Author Archives: Johnsie W

On September 18th, I attended a poetry reading by writer and musician, Kevin Simmonds. Kevin joked around with the audience and told a little background information about his New Orleans childhood. He is a fan of theatrical readings and had … Continue reading →

Haley’s poem, “Without Warning,” tells of a lover who left suddenly, “without warning.” An aubade, the speaker mourns over the loss of their lover, hopeless at nights without the “you.” The alliteration [“without warning,” “strings of sunlight,” “welcomed with wonder”] … Continue reading →

Kathryn’s elegy poem, “Bisbee,” is an account of a girl releasing her deceased dog’s ashes into a field of grass. The poem begins and ends in the present, standing in the field, but the four middle stanzas are memories of … Continue reading →

Isabel’s poem, “El Drama de la Domestica,” is a persona poem echoing the voice of a Mexican woman who serves as a maid to a rude family in America. The title tells all, translating to the drama of the domestic, … Continue reading →

Jess accurately emulated the traditional villanelle form in her poem, “middle sister.” Her villanelle depicts a sister’s love for another, claiming no matter what happens or how she feels, she will always support her sister. The villanelle seems like the … Continue reading →

Richard’s poem, “Low Country Ice Storm,” depicts the sounds and images that accompany an ice storm. Richard seems to have mixed the rhyme schemes of the different sonnet forms in an effective way, following a abbacddceffegg pattern. His form of … Continue reading →

Tori’s “Death is not 100% Gluten-Free” reeks of satire, passing judgement on all fad diet promoters and health freaks alike. The speaker’s tone is full of sarcasm, leaving the poem full of sarcasm and wit and advice to just “live … Continue reading →

Kadie’s poem reflects the speaker’s want for the power to better the world and all those contained in it. In a single stanza, Kadie reveals a speaker desperate for this power and emphasizes the “need” through several different literary devices. … Continue reading →

8196_o_edgar_degas.jpg   Sienna’s poem elegantly describes Edgar Degas’s painting, “Lady in a Bath,” a portrait of a nude woman, bending over in a wash basin. Through her enjambment, coloring, and references to water sources, Sienna frames the art piece in her … Continue reading →