I Am From Poetry And Hard Truths

I am from
A home of pictures, blankets, trinkets
And Cobwebs.
Where there’s no time to dust because
We’re busy busy busy.
I am from
Crab grass, firewood, a vine-covered windmill,
And a fallen tree
Who refuses death 
Because who has time to die?
I am from
Little Neck cemetery, Dairy-Bee, 
And the bay
Where we’re not allowed to swim
But the water’s warm anyway.

Image result for little neck cemetery riverside ri
I am from
Pops who’s from
Poppy who’s from
Pa who’s from
The Crow
Who got that name for being strict and Native.
I am from 
Loud laughter and
The blood of the covenant
But I have learned to respect
The water of the womb. 
I am from
Where you Stand and Deliver,
Where a lot can happen in 19 Minutes,
Where the most important medicine is Love.
Where I’m from
We know how to escape the labyrinth
But we walk through it
Because it’s the only way

We get our most valued treasure.

Comments

  1. What's Up With Welsh?August 31, 2019 at 11:03 PM

    Cheyenne, this poem is very intriguing. It is very multifaceted, from your selected multimodal purposes from your keen awareness of life, death, and the overall life experience. I especially love your allusions to the Love Medicine and the classic Greek mythology of "the Labyrinth." Labyrinths are often used as symbology for uncertainty--how can we make sure we're making the best choices in life? Should I have made a right turn two left turns ago? Would things be better if I had? But in trusting in love, good faith, and the wisdom of our ancestors, we can advance.

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  2. Amy IronsSeptember 1, 2019 at 11:54 AM

    Cheyenne, your poem is beautifully written and thought provoking. I definitely had to read it a few times over to take in everything you have to say. Like James mentioned already, I loved your allusion to Love Medicine in the line, "Where the most important medicine is Love." I also love how you implemented so many multimodal elements through links and images. Overall, this is a beautiful and well written poem.

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  3. Heather K 445 BlogSeptember 4, 2019 at 10:08 AM

    I really enjoyed reading your poem, I enjoyed your use of repetition of the word busy as it reminds me of your personality, plus I associate the use of repeating busy with bees, which I know you love. Not sure whether that was done on purpose or not, but it definitely made me think of you! I also love the way you end your stanzas, it gives the reader something to think about, while also connecting back to who you are. It seems fitting that you end the stanzas this way, as I know you to be someone who poses a lot of deeper thinking questions. Your multimodal elements were great, I especially enjoyed the fact that you linked us to so many of your interests, as I felt it showed off the things that are important to your identity. Overall, your poem was excellent as was your multimodal examples!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Prof BensonSeptember 5, 2019 at 11:14 AM

    I really appreciate the way you use hyperlinks in this poem...like the secret meaning of the line is lurking beneath the link. It's like "choose your own adventure" stories I read as a kid. And oh my do I relate to the "busy busy busy" and the dusting left undone . . .

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