Rachel Simmons

This week, I went through some of my old journals. In them, my preteen angst took many forms. I experimented with shaky illustrations, poems and short stories. I was an artist in my own mind.

I must have been about 12 when my dad got me a book of Haiku. Haiku is a kind of Japanese poetry composed of three lines with five, seven and then five syllables. I went through a phase where I furiously scribbled Haiku, hoping to convey the complications of being an adolescent girl in such a simple form.

Six years later, I’m still trying to make sense of what it means to be a teenage girl. Here’s to giving Haiku another chance:

Tight jeans hold me in
In sweatpants, I exhale out
Wardrobe tug of war

Next time, I will
I’ll say something to the boy
With all the rape jokes

No really! I swear
You actually are a feminist
Just don’t know it yet

Finally, I can blog
About being “in like” with a guy
How awesome is that!?

I’m sad, Heidi M.
That at only twenty three
You felt so ugly

Lol, JK
No offense! It’s just a joke
Middle school: awful

Magazines are a
Girl’s ultimate frenemy
So much love slash hate

Too sexy, too young
Too grown up, too immature
Miley can’t do right

Last but not least, a haiku from my fifth grade journal. It’s embarrassingly precocious and self-important. Sigh, the things I do for you!

Drop of emotions
Just a drop, so much meaning
Tear of a human

Please post your Haiku about being a girl/woman in the comments!

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