By Andrew Beaudoin
Creativity + Social Change
University of Connecticut
Community is as what community does
It’s where I am and where I was
It can be solid or it can be symbolic
But making it your own, now that is the trick
It's neither here nor there
Neither abundant or rare
Something independent
Or something you share
It is what you make it
It is what you feel
Make it your own
Then it will be real
This is a quick poem that I wrote, now some can criticize the lack of poetic figures, like metaphors, symbols, in-depth language, etc. But to me, it gets the point across in an easy way. I wrote it very quickly because I like to use the first ideas that come to my head, exactly how they arrive. Otherwise, you start changing things and it ends up nothing how you intended. I believe to always go with your first instinct because it shows what you truly feel. Basically, this poem describes community as a constant personal change. The first stanza explains and basically says: Community is everywhere you are, and everywhere you have been. It was the house/city I grew up in, all the schools I attended, and where I live and what I’m doing right now. And within these communities, it's up to you to make it your own. By this, I don’t mean change, because you can't physically change the community, but you can change and make the experience. For example, you can't change the city you grew up in, but the way you lived in it, the way you explored it, etc., can make it personal to yourself.
The second verse is an extension of this first. It is basically saying: It is constantly changing and you may be within a community for a long time, or a short time, but there will always be more than one ... and, most times, it doesn’t last forever. For example, my school communities have changed, as right now I am a member of the UConn community, but I won't be forever once I graduate. In addition, what I mean by it being independent or something you share, is that it is also an extension of how you experience the community. If you keep to yourself and don’t explore and make it a unique experience, you will fall under the independent category. But if you explore, meet people, work together for new ideas and change, the community is thus shared. It is basically being by yourself and independent versus experiencing it with the other people around you within the same community.
The last stanza basically bring these ideas together. It's very easy to read -- simple and understandable. Exactly what a community should be to you. It essentially is what you make it, just like life; life is what you make of it. Same thing for your community -- if you ignore it and do not care and treat it as a place you just “live” in or “work” in, etc., then it will be a really boring and bland place to be. Where as if you make the best of it and live in it exactly how you want to, it will be exciting and you will love everything about it. Life is your own choice. You choose the path you wish to walk, and you choose the community you are a part of. Because you have control over what community you wish to join, you should join one you will be happy with and thus you will do everything within it 100% and you can essentially call it you own. Within these concepts is "change," as well. Community, again, is constantly changing and some may last longer than others; and most aren’t forever. Because of this, you can’t just sit on it and expect it to some and be a great place.
Moral of the poem -- and the moral of community itself, just like life -- it is what you make it.
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The statement you make about changing the experience, not the community is very insightful. Anyone can change their experience, experience is based on the individual. This line gives us each a purpose and place in our community and allows us the ability to make it our own. Simple is better sometimes and just as powerful as complex. I've always preferred simple. It doesn't exclude anyone. After all you can't have a discussion if you're the only one who understands what you're saying. Community has a purpose of inclusion. Simple widens the borders of that community and allows for more people to join. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI have several comments. I agree that your first thoughts may be most relevant but I do not agree that reviewing these thoughts may change what you think. In fact your explanation of the poem did not change anything it just elaborated on your initial thoughts. I would suggest that you review your poem and revise it so that it contains what you have to say without an explanation.
ReplyDeleteWhat I read is that you feel that one is always part of a community. You can then participate in the community or be independent. Finally you suggest to get the most of your community you should contribute to it and influence it. Good message.