Here's my attempt with prompt #1
Poem #50, Stubborn
by Emily Gibson
Stubborn is the
opposite of persistent. Both
rooted in the denial of others’
knowledge, limits or cautions.
Why should their prior experience
derail my objective?
For I am a different person.
I am stubborn.
Even direct evidence to the contrary
hasn’t swayed me.
“It is pronounced maz-a-gine!”
I insisted, long after I
learned to spell,
just to watch my brother sputter.
Whether others define me
as stubborn or persistent
merely clues
their opinion of the outcome.
Successfully crossing the nation on bicycle:
“4,000 miles? How persistent you were!”
But it
required stubbornness
to survive the toils and stick to the goal.
Pursuing another (4th) job in another state
to find the right fit?
“Stop being so stubborn, bloom where you are planted!”
But it
required persistence to listen to my heart
and keep trying.
I have learned to embrace being stubborn,
instead of hearing it as criticism. I try to
stop pushing when I stub my knuckles for the 3rd time,
take a break, reassess, consider seeking advice,
have a sandwich, make some tea,
before I dive in to finish what I began,
until stubbornness flips to
persistence, again.
