Drafty-Draft Poem

Writing Reflection: 

When writing this piece, I knew I wanted to incorporate the idea of soulmates and/or finding “the one.” “The Red String Theory” is something that I have known about and loved for a very long time, and I thought this project would be the perfect time to incorporate it into a poem. I thought it would be interesting to start the poem off talking about failed relationships so that I could guide the reader through the idea of what the red string theory is all about. I liked the idea of showing a journey, how someone can go through heartbreak, confusion, and doubt, but still be connected to someone they haven’t met yet. It’s kind of comforting to think there’s someone out there meant for you, no matter what goes wrong along the way. That was the feeling I wanted to capture. Structuring the poem to reflect that emotional shift from disappointment to hope was important to me. I played around with the tone and pacing to make sure it flowed naturally and didn’t feel forced. Writing this helped me explore my own feelings about love and destiny in a creative way. I wanted the piece to be relatable, but still personal. Even though it’s poetic, it’s based on real thoughts and experiences that I think a lot of people go through. Overall, I’m really happy with how it turned out, and I think the piece does a good job of capturing the message I was hoping to convey.

Book Making Reflection: 

When creating the book, I knew the whole idea of what I wanted to do involved the red string interweaving its way through all the pages, and between different stanzas and words. I really wanted the string to feel like its own character, something silent but always present, just like the concept behind the Red String Theory. On the front cover, I illustrated two hands not quite meeting, with the red string emerging from one of them. This was meant to represent the beginning of the poem, the sense of longing, missed connections, and the uncertainty that comes with searching for “the one.” It visually ties in with the themes of failed relationships and the emotional distance that can exist between people, even when they’re meant to be connected. For the back cover, I wanted to show a resolution to that story. I designed it to mirror the front, but instead of separate hands, I created a pair of hands made entirely out of the red string, interwoven and connected by one continuous line. This was meant to symbolize the moment when two soulmates finally meet, and everything just makes sense. It’s about becoming “whole,” and how love can feel like everything finally falling into place. I really enjoyed being able to represent the emotional arc of the poem through the visuals of the book. It made the whole piece feel more complete and gave me a new appreciation for how visual art and poetry can come together to tell a deeper, more meaningful story.

The Red String Theory 

The string wraps firmly around my pinky finger, 

Watching as I fail to find my destined match.  

Person by person come and go, 

Their string longing for someone else. 

I think about trying to cut the string, 

I think about how it would feel to be free.

But I know if I tried to cut it, 

It would slither back around my finger, 

Like a snake to its prey.  

Suddenly, I feel the string draw tighter, 

As if I am being pulled by something, 

By someone. 

I follow in the strings direction, 

As it leads me through crowded city streets. 

The street lights seem to grow brighter, 

Then I finally see it, I see you. 

My string continues to lead me to you, 

I watch as our strings combine into one. 

Our hands join together without us saying a word, 

And I smile as I come to a realization. 

At once I am happy, 

At once I am loved, 

At once I am free.