Favoring Progress: ‘Finals’ Post 5/3

Being a writing major, I strive to be expressive through text. Poetry has opened so many creative perspectives previously unbeknownst to me. Though I’m still a novice in the medium, these unessay projects allowed me to research and refine my own vocabulary, flow, and prose. This brings me to my latest project post, The ‘High’ of Toxicity, where I got to create my very own poetic form – inspired by wanting to simplify the loose free verse of Ella Mason and Her Eleven Cats. I don’t think my formula is perfect by any means, but the research and experience were more than enough to see the value in such. Not to mention the literal poem I made using that newly curated form. With all I’ve learned, I feel my poem High Horrors expresses the terrifying oppressive power of eugenic racism/classism and what Mexican Gothic might be suggesting as a solution, well enough at least.

High Horrors

In place of low, horrors are seldom seen

As one’s own strife, discording life and plight,

Veils a fickle mind.

Color becomes opaque with harbored hate

Imposing vague intent, vaulting reason –

Bearing none in mind.

–

The spores residing in High keep status

Of actuality’s gloomed pursuit

To conserve the mind.

Efforts that drown in shallow bleach ripple

For mere moments, just to assume new forms,

To control the mind.

–

Sedated eyes leave no true certainty

And take ignorant pity on mildew –

Breaking a sound mind.

Nemesis to the dark is vivid flames.

Ruin be not of want, but needed blight

To cleanse a lost mind.

The ‘High’ of Toxicity