Activity
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karakukovich submitted a contest entry to
Write a poem or letter about one way you feel misunderstood 16 hours, 48 minutes agoNot so lucky to look so young
“Haha!” my mother laughed.
“You must have interesting karma
To look so young and be so old inside.”
Yes, funny, but no haha funny.
I thought at three feet tall.I’m still waiting for the curse
To turn into a blessing,
But at thirty-nine I’m tired of it all,
Tired of being carded,
Tired of parents mistaking me for another student,
Tired of no one taking me seriously.I was born into the world
With visions of the distant past,
Ideas for the fragile future,
And keen observations of our present state.
I did not want to play.
I wanted to fix the human race.
I wanted to repair the planet.
I wanted all the fighting and destruction to stop.No wonder by third grade
I’d given up.
Years of trying to inform and guide the way
Wasted on the blissfully ignorant,
Who laughed in my face
… or worse,
Beating me down into despair.They only saw a child,
Who was meant to listen and obey,
But in my mind I was wise and weary,
Ready to fall on my own sword
If it couldn’t cut through the apathy and greed
Growing thick around me.Time slid by slowly scratching down
My patience, hope, vitality.
Yet no amount of hard living,
All the falls and blunders,
The drugs and self-destruction,
Could gray my hair nor wrinkle my skin.
My baby cheeks never caved in
And my figure barely fattened.So I return sweet smiles
Looking down on my false youth,
Pretend I’m who they think I am.
Only you now know the truth –
That I’m tough as nails,
Sharp as a tac,
And hardly innocent.Voting starts May 23, 2025 12:00am
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Poetry 5 days, 16 hours ago
Thank you Emmy! This was an interesting thought experiment for me because usually I write about my depression or difficult emotions.
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Write a letter to your fear (Sponsored by ProWritingAid) 5 days, 16 hours ago
Hi Emmy,
Thank you so much for your feedback. I hope my poem can help those who’ve gone through similar experiences feel less alone. I also want my poem to open a window into what it’s like to be bipolar or depressed.
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karakukovich submitted a contest entry to
Write a love letter to something (not someone) that you love 3 weeks, 1 days agoOde to My Tattered T
Kara KukovichOh, my dear tattered T,
How I love you so.
Found in a mall long ago
Among Hot Topic’s tableau,
Catching the eye of this young esthete.Captivated by your design,
The notes all twirling ‘round,
Playing some mysterious sound,
A song to sing, but left unfound,
With only a skull to sign the by-line.Many years have you sustained
To class, concerts, meets, and more,
Meeting the eyes who so adore
Your splendor without glamor,
Becoming threadbare but never stained.Snugger than you were before,
Hugging my frame much tighter.
These days you feel lighter,
But you stay strong, my fighter,
Filling me each wear with ardor.Some may say your time has come,
That you’re better fit for the grave,
No longer the current rave,
Not worth another save.
Still, I think you’re awesome.Voting starts May 1, 2025 12:00am
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Kara Kukovich shared a letter in the
Poetry group 1 months, 1 weeks agoFinding Joy
Kara KukovichFleeting, but oh so fine
Is that illusive spirit joy.
Like finding gold in a mine
When expecting only alloy.
Difficult to cultivate.
Impossible to fabricate.
Though to many it’s innate,
It’s a puzzle trying to locate.I’ve seen it in a child’s eye
While discovering new life –
A beetle, bear, or dragonfly,
The wonder is so rife.
I found it in a hummingbird,
When I was virtuous and young.
We spoke not a single word,
But to our souls we sung.It grabs me by the heart
When music takes the reigns.
Of this world I am a part
As I dance in rhythmic refrains.
Classical, rock, or blues –
They all push me past the pain.
Each note that’s spun subdues
The ruckus in my brain.Sometimes it slips inside me,
With that funny feeling – love,
Consuming me with giddy glee
Like the laughing stars above.
It warms me to my core
To hold my beloved close and tight.
Always hungry, wanting more
Before the moment’s taken flight.But if you want to find it,
Don’t strain or look too hard.
Regardless of your charm or wit,
You may have to drop your guard,
For joy is free to those who open
Their head and heart and soul.
Then you must throw a little hope in
To capture it in whole.Add electrolytes to your water and give yourself the hydration you need.details here-
Kara, this poem captures the beauty of finding joy in whatever feeds your soul. I love how you describe joy as “fleeting, but oh so fine.” Though it is difficult to keep joy once we find it, it truly makes our lives worth living! As humans, we should always be tuned in to what brings us joy and try to cultivate it in our lives daily. Thank you for…read more
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Thank you Emmy! This was an interesting thought experiment for me because usually I write about my depression or difficult emotions.
