A Look Back...

As I look back on the semester as a whole, I am very glad I ended up taking this class and sticking with it. It taught me numerous things about the poetry language and world that I would not have known without. My favorite part of the class was actually two things. I really liked doing the oral presentations on poets of our choice as I got to research well known poets and their styles. Also, I liked the workshop at the end of the year as well. It was very nice to get feedback from others knowing they are just trying to help me and make my poetry as strong as it can be. As for poetry in my future, I do not see it playing a huge part, but I do see myself sticking with it somewhat. In fact, after taking this class I have decided that writing some poems for family members and loved ones would be a great gift for them for the upcoming holidays. I will probably write it more than I will read it, but at least now when I hear a famous poets name I will be able to recognize it.

Overall

Although this class was simply an introductory course in poetry, it has acted as far more than that for me. As originally intended I added CRW 205 because it simply covered a general education requirement for college. However, I quickly realized there is way more to poetry then I had thought. This class became much more intriguing to me than just another “uninteresting” general education class. Throughout the semester this course has helped to develop my ability to write creatively, while strongly broadening my vocabulary. For years, I have been taught that in order for a poem to sound good and grab reader attention it must rhyme throughout. After a semester in this course however, I now have a completely different view. Nearing the end of my experience in this class, I have learned that poetry is quite different than I had previously thought. Poetry does not have any rules, and can just be thoughts from your head put on paper in any way or form. I thoroughly enjoy the fact that you do not have to rhyme or stay to any particular structure.

Revision, Revision, Revision!

So as the term comes to an end, I've revised a lot, and learned how to be "better" as far as revision goes. The first poem I presented in class, "Dernier Cri" has really been a thorn in my side since Round one of workshop. I've changed words, rephrased everything, moved the whole poem, and finally feel ALMOST happy with it. But, I had the realization that, can someone really be happy with a poem? 100% happy? I feel as though a poet is never finished revising. There could always be that one line that could have changed the entire poem, made it better than before. Or, a line that made the poem a little bit less than it could have been. Because it is the last week of classes, I've really taken the time to think about how much I've learned in this class, and revision is at the top. At first I was extremely scared to read my work out loud to a class, but as time went on I realized it wasn't so bad; getting that feeling of reading something your proud of out loud, and then realizing what you could fix is a rush. Another thing I learned this semester is that poetry is under appreciated. From the people I've met in class, there was a wide range of majors. Although this is a gen-ed, I honestly think people enjoyed this class, and it's good to see that people read poetry outside of class. It really opened my eyes to how different people can be from what they seem. Good luck on finals everyone!

Presentations

Well- procrastination has gotten the best of me. As I write this, the day before it's due-I'm finding myself regretting not keeping up with this blog. Recently I've been reading people's posts and I find that I'm able to both relate and learn a lot from them. I wish I had been more interactive on the blog- but is something I can remember for the future.
   I gave my oral presentation on Tuesday and I found it much easier than I thought to stand up in front of the class and talk for ten minutes. At first thought of this assignment my immediate reaction was butterflies and nerves. I've never enjoyed public speaking and always seem to feel that my face is on fire when I'm speaking in front of people. That didn't quite happen on Tuesday though. As I went up- books in hand I looked at the people who have read and critiqued my poetry, and vice versa. I found that even though I may not have known the people I was speaking in front of on a friend level, I can look at each one of my classmates and tell them what poem they wrote or something about their poetry. That was something I found to be really neat, and I encourage those of you presenting tomorrow to not be afraid of this. Through workshop we all have this connection through writing that I think is really neat. You may not know much about the person you sit next to each day, or the person across the room, but you know how they write and what they write about. I think others' writing styles and subject matter has impacted me and helped me as a poet and person.

Thanks!
Taylor Achin

What I liked about this course

I think workshop was my favorite part of this class. I really liked showing my poems to other people and seeing their responses. The responses I got were only positive, but, what I wanted was harsh, honest criticism. I don't know if I'm talented. I don't know if I should continue writing. I don't know if I'm wasting my time. I only showed a total of three poems so it would probably be hard to determine anything.

When reading other people's works and comparing it to my own, I get the impression that I'm doing something wrong, mainly cause of content, or something. But, during the presentations, someone presented a poet who was quite intriguing. That poet's style was similar to something I'd write, I think.

In my personal reflection paper, we were encouraged to give ourselves advice for the future, this is what I wrote:

If I had to give myself advice to be used for the future, then I would tell myself to not change. The style I use is different and is quite interesting. It shows that poetry doesn't have to be about broken hearts and the leaves falling. In the future, I will think of neat ideas but probably won't do anything about it, like writing them down in a notebook.

Thursday is the last class for me. It is bitter sweet. I will not miss the oral presentation, or presenting my own poems in workshop. What i will miss is reading a different variety of poets and exploring the meanings. I can say i found my favorite poem ever so far!! It is called The Idea of Ancestry written by Etheridge Knight. Once i read that poem I instantly fell in love with it. I get many different ideas from it. The first time i read it, do not ask me why, i thought of Huckleberry Fin. Ha. The poem has a deep meaning that makes you want to keep reading it. Anybody who has never read it I recommend you do asap. My favorite part of the poem is

"I pace my cell or flop on my bunk

and stare at 47 black faces across the space. I am all of them,

they are all of me, I am me, they are thee, and I have no children

to float in the space between"

I believe it is very touching and gives you a vivid image of what is happening. It kind of makes you feel bad for this guy who wants to do better, but cant.

Anne Sexton.

Well, we are in our last week of the semester, and I thought this time would never come. However, now I am almost sad for this course to come to an end. I really enjoy listening to others' poems, as well as having my own poems critiqued. I feel as though this course has helped me grow as not only a writer, but as a person. Poetry helps me get out my most intimate feelings. When I put that pen to paper, I can say anything that I want to say.
Anne Sexton is one of the poets that I did my oral presentation on. I really have grown to love her work. I even asked for some of her poetry books for Christmas. Maybe I feel as though I can relate to her so much because we are both women who share many of the same opinions on things. She was a very depressed poet, who ultimately committed suicide. However, her work is brilliant, and it inspires me... and I know I am not the only one she has inspired. She may have had a tough life, but she left her words behind for all eternity. Her work just validates the fact that good things can come from something bad. Although her work was her way of coping with her depression, she has touched so many lives- including mine.