This project highlights the poem “The Apple”. Upon first look at the physical features of the book the cover page is very blank. It is a blank white sheet with The Apple written in small blue letters. The first page of the poem is written with orange letters. This adds to the fall feeling of the poem. Also drawn is a sliced open apple with seeds pouring out with leaves and vines growing out of the stem of the apple. The second page depicts 5 apples bouncing to an in bloom tree. The third page shows vines going into an apple box and then another vine continuing to an apple again.
One thing that I noticed different from the written poem to the typed out poem is that the typed out one emphasizes the different sections of the poem, which I really like. It creates a story when there is separation. I also enjoyed how different the first poem is from the last one. When I did this I wanted to take my first poem and add to it and think deeply about my word choices but, when this student did it they decided to extend the poem into a final story at the end.
This project highlights the poem “Hide”. I enjoyed watching how this poem progressed. It started very short, there was a lot of mystery to it. But, as you start to read into the later days the poem gets more dense. The front page is black with hide written in all caps in white letters with a dried rose petal to the right. There is a printed out picture of a labyrinth with a red heart in the middle with some sort of beetle in the bottom right corner. Within the pages there are no sort of drawings, just the poem.
I really enjoyed looking at all the projects. Two of them that stood out to me were Henry and Delaney’s from 2020. Henry’s caught my attention at first because it is a collage, which is something that I have been thinking about doing for my project. I also really liked that it was in black and white, I think that really enhanced the poem. It worked with the gritty nature of it. One of the coolest things was the film strips, it added a lot to the imagery of nature and the sort of gritty side of it. The use of duct tape, staples, and pictures added a lot of texture and made the covers interactive. I can imagine the feeling of the title if I were to run my fingers over it which is very interesting. I liked the placement of the title being on the front cover rather than above each poem version as well. It makes sense, but I hadn’t thought about it. Overall, I think this is a really well put together project and a very interesting poem.
The other poem that caught my attention was Delaney’s project. Honestly, I probably would have skipped past this one because the cover is very plain and unassuming. However, the addition of the blue wind up dinosaur piqued my interest. I was very happy that I stayed to look because it was the first project I had seen that decorated the inside of the booklet. I thought the poem was really good, the imagery of the apples below the different versions of the poem was great. Referring to an apple as a heart and including the fact that the seeds of apples are poisonous was cool. It was like implying that at the root of all love there can be poison. Overall, the imagery and the poem really enhanced each other, and I think the author did a great job.
I want to start off by saying that I have really been struggling coming up with a good idea for my drafty draft poem and the book elements. However, after looking over a couple of previous artists pages, I have so many ideas in mind for what I want to do. More specifically, there were two artists pages that really caught my eye because of the ideas and execution of their posts. One of these artists had a poem called “Open your eyes”, which I believe tackled the idea of fear or change. In her reflection, she explained the idea of the lack of color in the book being completely intentional to represent that gloomy atmosphere, as the only color in the book is the grey fog she scribbled onto the book. I also noticed that in her brainstorm region, she mentioned one of the biggest changes she made to her book was the word placements and punctuation used in many of the stanzas. The word placements seem to represent the idea of scrambled minds and a completely off-track train of thought, which is a great use of symbolism. Overall, this person’s poem was able to do so much with very little, and the lack of color made the poem feel a lot more realistic, especially with the way it was written and constructed.
On the other hand, I forget the name of the poem, but the artist seems to have written it in the style of a diary, as each page begins with the timestamp “At 3:00 O’clock”. One of the things that stood out to me was the artwork of the front and back, as it seemed to resemble some sort of map or log you would find on a GPS, with an array of colors. On each page, the artist changed a select few words and highlighted the changed words. It almost seems like the mood of the poem changed with each passing day. The time was never changing, yet the mood and word choices of the narrator was changing each time, and I just think that adds a sense of emotion to the piece. For me, these two poems were the ones that stood out to me the most, and I think I now have a better sense of what I want to do for my drafty poem.
