Review: Processions Of Martyrs
by Tammy Arndt
It sometimes feels like being relevant is the only thing that sells, at least in America. Americans thrive in drama so much that it consumes society into a crazed homosapien that is always demandent like a child asking for candy at a store. This is a very problematic situation for writers and poets alike when trying to illustrate their memories on to paper. As a poet writing down these tragedies it can be saddening, but in order to receive a check it seems that this type of pain is the only thing selling. No one questions how a poet is able to get through this emotion without falling apart. For some poets however going through a memory like this is part of their healing process in order for them to grasp the situation in a more calm like state of mind. Some Americans viewing this as an audience of artistic forums see this sometimes and forget this process and instead we are consumed by drama because we as a culture view this as entertainment. It is important to understand all aspect of poetry especially and not just view it for entertainment purposes. Instead poetry should be analyzed to understand to human emotion and interaction with the viewer.
Emily Fernandez is able to do this within her poetry by capturing such emotions and distraught and is able to fuse the two in order to help others dealing with the same or any similar circumstance. By not only telling her memories and stories she is able to interact with her viewers and still get her point across. She teaches that there are times when it will be an emotional roller coaster but anyone dealing with a problem can be able to pick themselves up and get through anything. My first view of her when she came to my English 53 class was that she seemed a bit soft spoken and shy when first coming in. She was able to warm up however very quickly when a few of my classmates and me including were excited for her presence to read and tell us about her process. One of the poems she spent time with us whas her poem “Avalanche” where she skillfully made a metaphor about losing someone very dear to her.
Avalanche
When I heard I lost you
I welcomed the avalanche
In my office, cradling the phone,
I surrendered to the news.
The ground froze,
Tilted, cracked at my feet.
I did not scurry up the hill
To avoid the quick slide underneath.
Paralyzed, I let it pull me down
Tumbling to a blackout.
It is evident that she is a master at building up such dramatized language and metaphor within this poem. She built up a realistic avalanche so well that another student thought it was real, that she was in an actual avalanche that she was suffocating. Emily didn’t even laugh at my classmates comment and instead was understanding and explained her process in an academically sound way. She stated that she “lets ideas linger and loves the idea of merging two things. That she doesn’t write till she can imagine the scenario”. She not only told us her process she shared her story behind Avalanche, how it was traumatic for her when she thought she had lost her son. Emily in my opinion shows good structure in her writings of poetry and is able to not let the trama consume her or her audience. She is able to show feelings and having her talk about her issues in class showed that anyone is capable to solve their own issues. She is also able to show her different techniques and ideas in writing that can be useful to any pursuing to further their education.
Emily Fernandez is able to do this within her poetry by capturing such emotions and distraught and is able to fuse the two in order to help others dealing with the same or any similar circumstance. By not only telling her memories and stories she is able to interact with her viewers and still get her point across. She teaches that there are times when it will be an emotional roller coaster but anyone dealing with a problem can be able to pick themselves up and get through anything. My first view of her when she came to my English 53 class was that she seemed a bit soft spoken and shy when first coming in. She was able to warm up however very quickly when a few of my classmates and me including were excited for her presence to read and tell us about her process. One of the poems she spent time with us whas her poem “Avalanche” where she skillfully made a metaphor about losing someone very dear to her.
Avalanche
When I heard I lost you
I welcomed the avalanche
In my office, cradling the phone,
I surrendered to the news.
The ground froze,
Tilted, cracked at my feet.
I did not scurry up the hill
To avoid the quick slide underneath.
Paralyzed, I let it pull me down
Tumbling to a blackout.
It is evident that she is a master at building up such dramatized language and metaphor within this poem. She built up a realistic avalanche so well that another student thought it was real, that she was in an actual avalanche that she was suffocating. Emily didn’t even laugh at my classmates comment and instead was understanding and explained her process in an academically sound way. She stated that she “lets ideas linger and loves the idea of merging two things. That she doesn’t write till she can imagine the scenario”. She not only told us her process she shared her story behind Avalanche, how it was traumatic for her when she thought she had lost her son. Emily in my opinion shows good structure in her writings of poetry and is able to not let the trama consume her or her audience. She is able to show feelings and having her talk about her issues in class showed that anyone is capable to solve their own issues. She is also able to show her different techniques and ideas in writing that can be useful to any pursuing to further their education.
Tammy Arndt is a student at PCC. She says: Our assignment was to do a second blog post and to write a review on a poet. I obliviously choose Emily Fernandez. I feel in love with the way she builds up her metaphors and how she is able to use her trauma and then intertwine both the two together. She shows her masterful craft with such elegance and grace that it makes me want to become a better writer myself. This is a good review and I only have good things to say and look hopeful for.
