What does a poet do when they struggle with their identity?

Emily Dickinson stands as one of the backbones of American poetry. When I started Max’s Musings, her name immediately rang through my mind. I knew I would eventually share one of her beloved poems, yet I wanted to find the right one for me.

This week, I wanted to focus on honoring the Native American Tribes who originally lived on and took care of the land I occupy. After spending my Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day weekend visiting the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, I knew I wanted to review a book that furthered my goal to honor and educate myself about Indigenous peoples.

How far can symbolism go in a poem? 

Throughout my college career, I don’t think a poem has ever split my colleagues as much as William Carlos Williams’s “The Red Wheelbarrow”. Initially published in 1923 in Spring and All, it has remained one of Williams’s most referenced poems. 

“Almost Live!” and “Portlandia”: two sketch comedy shows which expertly skewered Pacific Northwest stereotypes and culture, made national acclaim, and proved to the masses that there are more jokes to be made about Seattle and Portland than “we like coffee!” and “oh look, there’s rain”.  

Loyal fans love these shows for depicting a heightened yet accurate look at living here, such as in sketches like “How Seattle Are You?”, “Colin the Chicken”, “Ballard Driving School”, and “Battle of the Gentle Bands”. Avid binge-watchers of these shows, however, might find themselves wondering…Where are all the Black people?

Why do poets write about love? 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, an English poet and wife of fellow poet Robert Browning, has been a pioneer for authors and poets. Browning is responsible for respected works like Sonnets from the Portuguese, Casa Guidi Windows, Aurora Leigh, as well as a plethora of other works.

Armored with little more than a trusty tote bag and too much caffeine, I entered Third Place Books on Ravenna, searching for a local author to write my first book review about. I found an armful of wonderful tomes and settled on beginning with a novel called Lake City (2019), a fascinating fiction by Thomas Kohnstamm, a born-and-raised Seattleite. 

At the checkout stand, a bookseller promised me that Lake City was a fantastic read, that Kohnstamm’s next novel would be out soon, and that Thomas was a terrific guy and regular at Third Place Books. I was so excited by the enthusiasm from the bookseller that I rushed home to read it that night. 

What is the final threshold between adolescence and adulthood?

After discussing three modern poets, I wanted to choose a traditional poet for discussion this week. William Blake, a Romantic, is most known for Songs of Innocence and Experience where he tackles the duality of childhood innocence and real-world experience. 

Ah, the open mic. All comedy babies’ first step. The watering hole where veteran amateurs and “I’ve always wanted to try” newbies gather to throw cold wet spaghetti (jokes) at a wall (their friends, and bar patrons who did not know this was going on tonight) to see what sticks!

At its core, the open mic is a place for everyone—yes everyone—to come in and try new (stand-up only) material. But traditional open mics have a reputation;it’s become synonymous now with dive bars, pool balls clacking over your tight five, and comedians performing sets comprised of hate speech scantily veiled as “just a joke”.

When I discovered Halsey came out with a collection of poetry, I immediately added it to my must-read list. I get enthralled when musical artists or actors release poetry collections and break from their typical art form. Poetry has become more accepted and common among celebrities to make another mark of change on the world.

Everyone experiences trauma. This is a human experience we all share. We all have different ways to deal with said trauma. So how do writers and artists process their trauma?

Poets and artists are not only bold enough to share their trauma through their art, but creative enough to spin their trauma into beauty through bravery. Trauma allows those to understand loved ones as well as the inner mechanisms of themselves through reparation.

Poetry—like any art form—stands as a positive tool for change. In today’s climate, when the country is most divided, poetry aids in developing one’s rhetoric. A sharp mind is just as important as a sharp sword for battle. Regardless of political party, people tend to focus on how to outwit their opponent and prepare for what they are going to say next. While watching political debates, past and present, I have watched how politicians build and craft arguments on embarrassment while patronizing those longing to be represented. Screaming louder doesn’t win the argument. Using bigger words doesn’t win the argument. Name calling doesn’t win the argument. So what does, then?