1. The first book I looked at was Duffy’s poem “Overwhelmed.” The entire book has a simplicity to its visuals that work wonderfully to highlight the poem. The cover’s use of stray paper cuttings coming out of a silhouetted head is very evocative, and the little drawings that accompany each draft make the book feel less like various drafts and more like a progression of one single poem. That last note especially makes the final lines of the poem hit harder.
2. The second book I looked at was by Ravin. The cover’s use of maps gives the whole project a nostalgic feeling, as if I’m looking at the burned remains of a map used for a road trip with a loved one. The sheet music is thematic, as is the font used for the “3:00” on the back which looks like it was cut out or stamped on. As for the interior, the colored drafts are nice to look at and provide a nice contrast between drafts. The use of highlights also draws my eye especially since they are placed in such different places in each draft.
After looking at the range of drafty poems, I appreciate how the designs, covers and colors match the poems; it resembles the moods of each project. The first project that stood out to me was a bright yellow sunflower poem. I have a personal connection to sunflowers but at first glance it gave off a positive persona, I expected growth and reference to the sun. When I read the poem, it compares a soul and how it grows like a plant. Looking at this bright project, it was like a deep breath, reminding me that we grow each day. I also looked at an incredible poem called Now and Then, I was very impressed with the detail of the additives that enhanced the mood of the project. This poem creatively added to the meaning of the words by highlighting them or writing them in a representative way. Comparing the two projects, it was interesting how the design improved the feeling of the writing. They differed in the stanza sizes but both did a good job of mirroring the message with the artistic interpretation.
Firstly I examined Kimberly’s poem, “Now & Then”. Beyond the fact that the booklet she made was visually stunning and clearly had a significant amount of effort put into the craft of it, I was really impressed by how beautiful the poem was as well. The poem in of itself wasn’t particularly long winded, but it still felt deeply evocative of a certain time of the year, which was supported further by the crown of autumn leaves which had been glued to the cover of the booklet. Kim’s poem particularly compared to a lot of the booklets I looked at seemed like extra special attention was paid to the craft portion of this project, which I definitely admire a lot, but I’m still just really stuck on how insanely amazing the poem was. It really felt like something that would’ve been written by the Imagist movement, every word feels so purposeful and important. Really, really impressive. To Kim’s concerns at the end of her reflection, I don’t think that it felt forced at all, and she’s right about how strong the imagery is in her poem as well.
The other booklet which I looked at was Delaney’s, with the apple theme and the cute windup dinosaur beside the booklet in the photos taken. I really enjoyed the push marker illustrations in the booklet, I thought they were pretty fun and helped further evoke the themes of the poem. I also really appreciated the little blue wind up dinosaur that they included in their photographs, even though I don’t think it was necessarily meant to be a part of the project as a whole it was still appreciated. There was a slight repetition of off-rhymes throughout the poem as well which I thought were incredibly fun, and I liked being able to see the poem taking shape over each of the pages.
Browsing through these did leave me with some questions though. Specifically it seemed as if some students did a draft of a poem on each page, building upon the previous iteration until the final page showed the final draft of the poem. Meanwhile others, such as Kim, only included the final draft and made the whole booklet around that. I wonder if both of these options would be acceptable for full credit?
The first project I looked at was Lexi’s poem “But No Smile”. I really liked the way she made her drafty-draft. Her poem was short and sweet, perfectly fitting on the pages. Her drawings were beautiful yet simple and expressed the words in a genuine way. I wouldn’t say her poem speaks to me, but I like the way she wrote the lines, spreading them up and down and around her drawings. It gave me a lot of great ideas for my own project. I thought it was creative how her poem wrapped around flowers, almost like petals falling. They followed a cycle, just how flowers do in different seasons. I also liked the main content of the poem, how it is portrayed as pretty, but has more of a melancholy tone. It was creative to me how they used an image for their poem as well, it created a story that I could follow. The second project I looked at was Delaney’s poem “The Apple”. I really liked this poem too. It was also a short one, but very descriptive. It made me look at apples in a different light, made me think more about what I was reading. The best part of this project for me, however, was the drawings. Even though they were super simple, they portrayed something amazing. How apples grow, get picked, and almost everyone eats them even though the seeds have cyanide. I think it is cool how she draws the apples and the tree in a beautiful way, even though they have a poisonous chemical inside. I also liked the first drawing of the apple being split open with all the seeds pouring out with the vine still connected, sprawling out like tree branches. That was really creative to me and gave me another idea for my own project.
