So close but yet so far (Imitation of Letter to My Mother, Sixteen Years after the fact)
I think it's time to tell you my plans.
No mom, I'm not having a baby,
Nor am I getting married.
At least for right now I'm not.
Mom, I want to prosper.
I want to be someone some day.
I want to graduate college,
and not work in factory all day.
You say you love me and that you care about me,
But why not show me?
Ask me about girls,
Talk to me more.
Tell me about what is right and what is wrong.
Mom, I long for you to know my dreams and goals,
My troubles, and my worries.
I just want to share my feelings with you.
Someday of course.
In Todd Davis' poem, Letter to My Mother, Sixteen Years after the fact, he shares an experience from his youth. This poem talks about his mother and the relationship with her. She warns Todd about all the bad things that he shouldn't do. This tells the reader that his mom really worries and cares about him. This poem made me reflect on the relationship that I have with my mother and this led to my imitation of this poem. Unlike Todd Davis, my mother and I are close at times but most of the time we are strangers. This happens because when we talk, we always end up talking about her problems. We never have a calm and relax talk with one another.
Bibliography
Davis, Todd. Some Heaven. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2007. Print.
"Goshen College | Healing the world, peace by peace." Goshen College | Healing the world, peace by peace. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.goshen.edu>.
Hostetler, Ann Elizabeth. A cappella: Mennonite voices in poetry. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2003. Print.
Links
http://www.personal.psu.edu/tfd3/http://www.bucknell.edu/x70554.xml
http://thisisantler.com/2012/05/interview-todd-davis/
I like how you personalize the poetry. I think, ultimately, all poets want their poetry to connect in some way with the reader -- and Davis has achieved that!
ReplyDeleteTo think about these difficult things must be difficult, but good for you. I'm glad you chose to share what it meant with us.
To add a note -- I like your final sentence of your first paragraph..how you mentioned borders, bridges, and boundaries. You chose an interesting stance on that, and I would not have thought of it!
I like how you integrated yourself into this poem, just like Todd Davis!! It's really interesting to see how you did your blog compared to mine since we both did the same one. I think that this poem can be the same for many kids. It's very easy to relate to as well. (Good!!) I feel like many kids have this issue of not being able to talk to their mom without the fear of judgement or a lecture. Or the sense of a low amount of comminication. Good job :)
ReplyDeleteToby! [Though sometimes I really want to call you Tobuscus!]
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I really like how you add your own touch to the poem and even utilize the main point of Davis' poem to base your imitation off of. I totally understand what you mean with your relationship with your mother because I have a similar relationship with my mother now that I've moved away for college.
In addition, I agree with Christina and found it interesting how you implemented the borders, bridges, and boundaries into your thesis. ♥ You're doing a great job, big toby bear. Keep it up. ♥
This is a wonderful poem. Not only is it a great imitation poem, but it reveals so much about yourself. The conversation style reveals so much about your relationship with your mother, as it shows the way you talk with her. This also reveals so much about society. Younger individuals, like yourself, have a whole different mindset about what they life. Both are wonderful life aims, but they reveal the differences of the time.
ReplyDeleteIsaias, thank you for this poem. It says a lot about you in a compact amount of language--which means it's a strong poem! You did a great job of adapting Davis's work to your own life and finding borders, bridges, and boundaries here that are also applicable to you. Being a Mom myself, I'll have to remember not to burden my kids with my problems;-) Sometimes it's easier to have someone outside of your family to sit down and have a cup of tea with!
ReplyDelete