Poetic Blueprint

Blog by Dana Latisha Young

A.K.A Day Love

This blog is about all things poetry. I will post my own poetry and write articles about ways for people to write, edit and publish their own poetry. There will be interviews also with poets. There will be poetry tips and words of encouragement also.

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  • Who AM I?

    by

    Poem by Dana Young



    Sometimes I wonder who I am.
    The answer is overshadowed by my
    Unwanted ability to mirror whoever I
    Meet
    Chipping away at my essence,
    And taking on theirs almost like a second skin.
    Covering my skin that people tell me
    Is flawed.
    So I subconsciously take on their
    Persona.
    The parts of them that seem normal,
    Loved and accepted.
    Hiding pieces of me that I don’t want to seek.
    A game that I can’t afford to play.
    And I don’t know the rules too.
    Not when it comes to finding me.
    The person that is buried beneath
    The layers,
    Covered under metaphorical blankets
    To stay safe and secure from the
    Outside world.
    A place too big and scary
    That I face anyway
    Because what’s the alternative?
    I’m on a journey now to find out who
    I am.
    And who I’m meant to be.
    Without a map, without a key.
    But the destination is…me.

  • What They Don’t Know But I Saw

    by

    Poem by Dana Young

    What’s something most people don’t know about you?

    Poem by Dana L. Young

    Everyone has seen my extreme timidness.

    My abnormal ways of existing.

    To them I was just strange,

    Unusual but typical me.

    So much beneath the surface.

    Hidden from the unseeing

    Eye. 

    Hidden in plain sight

    Was the reason for my quirks and

    Actions.

    The explanation for my mind

    And ways of thinking.

    But no one suspected.

    No one could truly see

    The real me

    The “me” I didn’t mask successfully

    But to others, I hid too well.

    The “me” that becomes quickly overwhelmed,

    Anxious and selectively mute at times.

    The “me” that struggles to find the right words to say in every situation.

    Which can turn a brief text or phone conversation

    Into a prolonged, nail-biting, anxiety filled situation.

    The ‘me” that always longed to fit in

    But never felt capable.

    The me that has sensitivities that I knew

    Were abnormal.

    And the “me” that wishes to tell her story

    And to hopefully see understanding and hope

    Appear on the listeners’ faces.

    When I reveal that yes,

    I am Neurodivergent.

    And yes, I’m still me.

    The “me” they’ve always known

    But never really saw.

    I’m revealing the veiled person

    Behind my metal mask.

    And finally introducing myself.

    Hi, My name is Dana L. Young

    And I am Autistic.

    “Me” unveiled

  • Birthday

    by

    Poem by Dana Young

    I don’t feel any older

    But I’m another age once more

    It’s not like there is a makeover

    The day I turned 34.

    It’s not like every dream I ever

    Dreamed came true

    Not like I wished for when

    I was 32.

    The day feels ordinary like

    Just another day.

    But I’m older, questionably wiser

    At least that’s what I’d say

    I don’t feel much like celebrating

    In the normal way we do.

    Not in full party mode

    Like when I turned 32.

    I kinda want a quiet day that’s

    Filled with love and peace

    And it’s starting that way

    For me today at least.

    I’m replying to the best wishes

    And blessings like I do always.

    Then relaxing in my bed.

    There are many different ways

    To celebrate birthdays

    And I choose this way instead.

    No clubs or public settings.

    I’m happy celebrating with

    my mom, peace, and laughter.

    Those are my blessings.

    To a year filled with new discoveries and joy

  • Unmasking

    by

    Poem by Dana L. Young

    I’ve been on a journey of discovery
    Of who I am and who I’m meant to be.
    Realizing along the way that my mask
    Is slipping.
    The me I disguise buried deep
    But existing.
    The me who acts strange to the
    unknowing eye.
    So overwhelmed that at times
    I can cry.
    Frustration and exhaustion claiming
    Space in my mind
    As I try to follow the “normal” person
    Outline.
    The unofficial rulebook that shows
    How to act in society
    Each action feels false and unnatural
    To me.
    Another social event failed that I
    Couldn’t endure.
    Public settings, overwhelming, loud
    Just too much.
    No more.
    My mask is hanging on by a thread
    Daring me to remove it or keep it on
    But I panic and freeze instead.
    Feeling seen but unseen at once.
    I take it off but replace it with a new one.
    A fresh mask with new ideals attached
    For a new beginning, a new way to
    Successfully mask
    To try to be a neurotypical individual
    Just an average adult girl
    But still living in my Atypical world.