The first book I looked at was “Now & Then” by Kimberly. The decoration and drawings on every page were so good and really enhanced the words that went with them. The reader doesn’t even need to visualize the lines in their mind because the pictures are right there sitting beautifully on the page. My favorite part is page 3, the lines on this page are so intriguing and the words, “pulse” and “bleed” are so strong.
The second book I wanted to mention is “3:00am” by Ravin. I loved the map and the music on the front and back covers. It’s very appropriate that this design is what is at the front and back of the book, enveloping the poem, because each detail reflects a piece of the poem. I also admired how the author highlighted the words or lines that had been changed from draft to draft. This highlights the journey and process of creating the poem. I also enjoy that each line can be pulled apart and examined and it’s clear that each word was chosen carefully.
The first poem book I looked at was “Now & Then” by Kimberly. I chose this poem book specifically because it stood out to me visually as opposed to the other books I looked at. I really appreciate the use of color and images that make poem pop and bring the story to life. The author explains how their goal was to help the reader visualize the story the way they did whilst writing it; I think it’s safe to say they accomplished just that! What I enjoyed about the poem is the way it makes you think. To be completely honest I’m unsure the truest meaning of the poem. Though, somehow, I still enjoyed it. It felt impactful even though I couldn’t understand it.
The second poem book I took a look at was, “Untamed Icon” by Henry. This is another poem book that struck my attention, this time solely from the cover and back cover. I found it to be really unique and striking. Both sides of the covers were very cool but I also thought it was unique how he chose to make different shaped lines under the words. I wonder why some underlines are straight? Why do others increase upward then downward in between words? It makes you think if there is meaning behind it or maybe it’s just to add some appeal.
Overall, both poem books were incredibly creative visually. As for the poems themselves, they seem to be well thought-through and powerful. I don’t fully comprehend the entire meaning behind either poems but I enjoyed reading and looking at them.
Lindsey: I really enjoyed both the front and back covers of this project. The front cover was not only well drawn but also fit beautifully with the content of the poem. The poem itself is about facing a difficult life decision and the anxiety that comes with it, and the image of an individual as a candle, slowly burning and melting away, captures that feeling of uncertainty and inner conflict. It represents how time is slipping away while the speaker struggles to decide, giving the sense that they’re perishing under the weight of indecision. The back cover, showing a road splitting into different directions, offers a more direct representation of the choice the speaker is wrestling with. I appreciated how these two images work together: one metaphorical, one literal, both reinforcing the central theme of choice. Inside the book, the pages were relatively blank except for the poem’s words, which I found fitting for the project. When you are faced with a life-altering decision, everything else tends to fade into the background. It becomes just you and the choice in front of you; the words and the blank space allowing room to reflect on them.
Kim: I loved the creativity used in this project. Even though it was only one poem, the amount of thought, time, and effort that went into the book is clear and really impressive. This poem seems to be centered around facing life’s choices and the emotions that come with them: nostalgia, longing, uncertainty and hope for the future. I see this captured with beautiful imagery. The front cover, Now & Then, captured your attention with elegant writing and an aesthetic cover. I especially loved the Einstein quote because it ties the whole project together: it reinforces the poem’s message about living in the present rather than dwelling too much on the past or worrying about the future. It gave the book a thoughtful ending and left me reflecting even after I finished reading. Each inside page pairs visuals with the poem’s imagery: autumn leaves for “foliage crowns”, flowing hair and music notes for the breezes and musings (nostalgia), and a brain to represent the “discontent mind” (longing). I really like this because it’s like the poet is trying to help us understand the metaphorical emotions of nostalgia, longing, and time slipping away by pairing them with direct images.
The first poetry book I explored was Now & Then by Kimberly. I was drawn to this book mainly because of its striking visual design compared to the others I reviewed. I really appreciated how the use of color and imagery made the poems come alive and helped tell the story in a vivid way. The author mentioned that their goal was to help readers see the story as they did while writing it, and I think they definitely succeeded. What I found most enjoyable about the poems was how thought-provoking they were. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what the true meaning is, but somehow it still left a strong impression on me.
