The Writer’s Corner features poetry, essays, short stories, satire and various fiction and non-fiction from SCAD Atlanta students. To submit your own work for the Writer’s Corner, email features@scadconnector.com.
“Mimosa Pudica (The Sensitive Plant)” by Jeanie Lo
–
Sensitive, sensitive,
I didn’t ask to be wired to be so sensitive.
–
Sensitive, sensitive, sensitive.
I’m overwhelmed by worries that misuse the imaginative.
I needed to rest after a two-hour train ride,
Not because it was long but because the baby next to me cried.
Her squeals did not just sound like hunger
It felt to me more like suffer.
So much pain
in that train,
Like she wasn’t just tired,
To me it was like she was on fire.
–
Back in eighth grade there was a semester
Everyone in class ignored the teacher.
They hid their faces behind their phone screens,
And wouldn’t pay attention even if the teacher screamed.
He was truly sincerely not really good at his job,
But I felt a sense of pain because he looked distraught.
As if across the room his emotions were contagious,
And I absorbed all the feelings, wasn’t that outrageous?
–
Us sensitive plant we are overwhelmed by empathy
Our intense emotions would dance like a catastrophe.
We dream vividly, and we imagine uncontrollably,
And like with water we drink feelings involuntarily.
But over the years with people I love,
I found this trait gave me more than enough.
Us highly sensitive people have strong intuition,
We know something’s wrong before it fails to fruition.
Sometimes we don’t have evidence to back us up,
Just pure intuition and a stubborn gut.
Our trait makes us cautious and excellent observers,
Friends and family call us as their advisors.
–
Sensitivity is not a negative trait.
If all it’s a blessing to be celebrated.
The ability to experience the world the details so deeply,
Gives us many insights and so inspirations that come freely.
Somewhere there’s a place for our passion,
Passion for thoughtfulness and nuance and wisdom.
Psychologists and researchers study us sensitive plants,
Yes us, Mimosa Pudica, so we can finally understand –
We make up fifteen percent of the world’s population,
There are millions of us out there in many variations.
–
Sensitive, sensitive, sensitive.
A biological trait that’s definitive.
Though God, I didn’t ask you to give me this,
But I will coexist with this trait I won’t resist.
Though overwhelmed I will try to be at ease
As I accept me and live with me in peace.
