Justene Dion-Glowa

I was in AP English in high school, so yes, I absolutely read poetry. For whatever reason The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot came to mean a great deal to me at that time. I found the imagery incredible appealing, and the sense of not belonging, of writhing in the discomfort of being perceived at the same time really resonated for me. Earlier in my life it has been Edgar Allen Poe, who I read ravenously and just very much admired. I have so little tying me to these folks and their own identities, but for whatever reason I was drawn to them, and I think their influence lasts to this day, even if somewhere deep in my subconscious. 

I first started writing poetry at around the age of 10 or 11. I wrote my first poem about my mother's addiction. For me, it was a normal thing to discuss openly. My teacher read the poem and insisted I share it with the class, backstory and all. I was happy to do so. After this, he insisted that regardless of what others were doing in Language Arts, I would be writing and studying poetry. And I did. I wrote a whole book of poetry that year and I was so proud of it. I can't even imagine the look on my 11 year old face if someone had told me I'd have my own book someday - but here we are!

It's interesting. I think we often lean on poetry at either the best or worst of times. We want poetry to uplift us by pointing out the beauty of the world or to relay to us that we are not alone in our torment. I think poetry's "job" is to connect us - to build community through vulnerability. 

I think perhaps "April 30, 2014" by Louise Bernice Halfe - Sky Dancer. 
This poem is entrenched in landscape in a way I really look up to!