The second book I want to highlight is 3:00 am by Ravin. I loved the map and music featured on the front and back covers; those details perfectly frame the poem itself, reflecting its themes. I also admired how the author showcased the changes between drafts by highlighting altered words or lines, giving insight into their creative process. I appreciated that every line could be taken apart and examined closely, revealing the careful thought behind each word choice.
When viewing the examples of drafty-draft poems, I really liked Jack’s even though it is not the most objectively “good”. There are so many beautiful examples from some very artistically skilled students. I found Jack’s to be quite charming and enjoyable to read. The illustrations are very simple. One could argue this poet didn’t put that much effort into it, but I would disagree. The actual poem itself is very relatable. The uncertainty of our futures can be very scary and I love the comparison of the future to a foggy valley. The illustration on the concluding page perfectly depicts the words on the page, words actually falling down into a canyon and ending up on the other side of it. The line in the poem that says “what it would feel like to dance soaking wet” feels very liberating. That imagery was vivid in my mind and the accompanying drawing made me smile. Sometimes simplicity is better than details, in my opinion.
I really enjoyed all of the drafty poems. Each person incorporated different artistic elements into their books, and this inspired me to be a little bit more creative with my cover design. The first poem that stood out to me was Lara’s from 2021. I really liked the way she used real sea shells and flowers in the book’s design. The poem itself compares enduring hardships to the way the waves in the sea keep moving. I thought having a poem about the sea and actually having real things from the sea attached to the book was a really impactful choice. The other poem that caught my eye was Kim’s from 2021. The book is decorated with paper cutouts in the shapes of leaves and music notes. The art in the book directly matches the line in the poem it is with and I thought that was a really creative thing to do. Each page feels like its own complete piece of art while still letting the poem flow across the pages.
13 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 4”
https://dcollins11.uneportfolio.org/2020/09/23/drafty-draft/
This project highlights the poem “The Apple”. Upon first look at the physical features of the book the cover page is very blank. It is a blank white sheet with The Apple written in small blue letters. The first page of the poem is written with orange letters. This adds to the fall feeling of the poem. Also drawn is a sliced open apple with seeds pouring out with leaves and vines growing out of the stem of the apple. The second page depicts 5 apples bouncing to an in bloom tree. The third page shows vines going into an apple box and then another vine continuing to an apple again.
One thing that I noticed different from the written poem to the typed out poem is that the typed out one emphasizes the different sections of the poem, which I really like. It creates a story when there is separation. I also enjoyed how different the first poem is from the last one. When I did this I wanted to take my first poem and add to it and think deeply about my word choices but, when this student did it they decided to extend the poem into a final story at the end.
https://ehedegard.uneportfolio.org/drafty-draft-exercise-2/
This project highlights the poem “Hide”. I enjoyed watching how this poem progressed. It started very short, there was a lot of mystery to it. But, as you start to read into the later days the poem gets more dense. The front page is black with hide written in all caps in white letters with a dried rose petal to the right. There is a printed out picture of a labyrinth with a red heart in the middle with some sort of beetle in the bottom right corner. Within the pages there are no sort of drawings, just the poem.
I really enjoyed looking at all the projects. Two of them that stood out to me were Henry and Delaney’s from 2020. Henry’s caught my attention at first because it is a collage, which is something that I have been thinking about doing for my project. I also really liked that it was in black and white, I think that really enhanced the poem. It worked with the gritty nature of it. One of the coolest things was the film strips, it added a lot to the imagery of nature and the sort of gritty side of it. The use of duct tape, staples, and pictures added a lot of texture and made the covers interactive. I can imagine the feeling of the title if I were to run my fingers over it which is very interesting. I liked the placement of the title being on the front cover rather than above each poem version as well. It makes sense, but I hadn’t thought about it. Overall, I think this is a really well put together project and a very interesting poem.
