Author: Cassidy

My found poem: ( picture will not upload)

Friends break up, friends get married.

Strangers get born, strangers get buried.

But I,

I’m right where you left me.

I, I stayed there

Dust collected.

Find

Perspective, 

They say,

Time went on for everybody else.

She won’t know it.

I felt the moment stop

Left,

me

I created my found poem through the use of lyrics from the song “ right where you left
me”, by singer and songwriter Taylor Swift. Taylor swift is known for her authentic, relatable, and artistically inclined song writing. The first time I listened to this piece of hers, it did not resonate with me. Then, years later I came across it again and it had transformed into a song that described my mental state due to the result of a hardship that impacted me significantly. A Lot of Taylors music is like this, it takes a few listens to intercept and make sense of what she is attempting to relay to her audience because her phasing is poetic in a sense. Creating this found poem revealed the the beauty of art to me. Its’ meaning can change depending on the situation or perspective in which it is experienced. The song is about being left by a loved one. She doesn’t specify whether it is a lover or friends but can fit into both of those categories. She uses metaphors such as, “ Friends breakup, friends get married. Strangers get born and strangers get buried”, to emphasize the idea that nothing is permanent. This song speaks to the difficulty and hurt of accepting this
concept that nothing lasts forever, really is. She wrote phases like, “ I am right where you left me” and “ Everyone moved on, I stayed there.” She is saying that in her subconscious she stayed in that relationship even though it had left her, she did not detach from it. This song is a bit depressing and dwells on being lonely and the victim. In creating a found poem with her lyrics from this song, I decided to create a positive twist to the story line. I pulled words and phrases that are relevant to the original piece and ended my found poem with, “ I felt the moment stop. Left. Me.” The direction I was going with this was the beauty of that moment when one finally lets go and psychology detaches from a period of their life that no longer serves them. She felt the moment stop, and then realizes all that is left is her or in the point of view the piece is written in, “me”. The moment in realizing that it is a positive thing that she is still standing and now can blossom into an even better version of
herself, my found poem is meant to embarrass loneliness and turn the mindset of being a victim to embracing self worth and freedom.
Original Piece:
“Right where you left me”
Song by Taylor Swift
Friends break up, friends get married
Strangers get born, strangers get buried
Trends change, rumors fly through new skies
But I’m right where you left me
Matches burn after the other
Pages turn and stick to each other
Wages earned and lessons learned
But I, I’m right where you left me
Help, I’m still at the restaurant
Still sitting in a corner I haunt
Cross-legged in the dim light
They say, “What a sad sight”
I, I swear you could hear a hair pin drop
Right when I felt the moment stop
Glass shattered on the white cloth
Everybody moved on
I, I stayed there
Dust collected on my pinned-up hair
They expected me to find somewhere
Some perspective, but I sat and stared
Right where you left me
You left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever
You left me, you left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever
Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?
Time went on for everybody else, she won’t know it
She’s still 23 inside her fantasy
How it was supposed to be
Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?
Break-ups happen every day, you don’t have to lose it
She’s still 23 inside her fantasy
And you’re sitting in front of me
At the restaurant, when I was still the one you want
Cross-legged in the dim light, everything was just right
I, I could feel the mascara run
You told me that you met someone
Glass shattered on the white cloth
Everybody moved on
Help, I’m still at the restaurant
Still sitting in a corner I haunt
Cross-legged in the dim light
They say, “What a sad sight”
I, I stayed there
Dust collected on my pinned-up hair
I’m sure that you got a wife out there
Kids and Christmas, but I’m unaware
‘Cause I’m right where
I cause no harm, mind my business
If our love died young, I can’t bear witness
And it’s been so long
But if you ever think you got it wrong
I’m right where you left me
You left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever
You left me
You left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever

Throughout the beginning half of this section, (p.56-60 ) of this section of Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, I noticed an emphasis on how individualism can be utilized in coping with micro aggression. According to the Oxford Dictionary, Individualism is defined as, “ the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant.” Rankine was broad and general in her wording, so that the reader can apply these phrases in cases of micro aggression or in general life scenarios in regards to dealing with people. Rankine is pushing the idea that we are all individuals with our own visions and aspirations in life, a quote from page 57 reads, “The destination is illusory. You raise your lids. No one else is seeking.”  The way in which I interpreted this is that no one else is paying any mind to your final destination, that is simply between yourself and obstacles within the universe. When we are focused on our own path, others actions should not have a strong impact on our well being. On page 60,  Rankine writes, ​​”If you let in the excess emotion you will recall the Atlantic Ocean breaking on our heads.”  This indicates that letting outside words and opinions of others (possibly micro aggression) ignite excessive emotions within you, that it will be damaging. I interpreted this section of literature as emphasizing the importance of understanding that no one is thinking about your insecurities and issues except for yourself, and that our thoughts are our own demons at times. If we internalize others’ actions, it will be very difficult to achieve happiness. The security of self in absence of others’ energy is necessary so that when microaggression occurs, one is able to cope with it and move onward without an emotional setback. Another outlook that Rankine shared was how one’s relationship with the past, “The past is a life sentence, a blunt instrument aimed at tomorrow (59).” Claiming the past is significant and a roadmap for the future of your life. This is a different take to this concept as we often hear people say let go of the past it is over and done with. Rankine is saying to use the past as a road map for your future. This section contained a lot of insightful phrases that I read as advice or a guide to emotionally get through microaggression as well as life in general.

A literary strategy that occurs throughout the piece is contradictory statements. I believe Rankine incorporated opposite ideas within singular sentences in attempts to have the reader form their own opinion on the specific situation. For example, when describing a scenario that takes place in the gym, page 65 read,  “ you do go to the gym and run in place, an entire hour running, just you and your body running off each undesired desired encounter.” The use of the words “undesired ” and”desired ” are placed next to each other which initially confused me and being completely honest still does confuse me. I think this technique brings attention to contradictory thoughts we have in our minds, sometimes we want things and later regret actions taken due to those desires. When referring to cases of microaggression, Rankine says, “Each time it begins in the same way, it doesn’t begin the same way, each time it begins it’s the same. (89)” This quote led me to believe that different perspectives are being displayed in regards to incidences of microaggression. Some believe that every time it begins the same but others may believe that each case is unique and starts off differently. On page 84 a scenario of highschool boys getting into a physical altercation over what I assume is race due to the context of the book. The following page, (85) opens with, “Boys will be boys being boys feeling their capacity heaving butting heads righting their wrongs in the violence…..” This relates to the idea of individualism as a horrific incident including violence and fist punching but Rankine takes the casual approach when reflecting on the situation by saying boys will be boys. This can apply to people. people will be people, harse and many times unforgiving but we shall move forward with confidence in our own strong being. 

This section of literature was intense and a lot to digest in my opinion in regards to navigating through complex worded sentences that contradict each other at times. I found Rankines writing style interesting in that this section took a more of an  advisory approach compared to the rest of the reading so far. Advice was given through complex phrases that were written for interpretation while educating the reader about microaggression as well. This approach brought awareness to microaggression while shedding light on the significance of being secure as an individual rather than giving outside elements the power to alter our well being.

Citations

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014. 

Oxford Learner’s dictionaries: 

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you interpret the section discussed as advise regarding the significance of individualism as well?

1. How do you understand the Rankines contradictory words being places next to each other within sentences?

Hello! My name is Cassidy Solina, I am a sophomore here. I am from East Patchogue New York which is on Long Island. I transferred here this fall from Flagler College in Florida after my freshman year there. I love to sing, spend time in nature, write poetry, and play sports/ go on runs. Looking forward to meeting and working with all fo you!!