tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post655988246186738689..comments2023-10-19T10:51:43.826-04:00Comments on Author Amok: Finding an Authentic VoiceAuthor Amokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-33674792001889527372014-10-03T21:21:53.542-04:002014-10-03T21:21:53.542-04:00I just came upon this post after reading today'...I just came upon this post after reading today's, and following a couple of links. I'm sorry to hear about your ordeals in high school - and although it doesn't make it any better, please know you weren't alone. Many of us dealt with things like that - myself included - and felt the same as you did. In my case, the public school in our town was so small (41 in my graduating class) I had no way of becoming invisible if I tried! On the plus side, neither you nor I would probably have the poetic perspective we do today, had it not been for those difficult times...something to ponder!Matt Forrest Esenwinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04230063389130167424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-28587233651792869212013-03-24T15:24:49.727-04:002013-03-24T15:24:49.727-04:00Laura, thank you for walking through your poetic p...Laura, thank you for walking through your poetic process and for telling your story. Reading stuff like this makes my facilitation of the event all the more rewarding for me.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />-EdEd DeCariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02008811161729435126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-12268236837105076702013-03-23T09:26:35.552-04:002013-03-23T09:26:35.552-04:00The story behind the way this poem took shape and ...The story behind the way this poem took shape and the story behind your experience of bullying itself is so powerful, Laura. I am going to share this poem with my students- middle school is such a cess pool of bullying, and we have had a rash of experiences in sixth grade recently. You thoughtful poem will foster much needed conversations, I am sure. Thank you.Tara @ A Teaching Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07195982194362559883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-35302630185190615172013-03-23T06:49:22.527-04:002013-03-23T06:49:22.527-04:00The story behind the poem always adds so much more...The story behind the poem always adds so much more...although I'm sure anyone (present company included) who has been bullied brings enough to your poem for it to hit home on its own. Thank you for writing an important poem for MM13. It was "the right words in the right order."Mary Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-89252145820631286592013-03-22T21:48:12.002-04:002013-03-22T21:48:12.002-04:00Hey, Laura - I hand't checked the voting yet. ...Hey, Laura - I hand't checked the voting yet. A powerful poem and post, and I'm glad, even if it didn't carry you on in the contest, that it made its way into the world. Thank you for being so candid - I think kids will identify with this. And thanks for the peek into your process, too.Robyn Hood Blackhttp://www.robynhoodblack.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-74558555478178589362013-03-22T21:33:31.579-04:002013-03-22T21:33:31.579-04:00Linda and Ruth, I appreciate your comments. I'...Linda and Ruth, I appreciate your comments. I'm not moving on to the Elite Eight. Whew! The anxiety was killing me. I can breathe again.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-54636138507846312282013-03-22T17:20:49.570-04:002013-03-22T17:20:49.570-04:00Wow. There's so much in this post. I love th...Wow. There's so much in this post. I love the poem, and I applaud your courage in sharing your story.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12463332371535167975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-69652141315727480022013-03-22T16:53:30.688-04:002013-03-22T16:53:30.688-04:00Laura, your poem is wonderful and full of emotion....Laura, your poem is wonderful and full of emotion. I know kids will connect with it. I also enjoyed reading about your process. It's always interesting to learn how a poem came to be. <br />As for bullying, I think most of us have experienced it in some form or other. I doubt we ever really get over it. Thanks for sharing your story!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01786457482835741494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-13843732363211420022013-03-22T14:13:47.762-04:002013-03-22T14:13:47.762-04:00Thanks for your support, Andi and Laura. I knew my...Thanks for your support, Andi and Laura. I knew my husband at the time this happened and we haven't spoken about it in years. I've told my teenagers some things about the ex, but never about the car-bullying. Writing the poem has allowed me to open up about it. Important, as my children are the age I was at the time.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-57738973191208441542013-03-22T13:54:28.975-04:002013-03-22T13:54:28.975-04:00Laura, thank you for sharing all of this. I loved ...Laura, thank you for sharing all of this. I loved seeing the background to your poem and witnessing your process. And I'm so sorry for the harrassment you experienced in high school. There are infinite forms of bullying, aren't there? The silver lining? Powerful poems as an adult! <>laurasalashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13807781795919555208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-61372015402237765572013-03-22T13:34:16.976-04:002013-03-22T13:34:16.976-04:00Laura this is such a powerful post! Thank you for ...Laura this is such a powerful post! Thank you for sharing your process and your pain. There are so many layers to work through - I admire your courage and grace.Andromeda Jazmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12355192738014962965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-72814941886458028832013-03-22T12:18:01.645-04:002013-03-22T12:18:01.645-04:00Tabatha, I don't know why we, as teens, don...Tabatha, I don't know why we, as teens, don't tell. It made sense at the time. I remember feeling like telling would make things worse, expose me to a different kind of attack, more anger. Did you feel that way with your friend? There's also that need to say, "I've got this. I'm in control of my own life." So complicated.