The other poem that caught my attention was Delaney’s project. Honestly, I probably would have skipped past this one because the cover is very plain and unassuming. However, the addition of the blue wind up dinosaur piqued my interest. I was very happy that I stayed to look because it was the first project I had seen that decorated the inside of the booklet. I thought the poem was really good, the imagery of the apples below the different versions of the poem was great. Referring to an apple as a heart and including the fact that the seeds of apples are poisonous was cool. It was like implying that at the root of all love there can be poison. Overall, the imagery and the poem really enhanced each other, and I think the author did a great job.
I want to start off by saying that I have really been struggling coming up with a good idea for my drafty draft poem and the book elements. However, after looking over a couple of previous artists pages, I have so many ideas in mind for what I want to do. More specifically, there were two artists pages that really caught my eye because of the ideas and execution of their posts. One of these artists had a poem called “Open your eyes”, which I believe tackled the idea of fear or change. In her reflection, she explained the idea of the lack of color in the book being completely intentional to represent that gloomy atmosphere, as the only color in the book is the grey fog she scribbled onto the book. I also noticed that in her brainstorm region, she mentioned one of the biggest changes she made to her book was the word placements and punctuation used in many of the stanzas. The word placements seem to represent the idea of scrambled minds and a completely off-track train of thought, which is a great use of symbolism. Overall, this person’s poem was able to do so much with very little, and the lack of color made the poem feel a lot more realistic, especially with the way it was written and constructed.
On the other hand, I forget the name of the poem, but the artist seems to have written it in the style of a diary, as each page begins with the timestamp “At 3:00 O’clock”. One of the things that stood out to me was the artwork of the front and back, as it seemed to resemble some sort of map or log you would find on a GPS, with an array of colors. On each page, the artist changed a select few words and highlighted the changed words. It almost seems like the mood of the poem changed with each passing day. The time was never changing, yet the mood and word choices of the narrator was changing each time, and I just think that adds a sense of emotion to the piece. For me, these two poems were the ones that stood out to me the most, and I think I now have a better sense of what I want to do for my drafty poem.
1. The first book I looked at was Duffy’s poem “Overwhelmed.” The entire book has a simplicity to its visuals that work wonderfully to highlight the poem. The cover’s use of stray paper cuttings coming out of a silhouetted head is very evocative, and the little drawings that accompany each draft make the book feel less like various drafts and more like a progression of one single poem. That last note especially makes the final lines of the poem hit harder.
2. The second book I looked at was by Ravin. The cover’s use of maps gives the whole project a nostalgic feeling, as if I’m looking at the burned remains of a map used for a road trip with a loved one. The sheet music is thematic, as is the font used for the “3:00” on the back which looks like it was cut out or stamped on. As for the interior, the colored drafts are nice to look at and provide a nice contrast between drafts. The use of highlights also draws my eye especially since they are placed in such different places in each draft.
After looking at the range of drafty poems, I appreciate how the designs, covers and colors match the poems; it resembles the moods of each project. The first project that stood out to me was a bright yellow sunflower poem. I have a personal connection to sunflowers but at first glance it gave off a positive persona, I expected growth and reference to the sun. When I read the poem, it compares a soul and how it grows like a plant. Looking at this bright project, it was like a deep breath, reminding me that we grow each day. I also looked at an incredible poem called Now and Then, I was very impressed with the detail of the additives that enhanced the mood of the project. This poem creatively added to the meaning of the words by highlighting them or writing them in a representative way. Comparing the two projects, it was interesting how the design improved the feeling of the writing. They differed in the stanza sizes but both did a good job of mirroring the message with the artistic interpretation.
Firstly I examined Kimberly’s poem, “Now & Then”. Beyond the fact that the booklet she made was visually stunning and clearly had a significant amount of effort put into the craft of it, I was really impressed by how beautiful the poem was as well. The poem in of itself wasn’t particularly long winded, but it still felt deeply evocative of a certain time of the year, which was supported further by the crown of autumn leaves which had been glued to the cover of the booklet. Kim’s poem particularly compared to a lot of the booklets I looked at seemed like extra special attention was paid to the craft portion of this project, which I definitely admire a lot, but I’m still just really stuck on how insanely amazing the poem was. It really felt like something that would’ve been written by the Imagist movement, every word feels so purposeful and important. Really, really impressive. To Kim’s concerns at the end of her reflection, I don’t think that it felt forced at all, and she’s right about how strong the imagery is in her poem as well.
