A Triptych Look Behind the Curtain
by Alicia Charron
Bowling Green State University
Alicia Charron is a junior studying Creative Writing at Bowling Green State University. She expects to graduate in December of 2023. She is an anxiety-riddled female with a myriad of other neuro-issues. Her writing strives to be more inclusive and descriptive of the neurodivergent community.
a triptych look behind the curtain
The childhood feeling filtered through
memories of being invincible so many times that
nothing in mother’s eyes remain dry signs of love like
father’s presence - an empty home
as he lays there feeling in need of
a ghost invisible a friend
Interview with the Author
What pieces inspired you to start writing poetry?
I first really got interested in writing poetry after being exposed to Ada Limon. Specifically, The Leash and Before.
What theme do you find yourself constantly writing about in your works?
My poetry often finds a thematic home in identity and rebirth. My work frequently revolves around a before and after, much like the work of Ada Limon that first got me into writing poetry. Only, while Limon often favors the past, I write about breaking free from the past, whether that is from family, from toxic situations, or even from a version of yourself that you don't want to be anymore.
What do you think are important elements in thought provoking poems?
For me, a thought-provoking poem is one that doesn't tell you everything, at least, not in the way the reader is expecting to be told. As always, every punctuation, every line break, every word has purpose. In reality, these decisions should feel natural to both the poet and the reader. Neither will necessarily notice the impact right away because the meaning of a poem exists outside of the world of words. A poem should be felt more than it should be written or read. A poem is thought-provoking to the reader if it is thought-provoking for the writer.
What role do you think poetry has on our society today?
Poetry is a means of learning the self, whether you are reading it, writing it, or both. The very essence of poetry is trying to make sense of ourselves and the world around us. Poetry communicates that which we cannot put into words. Every issue comes from misunderstandings and poetry's roots are in trying to create understanding. The world needs poetry because the world is poetic.