Final Exam/Reflections

Part A: I, the Writer

In this semester of creative writing I feel as though I have developed a stronger understanding of how to write poetry. I have so many ideas floating around in my head and I feel as though poetry is a method of throwing all those morsels onto the paper. To me poetry does not have to make sense in its delivery, as long as the message shines through. The abstract presentation is what makes it fun to decipher the work of the greats such as Shakespeare, Eliot, and Koyczan. I don’t like to say that I have a style due to my inexperience, however I like to write philosophical pieces of writing due to the vast time I spend reading in that field. Generally my poems would consist of topics such as the nature of the Universe and what lies beyond, if anything at all. I love to incorporate visual elements of nature into my work such as the sun and stars of outer space, to the fields and trees of Earth, and the gorgeous water and beaches of the oceans. I feel imagery can enhance any type of writing and really helps to pull the leader in the world you have crafted for them to explore. If I could pass on any advice to future writers it would be to absorb everything you read and see, as ideas that pop into our heads at random can be very quickly forgotten and all of the wasted potential that goes with them. Anything can be written about as long as it is well structured and thought out, as if you the writer has no vision then how is the reader going to be able to enjoy and critique your work. I will definitely continue to write poetry and improve my craft within the genre, I also am hoping to branch out into different genres instead of just staying with those I am comfortable with, possibly some comedic or unorthodox pieces that focus on entertaining rather than indulging.

Part B: I, the Blogger

I think my blog is well organized with every piece of work labelled and in place making it easy for anyone to search through and enjoy whatever they come across. However, I do believe I could put more effort into the visuals behind it. I am not a very technically skilled person and the blog functions there is to choose from in terms of aesthetics just confuses me. I will try to become more knowledgable of this area in the future and create a more exciting blog for the eye as well as the mind.

Part C: I, the Student

A particularly special moment in this class was exploring around the river. I was able to take in the gorgeous sights and sounds of the the scenery around me from the sprawling water, the lush trees, and fresh air. I was therefore easily able to formulate numerous ideas for pieces that I had later written.

The best book I read this semester would have to be “A History of Philosophy – Volume 1: Greece and Rome – From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus” by Frederick J. Copleston, S.J. I am still powering through this great analysis of some of the greatest minds in history, whose ideas helped form the basis of Western Civilization. Reading the scientific theories and research of the Ancient Ionians has changed my whole view on the Universe and my place within it. All knowledge in the Universe is infinite and in everything there is a piece of everything. This ensures that discovery and purpose for human life will never die. These methods are how societies progress technologically and intellectually and improve the quality of life for all citizens living within them. Reading is the basis of all knowledge as it is the interpretation and vision of one’s own mind that makes the obtaining of the former possible. It is an essential skill for all human beings to learn, which is why I practice it all the time. With the knowledge I obtain I use for the betterment of making be it through debating, lecturing, or of course writing.

I have still much to learn about the nature of writing and poetry as it is such a vast and complex world of skill and ideas. My best course of action would be to write pieces more personal to myself rather than scaling them down out of fear of judgment for other. Any great artist in history that has created masterworks did it by expressing their souls to the rest of the world no matter what opposition they may have faced, as they needed to do it to maintain their self respect. I am still trying to better my self respect and I feel my writing will flow much stronger and clearer once I do.

Part D: I, the Fan

I had a great time studying one of my favorite authors of all time for my writer’s seminar project, George Orwell. I absolutely love the political and philosophical works of inspiration he was able to produce. His ability to present unbiased yet thought provoking and even world changing pieces of writing was a truly one a kind talent that will never be matched again. I have learned from his works to be more thorough in my research habits and trying my hardest to learn from first hand sources the causes of events in the past and present that have shaped our modern world. It is not wise to only read and listen to the voices of those that agree with one’s own opinion, as that leads to dogmatic thinking and eventually conflict. A balanced analysis of all opinions and ideas is how one advances their thinking from adolescence to mature adulthood, and also helps strengthen the arguments for their own opinions as well.

Part E: I, the Critic of my work

“A Dance with the Infinite – Free Choice Poem” – The title for this piece came from my undying love of exploring and researching the unknown objects of the Universe, as the scientists of Ancient Greece had done, while also admiring their natural beauty and shapes. With this piece I wanted to promote the thinking styles of the Ancient Greek philosophers, who were all about accepting the limited nature of one’s own knowledge and therefore continuing to pursue the understanding of the vast unknown, the size of which can never fully be comprehended due to its infinite nature. I heavily relied on the use of imagery for this piece as I’ve always felt visual components help to enhance the mood and power of whatever message one is trying to get across as well as the topic they are trying to explain. I did stick to an ABAB rhyme scheme however, as I am still learning about and versing myself into different styles of poetry and word pairing which I believe could help enhance my writing in the future. I feel this piece very much solidified my own view of the Universe as well as my personal philosophy and approach towards life, being humble and open to any new ideas or discoveries that may come may way. I have developed these feelings after hours of reading the thoughts, quotes, and theories of some of the greatest minds in all of human history and will continue to do so in the unknown future.

“Free Choice [March 19th]” – This piece was meant as a way to pay homage to the often viciously forgotten veterans of the Vietnam War. I used vivid and brutal imagery in the 1st and 3rd stanzas to give a sense of the horror and hellish environment of the which the major battles of the war took place, and also the terrifying effects of the technology and chemicals used in the conflict [mainly helicopters and napalm]. In the 2nd stanza I wanted to emphasize the ignorance and in many cases unforgivable behaviour committed by the opponents of the war back home in America, being the privileged Hippie kids of the North who got to go to college spitting upon the poorer children of the South who were drafted against their will to fight. In many ways I am trying to apologize in this piece for the mistreatment of the veterans during the war and after the war from the false perceptions of them in the media, to the lack of medical attention, counselling, and benefits paid to the families of those both dead and alive. I feel the most important key to understanding a problem is education, as understanding the history and nature of the issue is the only true way that a solution can be formulated to solve it. I also wish to acknowledge the courage and pride held by the brave men who fought in one of the worst conflicts in modern history, as their heroics are often forgotten due to the false revisions of history most read today. I am hoping that those who read this piece will join me in the process of recognizing these great heroes, most of whom are still alive today, and for atoning for the mistakes made on their behalf in the past.