The other booklet which I looked at was Delaney’s, with the apple theme and the cute windup dinosaur beside the booklet in the photos taken. I really enjoyed the push marker illustrations in the booklet, I thought they were pretty fun and helped further evoke the themes of the poem. I also really appreciated the little blue wind up dinosaur that they included in their photographs, even though I don’t think it was necessarily meant to be a part of the project as a whole it was still appreciated. There was a slight repetition of off-rhymes throughout the poem as well which I thought were incredibly fun, and I liked being able to see the poem taking shape over each of the pages.
Browsing through these did leave me with some questions though. Specifically it seemed as if some students did a draft of a poem on each page, building upon the previous iteration until the final page showed the final draft of the poem. Meanwhile others, such as Kim, only included the final draft and made the whole booklet around that. I wonder if both of these options would be acceptable for full credit?
The first project I looked at was Lexi’s poem “But No Smile”. I really liked the way she made her drafty-draft. Her poem was short and sweet, perfectly fitting on the pages. Her drawings were beautiful yet simple and expressed the words in a genuine way. I wouldn’t say her poem speaks to me, but I like the way she wrote the lines, spreading them up and down and around her drawings. It gave me a lot of great ideas for my own project. I thought it was creative how her poem wrapped around flowers, almost like petals falling. They followed a cycle, just how flowers do in different seasons. I also liked the main content of the poem, how it is portrayed as pretty, but has more of a melancholy tone. It was creative to me how they used an image for their poem as well, it created a story that I could follow. The second project I looked at was Delaney’s poem “The Apple”. I really liked this poem too. It was also a short one, but very descriptive. It made me look at apples in a different light, made me think more about what I was reading. The best part of this project for me, however, was the drawings. Even though they were super simple, they portrayed something amazing. How apples grow, get picked, and almost everyone eats them even though the seeds have cyanide. I think it is cool how she draws the apples and the tree in a beautiful way, even though they have a poisonous chemical inside. I also liked the first drawing of the apple being split open with all the seeds pouring out with the vine still connected, sprawling out like tree branches. That was really creative to me and gave me another idea for my own project.
The first book I looked at was “Now & Then” by Kimberly. The decoration and drawings on every page were so good and really enhanced the words that went with them. The reader doesn’t even need to visualize the lines in their mind because the pictures are right there sitting beautifully on the page. My favorite part is page 3, the lines on this page are so intriguing and the words, “pulse” and “bleed” are so strong.
The second book I wanted to mention is “3:00am” by Ravin. I loved the map and the music on the front and back covers. It’s very appropriate that this design is what is at the front and back of the book, enveloping the poem, because each detail reflects a piece of the poem. I also admired how the author highlighted the words or lines that had been changed from draft to draft. This highlights the journey and process of creating the poem. I also enjoy that each line can be pulled apart and examined and it’s clear that each word was chosen carefully.
The first poem book I looked at was “Now & Then” by Kimberly. I chose this poem book specifically because it stood out to me visually as opposed to the other books I looked at. I really appreciate the use of color and images that make poem pop and bring the story to life. The author explains how their goal was to help the reader visualize the story the way they did whilst writing it; I think it’s safe to say they accomplished just that! What I enjoyed about the poem is the way it makes you think. To be completely honest I’m unsure the truest meaning of the poem. Though, somehow, I still enjoyed it. It felt impactful even though I couldn’t understand it.
The second poem book I took a look at was, “Untamed Icon” by Henry. This is another poem book that struck my attention, this time solely from the cover and back cover. I found it to be really unique and striking. Both sides of the covers were very cool but I also thought it was unique how he chose to make different shaped lines under the words. I wonder why some underlines are straight? Why do others increase upward then downward in between words? It makes you think if there is meaning behind it or maybe it’s just to add some appeal.
