Poetry Blog #1

1. Research Atwood, Plath, and Dickinson and find the poet you are most like; your similarities could be based on personality traits or on issues you are both interested in, or on themes emerging from the poet’s work and how those speak to you. Write about what you feel in common between you and the poet you have chosen.

All of these poets are so emo. They seem to write mostly on gloomy and depressing subjects. Yet, I think they are so bang-on when it comes to the universal human condition. In many ways, this world really is desolate, empty of anything good (that is apart from God). So, it’s hard for me to point out just one poet out of the three and say that I relate to her more. All three of these poets seem to carry traits that I carry. In fact, they have the exact same questions that I ponder about. I guess once a person embarks on a journey for Truth, he or she converges on a road that most people on the same journey finds. Interesting, eh? It’s impossible to ignore spirituality, right? Despite its amorphous characteristic, we FEEL that something is there. Yes, we can’t see it, but we can’t see emotion either, right? Okay, I don’t know where I’m going with this… but, anyone that is secular, or in other words, without God, at one point discovers that there’s so much more to life than what meets the eyes. Just like the way Tolstoy was converted to Christianity, if a person sincerely seeks for the ultimate truth behind the existence of humankind, he or she will eventually find God in one shape or form.

So, in that sense, I feel so similar to all three of these poets, and even when I look at their individual lives, I find so many things in common. First of all, Dickinson’s tendency towards seclusion is so relatable. Although I AM a people person, there are so many times when I want to be alone, apart from the world. I guess I get so torn apart and hurt by the world that I wish to drawback in my little “shell” and just close myself from the world. But once again, this is a very common experience, I believe, everyone goes through at one point in their lives. However, what sets me apart from Dickinson is that I’ve found redemption through my relationship with Christ. As corny as that may sound, that’s the truth—nothing but the truth. Yes, life sucks in many aspects, but I live not for my own selfish ambitions, but for God’s glory (or at least I try to!). So, no matter what comes in my way, God will aid me through… and whatever happens, God is enough.

Alright, how about Plath? Man oh man… Plath was actually very much like my current state. She loved people… hanging out and just partying with her friends. Well, she was betrayed by her husband who ultimately led her to her death. So, how can I relate to Plath? Well, I, too, am very vulnerable when it comes to people. Perhaps it is because I have unduly expectations for people, and when I am let down because people do not necessarily meet up to my expectations, I get hurt… or even angered. In many ways, I feel pathos towards Plath. Here lies also the biggest difference between me and Plath. I mean, I can’t comprehend the amount of pain and turmoil Plath had to endure because of her husband, but I would have, no matter what the hardship, fought against the very forces that tried to bring me down. Yes, it is hard, but life is hard. In fact, rarely anything will ever go the way I want it in life, but I still get up and overcome my hardships. I just feel so bad that Plath had to give up in the end. But this again reveals the natural tendencies of humans to produce tragedy. I mean, why did Plath have to die? Such a talented being that could have offered so much to the world; that could have shed some light onto the universal truth.

Well, Atwood is kind of apart from the other two. Particularly because she’s not dead—yes, she’s alive! Isn’t that nice? Although she knows how terrible the world is, she did not push herself over the edge of death. Yea, I guess she’s found something to live for—like all of us (or I hope all of us found something to live for). Anyways, I wouldn’t really say I’m similar to Atwood. But, I can relate to many of her poems. But, I believe that most people can relate to her poems because her poems are so powerful in the sense that they reveal some universal aspects of humanity. In fact, I will talk about “In the Secular Night,” and how that poem is so relatable to me. For now, I’m just going to say that I agree with many of the things Atwood talks about. Now, go read my post on why I like “In the Secular Night,” and you will see why I like Atwood.