    A song that I made based on this poem that I wrote above. I added a chorus. I wrote the poem/lyrics and the instruments and voice description, but instruments and vocals are generated by Suno AI

  • My Ideal Home

    by

    Daily writing prompt
    What does your ideal home look like?
    View all responses

    Ideal Home

    Poem by Dana Young

    My mother in the kitchen

    making her famous Potato Salad

    Baked Mac and cheese or chicken.

    the smells wafting throughout the house.

    Making my siblings and I

    watch the clock in anticipation.

    The coziness of love and laughter

    Floating in the air as we swap memories.

    Decorations and pictures on the walls,

    the framing backdrop of another holiday.

    Smiles forming on our faces every minute.

    Millions of inside jokes shouted,

    Over the volume of classic Christmas songs.

    Wrapping paper overflowing from the

    trash can.

    Revealing the toys beneath,

    Scattered on the floor

    My ideal home is my childhood over Christmas

    breaks from school.

    I wish I could rewind time and freeze it.

    Forever preserving the memory

    And living it again in real time.

  • Wonder

    by

    Poem by Dana L. Young

    I’ve lost my sense of wonder

    That awestruck look of amazement.

    The innocence of a first experience

    And the wow factor that comes with

    New experiences

    I’ve lost my sense of wonder

    And I can’t seem to get it back.

    I miss that feeling in my youth of first moments

    First kisses, first loves, first dates.

    A lot of firsts remain wistful

    memories or photos stored

    in a tin.

    I’ve lost my sense of wonder

    I don’t know how to get it back

    At times I don’t miss it.

    But I still wonder…

    If I will ever feel that way again

  • Peace

    by

    Daily writing prompt
    What brings you peace?
    View all responses

    Peace

    Poem by Dana Young

    That elusive, tangible feeling

    comes when I reach for my pen

    Pouring my heart out on blank pages.

    Covering them in barely legible scribbled words

    that only I can comprehend.

    Peace is the breath I release when my

    words take shape into the semblance

    of a poem or a cathartic journal entry.

    Peace is my surprised smile when I read

    my thoughts aloud,

    surprised at what I created.

    Peace is the sound of the journal closing

    from the satisfaction of a therapeutic

    moment completed.

  • Indecision

    by

    Poem by Dana L. Young

    Indecision,
    never met her
    But I know her way too well
    She has settled in my brain,
    Uninvited.
    A tenant that I can’t evict.
    Every time that I think I’m in control
    I’m proven wrong.
    I change my locks
    Take back the key, but
    She finds an alternate way
    To get inside.
    I think I learned her tricks.
    I understand her twisted games.
    Her ability to make me confused
    Even after I choose a path.
    Her ability to keep me guessing
    And going in circles
    Like a merry-go-round.
    It isn’t fair.
    I hate the way she makes me look
    When I can’t answer a question
    Because I’m unsure of the answer.
    When I can’t choose a direction
    Because both paths seem right.
    My life feels like multiple choice questions.
    At every step I’m making guesses.
    The safest option from A to D is C.
    Because I can’t figure out what to do
    My life needs option E
    For all of the above.
    Indecision
    Never met her
    But I know her…
    I think.


    (C) Dana Young July 26, 2024

  • Reading a good book, writing, listening to music, sleeping, binge watching TV shows all make me lose track of time

    by

    Daily writing prompt
    Which activities make you lose track of time?
    View all responses

    Time

    Poem by Dana L. Young

    Time is so fleeting

    passing quicker than the blink

    of an eye.

    Quicker than a speeding car

    Quicker than a first place runner

    But never fast enough

    When you are waiting for

    something to come

    Or the day to end

    so the next one can begin.

  • Troubled Mind

    by

    Poem by Dana Young

    Tears, like rain wash my face,

    soothing away pain, erasing blame

    from my troubled mind.

    Seeking peace hidden, so securely in misery.

    So much beauty in the past, fading quickly like, 

    A passing storm. Warm drops of tears, like dew

    caress my face, mesmerizing, tantalizing

    memories dance across my troubled mind

    but move away as I draw near. Vision barely clear.

    A veil of sadness hides my heart, conceals my soul.

    Forcing my troubled mind to rewind, to a time 

    of peace,

    short-lived as always.

    These are thoughts of a troubled mind,

    Rewinding memories better off forgotten,

    Swapping truth for fairy-tales, viewing the world and its inhabitants as 

    obstacles.

    Too heavy to budge, too huge to go around, 

    too scary to face head on.

    But I must.

    Troubled mind or not.

    It’s my mind, and it’s the only one I’ve got.