Poetry Isn't Easy & Liquid 'White Out' Sucks!

I recently started an English 261 Class on Monday (the 23rd) it's a Poetry class. I'm a writer, I even consider myself a poet, in fact, you can find some of my poems on poetry.com but this Poetry Class isn't as easy as I intended it to be. In fact, it's quite difficult-a good difficult-a challenge I look foward to embracing and overcoming:

I'm that person whom when you tell me "you can't do it," and I say, "watch me." So, now, faced with this challenging, but intriguing (and ultimately fun) Poetry class, I say-WATCH ME ACE THIS THING!!! (Or at least, let us pray!)

See, like I always say, it's ALL about ATTITUDE!

My professor, Jeanie French, is a fabulous writer, and I swear I'm not just saying that to suck up-I had her once before** for English 100 and with all her teaching, I don't know how she finds the time to write such beautiful and introspective poetry; but she does. You can buy her book, Paean here! It's lovely!

English 261 is an online class so at least I get to do it at my own pace-as long as I keep up with it, I'd actually like to finish it early if at all possible, but I digress....

So far, I've learned the differences between: subject, verse, paraphrasing and four different types of poetry; Lyrical, Dramatic, Narrative & Dramatic Monologue.

You learn something new everyday, at least I try to-and I'm going to learn A LOT in this class-I'll come out the other end of it in May all the better for having faced it and aced it!!!

Thank you very much!

LOL! Yeah, overconfident? Maybe, but who cares, I have to be-because truth to be told-this class is a bit frightening-it's going to make me use my "brilliant" mind....

I now understand why so many people do not like poetry (although I still do); because it's too complex, too confusing-one has to actually use their brain and read a poem over and over again to really learn from it, or 'get it,' and even then-it's never definite. The ONLY people who really know what poems mean are the ones who wrote them-that's what makes it so interesting-and so frightening!

I also found out I'm basically a Lyricist Poet, although I have written a few Narrative Poems in my day....

You know what else, Liquid White Out sucks-I clearly remembered today why I've never used it; it stinks, it's sticky and yuck! I much prefer the White Out Pens or the newer White Out Tape-now that stuff is wonderful!

Anyway, one of my goals this year was to write, write, write-about anything and everything; poetry, blog entries, essays, etc....

another one of my goals for this year was to improve/expand my vocabulary-and this Poetry Class will definately be doing that-I have to go buy a big/long pocket dictionary to have next to me when I read the poetry required for class-I'm not a dumb person, but I'm only five poems in and I already have a list of 12 words I don't understand! Well, hey, at least I'm admitting I don't understand those words and am keeping a list of them-very cool if you asked me!

Another goal? Stop using "like," "amazing," "awesome," "anyway," and "anyhow" so much-think of better words-more poignant words and more synonyms-or however you spell it!

That's all I really wanted to say tonight, Poetry Class is hard (mindboggling), and Liquid White Out sucks; but my day didn't-and that's what counts!

Blessings all around, I'll post again soon!

In Light & Love,
-Sarah Liz :)

**Come to think of it, I've had many repeat teachers in my life; Pam Elgiss (Science-7th/8th Grade), Sharon Lowe (History 101/102-TMCC), Trisha Pastore (Drama-9th Grade, English 10th Grade), Mark Towell (History-8th/10th Grades), Katheleen O'Brien (English-11th/12th Grades-TMCC HS) Jeanie French (English 100/261-CCSN); I guess when I like a teacher, I really like them and thoroughly enjoy them both as teachers and friends! Lucky me! Teachers (and mothers) make the world go around! I salute you all!!!