True/False

I actually loved the "True/False" poem by Dean Young. As far as literary difficulty goes, it’s fairly simple: simple format (how can you get any simpler than numbering from 1-100?); small, common words; nothing overly complex or scientific; in fact, even a child could write a poem similar to this—if it weren’t for the underlying meanings of some of the phrases. “2. I want to break things.” Okay, sure, it could just be someone who is in a bad mood, but it could also be someone who has a lot of anger building up inside; or someone who is completely destructive.

Several of the lines also hint at psychological issues. Number 2 (breaking things) suggests suppressed anger. Both number six (washing hands six times a day isn’t excessive) and number fourteen (always skipping a belt loop) suggest an obsessive-compulsive tendency. Numbers 15 (terrible things have happened to me), 21 (my parents were cruel to me), 97 (I wet the bed) and 98 (I am sorry) all suggest being abused/traumatized as a child. The way the poem changes tone could even suggest schizophrenia (well, that and line 3 that specifies hearing voices). There are also numerous lines that are typical of a conspiracy theorist, or from a psychological perspective, paranoia.

I love the underlying complexity in this poem. I also like the nature of a true/false poem. Maybe I have too many secrets to hide, but I like the idea that I can write whatever I want—anything at all—in a poem, but still have the option to say that it could just be false. I like the idea of putting yourself out there by divulging deep, dark secrets, while still having a little comfort in the fact that your readers don’t know whether it’s true or false.

I really enjoyed this poem. Even if it’s ridiculously easy to imitate, I think it still takes time to create a poem that says so many things without coming right out and saying them.

Sarah Corra