It's true! It's true! No homework for me tonight! I have returned a hundred emails, spread some comment lovin', buffed my fingernails, cleaned underneath my stove and fridge, and burned out my biceps with a killer weight set. Woo-hoo! Let me tell you--I deserved this night too! My poetry professor is actually kind of making me hate poetry with all these obscure exercises of his----poems without adjectives, poems written from torn up scraps of other poems, and this week we had to find a way to relate a finite and an infinite object. I was so lucky as to be assigned "blood cell" (finite) and "opening sky" (infinite). Could YOU figure out how to write a poem linking those two?! (and I must add here, I actually really like my professor--- it's only that he's making me think TOOOOOO much!---aaaaugh!). I'm sure you're just hanging on the edge of your seats to hear what I came up with......
PAPER CUT: BLOOD CELL-- OPENING SKY
The way the edge of my thumb
Razors along the course of envelope
small wound ripping open
like a sky opens at dawn
tearing wider and wider
To the form of intelligence inside my thumb, this is the case--
Its sky has been parted
And I stand bleeding out cells of sunshine and moonlight
Stars, clouds, rain, distant galaxies
The length of all days
And span of all nights
Red puddle of Universe
On the tip of my finger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not really great I know (that's why I feel safe putting it up here....), but on the other hand I had to give myself a pat on the back for coming up with anything at all!!!!
If my poetry is struggling, at least my technical communications isn't. After 12 hours of hair-ripping confusion to finish it-- here's what the professor had to say about my last assignment:
****Jen, this is excellent work. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. Please see my comments and ask if you have questions. Thanks. Grade: 99****
Not sure where he gets away with calling me "Jen"--I only let my good friends call me that. But he can call me whatever he wants, as long as keeps giving me such nice grades :) !
Come back tomorrow----I promise to come up with something more entertaining for writer's workshop!
29 comments:
How do yo uget all that stuff done while still juggling the squad single-handedly (or was that your bicep workout)? superwoman.
I liked your poem, and to be honest, I HATED all the poetry my professors tried to make me read. I'm still not sure how I got out of it and still got a degree in English. Anyway, good writin' Jen. (just kidding)
"And I stand bleeding out cells of sunshine and moonlight" reminds me if Edward.. as in Twilight.
You go girl.
Hi,
I'm posting from India, Hyderabad to be precise.
I found your blog quite by accident. What caught my attention is the way you use different sizes of fonts to so vividly explain your emotions! Love your posts already. And for what it's worth - you have all my admiration. Single mom, four small kids and a writing course - that's some zest you've got there. I have a 16 year old daughter - so it's a whole different set of problems that I have:-) All the very best!
Suchi
I totally agree with Tiffany...sounds like Twilight Poetry! But I loved Twilight, so I also love this.
You are so freakin smart! Great poem. I bet you are the star student in poetry too.
You are seriously one of the most amazing people I have ever met.
You go, girl!! I thought it was awesome.
Um...Jen (ha ha)...it's a flipping good poem, so (i almost said "shut up", but i don't say these things) BE GOOD and stop making other writers (ME) jealous of your skills. DANG GIRL. I seriously love the last two lines. Dang you. ;D
Love, love, love those no homework nights. I particularly love them when it's my older kids with no homework. Makes for a more peaceful evening at our house.
Good job on your tech. communications class, I know it was a pain at first.
Since I didn't comment on the music post... about the most far out I get in music is some big band with Harry Connick Jr. and a bit of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Love learning new stuff from you.
Congrats!! Great poem.
Excellent work! Loved the poem; I would have given you a 100!! Keep up the good work Superwoman.
Lisa Q
Wow, 99. Super job!
By the way, I actually like the poem!
Am having the same problem in my creative writing class. I just posted the worst poem ever written over at my blog yesterday. Why are there so many flipping rules? Gah!
Also, I think you did an excellent job on yours. Those two things are so not related but you pulled them together nicely. I bet you will get an excellent score.
wonderful poem, don't put yourself down you've always had a nack for putting odd things together :)
Everyone--
Thanks for the kind feedback on the poem. Maybe it was better than I thought (or you're just easy readers :)!).
