Rhetoric Analysis of My High School Writing

The following is a poem I wrote in my creative writing class my senior year of high schooling creative writing class. This poem was written days after I lost my friend and was still coping with the emotions of my loss. The sadness and hope that no one else would have to go through what I did were my main inspirations behind this piece.

The Light After the Storm

The ending day brings a night: dark and cold,

Ensuing rain and smells of mold.

All is empty, I feel alone.

Life’s blanket has caught me in its fold.

In my room, I lay on my own,

Fearing for the unknown.

Lightning strikes and I’m wide awake,

Knocked straight from my peaceful throne.

Thunder booms; I begin to shake.

My skin as cold as a slithering snake.

Fear takes over as my mind does run.

Have I made life’s biggest mistake?

Slowly the storm is over and done,

Replaced with the new rising sun.

All my sadness begins to be undone.

Over fear, my mind has won.

A smile slowly returns to my face.

I realize I’m in a safe place,

With people who I truly love,

And my Lord and Savior watching above.

This poem has a very deep central meaning and helps to display a very touching and powerful message. I was challenged by my creative writing teacher to address the emotions going on currently in my life through a poem. This poem was the first time I openly addressed the death of one of my best friends and the emotions that I and others close to him were currently going through. I wanted to speak out to people that were hurting and show them that things can get better. The storm symbolizes depressions and hurting on the inside. It slowly creeps in and fully consume you, but if you stay strong eventually all situations get better. I take a very passionate stance on the issue of depression because of the impact that it had on the lives of my friends and I. The decisions of one person can impact the lives of many. I use strong wording and metaphors, like skin as cold as a slithering snake, to depict the fear and sadness that depression can have.