So This is Love
Jadyn Jacobson
Jadyn Jacobson
We fantasize of summer days
Dancing free in forest glades
Long hair, feet bare on the dewy morning grass
Smiling wide till the day comes to pass
As the sun sets, we lay hand in hand
Thoughts intertwined atop the lush green land
The moon, the stars—they’re beautiful, it’s true
But none can compare to the beauty of you
We fantasize of a bounty of food
The shimmering sun only betters the mood
A picnic for two in the meadow’s center
A mystical haven only we can enter
Soft cheeses, crisp crackers, and gingersnaps
Honeyed wines and fresh fruits, tied up in old maps
Juicy pink peaches—they’re sweet, it’s true
But none can compare to the sweetness of you
We fantasize of picking flowers
Together in our meadow, we’d spend hours upon hours
Daffodils, dandelions, daisies, desert rose
Asters for my Aster, my love forever grows
Braiding blooms into each other’s hair
Reciting poetry on a day most fair
The minds of these poets are brilliant—that’s true
But none can compare to the brilliance of you
My glistering light, my shining star
None can understand how in love we are
You call me your muse, and I feel the same
How lucky I am to have set your heart aflame
The fire of our feelings will forever burn bright
Invading even the darkest of nights
I’ll admit that fire is strong—I simply must
But it cannot compare to the strength of us
Grade: 9
Bio: Jadyn has many hobbies, but almost all of them fall under the artistic umbrella, such as writing, drawing, and technical theatre. She also enjoys swimming (but not competitively) and video games. Her extracurriculars include Girl Scouts, Ghostlight Technical Theatre Club, and NJHS.
What is your main source of inspiration?
I’m inspired by a lot of the artists I listen to, but when it comes to inspiration for what to write, it just comes to me. I’ll be doing whatever when suddenly an idea manifests in my mind and I have to drop everything to write it down before I lose it.
What motivated you to write this piece?
This poem was first an assignment for my creative writing elective, then a submission to the literary fair. I was motivated by the deadline. On a more personal level, I wrote this poem because I wanted to clear some of the confusion in my head by expressing my raw feelings on love. I’d also never written a love poem before, so I wanted to try something new.
Do you write sporadically or regularly?
Whenever an idea pops into my head, so sporadically.
What artists and/or writers inspired or influenced your work?
I drew inspiration from “She” by Dodie, “Strawberry Blonde” by Mitski, and various works from Melanie Martinez, Natalie Chavez, and girl in red.
What was the most difficult part of your writing process for this work?
The last stanza. I was struggling to write a nice, neat conclusion to my poem that I was confident in.
What is your ideal writing environment?
I wish I could say something poetic, like under the cool shade of a tree or curled up on a sofa in front of a crackling fireplace, but I usually just write in my bed.
How do you resonate with your piece? Why is it personal to you?
The concept of love poems themselves are personal, but this one is really significant to me because I wrote it around the time I started questioning my romantic identity.
What message do you hope to convey to the reader through your piece?
I want the people who read my poem to feel like they’re visiting the cozy little scene I described. If my writing can transport you to a different world, then I’m doing it right.