Journal #3- Summer Jordan

On page 109 in Triggering Towns there is a direct quote that is stated “But no job accounts for the impulse to find and order those bits of yourself that can come out only in the most unguarded moments, in the wildest, most primitive phrases we only shout alone at the mirror”.  This quote is memorable to me because I think it helps the reader to know that it’s not the job that can cause a person to really reflect on themselves and say some of the most vulnerable things they are facing, but it is everything leading up to that job.  Everyone has that “standing in the mirror” moment where one just stands there, thinking some of the deepest things, and those things come from time and experience, not just one job in itself.

One takeaway I have gained from this book is that there are young poets, such as myself, still have so much to learn.  Such as what the right amount of attention a certain matter should be given in a poem.  On page 32, Hugo states that young poets give too much attention to some certain matters.  I think this is a big lesson because focusing too much attention on one matter can break the poem as it can cause the reader to lose interest.  Another takeaway I will take from this book is as creative writers, we are lucky to have so many tools to help us in our writing, such as our vulnerability.  On page 55, Hugo says that as we are vulnerable people, we use that as a protection in our way of life.  This is a good lesson because it can help the reader to know that our vulnerability can help us in our creative writing.

Standing in in the mirror, reflecting internally and externally