Carl Sandburg once said, “Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.” I suppose poetry, like any form of art, is a reflection of you and your inner self. Poetry tells others what your inner being is like, it reflects all your “darkness” or ideas you hold in and just lets them evolve or flow.

       The definition of poetry states a literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature. I agree with this statement because poetry is something that can make its readers feel some kind of emotion, which is normally written in some order of verses. I also feel though that poetry is a form of art that reflects the writer’s own perspective on the world and it’s a piece that readers must try to understand. Poetry gives its readers an opportunity to explore and step in another person’s shoes to see what they are thinking and get a glimpse of another point of view.

       Words with similes, metaphors, imagery, and more fill rows of lines and stanzas. All these different styles and forms of sentences that are used to create an image of a bigger message. All the words on a paper or page someone else wrote somehow finds a way to echo in the readers’ minds, arousing some form of feelings and emotions. But how could such simplistic words have such a large meaning? How could words thrown in some kind of format make another person react? If I speak honestly, I don’t know the direct answer because there can be so many different answers since there are many different forms of poetry itself. There are so many branches of poetry that grow and entangle themselves into mini-categories, but I believe words on a page make the reader feel something because of what’s in between the lines of poetry. You could write such a simple worded poem about a tree that you love, but based on another person’s past experiences they could perceive it as a larger meaning, bigger than a tree.

       That’s what I love about poetry, it can be someone’s loss but another person’s treasure. Everyone has different ways of thinking because no one is the exact same, we all go through different experiences and learn about different ideas, which form our own way of thinking, but in poetry, you can put your own thoughts in to make a poem make sense. Or you can stretch your brain into trying to find another person’s thinking on a topic. 

       Poetry gives you a chance to express yourself in a way that you may not get to or choose to on the daily. It’s like a “hidden” door that everyone knows about, where inside you can express all your weirdness and deepest thoughts, but only a selective few dare knock on it. Everyone has heard about poetry at least once in his or her life because we are taught the basics that poems consist of lines and stanzas in our childhood days of school, but for many, it doesn’t faze them, it just seems like another school assignment we are forced to do. Much dread poetry because we aren’t taught how it’s a form of art where you can be free, instead we are taught it’s art that follows a certain format in the way that it’s versed or rhythmic, but we need to open this door up for the youth and every age. We need to show them it’s more than words on a page it’s bigger than us combined, it’s words with a bigger meaning because yes, there can be a guideline if you limit yourself to them, but these guidelines can help stretch your words into different deeper forms, but you can also expand past the guidelines.

       There isn’t one specific way poetry can be written or the elements or even one specific definition because every poem that makes up poetry is different. All the definitions or guidelines of poetry aren’t necessarily wrong, but they can possibly be enclosing all the poetry stores. They are sticking a label on something that means so much more.  I think there isn’t just one definition of poetry, there are many based on you, but I think one possible branch to this large tree is that poetry a form of art used to try and understand others and to express yourself.

Personal Statement: 

       Personally, while I’ve been writing poetry this semester overtime it has evolved into bigger topics. Earlier in the year, I used to just write poetry without much meaning about my day to day life, but now it has become more detailed in the way that I use more imagery, metaphors, similes, and other poetic tools to deeper express my ideas. I believe my poetry this year does follow the basic rules that my poems have been written in lines and stanzas for the most part, but I also believe that I’ve let myself roam free and explore poetry itself by using different forms. This year, I’ve learned that poetry can be more than lines and words and that it has a deeper meaning if I use tools to stretch my basic general ideas into more words and ideas.

One of the hardest part for me this year was the last assignment of poetry we did in creative writing, which was the serial poems because we had to write six different poems on one topic. The quantity wasn’t the hard part for me, but it was more that I had to enlarge my way of thinking to make each poem different even though they were all on the same idea of identity.

Theme: Identity

The Difference

As I walk down the parking lot streets,

I smile at the people I come in contact with.

Some of the people smile back,

but there are some people that don’t,

and they look like they have seen a ghost,

they act as if I have the flu and rush to get away.

At first, I thought nothing of it,

but now I wonder:

Could the reason I get these countless stares

and dirty looks be because of the color of my skin?

I never realized how divided the world was until now

and I used to never notice the differences

between me and others,

but now I realize some think we are not the same.

Ghazal: Wonders

A broken soul stares out at me, with no name.

She hides her face, trying to hide her name.

