This poem was written when I saw everyone around me succeeding whereas I felt I was stuck in one place.

Oh how I love your kernel
Seeds so hard and small
Turning into a tasty, buttery treat
Enjoyed by one and all

You’ve taught me much
More than you will ever know
Learning from your unpopped cousin
A lesson on how to grow

Some people seem to think
That we all bloom at the same time
But you have shown me 
Life isn’t a straight line

This longtime fan-favorite snack
Did not start out on top
Taking its own pace to fulfill its destiny
Until you hear a definite pop!

Process

This was originally a poem I wrote for class. We were assigned to write an ode to something or someone. I was having trouble thinking of a person or even what I was feeling thankful for. At that time I was feeling a little down. I thought about what my family and friends were saying: that not everyone is not going to move at the same time and that life is a marathon–not a race. That’s when I thought about popcorn and how not all the kernels pop at the same time, some don’t pop at all but all end up in the same bucket. I also thought about how most people love popcorn and eat it knowing that not all the kernels will be popped. Thinking about a cherished treat made me feel slightly better about my so-called rut and I felt the need to write it out on paper.