POEMS ABOUT PERFECTIONISM & PERFECTION > Overthinking
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OVERTHINKING
 
 
I am thinking that maybe I’m overthinking… 
You see, I wrote a draft letter, 
And now I’m thinking and thinking 
Of the ways I could make it better! 
 
Should I use this or that paper? 
Is the font I used right or wrong? 
Maybe I should add more details, 
Or maybe my letter’s too long… 
 
Hm… I’ll think about it tomorrow, 
As now I am really sleepy. 
Reading my letter next day… 
Last sentence—kind of creepy. 
 
Correcting now. Checking again… 
Oops, this comma shouldn’t be here. 
Should it be m-dash or n-dash? 
Should I start with “Hi,” or “Dear…” 
 
Where was I? Oh, this letter. 
Reading now… oops, a mistake! 
Corrected. It’s done. I’m tired. 
I’ve got to take a break. 
 
No break. I’m checking again…
To stay awake I’m fighting. 
I’m looking at my hand. 
It is definitely writing! 
 
I finished. What? 8 a.m.? 
The envelope… looks kind of bent… 
Go to sleep… No, I’ve got to send it! 
Off to the post office. I did it! It’s sent! 
 
Next week.  
 
Went to my mailbox… Wait, what’s that? 
A letter that looks like a fender bender! 
It says: “Addressee no longer ‘there.’ 
Please, return to the sender.” 
 
Hm… what address did I write? 
I can’t believe what I see! 
My exhausted “hand” wrote down 
My own address—sent to me! 
 
Now my deadline is long gone. 
Swoosh! My letter goes to trash— 
I am DONE with overthinking! 
Wait… after trash…
            hyphen, n-dash, or m-dash? 
 
Well, don’t think about those dashes, 
Because, like me, you may find 
As you’re searching for perfection, 
You may also lose your mind! 
 
 
LILIANA KOHANN
© 2024 Artpeace Publishing (Started...? Finished on 11.17.24}

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