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karakukovich submitted a contest entry to
Write a letter to your fear (Sponsored by ProWritingAid) 1 months, 3 weeks agoFighting My Fear
Kara KukovichFighting My Fear
To the monster at my tail,
The all-consuming darkness,
The demon eating me from the inside out,
My persistent bipolar depression –
Know that you will always fail.You grabbed me when I was small,
Still innocent and naïve,
Oblivious to your existence,
Just trying to grow and get along.
How swiftly you made me fall.The first battle you almost won.
You withered away my body and soul,
Tricked me into paranoid isolation,
Carried me willingly towards death,
Made me think that you and I were one.Somehow, I grew stronger,
Shed off your heavy skin,
Almost retrieved my childhood,
Discovered who I really was,
Lingered without you a short time longer.Then you slyly snuck back inside,
Returned with a vengeance like cancer,
The tumors hidden, but painful,
Taking over my mind and spreading fast.
I thought I had died.Again and again, you returned,
Both of us fiercer each time.
Each of us learning new tricks,
Straying further away from sanity,
So far away from those concerned.Yes, you almost won the war.
More than twice I nearly died.
You stole my memories,
But I remembered what mattered.
I got in touch with my inner core.
Day and night, I labored away,
Building a new me without you,
Still rubbing out your stain.
I always thought I was strong and tough,
But I had failed to keep you at bay.I worked muscles long forgotten,
Learned how to love and trust –
Not you, but myself, and select others.
Living became bearable, more navigable.
With my growth, you began to rotten.Honestly, I still fear you,
Weak and small as you’ve become.
I continue to build my defenses,
Recruiting more soldiers for our next fight.
When you do return, I know what to do.Pro-Writing Aid Style Score: 79%
Voting starts April 9, 2025 11:59pm
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Kara, though I do not suffer from bipolar depression, I have a person very close to me who does. In order to simply live life, she has to fight to keep her symptoms at bay. It is so encouraging that you’ve experienced something similar and are working to improve your circumstances. I hope that you are able to find true peace! Thank you for sharing!
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Hi Emmy,
Thank you so much for your feedback. I hope my poem can help those who’ve gone through similar experiences feel less alone. I also want my poem to open a window into what it’s like to be bipolar or depressed.
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Write a thank-you letter or poem to yourself 1 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you Lauren! Your feedback means a lot to me.
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karakukovich submitted a contest entry to
Write a poem about your goals for 2025 2 months agoTo Better Myself
Kara KukovichAnother turn around the sun has begun
And I must greet it with gratitude and ambition.
Can I make my fortieth round worthwhile?
With enough effort, luck, and gumption… perhaps.First, I’ll quit the habit
Of sucking toxins into my lungs,
The smoke so unappealing
To my dear loved ones.Second, I’ll sleep soundly,
So as to follow the sun,
Arising in the dewy dawn
And dreaming under the moon.Third, I’ll train my brain
To stay sane and focus,
Focus on the words of each page,
One after another until I’ve completed a book.Fourth, I will grab that pay,
Earned fairly and duly with grit,
In a position only I could play
For my gifts will finally be seen.Lastly, I’ll return to the wilds,
With all my needs on my back,
Traversing mountains and rivers,
Curling down nightly into the earth.Imagine what could be with these goals achieved.
All the good – and not just for me.
A stronger body and a stronger mind
Will contribute endless gifts to society.Voting is open!
Voting ends April 17, 2025 11:59pm
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Kara, you are so right that by creating and achieving your goals, you will contribute more to society and the world as a whole. I like how you mention physical goals such as quitting smoking as well as mental goals like training your brain to stay focused. This is a holistic approach to the new year that will surely help you find success. Thank…read more
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Write a poem (or letter) about a turning point in your life 2 months, 1 weeks ago
Thank you! I appreciate you!
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Write a poem (or letter) about a turning point in your life 2 months, 1 weeks ago
Thank you so much Emmy! My mom and I have been on rocky roads but we know we both love each other tremendously.
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Write a letter to your younger self about a challenge you faced as a child but have since overcome 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you Emmy! I’m glad you found hope in it!
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Poetry 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Thank you, Lauren! I consider it an honor.
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Write a poem a letter about quote or motto that inspires you 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Thank you for your support and kind words.
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Write a poem a letter about quote or motto that inspires you 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Thank you! I am doing much better these days.
