Featured Poem: The Term of 'Best'

The Term of 'Best' is an enduringly honest piece by Goddess_Of_Muse. In this week's Featured Poem, we take a closer look at this amazing free-verse poem.

How would you summarize The Term of 'Best' ?

The poem basically explores what it means to call someone a best friend. Usually, it would be really nice thing to be called by someone, and it makes you feel special and loved. However, in this particular instance, the term isn't portrayed in a particularly good light. The point of this poem is to explain to people that when you call one person your best friend, all of your other friends get hurt by that remark because they might feel that they aren't good enough.

How did you choose the title for it?

It wasn't one that I'd thought about for ages; it just came to me straight away. At first, I considered calling it just 'Best' or 'Best Friend', but I felt it needed something more to make it stand out from other titles. I think the title I stuck with sounds like it could be the start of a dictionary definition of some sorts... an alternate dictionary definition anyway!

What inspired you to write this poem?

I was just sitting, thinking about my whole friendship situation in general, really. I've had people call me their best friend in the past, but that had always made me feel bad because I didn't see them as a best friend. I have many friends, and to call one of them a best friend is cruel to all the other friends that I have. I don't value one person's friendship over another. They are all my friends, and I love them all equally. There's no real competition, and there never has been. I felt like I needed to make a statement about that, so this poem happened!

What was your favorite thing about writing The Term of 'Best' ?

Just the feeling of being able to vent my opinions. There was quite a bit of anger being vented through this as well, because it's an opinion that not many people share that I think should be more widely considered. I like being able to put my ideas out there instead of cooping them up inside me. That sums up all of my poems really, and this one was no different.

When writing, do you have any rituals you follow?

Not particularly! With my stories, I like to write them in the evening just before I go to bed, but with my poems, I don't have a particular time of day! I just write poems whenever I have an emotion strong enough to express itself in writing, which could be at any time. I usually write in silence with no music, simply because it distracts me too much. That's just about it, really!

Is there anything you would like to say to anyone who reads your poem?

Take the time to read each verse, and really consider the message. Don't dismiss it straight away. Is there a person that you may have unintentionally hurt by calling someone else your best friend, and not that person? Yes, I know that some people have one friend that they tend to keep closer than all others, and there's nothing wrong with that at all! All I'm saying is that a title doesn't just have an effect on one person. It has an effect on everyone surrounding that person too.

Do you have any other poems you think people would enjoy?

If you like poems that put across a certain message or perspective like this one does, then I think you'd enjoy The Diversity of Fear. It's basically where I acknowledge that there are several different types of fear that all resemble animals in some way or another. It will make you look differently at exactly what fear is. Check it out if you're interested!

Special thanks to sheepcat; and Fandango for editing!