When I joined the San Anselmo Publications 10-Day Poetry Challenge, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew the basics: write a poem every day based on a prompt, submit it by 6 PM, and brace yourself because over 200 poems would be submitted daily, many by the country’s top poets. By the end of the challenge, I had written or revised ten pieces, some were entirely new and others pulled from older drafts. Along the way, I learned a few lessons about myself, creativity, discipline, and the art of showing up.
Deadlines Make You Brave
The ticking clock of a 6 PM deadline silenced my inner critic. There was no time to agonize over every line; I had to write, revise, and submit. On some days, I leaned on older works, giving new life to pieces like Not So Different, originally written more than 20 years ago during the early days of new motherhood. Other days, I crafted new poems, like Meet Me @ the APT, Ang Umagahan sa Hapag ng Bagyo, and Sa Loob ng Bakuran.
The pressure was a catalyst. It taught me to trust the process and embrace imperfection.
Old Words Still Have New Life
Revisiting Not So Different felt like opening a time capsule. Written decades ago when I was grappling with the blues of new motherhood, it spoke of frustrations and the melancholy of ordinary days. Polishing it for this challenge affirmed how poetry grows with us. The themes stayed relevant, but my editing brought clarity and maturity that only time could offer.
Vulnerability Is the Heart of Connection
Writing new poems like Sa Loob ng Bakuran and Ang Umagahan sa Hapag ng Bagyo forced me to dig deep into personal experiences. These pieces remind me that the best poetry emerges when you’re willing to be honest, even if it leaves you feeling exposed. We know this, and writers teach us this, but its not really easy to apply to your own writing. Vulnerability is not an easy thing to face.
Editing Is Where the Magic Happens
Drafting poems is exciting; editing them is where the real work begins. Sculpting Meet Me @ the APT, for example, required stripping away indulgent phrases to make the core themes shine. The challenge reaffirmed that poetry doesn’t just come from inspiration—it comes from relentless refinement.
Not Every Poem Is for Everyone
My Day 8 winning poem, If the Years Didn’t Break Us, was a personal triumph. Yet, other works, like Not So Different and Gusto Niyang Palitan ang ‘Patayin’ ng Mas Malambot na Salita, resonated more with readers. Seeing how different pieces touched different audiences reminded me that poetry is a conversation, not a competition.
Community Fuels Growth
Competing alongside seasoned poets could have been intimidating, but it was also deeply motivating. Their presence pushed me to dig deeper into my craft. Winning a slot with If the Years Didn’t Break Us proved to me that I had a place in this community, even as a late-blooming poet.
Consistency Builds Confidence
This challenge was a personal milestone. Having last read poetry in college (Sylvia Plath’s Ariel borrowed from a roommate), I never considered myself a poet and I wasnt “trained” in poetry. But writing daily, whether breathing new life into Not So Different or creating something fresh like Meet Me @ the APT, proved I could show up and produce meaningful work.
Snippets of the Journey
Here’s a glimpse into some of the poems that defined these ten days:
Meet Me @ the APT (New):“Gravity releases, and what pulls forwardis the endless process of assembling and dissolving.”
Ang Umagahan sa Hapag ng Bagyo (New):“Sa bawat sandok ng kanin, sa paghigop ng mainit na sabaw,naririnig ko ang palatak at nguya,isang komunyon ng tahimik na pagpapasalamat.”
Sa Loob ng Bakuran (New):“Sa likod ng bahay, dumaan ang hangin.Narinig niyang gumalaw ang alambreng pader,isang huwad na bantay ng lupang di kanila,kasing huwad ng ilusyon ng lakasng babaeng walang kontrol sa sariling bakuran.”
Not So Different (Revisited):“Even blunt things cut; even dullness leaves a mark,slicing through days as neatly as borders on a map.”
If the Years Didn’t Break Us (Winner):“We met in rooms too small for air,where I held you like a souvenir,small enough to keep,but nothing held the trace of you, or pine.”
Beyond competition and an exercise in poetry, the San Anselmo Challenge was a rediscovery of joy in writing. Revisiting old works like Not So Different showed me how far I’ve come, both in my experiences as well as writing while creating new ones showed me what’s still possible.
But what I learned, really, is that poetry doesn’t demand perfection. It asks for presence, honesty, and the courage to keep going. And with each word, I’m finding my way back to my creative self, one poem at a time.
