the work including the lack of title. Maybe the message is that the only power that I have as a reader, or even as a person, is to have the freedom to make my own interpretations rather than simply deferring to someone else for guidance. When I think of origami as an art form I think of the skill to transform paper into anything one pleases. The ability to form your own thoughts and interpretations is the greatest freedom of all.
AG,
I love this! Your art is whatever you want to call it; no one else can say what it is or isn’t. You claiming that gives your work so much power, and as a reader, I applaud you for it! Thank you for sharing your art with us!
-Cameron
AG,
This was a really powerful poem. I read it multiple times and it somehow felt more powerful each time I read it. Something I really like about poetry is you can find your own meaning in someone else’s words. You described this really well. Thank you so much for sharing, and keep writing!
AG,
I love this poem. I think it shares a really powerful message and the structure reinforces the message of artistic freedom. The poem, though not in rhyme, also had a very intentional flow that made it seamless to read. The image of the origami at the end made me reflect on the open, peaceful tone of the poem.
This poem truly spoke volumes portrayed through art, and it was amazing to read. I feel as though I was connected and at a true understanding of where your mind traveled when writing this AG. I loved “it’s just an origami, no folding required”. That is beautiful.
Hey AG, this is a interesting take on literature. Usually authors give us their interpretation and I like how you have us room to make our own interpretation.
Wow AG! This gave me goose bumps and not the bad kind. You really have something in you and I believe in you. Keep writing your words are powerful and they have a meaning no matter what.
AG,
I loved this poem! I agree that its strength grows every time it is read. I think it is so creative and alluring that you give the reader the opportunity to make whatever they want of your work. Its uniqueness makes it so attractive and really leads to an expansion of thought for readers. Poetry typically gives way to new and individualistic thoughts as it is, and you acknowledge that. I feel it is very freeing as a reader! Comparing poem to origami is very powerful, and I applaud you for invoking deep thinking in the reader. Sometimes, being given the opportunity to reflect on words is more powerful than “telling” readers what to believe/feel. What a great piece! Thank you for sharing, and keep up the wonderful work!
AG,
My name is Maria Griffin, and I am a second-year student at Wayne State University in Detroit. This semester, I am taking a class whose goal is to engage with the community, beyond the university and corporations.
Your poem, Untitled, is my favorite poem that I have seen so far on this website. I think the freedom of it, and the way it flows is incredible. I like how you built up the ‘poem’ by saying what it’s not, before finally stating, “it’s just an origami,” but ending with “no folding required.” This leaves a mysterious ending to the reader to think, “well what is it then?” Finally, great job on picking a title. Your title goes perfectly with the theme of wonder and freedom to your piece. It’s not a poem, it’s not an essay, it’s not origami, and it does not even have a title.
Great job, AG! Keep up the great work!
This poem was truly unique. It makes the reader just relax and read. It is a very easy going poem and I love it! Keep up the good work and never stop writing!!
AG,
I truly enjoyed your poem. Please know that you have such talent, and I enjoyed reading your poem. I appreciate you sharing your work with us. After reading your poem, it made me reflect a little bit. We used to expect a poem to be grand and inspiring; we sometimes forget simplicity can also be impactful.
I really enjoyed how you said your poem is not any of those things, but really how one interprets it. I feel that poetry is what one makes of it and how they understand and read it.
HI AG! I like the freedom this poem brings. It does not hold any restrictions on your imagination. I enjoyed reading it because of its straight forward connotation that feels powerful. Good job!!
AG,
This poem is so simple but so amazing. It really is a fine work about not wanting to be defined.
Nice analysis dude
AG, I love how open to interpretation this poem is! Thank you for sharing!
AG,
Im Edmon and I am in a college English class at Wayne State that hat aims to engage with the community beyond the university and corporations. This was a really nice poem that had me reading it a few times to find the true meaning behind it. I really like how each person can interpret this poem as their own based on their life experiences and how they view this poem. At first I wasn’t sure if you were actually talking about origami or not. I really liked your poem and good luck with others in the future. Good job!