I call out to this nameless person, but no reply.

Instead, they try to hide, not giving up their name.

The moonlight glistens, revealing scruffy clothes.

And hair that has grown past her face, covering up her name.

Before you provide any sense of help for this child,

You must determine their name.

The little girl says she doesn’t remember her name,

And you reassure her it is okay to not know your name.

A bright searching light overcomes her face,

Now a new journey begins to find her name.

I Am

I am a brown-skinned girl,

who has dreams.

I am someone,

who notices all the stares.

I am a teenager,

who realizes all the differences

between me and other girls.

I am a leader,

who’s going to change these differences.

I am a girl who believes in differences.

Triolet: Everyone

People have differences in colors, sizes, and personalities.

But everyone is still the same: human.

The nation should throw away our ignorance of shaming.

People have differences in colors, sizes, and personalities.

Anyone can have different aims.

But everyone is still the same: human.

People have differences in colors, sizes, and personalities.

The Palace

The King walks around his palace,

down on the peasants

because they are equal

to less of him.

The peasants look up to the King,

even though he has more

and they must work hard

for him, they believe

he still has

a good side.

Good in Everyone

Family,

are the ones who accept you no matter what.

Friends,

are the ones who make you feel as if you belong.

Pets,

are the ones who are there for you when you feel down.

Teachers,

are the ones who push and guide you to work hard.

Doctors,

are the ones who are there to try and save your life.

Soldiers,

are the ones who risk their own lives to fight for you.

Look around and notice everyone has good in them,

in some way they help shape and fight for you.

New York CIty Poem

It is 7:43 PM in Texas on a Wednesday night,

I am drained but am still here continuing homework.

It makes sense why though

I have been up since 6 AM when I went to sleep around 11-12 PM

from a late night Dance Spectacular Performance.

I got to admit though it was a great show

and we performed beautifully!

The television is blasting,

some sort of Amazon Commercial.

I’m sure this is like the 1000th time I’ve heard and seen it,

but I’m not sure it’s kind of a blur.

It is 8:00 on a Thursday morning.

Once more, I’m tired when’s the day has barely begun.

Everyone today looks tired,

heavy bags under their eyes, people wrapped in warm blankets,

and the faint sound of blasting music.

All just a normal day.

Winter Break is around the corner,

3 weeks of sleeping and freedom!

Although before that finals and midterms are approaching.

I’m surprisingly not as nervous,

but at the same time, some classes are rising my nervousness.

Justice Poem

“Sadly, the overwhelming amount of violent crime in our major cities is committed by blacks and hispanics-a tough subject-must be discussed.” – Trump

A school

is a safe place where students are supposed to learn,

right?

But instead, I sit in my seat

staring at the door

hoping I’ll get to make it through the day

and that someone won’t end my young pure life.

A church

is a safe place to share your beliefs, right?

But instead of being able to praise God

I must be cautious about someone entering,

and taking my own life.

A concert

is a safe place to enjoy your favorite artists’ songs, right?

But instead of being able to enjoy the music

I still have to be aware of my surroundings,

analyzing any exits and coverings,

just in case the worst happens.

A home

is a safe place where you go daily to be surrounded by family, right?

But as I lay here in bed,

I worry about someone breaking in

and hurting my loved ones

or someone separating my family.

There are all these commonplaces,

where I should feel safe

but instead, I sit in thoughts of terror.

Each issue is the same story with the same villain,

but just a different name.

You are supposed to help change this,

not encourage the perpetrator,

but instead, you sit in your big black chair doing nothing.

Don’t worry though,

we will be the change.

Love Poem

Twelve years you were there for me

in all the instances when others weren’t,

fighting for us as a single mother.

You pushed through endless college and long work days

trying to provide a better life for us.

All the moments I misbehaved in school,

you were there to comfort and be patient with me.

Providing a sense of shelter and warmth others cannot come close to.

You nudged me to stay on the right path

and were there to support me even when I fell off track.

You remind me it’s okay to not be perfect,

but I should always learn from my mistakes.

I could’ve given up, or went in the wrong direction.

Honestly, I wanted to fall off and go with the crowd,

but you remind me I should stop trying to blend in

when clearly I was born to stand out.

Now, in my teenage years,

I’ve begun to judge my features and my personality,

I’ve grown suspicious of the meaning of people’s presence in my life,

but the only person I’ve been able to fall back on

and be constant in my life

is you.

