Myself in Three
Nolan C.
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These three poems trace my journey of self-understanding and explore themes of generational trauma, introspection, and personal struggle. To begin to understand myself, I first had to reflect on the detrimental burden I inherited from my ancestors. I wrote “The Weight of the Jige” to make sense of this generational trauma and seek to liberate myself from its grasp. Next, I engaged in philosophical introspection, attempting to deepen my understanding of my mind’s complexities. I wrote “The Curvatures of My Mind” to capture an ineffable moment when I was on the brink of self-discovery. Finally, through writing “E is for End,” which centers on a boy who is ostracized by society, I reflected on deep feelings of social isolation I experienced growing up. I wrote “E is for End” using “e” as the only vowel, drawing inspiration from Cathy Park Hong’s “Ballad in A,” which only uses the vowel “a.”
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Creativity means allowing my original thoughts and raw emotions to take full control of the page. Creativity is the truest form of self-expression, and I find creative writing to be incredibly cathartic. It allows me to impart my unique human experience onto my reader, hopefully evoking emotion and stimulating reflection.
