Frida
by Renee Kim, Balcombe Grammar School
Years 7 – 8 Written Poetry Finalist
Whenever I think of watermelons,
Frida, I think of you,
They’re strong on the outside, vibrant inside,
I think you are like that too.
You overcame countless hardships,
Made the most of life in your pain,
You transferred tragedy to art,
Instead of longing and disdain.
Becoming a doctor was your ambition,
Until you were impaled by a handrail,
Hospitals trapped your dreams,
And injuries made you frail,
Painting became your comfort,
In the days you were bedridden,
Bold colours and a paintbrush,
Suffering expressed and not hidden.
Your self-expression defined you,
Judgement? You did not care,
You had flowers in your garden,
And more adorned your hair.
Surgeries stopped you from walking,
In wheelchairs you had to get by,
But you said, “Feet, what do I need them for,
If I have wings to fly?”
Viva la Vida,
The last artwork from your hand,
8 days before your death,
In Coyoacán, your motherland.
The phrase means ‘long live life,’
The painting celebrates your own,
Throughout your 47-year journey,
You stood out, you shone.
You painted portraits and emotions,
Deeper meanings and struggles of life,
But Viva la Vida simply shows us,
Watermelons, red and ripe.
So, whenever I think of watermelons,
Frida, I think of you,
You weren’t just optimistic, but resilient,
And I hope to be like that too.
How did writing this poem make you feel?
My poem is about Frida Kahlo, who was an outstanding artist but also an inspirational person for me. While writing it, I really got to express my admiration for her and her difficult yet brave life, and also question my own perspective on certain things. Her painting of watermelons, Viva la Vida, was always my favorite artwork by her, which helped me incorporate the theme of fruit in my poem too.
Which single line in your poem are you the absolute proudest of?
A line in my poem I am proud of is ‘Bold colours and a paintbrush, suffering expressed and not hidden’. This is because I conveyed the message that sharing your struggles can be much more helpful than concealing them, which I think is really important for people to realise.
Describe your poem in three words
Honest, inspired, simple.
This is because I wrote my poem with Honest words that describe a snapshot of Frida Kahlo’s life and my thoughts on her experiences, while being Inspired by her resilience and ability to adapt. The language in my poem is Simple, using thoughtful observations and facts to reach my readers rather than hidden meanings or riddles.
Where is your absolute favourite place to sit when you are brainstorming ideas?
My favorite place to be when coming up with ideas for my writing is in the living room, sitting on the ground in front of a low table, with a notebook in front of me.
Why do you think people write poetry?
I think that the reason behind poetry is different for everyone. Students might write them for a school assignment, while others may use them as a way of getting their thoughts and emotions on a page, whether its confusion and loneliness, or joy. A poem could be written as a message of gratitude, respect or even as a funny birthday gift. Many people write them based on their own experiences, adding meaning to the words.