20 Prompts Poem

The stars wink back from a sky pitch black. They

are winking at me. As I lay on my

fuzzy blanket while crunching on a

milk chocolate bar, I can see the cool

winter breeze brush against pine trees, moving

the leaves. The smell of sweet nectar parades

through the air.  In the distance, dogs howl at

the night stars. I can feel the sour tears from

my mothers face as my father yells at

her. Valerie Jones the nosy neighbor

from next door knocks on the door to see what

is the commotion. My parents resolved

their issues and send her back to her home,

but she argues and refuses to leave. My

father gave her one quick glower and she

finally walked away. The stars begin

twinkling again because she left. “I am

glad she’s gone.” they sing out. The cool moon

of love peeks out from the darkness, and a

large angry smile spreads across my face.

I run out into the night and soar through

the sky, landing on the roof. Lil Tani

lays flat on the roof. Someday she’ll

realize the light she saw in the sky was,

in fact, a UFO. (yay those normal, human

-looking aliens.)  People 5’3” ever

see these shocking discoveries though.

Schau immer nach oben. Man weiß es

nie. Sie könnten ein UFO sehen. The moon

is frightened and disappears into the night

sky and the stars wink back from a sky pitch black.

Tracy K. Smith in her Civic Vision interview makes many connections between poetry and even just literature in general and how it can influence and/or change other people’s lives for the better by opening their eyes and perspectives in their day-to-day lives. She says, “They make you think associatively and trust that the tangential connection is valid. That is part of what helps us move from our own point of view into another.” I agree with this statement because reading others perspectives on topics through literature and art helps expose you to something you may not even have ever thought of before, and so doing so helps you become more conscious of other issues that you may not realize, but that does happen. In reality, we see so many horrible acts of injustice happening, but most of the time don’t act on making a difference until it begins affecting us or others we know so reading material that goes over these ideas can change your perception on a matter. Later in the interview, she also uncovers the idea that historical material has a deeper connection to the reality that exists now. I deeply agree with this idea because many historical figures have written some form of literature that shows their way of living and now in the present, you may notice that the topics they once covered before are also happening now as well, so you can take previous knowledge to learn and make connections to the world now.

The Trees Of Life Has Fallen

In The Trees Of Life Has Fallen I feel like Alice Walker is trying to convey to her readers that someone close to her(maybe her parents?) have passed. The line, “The tree of life has fallen on my small house. I thought it was much bigger,” repeats multiple times, which supports my idea of Alice saying she lost someone. I don’t believe Alice meant it as a literal speech of saying a tree literally fell on her house because her saying, “The tree of life,”  can be an interpretation of life itself and the fact it says after, “The tree of life has fallen,” can mean that someone passed. Then all together I feel like the statement is saying that Alice believed someone in her life was strong and fighter, but then they passed and she thought the person had much more time of life. Throughout the other parts of the poem, it describes the views she sees around her as she’s sailing on the water, but she says although the water view and mountains are pretty, her mind wanders off because it’s not the same without her “fallen tree”. The final part of her poem communicates that she loved one that passing caused her much grief and pain, but she knows that they are in a better place with God. I like how the poem is taking a simple idea of grief from a loss and describing it as a metaphor by relating life to a tree and death to a fallen tree.

Torture

In Torture the words and idea repeat, but the scenarios in each line changes. For example, the first line says, “When they torture your mother plant a tree,” and then this line is followed with“When they torture your father plant a tree.” As one can see the scenario changes throughout every line, but the idea to “plant a tree” is the constant that’s used.  Overall Alice Walker, of course, is using the tree repetitively as a symbolism for something, and in this case, I believe she’s using the tree as a representation of life itself. Each time she uses a new scenario I feel like she is using that as a representation of an obstacle that you make face in life and her meaning once you put these two together is that in life you are going to collide with obstacles but you must not just give up, instead you must use the strength within you and overcome that certain event. In the final line of the poem, it states, “When they begin to torture the trees and cut down the forest they have made start another,” which is using the forest in this line as a symbol of wisdom. Alice Walker is basically saying that the obstacles you face also give you a sense of wisdom that you’ll need in life so you must use it.  

