Marked Wrong
On scribbles, correction, and the voices we learn to keep
We learn, when young, that we must write a certain way. That we must behave a certain way.
Over time, the corrections stay.
✏️ ➖ 📝 ➖ ✏️
The red pen -
Crosses out -
My scribble -
Wrong.
Too unti -
Wrong -
dy.
Not neat enough.
Wrong.
Again.
✏️ ➖ 📝 ➖ ✏️
My red pen erases my wild scribble,
Too untidy on the page.
My red pen circles the wrong words
And they disappear
With the red ink
"You're too untidy."
✏️ ➖ 📝 ➖ ✏️
The sudden scribble
Cursive -
Frantic -
Pressed on paper
The thoughts -
Come -
As - i -write.
Proper -
✏️ ➖ 📝 ➖ ✏️
Original poem for National Scribble Day by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin. AI tags are coincidental.
For Mikeydred's March prompt
About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
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Comments (5)
🌼Michelle, this is brilliant. The short lines and the interrupted word "unti-dy" are powerful because they remind me of my own insecurity. It makes me think of speaking to a stranger: how my grammar suddenly feels out of place because I am nervous. Whenever I tell someone I am a writer, that imposter syndrome creeps in. I often feel better on paper than when spoken, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥WOW🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🙏💜 🙏💜🙏💜🙏💜 Thank you 🙏💜🙏💜🙏💜
Ooo, this lowkey made me unlocked the memories of writing something as a kid and someone going “write neatly” and suddenly you forget what you even wanted to say like the idea dies mid-sentence. 💖
The first few lines really designate with me for sure. Speak poet! 🥰
The best writing comes from chaos hehehe. Loved this!