Poet Mr. Garren Smalls

Poetry can sometimes sound like a foreign language, but whats fascinating is if you read deeply into poems they can hold so many meanings and so many truths. Poetry can pose many questions about love and about life. As Mr. Smalls was reading poetry to us and with the discussion following each poem I began to ponder a few questions that he posed; can love conquer hate? What does love really require? Are we going to be able to come together and grow as human beings? 

In both love and life, I think it will be difficult for all humans to come together as one for the better of society. For example, we have not come together as one to support each other in marriage opportunities. We also have not come together in creating a less judgmental society or accepting individual differences. There is so much in our world that is unjust and divided that its hard to be optimistic that we could even come together as whole. 

I don't think as a whole love can conquer hate. Ideally, it would have to be a perfect world for this to be true. It saddens me that there is so much hatred in our world. For example, the recent Boston Bombings that killed three and wound over a hundred people was a horrific act that shows no love for one another or our society. 

In class we focus on the love that two people share as well as the desire that coincides with living, but we don't look in depth to love in a broader aspect. Can we love our earth, our neighborhood, our school? To answer this, I believe we can love everything--I feel that people make a choice not to love the things in their life. Mr. Smalls titled his talk "Fires that dare to ignite" which he later expressed that this meant that to love requires courage and commitment to whatever it is that you love. Toning in to what Mr. Smalls had to say, made me understand the importance and the courage to commit to your own life as well. 

We have talked frequently on finding love in another because of what we lack in ourselves. If we our lucky enough to find that person to fill those voids we are more whole, more complete. I believe that we need to commit to our own life first, focus on desires and well being before we try and invest that time into another person. I do believe that we need to love ourselves before we love another. 

To keep our love strong, regardless of who it is with (i.e, friends, partner, family) we need to communicate. We need to do more than just talk, we need to listen. Mr. Smalls said that we often talk, but we don't really listen to what the other person is saying which ultimately leads to love lost. Is it possible to master the art of communicating? 

I know my thoughts are scattered, but its because so much was going through my mind when Mr. Smalls was reading the poetry. I had a hard time answering some of the questions I found myself asking in my head or being asked. I will definitely look more into Mr. Smalls work because it gets my gears in my head cranking. Overall, his presentation was really enjoyable.