Doki Doki Isekai Club

Sharing Our Poems Part 1

Monika then clapped her hands to get everyone's attention, it was time for everyone to share their poems. Shinji dropped his head, he forgot about the poems, he looked through his bag and pulled out his poem. He honestly couldn't remember what he wrote, but one good look at what he wrote and it was good enough for him.

Shinji first showed his poem to Sayori, they exchanged poems and began to read.

Balloons

I woke up late, the sky was blue,

The birds were singing just for you.

But something tugged inside my heart,

A little slow, a little start.

You found me there, all sleepy-eyed,

And stayed with me, right by my side.

We talked and laughed, just you and me,

Like floating clouds, so light and free.

Some days, the world feels upside down,

But with you here, I lose that frown.

Like holding onto bright balloons,

We drift away, past gray afternoons.

The sun peeks out, I feel its glow,

And suddenly, the world feels slow.

With every step, we're hand in hand,

Like flowers blooming where we stand.

Shinji immediately knew this was about this morning, "Hey... Sayori? Did you write this this morning?"

Sayori shook her head enthusiastically, awkwardly giggling at herself, "Yeah... I forgot to write it last night..."

Shinji couldn't blame her for that. He only really finished writing his poem by 3 a.m. He wouldn't have done it all if it wasn't for the weed. They then shifted their conversation over to Shinji's poem.

"But your poem Shinji! It felt... sad... are you okay?" Sayori asked, the worry very evident in her eyes.

Shinji just looked at her blankly, "Yeah, it's just a poem,"

"Oh, I know! It's just... the boy seems like he feels alone and isolated," she paused, "You don't feel like that do you?"

"No," Shinji answered bluntly, but this was a lie.

Sayori puffed out her cheeks, "You better not be lying,"

*****

Shinji then met up with Yuri once again, and they exchanged their poems.

Ghost Under the Light

The tendrils of my hair illuminate beneath the amber glow.

Bathing.

It must be this one.

The last remaining streetlight to have withstood the test of time.

The last yet to be replaced by the sickening blue-green hue of the future

I bathe.

Calm; breathing air of the present but living in the past

The light flickers

I flicker back.

"I'm sorry... I have terrible handwriting..." Yuri apologized, ashamed of her handwriting. This confused Shinji and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"What?" he asked bluntly.

"W-well... it just took you so long to read..."

"I-" Shinji stammered, "I just haven't read script in a while..." Shinji quickly came up with an excuse.

Your handwriting is better than most," he continued.

"I liked your poem, even if it was short it was still very descriptive,"

"It wasn't too short was it? I usually write longer poems" Yuri asked worrily.

"Not at all,"

Yuri smiled softly, "Since it's our first time sharing, I wanted to write something a little more mild, ya know... something easy to digest,"

"Are you into Ghosts," Shinji asked.

Yuri giggled at that question, which caused Shinji's heart to skip a beat, almost like he'd heard a similar giggle before, but it was hazy. "Shinji, it isn't about Ghosts at all,"

"I guess I missed the point of it then," Shinji acknowledged.

"Well... you did only glance at it, after all..." Yui said sheepishly.

Shinji felt like an asshole, and rightfully so.

Yuri continued, "But remember that poets often express their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences in their own work. They usually do more than tell a simple story or paint a picture. In this case, perhaps the subject of the poem is being symbolically compared to a ghost. Lingering in her last remaining place of comfort, unable to let go of her past, and soon to be left with nothing,"

Shinji, left speechless, just looks at Yuri, that was a lot to process. She really put that much thought into this, compared to hers, everyone else's so far was that of a half-assessed story.

It was then Yuri's turn to read Shinji's poem. She reads it with her full attention, her eyes lingering on certain lines, she seemed to be deep in thought before she turned to Shinji.

"Shinji... this poem is... exquisite! The layers of meaning, the imagery, the emotional depth... it's incredibly evocative,"

Shinji didn't feel right receiving this much praise over something he felt was so... trivial, "Uh... thanks, I guess. I wasn't really trying to make it deep,"

Yuri smiled softly once more, "Even so, the emotions you've conveyed—the sense of betrayal, the quest for redemption—feel so personal, as if you've drawn from a profound inner experience." She hesitates, then softly adds, "Does... does any of this reflect how you feel?"

Shinji thought about it for a moment, "Maybe. I don't know. I just... wrote what came to mind."

Yuri slowly nods as if she understood something unspoken, "There's a certain beauty in the way you've captured the boy's struggle. Even if it wasn't intentional, it resonates deeply. I... I find it comforting, in a way."

Shinji felt confused, borderline disturbed even, "You find it... comforting?"

"Yes... knowing that someone else understands what it means to feel lost, yet still continue searching. It's something I... can relate to." She lowers her gaze, her voice softening.

Shinji's eyes narrow, in both wonder and understanding, "...Yeah. I guess I get that."