Reflection

I was inspired by dreams and life experiences to write many of my pieces. "Amazon" was inspired by my lifetime dream to go to Brazil. We have family friends in Brazil, and I have always had a natural interest in the area. I was inspired to write "Fear" from a personal experience that happened this semester. "Wisdom" was based on the descriptions of many characters I have imagined and read from stories. It was intended to frame the archetypal "wise old man." This poem helped me to become more focused on imagery in my writing and taught me the importance of doctoring archetypes to give readers a sense of familiarity with the character. "Strength" was based on the memory of a family member who passed away a few years ago; and writing about this particular characteristic of them, helped me to cope with their death. My villanelle, "The Sun Sets on Another Day" was written during a time of change in my life that produced some feelings of vulnerability and gave me the feeling that something was ending in my life that I didn't want to. The night in this poem symbolized my fear of the uncertainty ahead and my incapability of handling the thought of not being in control.
Many of the first drafts I wrote this nine weeks were in need of serious revision. Thanks to my partners: John, Brianna, Anna Dione, Kristy, and Anna James; I was able to have a lot of people give me suggestions in my work. In "Strength," I edited to add elements of the ocean. This was an example of editing for new ideas. I used a craft lesson in my memoir when I said, "We unloaded, bags in hand..." I also had many repetitive sentences in my memoir and one sentence that's syntax was unclear. With Ms. Turner's helping hand, I corrected these errors with relative ease and efficiency.
In John's writing I learned that if I wrote about important things to me then my writing would turn out better. In Kristy's writing I learned that sometimes contemporary culture could be used expertly to produce powerful writing that moved the reader. In Charlotte's writing I learned that sometimes "zany" concepts could work together to make the piece more memorable.

The Amazon

The sound of water grew louder and louder as I crunched along the path cautiously following our guide. The forest quickly became greener as we approached the river, and the animals in the forest scurried in all directions at the sight of outsiders. Finally, we emerged from the shadowy canopy of trees into a small clearing on the bank of a slow-moving muddy, brown river, the Amazon. Our guide directed us to the boat, and we climbed in just as he was cranking the motor. The smell of gasoline penetrated the air, displacing the earthy smell of the forest. Our boat slipped backwards into the water, and we began our trip down the river.
Gliding down the river, it seemed impossible not to notice all that was around me: two monkeys joyfully playing in a riverside tree, a bird with a huge yellow beak flying high above the river, a crocodile peering just above the surface in a creek sunken back into the forest. Our small sliver of a boat slid tightly into a tiny creek just off the main river, and our captain reduced his speed. The forest rapidly became darker, and the shade from the trees seemed to wrap a stifling humidity around us. The boat slid to a stop at the start of a small path coming off of the bank of the creek. We unloaded, bags in hand, and followed our guide as he led us on a path, twisting and turning through the trees.
The path grew larger, and finally we saw a small village through the gaps in the trees. The locals called this place Anak’i Tectokan. The village seemed to be larger than the ones I had seen in "National Geographic," and the first noticeable image was the dirt plot where local boys played some sort of ballgame which I would later learn to call pok-a-tok. The village consisted of a large rectangular hut surrounded by seven huts all made of some sort of wood and covered in palm fronds. Due to the amount of rain, the village was muddy and brown. A man with a feathered necklace came to us and presented himself as the village’s healing guru, Saibezi. He pointed us to a hut and showed us what would evidently be our home for the next few months. As I set my bag down on the dirty mat made from leaves, I heard a cat’s roar. It startled me so that I flung open the door to the hut, only to see two native men pointing spears at a black panther, poised and ready to fight. Another man appeared at the edge of the forest with a strange looking contraption, like an overgrown straw. He blew hard into it, and the panther staggered as the red-feathered dart pierced his neck. A few seconds later, the panther was dead lying on its side. Saibezi rushed to it and carried it to the long, rectangular hut in the center of the village and began chanting and sprinkling a crimson powder over it and draping a green beaded rope over its head. I knew at this moment that my year would be unlike any I had ever experienced.

Fear

fear
eats inside
cutting, bruising,
holding thoughts
and twisting souls
with blood-soaked hands,
steps on peace and kills it quickly.
hope is gone;
save yourself.
no longer think-feel your way to safety;
fly, run as fast as you can,
run, run away.

then blinding flash and darkness;
the guilt is dead, the fear is fleeing.
golden sword cuts down the snake that
twists around the mind.
black blood flies and the snake hisses,
blinding light and everything fades.
cooling water falls from sky

and washes away the stains.

Wisdom

Wisdom is slowly coaxed into a room;
Old and gray with a long white beard,
It towers above hate, anger, and fear.

Strength

Strength rises from the ocean,
Wearing a cloak of deepest gray;
Stands tall despite the currents.

VILLANELLE

The sun sets on another day
Pale moon hanging low
Black skies arise, throw light away

The shadows now hold truth at bay
Cold winds begin to blow
The sun sets on another day

None remain of the sun’s bright rays
Dark trees feel the cold of snow
Black skies arise, throw light away

The Earth feels like a lonely cay
Wrapped up in a big, black bow
The sun sets on another day

The night rips sanity into dark fray
Casting hope into fiery inferno
Black skies arise, throw light away

All love is lost, nothing left to say
Give in to hate and let it flow
The sun sets on another day
Black skies arise, throw light away