Poetics 5

When I began to write my "I Remember" poem, I first started to think of things that stood out to me the most. They were not always good memories. Then I decided to think about the more subtle memories of my youth. I started to relive my life in the homes that I had lived in with my family, and to remember some of the little things that made life there special. I bagan to remember childhood friends, siblings, and special occassions. Brainard's book was very helpful to me because it helped me to begin to remember similar things about my own life. I could relate to so much of what he remembered. It really showed how much alike people can be, without having had the exact same experiences, and upbringings. Unlike the other poems, writing this poem was pure pleasure. When I wrote about my childhood, I was actually back there! This poem allowed me to worry less about style and more about substance. I remembered things I hadn't thought about in years! From my poem, I learned that my experiences really did shape who I am, but they do not define me as a human being. From listening to other people's "I Remember" poems, I discovered that I wasn't the only one to have suffered traumas. This was good for me, and made me feel less sorry for some of the upsetting events in my past. I found it difficult sometimes, to word my lines in such a way that sounded pleasant to the ear, and still conveyed what I wanted the words to get across. I would have to say that writing this poem, was more than just an action, but it was actually an experience. A journey back in time, and a very good one.