Genre Reflection #1: "A Look Inside"

Here is my genre reflection assignment. I chose to do it as a poem this time around, since I haven't written a piece of poetry in about a year and a half to two years. I hope you enjoy! 
"A Look Inside"

I took a look inside today,
To see what I might find
Among the blank masks of sitting statues
At their desks so neatly aligned.

I took a look inside today,
Eyes watering from the strain
Of cataloguing every detail
Praying my actions wouldn’t be in vain.

I took a look inside today,
And still nothing came to light
I try and reason with myself
Whether it’s worth it, to stay and fight.

I took a look inside today,
And I was doubting I would ever see
The people inside those hunks of stone-
That they would remain a mystery to me.

I took a look inside today,
Not at their faces, but at their written works.
The letters slanting this way and that,
Revealing flaws, and troubles, and quirks

When I took a look inside today,
Their journals revealed their true identities
Lending meaning to their silent stares,
Permitting me access to their writing capabilities.

Comments

  1. JenniOctober 13, 2016 at 2:24 PM

    Thank you, Chay! I loved this poem the first time you read it in class, and I love it still. The use of masks and the stone/statue comparison really resonates. We all have masks we wear, sometimes on purpose and sometimes not, so getting to know someone is always about looking beyond the face they present to the public or a particular audience. When we first attempt to see beyond the mask, we often see the difficulties and flaws. I like how allowing them to speak for themselves through their writing provided the needed insight. Writing (and reading) is such a powerful tool!

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  2. Chani ReneeOctober 14, 2016 at 6:41 AM

    Thank you Chay! This is a great poem that really brings out the struggles of teaching: "Among the blank masks of sitting statues" is something that I can really relate to. I also like the idea of journals, especially free write journals that student can really be themselves with. Thank you!

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  3. UnknownOctober 16, 2016 at 12:18 PM

    Chay,
    What an awesome poem. I LOVED the way you talked about reading their work. "The letters slanting this way and that,/Revealing flaws, and troubles, and quirks." It reminded me of the joy I feel when reading my student's assignments. It's so fun to look at their unique takes on each lesson! I think your poem really gave great insight onto your experience with students and learning who they are. Thanks for sharing with me!

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