Date of Award

Fall 2001

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

English

Program/Concentration

Creative Writing

Committee Director

Luisa Igloria

Committee Member

Philip Raisor

Committee Member

Timothy Seibles

Call Number for Print

Special Collections; LD4331.E64 M36 2001

Abstract

In an attempt for both the author and readers to better understand the personae presented in "Life Study," this collection of verse emerged. Using the form of the persona poem, the author includes the voices of such diverse personae as one who experiences hang-gliding in an ethereal way, to a woman who sues an alcohol company for her husband's alcoholism, to a geographically-isolated youngster dealing with a society of which she is not a part, to one who has survived physical violence. In this way, "Life Study" allows readers particular glimpses into numerous and often astounding experiences and thoughts of everyday people's lives.

Rather than choose to present voices of certain well-known historical or social characters, "Life Study" offers a different possibility: those not only considered notable or notorious deserve to have their voices given written attention, but also the everyday voices of those whom we so often fail to take notice of. The media, in general, and persona poetry, in particular, rarely record the trials and tribulations of the "everyman," choosing instead to present controversial or violent or otherwise shocking events and persons; however, "Life Study" insists that such daily and commonplace struggles and victories are worth the while of both writers and readers.

The several voices of each section combine to amplify six choruses of related thoughts and experiences. When those thoughts and experiences are ones which we readers may have had ourselves, we recall and relate to the speaker of the poem. And when we differ from a persona, we still, after having been exposed to an aspect of his or her life, will most probably find ourselves considering, whether for the first time or anew, that "other" point of view.

Odds are high that, after such reflection, we will each find commonalities between ourselves and the personae in "Life Study." As a likely outcome, we will become more appreciative of and more aware that each life, notable or not, is worthy of poetic presentation in order that a wider understanding might result.

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DOI

10.25777/h45v-r025

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