Dear Poet
by David Correa, Senior, iPreparatory Academy
by David Correa, Senior, iPreparatory Academy
For poetry month, iPrep's Creative Writing class participated in the Dear Poet 2021 contest. The contest inspires students to read poems and view videos of different poets who serve on the Academy of American Poets Board of Chancellors and who have received Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships; after, the Creative Writing students write letters to one of the poets about their poem. The list of poets and poems can be found here.
Below, David Correa writes his letter to Porsha Olayiwola about her poem "If you tell it backward."
Below, David Correa writes his letter to Porsha Olayiwola about her poem "If you tell it backward."
Dear Porsha Olayiwola,
I was really intrigued about your poem about segregation and modern day racial issues that we fail to fix. One of the most powerful parts of your poem for me was, “the kids are all cuffed/ & dragged/ into the jailhouse, nude/ baring bathing suits, for a leap into segregation/ at a swimming/ pool.”
I was really intrigued about your poem about segregation and modern day racial issues that we fail to fix. One of the most powerful parts of your poem for me was, “the kids are all cuffed/ & dragged/ into the jailhouse, nude/ baring bathing suits, for a leap into segregation/ at a swimming/ pool.”
I will never feel the injustice or problems of being Black in modern day America, but as a Latino/Hispanic immigrant, I have seen my part of racism. It is common to see these types of issues in places like the swimming pools and beaches. I work on the beach as an attendant here in Miami, Florida, and I see many small cases of racism such as refusal to service and ugly looks for being a different race.
However, at work, I may brush it off, but I have also learned that this is an issue that won't change unless we fight for it.
In the poem, the manager, James Brock, pours a bottle of Muriatic Acid into the pool which seems very extreme. I looked up what it was used for and how dangerous it was, and it is used for heavy duty cleaning and momentary exposure to the skin can cause severe burns. According to the poem, it seems like Mr. Brock doesn’t want the kids being in the pool. Was this a true story or did this really happen?
It was a very interesting poem and I'm glad I chose to read this one!
Sincerely,
David
Grade 12
Miami, FL
However, at work, I may brush it off, but I have also learned that this is an issue that won't change unless we fight for it.
In the poem, the manager, James Brock, pours a bottle of Muriatic Acid into the pool which seems very extreme. I looked up what it was used for and how dangerous it was, and it is used for heavy duty cleaning and momentary exposure to the skin can cause severe burns. According to the poem, it seems like Mr. Brock doesn’t want the kids being in the pool. Was this a true story or did this really happen?
It was a very interesting poem and I'm glad I chose to read this one!
Sincerely,
David
Grade 12
Miami, FL