AG,
I really liked how short and sweet this poem is. I agree with the ideas also brought up above and the imagery of origami. It’s a tight little piece of art without any folding required and stands alone. I think there’s a lot of meaning in these words and a lot of different interpretations. I like how it can be whatever we want as a reader too because poetry and art can mean different things to different people depended on how it’s read or “folded”.
I love this poem because it reminds us to find our own meaning in work we read. Love this!
AG,
I have reread this poem a few times, I absolutely love it! The last two lines are coupled so well, I really enjoy the idea of it. Good job!
AG,
I like your thinking beyond the confines of labels ascribed to different styles of writing in our society! This was a really unique way to write a “poem”, but not call it as such, forcing your readers to interpret your work in whatever way they see fit!
Best regards,
Samantha
AG,
Hi im Edmon and im in a class that aims to engage with the community beyond the university and corporations. I really liked your poem, it gave me a curious feeling as to what your message behind this is as it can be thought of in many different ways based on how the author approaches things. Good job and good luck in the future.
At first I was confused but as I read on the poem started to make more sense. I was able to see how you were representing each reader through their own personal experiences and allowed them to apply their own meaning to this poem. Saying that it is oragami represents it can be whatever you want it to. Loved it.
AG, I just started reading poems tonight but I think this might be my favorite. I love how mysterious it is and how makes no sense at all, but also has never been so clear. Great work, keep writing!
Hey AG, this is cool. I can’t tell if there is some super deep meaning to this or if you just wrote this down on a piece of paper before you actually used it to make origami. Either way, I respect it.
From Jason
I really loved how unique your poem is! It is important to remember that you are the poet, and what you create is yours. Poetry is different to other forms of literature because the reader can interpret it as they want, great job! I also loved your analogy of saying this poem is an origami. Origamis are very intricate, just like poetry. Continue to write poetry, well done.
Dear AG ,
Love this work. Very modern. I really like the vibe and flow of this poem. I like that is not a traditional content of poetry. Please continue to write. Your truth and style is very intriguing.
Hello AG – I am a college student in a writing class called Writing and Community. We use writing and community outreach to interact with the community around us outside of the university. I was really drawn to your poem because of how unconventional it is. This is definitely the kind of poem you could read multiple times, and come away with a different message each time. Personally, I interpreted it as a reference to the fact that you can make writing whatever you want, and the interpretation is up to the reader. Maybe this is not what you meant though. Either way, I think it was beautifully written and a very cool concept. I hope you continue to write and express yourself through poetry. I wish you good luck in the future!
Hi AG! I really like this. I’ve been listening to a lot of experimental music recently, including a piece that’s literally just four and a half minutes of silence. What I’ve learned from this is that art can truly be whatever you want it to be. Especially when this poem is seen on paper, I love the comparison to origami. I’m also not sure if this is intentional, but the lack of a title really helps the fact that this art is ambiguous. You really took the art form and made it your own, which is super cool.
AG,
I liked the way you said no folding required, no bending to the rules. You created a piece of art that’s from your heart without adhering to the standards of certain art styles, and that made your words even more personal. You created a beautiful piece that could be read and interpreted in so many ways, but each way still beautiful. Your poem truly captures the idea of freedom by showing the ideals that your art form holds highly. No guidelines to writing is the freest form of art. You have an amazing piece here, keep writing! You have so much to say and such an amazing way of expressing it.
AG, I love how straightforward your message is here. You are making it plain for the reader that art is whatever you want it to be and we can make of it what we want. The title of “Untitled” works for me, but I also could see you playing around with giving it something more concrete as a way to juxtapose the content of the poem itself. Excellent work, keep writing, you have a great voice!
This is the only kind of poems I like; it’s so unique and doesn’t follow the norm that almost all poems appeal to. Great work
I love this poem! It reminds me of the poems I read in English classes! I went back to reread it a couple more times because I thought it was so unique. You are exactly right- the things we read are really open to interpretation about how it resonates with us. Thank you for sharing this!
I enjoyed reading this! It’s different from the other poems I have come across – a good reflection of your unique perspective when it comes to writing. Keep it up & thank you for sharing!