<br /><br />Jama -- Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It was not easy to write about this. I am still friendly with a handful of people from high school, including the person who finally told. I have no idea what they will say or think if they read this post. While I wouldn't say "I don't care" what they think about it, it's more important to me to share the story.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-11442958069423927682013-03-22T12:14:18.716-04:002013-03-22T12:14:18.716-04:00Gloson, it's important to know you're not ...Gloson, it's important to know you're not alone. Being bullied, as I mentioned, is a very isolating experience. Part of what a bully does is isolate his or her target.<br /><br />As a parent of teens, I see that I should have told my parents right away. Not telling anyone, not speaking about it at school, was part of why the car-attacks continued. I wasn't giving consent to it, of course, but I wasn't standing up to oppose it either. I *felt* like a victim.<br /><br />Good luck out there, with your teen peers. Be strong. Be yourself.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-19254523520201839022013-03-22T10:46:55.253-04:002013-03-22T10:46:55.253-04:00A powerful poem, Laura, good luck with it in Round...A powerful poem, Laura, good luck with it in Round 3! <br /><br />I'm so sorry you had this experience -- it was interesting to read about your process and how it led to your unearthing these painful details from your past. As Linda said, your poem will speak to many -- too many, actually, who are experiencing the same fear and pain as victims of bullying. jamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07859083373087448194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-29393469938785859902013-03-22T09:33:53.846-04:002013-03-22T09:33:53.846-04:00That sounds really scary, Laura. I was scared of s...That sounds really scary, Laura. I was scared of someone in high school -- a female friend who was taking medicines that made her behavior erratic and frightening. I didn't tell anyone either until it came out that I had skipped school to avoid her. Why didn't I tell earlier? I wish I had. Tabathahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367572663591077922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-80665373880239155862013-03-22T08:56:14.352-04:002013-03-22T08:56:14.352-04:00Sorry to hear about your painful experience. :( Th...Sorry to hear about your painful experience. :( Thanks for sharing it. I might have experienced similar incidences, though they are not close to your extent. If I do though, I'll know I'm not alone.Gloson Tehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812253533120922181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-17477653015159867402013-03-22T08:24:46.473-04:002013-03-22T08:24:46.473-04:00Heidi, thank you for the kind words. I was relucta...Heidi, thank you for the kind words. I was reluctant to do another process post, but maybe it's important to show how much work goes into each phrase of a poem.<br /><br />You're right, I did not expect the poem to take me back to these memories. The girl in the poem is having a different bully experience than mine. It wasn't until I sat with the poem for a day or two that I began to write down this abbreviated version of that period. I feel for kids who are going through this, especially with the added element of social media. There's really nowhere to hide. Comments that used to be cutting in the halls can now spread through an entire school community.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-25721057151786316872013-03-22T08:21:55.769-04:002013-03-22T08:21:55.769-04:00Thank you for the note, Buffy. Even though there&#...Thank you for the note, Buffy. Even though there's not a "real" ghost in the poem, I'm glad I was able to keep the haunted tone. I appreciate it.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-1885464239485296772013-03-22T07:40:50.692-04:002013-03-22T07:40:50.692-04:00Laura, this is more fascinating than most of the p...Laura, this is more fascinating than most of the process posts we've all been enjoying, and I bet it's BECAUSE you were on your way to connecting with your past experiences. Just as you didn't quite know that when you started noodling around with "quasi," we didn't know that we would end up in the high school parking lot with you. Interesting, interesting turns of mind, phrase and history. Wonderful.Heidi Mordhorsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902158336083356337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-30953804926317215922013-03-21T20:42:56.397-04:002013-03-21T20:42:56.397-04:00Thanks for the detailed look into your process--so...Thanks for the detailed look into your process--so interesting to see how everyone approaches this challenge. And this is such a haunting poem--love the invisible/melt into shadows/hide, freeze.Buffy Silvermanhttp://www.buffysilverman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-52455668164239196162013-03-21T17:42:42.597-04:002013-03-21T17:42:42.597-04:00Those of you on Facebook, I am sharing a little bi...Those of you on Facebook, I am sharing a little bit of my own "Dear Bully" story over there. It's not easy to write about, even nearly 30 years later.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-51936378878573272622013-03-21T16:20:23.909-04:002013-03-21T16:20:23.909-04:00Thank you, Linda. In this competition, it's a ...Thank you, Linda. In this competition, it's a risk going serious. The funny poems seem to be doing best.<br /><br />I appreciate your comments. Voting is now live! Thanks for the good luck wishes.<br /><br />http://www.thinkkidthink.com/6-quasi-vs-7-torrent/Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-50340174209236810002013-03-21T10:05:15.144-04:002013-03-21T10:05:15.144-04:00I know this will speak to many, such a topic for e...I know this will speak to many, such a topic for everyone today-too much going on that is serious. And I wish it would stop! I liked the enjambment of the lines in the first stanzas. And I enjoyed hearing your thinking, Laura. You show me things I don't have the habit yet of considering. Best of luck in this round!Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.com