Women

The poem, Women,  starts off by describing who the poem involves, which in this case is shown to be the women from her mother’s generation. During the era her mom was born in, I imagine that in this particular time period it was when women were beginning to stand up together and advocate for their rights.  Alice Walker in this poem is telling the story of what her mother and other women in her mother’s generation had to go through in their time when women’s rights weren’t really established or cared upon. The one thing that made this women’s right poem stand out to me is not just because it’s about women, but because it’s about slave women’s rights and their path they had to travel through to reach an upbringing.  Alice describes the story of all the hardships the slave women had to go through in order to try and provide a better life for their kids without any support from others. She is showing that although the women had to travel through many obstacles, they used their strength within and their children as a motivation to reach their target of a better life. The poem as a whole is about women being strong.

Be Nobody’s Darling

Alice starts off the first two lines saying, “Be nobody’s darling; be an outcast.” This already sets the stage or base of the poem by showing the reader that the theme may relate to standing out and being different from the crowd. The first stanza continues supporting my idea by telling the reader to instead of worry about all your flaws and problems in life just embrace them. The second stanza continues by saying that once you embrace who you are and what you are going through the people that were against you(ALERT: haters!!!) see you doing good they won’t have a reason to talk about you any longer because they’ll realize you don’t care. The other couple of stanzas are telling you to be an outcast and different ways you can be one and that it is okay to be different in general because no one is the same. The last stanza is the pivotal movement though because it’s basically saying how being an individual isolate oneself and this isolation can discourage someone because this is against society’s beliefs and standards that they placed. Most people want to fit in and not be called “weird” and “different” but Alice Walker in this poem is encouraging you as a reader to go against the rules and just act like yourself because being you is all you can be.

What Makes The Dalai Lama Lovable?

What Makes The Dalai Lama Lovable is already an interesting type of poem because the title is used as the first line of the poem. It is as if the title is asking the question and the poem is a response to the question by telling the story of a man and his life story as well as how others feel about him and his appearance/ life story in general. The poem is started off by describing the Dalai Lama’s appearance in how his posture and his walk are so odd and heart-breaking for others to watch because they can tell from his body language that he’s been through a lot. Next, the poem goes on describing how he bows his head, how his personality is very respectful and nice, and also just what his life has consisted of from childhood. Dalai Lama is expressed in a way that he is a good human being that is holy and accepting of all, and Alice makes sure to include that although his story may seem sad and pitiful for others that they shouldn’t spend their time on the bad. Instead, he says they should focus on the silver lining of things because the Dalai Lama himself probably too focused on the bad once before, but he got over it and still kept a good personality. The final stanza of the poem finally answers the title’s question in saying that the Dalai Lama is lovable because of his holiness.
Alice Walker is known for taking simple ideas like life, women’s rights, childhood, and other topics and making up great symbolism and metaphors for them, which ends up giving the poems a richer meaning. All the poems were similar in the way that they were upbringing or in a way incorporated finding the silver lining in difficult situations that people may face in their daily lives. Alice chose brought a broad idea as in life and in each poem, she focused on an aspect of life and made a meaningful moral behind it. For instance, in Torture it took the idea of how you encounter obstacles in life but you must try to overcome them but this was described in a way with using trees and a forest as a representation of life and obstacles.

Reflection:

This poem drew me in because of its format. The sentence, “I was the fourth ship,” was formatted weirdly, like it was repeated in the first sentence for each stanza and it was the one sentence that wasn’t aligned to all the other lines. The repetition of this line showed that there’s more emphasis on it making it stand out and make me believe there’s more meaning. I wonder why the poet decided to include how he/she was the fourth ship because the poem is about a voyage, so I’m curious about why the number matters.  Why was this so important to the poet to include?

Reflection:

The quote, “Bird in the lackluster maples,” because I love the flow of the sentence. I love how the poet is descriptive in saying where the bird was but in such a simple sentence. The bird is described as sitting in lackluster maples, which is dull maples, which makes you think because usually, my thoughts are that maples aren’t dull but it adds a perspective and image of the scene. I loved how the poet also described different scenes so vividly because another line said, “Windflowers blow beside a cloudy sea,” which was an interesting choice of words because usually sea’s are thought of as clear in a way, but it’s described as cloudy here. This could maybe mean the water is dirty in some way.

In the poem, it describes how time was once there and then it was away as if it let which is an interesting type of words to use as in time being human since time can’t literally walk away. It describes someone’s life before they passed in a vivid way and then it says how still and silent the rooms she used to be in are now, but in a descriptive way that makes the reader feel as though they were in the room with her.