These poems are published connected to a project supported by the DC Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs. Taia Robinson was a participant in the February 2026 Mid-Atlantic Review/Howard University retreat supported by the grant.

Flow Back

I feel like my poems haven’t been good recently
Like this past week I’m below my peak I feel meek just trying to clench new technique
Just jumbles of words not composing like they should
I’d like to say I like my writing
But something about these last few creations
Leave me vulnerable and naked
Like my words are shaking in pain because they still yearn for growth
Like they could be better
The lines don’t leave you gasping for more
The rhythm isn’t making your foot tap on the floor
You don’t even care to hear the rest of lore
It’s like my words don’t matter anymore
I lay here in this bed
Contemplating the words I read
Thinking about the things I should’ve said
Worrying about what may be ahead
But I guess I could just go back and try to fix it
Change the writing remix it
But then it won’t display the feeling I had when I first wrote it
Trying to go back change and compose it
But it wouldn’t feel the same if I rewrote it
Maybe I should jumble all the words right here
Crumble all the lines
Hope the meaning doesn’t disappear
Spew my thoughts but still try to make them clear
I’ll do my best just try to adhere
Actually it’s fine I think I got my flow back

There Are So Many Poems With This Topic I Can’t Even Compare

Society,
Why is it so muck
It feels like I’m out of luck
I see all this going on
I think we’ve had enough

Society,
People living together in a more or less
Ordered community
I don’t see order I see chaos
What we need is unity

Society,
I look left and right up and down
I see death, depression
This isn’t something I wanna be around
I mean why would I

Society,
Y’all wonder why I wanna leave
Just take life away from me
Do you see
Look around I wanna be free

Society,
This place I live
I can’t escape
I have nothing to give
Are you awake?

Society,
Generations on generations
Things are better but they’re worse
I don’t think I’m gonna make it
It feels like the world is cursed

Society,
Why am I not accepted
Why do I feel neglected
Weren’t you taught as a child
Why can’t we just be connected

Society,
It’s like a dog chasing its tail
Around and around till we prevail
But how could we
At this point I’ve gotten dizzy

Society,
I wanna run and play in the grass
But this tail is still behind me
Trying to leave it in the past
Why won’t it just let me be

Society,
My tail is so short
I’m done with this mission please abort
But I can’t I gotta try and face this case even though I can’t escape
Society

Taia Robinson has been writing poetry for as long as she can remember. Taia has always loved being able to express herself through words and believes choosing words meticulously makes a significant impact on the point being portrayed. In her free time Taia loves to listen to music, read, craft and hang out with friends. Taia aspires to work in environmental policy and continue nurturing her love for the arts in her adult life.

Featured image Goran tek-en, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons