Kayleigh Buikereflectionthis Poem Is A Bit Of An Ongoing Reflection Of ✓ Solved

Kayleigh Buike Reflection This poem is a bit of an ongoing reflection of mine. My freshman year of college I lost someone very close to me and ever since then I have had a hard time with my emotions. I realized through talking with a professor about a dance assignment that I tend to displace my emotions. By this I mean that they may be feeling one emotion but another one who comes out or is more prominent. For example with this certain situation I was very stressed about school while not dealing with my grief.

This then led to seem almost slap happy from stress when in reality I was in a very sad and depressive state. As a way to better understand this aspect of myself, I have been working on a piece for the spring dance show that encompasses this new part of my life. I thought that writing a poem about it would not only be therapeutic but also help to inspire me more for the dance. While the poem is more literal in its nature about emotions I think that very easily a reader could replace emotion with another aspect of life and still connect. The goal of this poem is for the reader to see that something that seems to take control of your life and spin things out of control can be tamed.

So for me the antagonist is my emotions but if someone were struggling with addiction, finances, relationships etc. I think the lesson still stands that you can take control, it just takes time, practice and compassion. The first strategy I used when writing this poem was imagery. Within imagery as a whole I feel that for this theme of emotion that tactile imagery would be best. This type of imagery deals with things that are real and have substance that the audience can recall.

For example the poem “The Bath†by Gary Snyder an example he used of tactile imagery was, “we stretch out on the redwood benches hearts all beating.†This is an example of tactile imagery because as a reader you can feel or imagine a beating heart and the benched. Within my poem, this type of imagery can be seen in the referencing the ocean and skyscraper building. Another example of this is in the line, “Eventually I can get my hold on them, like I’ve just grasped the reins.†Here the hope is that the reader is able to imagine a horse or another animal reigns and the type of grip and strength needed to control a strong and wild animal like a horse. Another strategy I used was the structure of the poem itself.

How a poem is structured can have both clear and subtle effects on the poem's effectiveness. For example, “The Bath†which I mentioned before has multiple stanzas which helps to show a passage of time not only as you read the poem but within the content of the poem. In “Job†by William Heyen this poem is one small stanza and written almost like a quick journal or diary entry. Contrary to this, “Our Bodies Break Light†is a larger paragraph of text that is written like a story within a book or a story in itself. My poem’s structure is a bunch of single lines with the beginning word of the line having a letter that corresponds to the spelling of the poem.

I used the strategy because I thought that it would add a sophisticated element to the poem. I did think about maybe rearranging the words to “displace†them but was not sure if that would be noticed so I decided to just spell the work virtually instead. Overall, I really enjoyed writing this poem. I think that it was definitely challenging but also was very therapeutic and rewarding. I still feel like in terms of poetry I have a lot of room to grow.

I still don’t think I understand it well enough to be a poet. I do however think that this assignment was a nice stepping stone to begin to pursue poetry if I wanted to. I am just proud that I was able to put something together, furthermore that I was able to be vulnerable with myself and write something about myself and my struggles as a tool to move forward and grow. Displacement. Days can go by before I feel I know what reality is.

Instances that trigger an influx of emotion. Saudade, silliness, schadenfreude, spite. Plentiful like the ocean is the emotion, heavy like the skyscraper is the perpetrator. Longing to know what is true and what is displaced. Acceptance.

Compassion for myself but more so for those caught in the tornado of my existence. Eventually I can get my hold on them, like I’ve just grasped the reins. More instances of influx result in more practice of patience. Ending the cycle of circling chaos and confusion, Neatly rearranging every thought and feeling as I do with my messy home ‘Til they are properly placed, again. Faith Bibby Reflection This poem summarizes the funeral of my friend from my church’s youth group that I went to this summer.

By focusing on the purple casket, I knew I would be able to create vivid imagery for readers. What inspired me to write about this was the vivid memories I have from that day. Using these memories, I knew I could incorporate concrete images and use a truthful voice. My major goal for this poem was not to make readers feel depressed, but to give readers a glimpse of what emotions are felt when losing someone. I want a main takeaway for readers to be that they should appreciate those in their life more, as we never know when someone’s last day could be.

The first strategy I used when writing my poem is the use of imagery. Imagery is visually descriptive or figurative language. I use concrete imagery in the second line of my poem when I state, “Purple, the color of the casket that now covered you like a disguise.†Concrete imagery is important to the sophistication of a poem because it allows readers to form images of what is happening in their minds instead of being left wondering about vague details. Concrete imagery can be seen in the poem “What Came to Me†by Jane Kenyon. In this poem, Kenyon is describing finding the gravy boat of a passed away loved one.

When she states, “with a hard, brown drop of gravy still on the porcelain lip.â€, readers are able to picture this scene concretely in their minds. This poem is effective in getting readers to picture the scene in their mind due to the concrete imagery used. I hope that by my use of concrete imagery, readers are able to develop their own picture of what is happening in my poem. The second strategy I used when writing my poem is the use of similes. A simile is a type of figurative language that directly compares two things using “like†or “as†in the comparison.

An example of a simile occurs in my poem when I state, “The warm tears rolling down my face like a hurricane.†In the poem “Eating Together†by Li-Young Lee, a simile is used when Lee states, “Then he lay down to sleep like a snow-covered road winding through pines older than himâ€. What I get from this use of simile is lying down to sleep and a snow-covered road winding through old pines are alike because they both exemplify a sense of tranquility. Figurative language like similes allows readers to compare what is happening in the poem to the simile. Lee’s poem does a great job of this. Figurative language allows the reader to experience more feeling and emotion when reading the poem, while also allowing the reader to be less confused about the event taking place.

I hope readers will experience strong feelings and emotions and have images clarified because of the language I use in my poem. The third strategy I used when writing my poem is the use of alliteration. Alliteration is the use of the same sound or letter at the start of words that are next to or close to each other. Alliteration can be seen in my poem when I state, “Heaven, hell, the pastor preached as hope hardly was in reachâ€. In the poem “Kinky†by Denise Duhamel, alliteration can be seen when Duhamel states, “like one of those nodding novelty dollsâ€.

The use of alliteration is effective in “Kinky†because readers are able to better envision the dolls due to this language. I interpret “Kinky†to mean that sometimes in relationships, we try to change each other so that the other person becomes what we desire. I hope by using alliteration in my poem, the sound quality of my poem will be increased and the repetition will make it memorable and enjoyable to read. Once I had an idea of what I wanted to write about, it was not difficult to start the poem. However, I did get stuck in the middle of writing it and it took me a while to get ideas flowing again.

The most rewarding part was reading the poem when I finished the rough draft because I was able to see all my hard work come together. My favorite part of writing was coming up with what I wanted to write the poem about. The most challenging and difficult part was figuring out what specific images to use and what literary and rhetorical devices to use to describe those images. The Purple Casket Pain, piercing through the church walls, landing on your purple casket. Purple, the color of the casket that now covered you like a disguise.

The warm tears rolling down my face like a hurricane Heaven, hell, the pastor preached as hope hardly was in reach. Hope is a daydream of The future, gone from the universe for you. As the pallbearers grabbed you and carried you Out of the sanctuary and into the warm sunlight Down the road to the old cemetery, into the grass and under the blue tent. Sweltering, the heat was that day Attacking, the mosquitos did Though there was nothing but empty skeletons to feed on. Empty, the feeling inside as we knew you would not rise. Holding my friend, as you went down Down so far, you were gone from sight, but not so far that the pain said goodnight.

