Well, class started quietly with a statement of intent for the semester, the assignment to read Desire Zoo by Alison Luterman, and to write a poem emulating her work.
One of the things I've learned in previous coursework about poetry is that it should be a grand conversation among all poets, a command to go shake up the world, and a meditation to calm the soul.
What have I found in Alison Luterman's Desire Zoo?
First off, I found a lot of poems I could connect with in a personal way. Subjects ranged from God, tales told by children, defeating obstacles, love, ghosts, people, marriage. So I found a rich selection that matched memories in my own life.
Well, actually, first off I found a delightful rich cover with a zoo full of wild color and birds and animals. A theme runs through the book based on life.
The poet's voice feels honest and straightforward--no attempt to gussy up or overwork language instead she relies on concrete, rich, details of everyday existence, for example, "He looks like a PoliSci professor in his softly knitted cap, carries a laptop under one arm..." from "What About God".
On the first poem I tried, I found I needed to go back and change summary, idealized language for more concrete examples.
Also worked on my class plan for my PREP class at St. Stephans Catholic Community--this week we are studying confirmation, the holy spirit and prayer.
One of the things I've learned in previous coursework about poetry is that it should be a grand conversation among all poets, a command to go shake up the world, and a meditation to calm the soul.
What have I found in Alison Luterman's Desire Zoo?
First off, I found a lot of poems I could connect with in a personal way. Subjects ranged from God, tales told by children, defeating obstacles, love, ghosts, people, marriage. So I found a rich selection that matched memories in my own life.
Well, actually, first off I found a delightful rich cover with a zoo full of wild color and birds and animals. A theme runs through the book based on life.
The poet's voice feels honest and straightforward--no attempt to gussy up or overwork language instead she relies on concrete, rich, details of everyday existence, for example, "He looks like a PoliSci professor in his softly knitted cap, carries a laptop under one arm..." from "What About God".
On the first poem I tried, I found I needed to go back and change summary, idealized language for more concrete examples.
Also worked on my class plan for my PREP class at St. Stephans Catholic Community--this week we are studying confirmation, the holy spirit and prayer.
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