Poetry Commons^™

The Blind Man, Helen E. Hughes

Manuscripts

I know you as you walk among my rooms,
Your head turned thus, your shoulders moving so,
Your hands made busy with the sound of brooms,
The many little tasks that women know.
Dear brilliant lady, as you come and go,
Is light lent to my days. In you I find
A roof against the rain-let winter blow!
Look on me, love, with kindness; for my mind,
My heart, my searching hands that clasp you-are
not blind.

Tradition, Mary M. Schortemeter

Manuscripts

Katherine Schneider Sat in the large, ugly, black leather chair that stood by the parlor window. She touched the worn chair arms with hesitant, reverential fingers. This had been Papa's chair, and now he was gone. All she had left was the square oil portrait so faded from the suns of many years that she could scarcely define the stern lines of his German face.

She lifted her eyes to Papa's picture and saw how stubborn was his chin, how coldly keen were his eyes. He always looked just that same way, she knew. He never changed anything. He never …

Greek And Latin In College Curricula, John E. Ross

Manuscripts

One of the changes in college curricula has been the lessening emphasis upon the study of the classics in literature and language. R. Freeman Butts discusses the historical setting of this change in his recent book The College Charts Its Course. Mr. Butts places an emphasis upon two aspects of this condition in education: "the origins of the traditions that a liberal education should be predominantly linguistic and literary in character," and "the rapidly changing social and intellectual conditions of the nineteenth century weakened this conception of a liberal education in the American college and gave rise to many innovations …

They, Inc., Jeanne Gass

Manuscripts

"Well, look who's here. Our new tenderfoot himself." Abby eased gently into the big wine-colored chair.
The man across the room scowled and fiddled with his hands and looked at the floor.
Emmie sighed ever so slightly. "I told them we could handle this assignment ourselves."
The man muttered. "Well. This was an important case."
Abby sniffed delicately. Emmie put her hand up' to her mouth and whispered, "It's all right, Abby. They probably had to give him something to keep him busy. He won't hurt anything."
"Mustn't have professional jealousy, you know," the man added defensively.

After Diana, Mary Wiley

Manuscripts

The clink of coffee-cups is pleasant here.
See, I have drawn the curtains fast, and shut
The moon's distracting light from our bright hearth.
Your grave brown warmth is heightened so
And I do not remember with such pain how sweet
The star's carress falls on the traveller's face,
When first he lifts it up to worship them.

The Concert, Joseph Berry

Manuscripts

The small, quiet man sat before a great sparkling mirror and swore quietly as he rubbed prodigious quantities of rouge onto his sallow complexion. He surveyed his rosy cheeks in the glass, stood erect and made a mocking bow, very deeply, very slowly.

"And you also, you ass? I'm extremely delighted to hear you say so. Really, you're too kind. Really. Why, it couldn't have been that fine, you're just flattering me. You fool, you wouldn't know a bow from a mute. All you ever look at is my shoes. 'Performance in proportion to square of brilliance.' Is my tie …

Volume 9, Issue 1: Full Issue

Manuscripts

Full issue of the March 2014 issue of Manuscripts. Includes work by: Joseph Berry, Mary Wiley, Jeanne Gass, John Ross, Mary Margrette Schortemeier, Helen Hughes, Jean Pastor, Marijane Badger, Hariet Bishop, Jack Kilgore, Jean Bowden, Dean Wildman, Elizabeth Clark, Rachel Whelan, Robert L. Harris, Ed McNamara, Frances Shemelson, Josephine Rosenfeld, Geraldine Staley, Tom Wagle, Keith White, Betty Lee Snyder, James Hawekotte, Riley Sullivan, Ardath Weigler, John Rock, and Jim Mitchell.

Front Matter

Manuscripts

Front Matter includes: front cover, table of contents, and masthead

The Laureate, Nicole Burchette

Honors Theses

The Laureate’s mission is to provide undergraduate students at Western Michigan University a place in which to publish their works of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and other creative works. The Laureate strives to be a professional and engaging journal that appeals to all. The opportunity to serve as Editor-in-Chief for the thirteenth edition of the The Laureate has been an honor and a privilege. Along the way I have worked with a variety of team members to select and build the collection. Working close with my fellow editors, this edition of The Laureate came together as the result of much hard …

Aprc2014, Robert Kelly

Robert Kelly Manuscripts

From April 2014 Robert Kelly Archives

Ferradáns Publishes Bilingual Collection Of Spanish Poet's Work, Kim Hill

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Fire Within, Anonymous

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

I've always had a dilemma with being "The Good Daughter." I still do. Much of my first-generation experience has revolved around sacrificing myself for those who sacrificed themselves for me. For my success. I, however, at times, desire to be free. To chose what I see fit. To choose what I think I love. To have pride. To have the pride to ignite my fire within. I see pride, and I have attained it. But for myself, for others.

Don't Let It Sink, Anonymous

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

I trip, I fall, and then I pick myself back up again. This has become a daily routine for someone like me. There are days when the easiest thing to do is give up--plain and simple. But, as I tease with the idea, something always turns me, aligns me, back on track. No one said a journey was easy. No one said an ocean calm. After all, "a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor."

Personal Statement, Alvaro Gonzalez

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

The art of a well crafted Personal Statement.

A Quasi-Prose, Quasi-Spoken Word About The Mullings Of A First Gen Girl, Diana Delgado

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

There are many types of first generation students. I happen to be of the immigrant sort, with parents that have degrees that mean very little on this soil. The "kingdom of the lingua franca" mentioned—the land of English—was very difficult to navigate without first conquering the language, but even afterwards there are some immovable disadvantages. You'll find rich Peruvian references in this piece—Manco Cápac, the founder of one of the longest lasting Inca dynasties, referred to himself as “the son of the sun”; since the sun was a god, Inti, this gave him and succeeding rulers much political power. "Pachamama" …

Natural Resources, Chris Rodriguez

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

This poem describes the imposter syndrome I had to struggle through as a first-gen student. There are so many extraneous distractions and worries that can lead us astray, make us feel overwhelmed and useless, at least in my case, and I still do get distracted sometimes, but that just takes time away from my day’s study time. I recall my studies at the university bringing up social justice issues and grim histories that I could do nothing but learn about, and it seemed as if the only control I had over my life was to look down upon it. I …

Your Path Versus Mine, Genesis Montalvo

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

This poem uses fairytale references to show the differences between first-gen college students and those whose parents have gone to college.

To Be Where You Are, Genesis Montalvo

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

This piece is about my leave of absence that I had to take last spring for financial reasons, which I think most first-gen students can relate to because finances get difficult for us.

#Lifeofamuslimfeminist, Nadia Kelifa

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

Navigating post-9/11 era America as a young Black Muslim woman, I have found my own little niche within the world of the intersectionality. As the daughter of immigrants and a first generation college student, I believe all that (through a traditional lens) further marginalizes me is precisely why I have such a deep appreciation for diversity. There is nothing simple about the complexities of identity politics and Noorulann Shahid's "Life Of Muslim Feminist" Twitter trending topic sparked a critical conversation on the topic globally, which later inspired me to write this poem.

The Lookout, Morika Fields

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

I presented this piece for the first time at the First-Gen Cafe. There is an older, more experience voice in the poem that is speaking to the reader. However, this is actually me speaking to myself. It reflects that first-gen college students often have to be their own guide. The poem also expresses my desire to help other students who are not as far along on their paths as I am.