“It’s a unique week,” was a joke my ex and I used to make
after we realized that
every
week
was a “unique week”
where he was too busy with work
to do anything else
Red flags anyone?
And this is certainly
a unique
week
note: a unique “week” can be a week, a day, a month, a year, a decade, a life…
I’ve written
during
unique
weeks before
I’ve written exhausted when
my kids took turns with fevers and staying home from school
and only wanting to sleep by my side
I’ve written frustrated when
school made me angry with standardized tests and standardized curriculum and standardized decisions
I’ve written devastated when
My friend was sick, and when she was dying
and a lot when I miss her
I’ve written burnt out when
There was a world-wide pandemic, when I had already been at my computer for 12 hours straight
I’ve written heartbroken when
I was betrayed, and when my marriage was ending
and a lot when it was over
If you need to
write
during a
unique
week
I have some tips:
If you
can
just write the truth
If you need to keep it
confidential,
protect yourself, your students, someone you love,
not get fired…
Well then you might need to
Write in
metaphor
or
in poetry
or
in old stories that mean
new things
Write about something
that is really
something else
There’s power there
Or, write about how you wish you could
write about
the unique
week
but
can’t
You need to
just write
On a Thought 
Your words are so comforting, Ona. My goal is to write more during those unique “weeks”. I like how you referred to different time measurements
This is such a beautiful poem, rich with your experiences, your trials and your pains. Thank you for sharing. I really like this part:
“Well then you might need to
Write in
metaphor
or
in poetry
or
in old stories that mean
new things”
I love this so much!! Such pain and beauty in your words. Thank you for sharing.
Oh love.
And thank you for the permission to write in metaphor or in poetry or in old stories that mean new things. Because I have a lot to say. And I’m trying to find a way to say it, while protecting myself 💜
Ah yeah, this is a great one. Just write. Just take all of it and fold it into a sentence or paragraph. Reduce a relationship to a word. Sit with it. “Write about something that is really something else” is such great advice.
It seems that we’ve had a hard time getting away from the unique weeks since the “unprecedented” events of the pandemic. I love how you’ve shared so many ways that we can “just write” and ways that just writing is the answer (or at least a way forward).