AG, I applaud you for breaking the norm / traditional way of writing poems! Writing can be whatever you want it to be; it can serve any purpose. I hope you can keep finding freedom through your writing!
I love how this poem calls out conformity and establishes itself on its own terms. A powerful lesson for life.
I like this poem because it catches the essence of poetry.
Some might say this poem is empty or lazy,
but I agree with your comparison between poetry and origami,
and I too think we can “fold” poems into whatever we want.
I really enjoyed reading this and it made my mind wander throughout the poem, like “then what is it.” But after I read it I loved how it’s whatever the reader wants it to be. I love poems that make me think, self-reflect, and interpret on my own. So thank you for sharing this!
I really like this poem. It’s power lies in it’s simplicity. Thank you for breaking the boundaries of poetry and allowing us to read whatever we desire into your work.
AG, this is a really unique piece. I enjoy your commentary on literature and the power behind your words. Keep writing!!
I just absolutely love this poem! It is so simple, yet so unique and meaningful. I find the relation to origami so creative and interesting. Keep going, you have a wonderful talent!
the way you arranged your words is so beautiful, this is a piece of art.
I love how this was phrased. This helped me gain a new outlook on writing.
AG,
this is my favorite kind of poetry. It requires thinking and shows the writers own perspective and interpretation. The metaphor of the origami and “no folding required” is brilliant.
Hi AG!
I loved how this poem is set up, it makes it pretty powerful. Keep writing
-Liz
AG,
I love your creativity! You had me anticipating each line, looking for meaning. Thank you for challenging readers. Keep writing!
Hi AG, this is such an interesting take. The idea that our words are origami is so eye opening to me. The things we say are art. The line “of whatever you want,” is such a great reminder that the things we create are able to be understood and reflected on in so many different ways from so many people. Your words are so valuable to us, please keep writing!
You view on poetry is lyrical. The fact that anyone can do it with nothing required enhances the beauty. Writing can be such a mundane aspects that people seem to forget or overlook but when taking the time can be so much more.
I truly admire how even with such few personal details you were able to connect to your readers through your words. Allowing readers to make absolutely anything they want of what you have written is not only brave on your part but can be incredibly healing from the perspective of a reader. This allowed me to stop and think about what it is that I have been needing to hear and make that the ‘meaning’ behind your work. So, thank you for sharing. You helped me. And I am sure that as long as you continue writing you will continue helping others as well. Best of luck to you.
I like this poem a lot and it gives off a very mysterious tone. Poems like these make the reader think about the poem a little bit more. The poem is not very easy to interpret which is very interesting. My favorite line is “It’s just an origami of whatever you want no folding required.” I really like how you described this poem as origami because I would have never thought of it that way. Keep up the great work!
Hi AG,
This is such a fun way to write a “poem.” It’s so much more fun when you read poems unsure of the true meaning from the author. But it can be whatever the reader thinks it is. I can see it as any version of a poem and any main idea. I wish you luck with your unique poem writing. Great Job!
I like this different take on a “poem” because poetry and any art form is truly subjective. It shows the artist’s or writer’s creativity and it can be perceived by another in any way they may want to interpret it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I really enjoyed this piece! I feel like it was hinting at art and its accessibility. A poem or a sonnet seems so exclusionary in that only certain people have access to it. The use of origami is particularly interesting because it is intricate and beautiful and complex, yet the “no folding required” piece makes it accessible– you don’t need to know how to fold it. I feel like this is saying that art can be anywhere and doesn’t have to be this refined, rehearsed show of one singular sort of being.
The idea of this poem is so creative and interesting! A poem, about poetry itself! I loved how your meaning was simple stated and right to the point! Thank you for sharing this as it emphasizes a creative way to that poetry can be use and can be so important and powerful!
Hello AG,
I really love the imagery you’re describing here. I love how you say that your art doesn’t need to fit into a specific category. Art doesn’t need a name. Its an expression of who you are and what you cherish, and I really appreciate how you go about detailing that. Your poem has a fun ring to it and I really like the word choice used. Thanks for the great read. Wishing you all the best!
Hi! Thank you for sharing your writing. I like how this was short and sweet. It really portrays that art is whatever you want it to be and is interpreted differently.