While cooking spaghetti tonight, I began to contemplate the contents of my final portfolio for my senior Capstone.Reflecting on the poetry I had written over the years, I had a realization. I write two types of poetry. The first is the poetry I write for school, for workshops, for people to be impressed with my poetic ability. They center around little events, western towns, and random images. I play with lines and punctuation. I even got one into Northwest Boulevard, a small press at EWU. It's all very impressive and meant to be shown to the public.
My other poetry is the words of my soul. I rarely share them with the world. I write psalms to the God that I love. My anger, my fear, my joy-all is reflected in my poetry. I admire the poetry of David and his Psalms. No matter how lost he was or desperate his situation, he always returned to praising the Lord. I try to model mine after David. This is the poetry I long to write, to display, to show to others. The baring of my soul's anguish and frustration, but all the while returning to praise and worship. Who knows if anyone would even be interested in the struggles of my heart!? I don't really know if there is a place to publish my poetry, since I am currently unaware of the booming market for Christian poetry, if there even is a market.
I am torn about whether to include some of these poems in my final portfolio for my Capstone class. I'm typically reluctant to bring in anything too religious so I don't offend or annoy my classmates. But this is who I am and what I am passionate about? I am still working through this as I write now, trying to understand who I want to please with my poetry. My classmates or myself? In reality, I lean towards pleasing others, but I long to please myself. Who knows. I am still contemplating.
Or is it more about pleasing God vs pleasing the world? I say put them in. What a sweet opportunity to share what God is doing in your life and to be a light to your class. Let them be offended... let them think about it... let God use your poetry to speak to people... let them be uncomfortable with it. That will lead to questions and people wondering why you have a heart for God and praising Him. =) I love your poetry... let God use it! =)
ReplyDeletebtw the security code I had to type in just now was "unred." Don't let your poetry that God have gifted you with go "unread." =) Love you Jenna!
ReplyDeleteWell it is a tough question, If you are not putting them in there because of fear then I don't think that is a good reason. But on the other hand putting them in because you want to be preachy is also not a good reason. I say pray about it and do what you think you should and what you need to for school. :) like you lots
ReplyDeleteYour portfolio is your best work; what we think of it is our business. We have no right to be offended by your art you are submitting for a grade. I have no right to tell you what you can have for your content for your portfolio.
ReplyDeleteArt is a product of the soul, and your art has a specific route from that. I can't tell you what to post for your portfolio, but I can tell you that your best work will come from the place you most believe in and work hardest at. You will know what is right by the way it feels.
Why would you ever write and/or post anything but what matters to you? I say share the stuff that means most to you. Who cares what anyone else thinks? (Unless it's just bad writing. But bad writing is much different than honest writing. In fact that is another discussion entirely.) I say write what you feel. Who cares about anything else.
ReplyDelete