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karakukovich submitted a contest entry to
Write a thank-you letter or poem to yourself 3 months, 3 weeks agoThank You
Kara KukovichDear Beloved One,
Thank you for all you’ve done
To keep me here above the grave.
Even when sweet death you craved.
You proved stronger than they thought,
All who left you in a spot.
They gave up long ago,
But your heart they didn’t know.Inside you burns a fire,
Always blazing as others tire.
It fights all the hellhounds
Trying to run you to the ground.
And when the light dims and wanes
You feed it with great pains.The sorrow that grew inside your soul,
The depression that kept you in a hole
Were no match for your mighty spirit.
Brave you fought, ‘though you feared it.
Exhausted, you still stay awake
To vanquish the demons in your wake.How hard you worked and toiled
To get your gears well oiled
For defense against each coming night,
To expose the ghosts in hidden sight.
So, you slipped back several times.
You’ve paid dues for all your crimes.Let go of guilt nagging you.
You did all that you could do.
You saved yourself, but not them all.
Too quickly did some fall.
No one blames you for your survival.
We can only launch our own revival.They may stay blind, but I see
Your fervent efforts and tenacity.
You’ve labored to the barest bones
To survive and find much brighter tones.
After every stumble, you rise anew.
For this, again, I thank you.Sincerely,
You and me
Voting is closed
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Kara, you are not just a survivor. You are a fighter. While you have had some really tough moments, it sounds like you really dug deep and fought for your peace, unapologetically. I am so inspired by you. Thank you for sharing <3 Lauren
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Thank you Lauren! Your feedback means a lot to me.
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Poetry 3 months, 3 weeks ago
How sad, but moving! Did you lose someone dear?
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Chasing Your Dreams 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Your feedback means a lot to me Cierra. I always hope my struggles and story is not for naught. Even one person being inspired or helped means the world to me!
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Poetry 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you Cierra! I grew up in a city but always felt like I belonged in the wilderness somewhere.
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Kara Kukovich responded to a letter in topic Chasing Your Dreams 4 months ago
You’re an inspiration Karla! I’m glad you’re giving yourself credit for overcoming such tough times and growing into the person you area today.
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Kara Kukovich shared a letter in the
Chasing Your Dreams group 4 months agoTo Dream of Happiness
Kara KukovichDear Former Self,
I know life is hard for you. I understand how just existing is painful. Once you dreamed of being happy, or at least content. Now you only dream of death. Don’t give up though little one. Start believing that happiness is within reach, that you can and will find it someday.
You think you’re so wise, but there’s things you still don’t know. Someone should have told you that what you’re feeling is a sickness of the mind. Instead they let you believe you are bad – antisocial to hide away, stubborn not to eat, and “always airing your dirty laundry” when you finally do speak. This sickness, this clinical depression, has eaten away your confidence, overwhelmed you with sadness, and closed you eyes to hope. It’s trying to kill you and right now it’s winning. But you’ll get strong, find the help you need, and beat this thing back.
Someday those endless stream of doctors will lead you to some good medicine. You’ll have to keep up with a lot of pills, but it will quell that mad misery plaguing you. You will get to know your sickness inside and out, including how to zap it’s energy and hold over you.
I will not lie. You will never kill the beast. But your dream of happiness is still achievable. You can learn to tame the monster, hold it at bay, and when it grabs you, you’ll be able to loosen yourself from its grip. As you grow bigger, it’ll get small and weak.
Someday you won’t be alone in your struggle either. You’ll find love and understanding in real friends and a life partner who takes care of you when you can’t care of yourself. This love will fill your dry well of loneliness and you’ll feel warmth instead of that chilling cold.
You’ll manage a semblance of normalcy – and not as a show, but genuine stability and satisfaction. You won’t be happy all the time, but you will come to a place where you realize you’re happy with your life. No longer will you dream of death. Instead you’ll dream of exciting new adventure lying ahead. Oh, and adventures you will have – summitting snowy peaks, riding trains through India, making wine with your cousins in eastern Europe, skinny dipping in the Pacific Ocean, studying under the Dalai Lama, and so much more.
So don’t give up little one. It may take a while, but some day your dream of happiness will come true.
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Wow! What a powerful story! It gave me chills, and you spoke directly to me with your ambitious words and vulnerability to express how to overcome the battle with positivity. I love how you clearly end the poem, never giving up and striving through the fight. Remaining patient is the virtue of every concept of life. Thank you so much for sharing…read more
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Your feedback means a lot to me Cierra. I always hope my struggles and story is not for naught. Even one person being inspired or helped means the world to me!
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