Here's the killer---we DON'T get graded on our poetry. We have to have something new every week, read it in class, show up to participate, and workshop a few poems separate from the ones we bring to class---and we'll get an A. That's why I LOVE upper division courses! Much less testing and grading!
But in my mind I'll put an "A" on that one---given to me by all my sweet readers ;)!
It amazes me how you could write a poem about a paper cut, and make it sounds so "deep". Very good.
You continue to amaze. :)
That peom does seem to have a Twilight theme to it..,,, coincidence, I think not!!!!
Wow what a quirky thing to write about. I think I would have been banging my head against the monitor, still.....
You go girl, show them all that just cause you are a momma you can still conquire the world!!! You know that we are all so proud of you, school is not easy when you have other hats you must wear.
I think it is a wonderful poem. My brain just doesn't work like that with words. Great job!!
I would so not pass that poetry class. :-)
And here you thought the technical part would kill you....way to go with that 99!
You are awesome,,, I swear I delight in all of it ..especially the poetry!! me too Jen for close friends Jennifer to everyone else...J
I JUST couldn't stomach those two worlds together!!! Blood cell, opening sky...
AHAHHHHH (I'm screaming)....AHHHH....I say.
Yes, AHH again. Ah.
lol....I just got a yucky feeling in my stomach...oooh....just thinking about how the blood could open out of the wound, and then thinking about the beautiful sunrise...
Squirm I say, squirm. Yes, you did warn us....you did.
BUT!!! All is not lost....even though I was totally squirming(what terrible subjects to have to match btw), I am still amazed at your wonderful writing, and I'm not just saying that. Through the squirminess, I still found great things:
"And I stand bleeding out cells of sunshine and moonlight"
...mmmmm, pretty good.
I wish I could make conversation warm and fun the way you do. I really wish it. I'm a mess of words, discombobulated to say the least. I bet you proof read my paragraphs!
Thanks for sharing the stuff you won't publish with us. It's still very insightful, and gives us a tease as to what's to come...the good stuff with no oozing involved I hope! If you do it purposely (write with purposeful oozing, that is) it would still be amazing...oh yuck for purposeful oozing.
Yuck.
I am not a poetry expert, by any means. But it is amazing how you could actually connect those two and write a deep piece of poetry. *shaking my head in amazement!*
Blood cells and sky? That's a tough one. Kudos on your poem. And on your great grade. You must be a great multi-tasker with everything you accomplish in a day!
Have you read The Book Thief? If not, it is a fabulous book. Very well written. The language is genius. I know you don't have much time for fun reading but put it on your list. :)
OH my Word! You did awesome. I would of folded on that one. Good job :)
I am not a fan of poetry at all. But that one...I love it. Love the imagery.
And I love no homework nights. Especially when Madalyn doesn't have any. There are some days that she just does not have time to be a seven year old girl.
Wow...I am not a poet..and I know it.;)
Great job...and I cannot believe all that you can accomplish in one day and still get down your blog roll. I guess it helps when people like me aren't posting regularly. My life is getting in the way lately ;)
Definitely A material. Seriously amazing.
ah dear jennifer: you are one talented gal! i know that i wouldn't have been able to come up with anything half as delightful as your blood cell poem---and i am mostly positive that that is the reason youa re in that class (and most definitely not me!)
your're amazing!
That poem makes me say, "OUCH!" But good for you for coming up with somethin! Maybe...your professor has the hots for ya? Just sayin?! I'm glad you didn't have any homework! We don't have a flag football game this weekend...so I'm hopin to spread a little love back to all the people who came to visit me from BATW! BTW...thanks for your sweet comment...I'm glad you like me just the way I am! (And actually...you came close to spelling my name correctly the first comment...everyone always gets it wrong, it's ok...I'm just Staci with an i :)
I have been checking your blof often and I love it! I am a Reading & Writing teacher and I love to write! I think you did great on this! Great Blog!
Post a Comment