Currents that Puncture

Abstract

Currents That Puncture is a poetic response to my personal experiences and study of literature over the past two years. My writing of poetry began as a means of understanding my childhood, adolescence and adult self. Thus, the persona of each poem is experiencing a process of self discovery. While the majority of the poems are written in free verse, the volume also mirrors my study of poetic form. included are, what began as: three sonnets, one sestina, and one ghazal. All the poems, but the ghazal, reflect a divergence from traditional structure and/or rhyme scheme. Although knowledge of standardized poetic form has been beneficial to me as a poet, the importance of freedom from such restraints allows for freer innovative expression. Several of the poems contain allusions to literary works. This associative response became a natural extension of my creative process as I read and wrote throughout my graduate work. Often, I wished to actively respond to particular pieces of literature beyond the role of a reader. These associations became an integral part of the shaping of the works themselves. The poems are intended to be read as self-contained units, with images and sounds expressing particular moments of time and feeling. If there 1s a sequential order, it is based upon levels of developing awareness of emotionai and psychological states, rather than upon a chronological movement. The volume is divided into five sections; each section exemplifies a different psychological state. Thus, each poem reflects the persona" recursive inward to outward exploration and growth.