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Reflections on Loss and Emotion in Poetry: Understanding the Journey of Healing
Poetry serves as a powerful medium to explore the profound depths of human emotions, particularly in times of grief and loss. Reflecting on the poems penned by Kayleigh Buike and Faith Bibby, both authors engage with the intricacies of their emotions while facing personal tragedies, extending beyond their individual experiences to capture shared human sentiments. The reflective process through which both poets navigate their grief encapsulates the therapeutic potential of poetry as a tool for emotional expression and introspection. This essay delves into the thematic concerns of loss, the use of literary devices, and the pursuit of understanding one's emotions as portrayed in these two poems.
The Impact of Loss and Grief on Emotional Expression
The core theme in both poems is the experience of loss and how it shapes emotional expression. For Kayleigh Buike, the death of a close person during her freshman year manifests as emotional displacement, where her underlying grief takes the form of stress and seemingly disconnected emotions. This phenomenon, often described in psychological terms as “emotional dissonance,” occurs when an individual's outward emotional expression does not align with their true feelings, leading to an internal struggle (Kirmayer, 2008). The metaphor of a tornado illustrates this struggle effectively, highlighting the chaotic interplay of emotions that contribute to a sense of disarray in her life.
Similarly, Faith Bibby’s “The Purple Casket” focuses on the author’s reflective memories from a funeral, pressing on the need to appreciate the transient nature of relationships. Bibby’s vivid imagery serves to engage readers emotionally, helping them visualize the poignant reality of grieving alongside the narrator. This commonality between the poems signifies that loss, while deeply personal, is an experience that resonates with many individuals. Poet Linda Pastan argues that loss can become a remarkable source of poetic inspiration, revealing truths about the human condition (Pastan, 2000).
Literary Techniques in Emotional Exploration
Both poets employ various literary strategies to enhance their expression, which facilitates the reader's connection to the intricate emotions conveyed. Buike utilizes tactile imagery, comparing her emotions to elements as substantial as the ocean and skyscrapers. This technique allows readers to feel the weight of her emotions; the ocean represents the breadth of her grief, while the skyscrapers symbolize the imposing nature of her struggles (Snyder, 1984). By expressing her journey in concrete terms, Buike successfully conveys the complexities of internal conflict, illustrating that emotions can be tamed with time and compassion.
Bibby’s use of imagery also highlights personal and universal themes of loss. In her poem, the description of the purple casket, with phrases like “the color of the casket that now covered you like a disguise,” evokes strong visuals that lend a sense of solemnity. This line embodies the duality of death: an external façade contrasted with the internal anguish felt by those left behind (Kenyon, 1994). The imagery transcends mere description, plunging the reader into the emotion of the moment.
Both poets leverage figurative language to draw comparisons that evoke strong visual and emotional responses. Buike’s line where she writes, “Eventually I can get my hold on them, like I’ve just grasped the reins,” resonates with the struggle for control over emotions. This simile not only grounds the reader in a relatable experience regarding control but also infers that emotional management is attainable, albeit requiring practice and tenderness (Hirsch, 1999).
On the other hand, Bibby employs simile through the line, “The warm tears rolling down my face like a hurricane.” This individualizes her grief, portraying its overwhelming and uncontrollable nature while simultaneously allowing readers to relate their experiences of sorrow to a shared cycle of grief and healing. Alliteration reinforces the emotional weight while connecting her expressions to the visceral sounds of grief, opening a path for readers to engage with their own feelings through sound and rhythm (Duhamel, 2005).
The Therapeutic Power of Poetry
Both poets recognize the process of writing as a healing practice. Buike describes her project as both therapeutic and rewarding, suggesting that creative expression can facilitate the processing of difficult emotions. Writing serves as an outlet, allowing her to confront her grief in a constructive way. “I was able to be vulnerable with myself and write something about myself and my struggles as a tool to move forward and grow,” she adds. This sentiment is echoed in various psychological studies that posit engaging with creative writing offers emotional relief and a constructive way to confront trauma (Pennebaker, 1997).
In a similar vein, Bibby’s exploration of her memories from the funeral serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing moments and relationships. By choosing to articulate her experience through poetry, she not only memorializes her friend but also emphasizes the significance of community in navigating grief (Worden, 2009). The act of writing about her loss transforms personal pain into a shared narrative, fostering empathy among readers who may have had similar experiences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kayleigh Buike and Faith Bibby’s poetry reflect a profound engagement with themes of loss and emotion while illustrating the therapeutic power of creative expression. Both poets utilize vivid imagery, figurative language, and a journey towards understanding one’s emotions, illuminating the complexities of their struggles. Ultimately, their poems resonate not just as individual reflections but as potent reminders of the shared human experience of grief and the necessity for compassion towards oneself and others. Through their work, Buike and Bibby demonstrate that while profound loss can feel isolating, poetry offers a bridge toward understanding, healing, and connection.
References
1. Duhamel, D. (2005). Kinky. In Two and two are four.
2. Hirsch, E. D. (1999). The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
3. Kirmayer, L. J. (2008). Culture and bereavement: The role of culture in reactions to loss. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 49(3), 183-188.
4. Kenyon, J. (1994). What Came to Me. In The Collected Poems of Jane Kenyon.
5. Pastan, L. (2000). A Lesson in Poetry.
6. Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about Emotional Experiences as a Therapeutic Process. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59(3), 280-287.
7. Snyder, G. (1984). The Bath. In A History of Poetry in America.
8. Worden, J. W. (2009). Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner. Springer Publishing Company.
9. Lee, L. Y. (1986). Eating Together. In The Winged Seed: A Remembrance.
10. Heyen, W. (1998). Job. In The Swastika Poems.
This reflection aims to explore the overarching importance of creative expression in understanding and processing complex emotions while also offering relatable frameworks for readers who have experienced similar grief or challenges in life.