Neatness is not my cup of tea

Growing up, the importance of neatness had been drilled into me

So I worked hard on my penmanship, tried to write neatly

Tried to draw symmetric figures, and to color within the lines

Tried to keep my desk organized in order to align

The virtue of neatness with achievement and success

Over neatness and organization I continued to obsess

Throughout childhood, into early adulthood

Later, in medical school I understood

That neat surgical incisions I was less likely to make

And that trying to be a surgeon would be a huge mistake

At the same time, I finally came to terms with the realization

That I would never be the poster child for organization

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While I can be neat and organized when needed, neatness

Does not come naturally to me, I actually thrive in relative mess

When things are too organized, I feel uninspired

To stir my creativity, a little disorderliness is required

I don’t want my books stacked in a corner neatly

A book scattered about us more likely to be read by me

When I paint, I smudge color outside the lines

(I would rather not paint than remain within lines confined)

If in an orderly sequence I was forced to write

Writer’s block I would have to continuously fight

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For some people cleanliness equates clarity

and brings calmness

For me, excessive organization leads to anxiety and distress

I feel the pressure to be perfect in that case

Challenging imperfection that I’ve learnt to embrace

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In the midst of mild disorderliness let me thrive

Let me think, be creative, feel alive!