Overall, both poem books were incredibly creative visually. As for the poems themselves, they seem to be well thought-through and powerful. I don’t fully comprehend the entire meaning behind either poems but I enjoyed reading and looking at them.
Lindsey: I really enjoyed both the front and back covers of this project. The front cover was not only well drawn but also fit beautifully with the content of the poem. The poem itself is about facing a difficult life decision and the anxiety that comes with it, and the image of an individual as a candle, slowly burning and melting away, captures that feeling of uncertainty and inner conflict. It represents how time is slipping away while the speaker struggles to decide, giving the sense that they’re perishing under the weight of indecision. The back cover, showing a road splitting into different directions, offers a more direct representation of the choice the speaker is wrestling with. I appreciated how these two images work together: one metaphorical, one literal, both reinforcing the central theme of choice. Inside the book, the pages were relatively blank except for the poem’s words, which I found fitting for the project. When you are faced with a life-altering decision, everything else tends to fade into the background. It becomes just you and the choice in front of you; the words and the blank space allowing room to reflect on them.
Kim: I loved the creativity used in this project. Even though it was only one poem, the amount of thought, time, and effort that went into the book is clear and really impressive. This poem seems to be centered around facing life’s choices and the emotions that come with them: nostalgia, longing, uncertainty and hope for the future. I see this captured with beautiful imagery. The front cover, Now & Then, captured your attention with elegant writing and an aesthetic cover. I especially loved the Einstein quote because it ties the whole project together: it reinforces the poem’s message about living in the present rather than dwelling too much on the past or worrying about the future. It gave the book a thoughtful ending and left me reflecting even after I finished reading. Each inside page pairs visuals with the poem’s imagery: autumn leaves for “foliage crowns”, flowing hair and music notes for the breezes and musings (nostalgia), and a brain to represent the “discontent mind” (longing). I really like this because it’s like the poet is trying to help us understand the metaphorical emotions of nostalgia, longing, and time slipping away by pairing them with direct images.
The first poetry book I explored was Now & Then by Kimberly. I was drawn to this book mainly because of its striking visual design compared to the others I reviewed. I really appreciated how the use of color and imagery made the poems come alive and helped tell the story in a vivid way. The author mentioned that their goal was to help readers see the story as they did while writing it, and I think they definitely succeeded. What I found most enjoyable about the poems was how thought-provoking they were. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what the true meaning is, but somehow it still left a strong impression on me.
The second book I want to highlight is 3:00 am by Ravin. I loved the map and music featured on the front and back covers; those details perfectly frame the poem itself, reflecting its themes. I also admired how the author showcased the changes between drafts by highlighting altered words or lines, giving insight into their creative process. I appreciated that every line could be taken apart and examined closely, revealing the careful thought behind each word choice.
When viewing the examples of drafty-draft poems, I really liked Jack’s even though it is not the most objectively “good”. There are so many beautiful examples from some very artistically skilled students. I found Jack’s to be quite charming and enjoyable to read. The illustrations are very simple. One could argue this poet didn’t put that much effort into it, but I would disagree. The actual poem itself is very relatable. The uncertainty of our futures can be very scary and I love the comparison of the future to a foggy valley. The illustration on the concluding page perfectly depicts the words on the page, words actually falling down into a canyon and ending up on the other side of it. The line in the poem that says “what it would feel like to dance soaking wet” feels very liberating. That imagery was vivid in my mind and the accompanying drawing made me smile. Sometimes simplicity is better than details, in my opinion.
I really enjoyed all of the drafty poems. Each person incorporated different artistic elements into their books, and this inspired me to be a little bit more creative with my cover design. The first poem that stood out to me was Lara’s from 2021. I really liked the way she used real sea shells and flowers in the book’s design. The poem itself compares enduring hardships to the way the waves in the sea keep moving. I thought having a poem about the sea and actually having real things from the sea attached to the book was a really impactful choice. The other poem that caught my eye was Kim’s from 2021. The book is decorated with paper cutouts in the shapes of leaves and music notes. The art in the book directly matches the line in the poem it is with and I thought that was a really creative thing to do. Each page feels like its own complete piece of art while still letting the poem flow across the pages.