Blog #10 Why did I choose this topic and will it have an impact on society?
Fatima Muhammad April
13, 2020
Dr. Nelson ENG
5002
Blog #10
Why did I choose this topic and will it have an impact on society?
My research
question: “When offered as a therapeutic tool, can writing poetry uplift,
encourage and rejuvenate the single mother?
When we were given this
assignment, my first thought was to do a project centered on poetry. I write poetry. I consider myself a thriving poet. Then I thought, “How can I make the poetry
useful?” I wanted the words to have a
purpose. I started writing poetry when I
was in the seventh grade, if I remember correctly. I have always loved to read and write poetry.
And during that time in my life I wrote poetry simply because I loved it. But as I grow older writing had a different
purpose for me. Writing became my tool
used to express myself. I remember when
I was in the 7th or 8th grade, I read a poetry book
titled, “The Me Nobody Knows.” It was a
collect of poems written by some young students from New York. I can’t remember how I came across this book,
but I do remember the impression that it left on me. The young poets wrote about their lives, and
most of the poems were about the hardships in their lives. I remember thinking how good they must have
felt to be able to express themselves and then see their words published in a
book. At that time I did not know the
word, “therapeutic.” But now I look back
and I’m sure that the whole process was therapeutic for those young
writers. At that point in my life,
poetry became therapeutic for me. My
poetry is positive and triumph. Even if
I write a poem that begins with a sad tone, I make my best effort to find the
good in the situation and end the poem on a positive note.
So back to my question, “How
can I make the poetry useful?” As I contemplated,
I remembered my work as a substitute teacher.
For many years I fulfilled the role of a substitute teacher and I had
the pleasure and the challenge of working with autistic students. The students functioned on different levels. They communicated and expressed themselves in
different ways. Some students were
verbal communicators and some were non-verbal communicators. Also, they had different levels of emotional
expressions. I thought that maybe I could use poetry as a tool
to bring balance to the autistic students.
And that would be a way of making poetry useful. However, I am not sure if I can have access
to the students.
Then I move on to a
topic that is close to my heart. And
that is, “single motherhood.” I thought
about how poetry is, and has been a creative, therapeutic tool that makes me
feel go about me. Women become single
mothers for many different reasons. Too
often she is looked upon in a negative way because of the hardships that she
endures. So thought, I would love to
conduct research on how poetry can be therapeutic for the single mother. A strong community is established from a
strong family. The nuclear family is usually
the model family. However, with so many
societal changes the model family has a new look. And more and more single mothers are
successful at raising their children.
Never-the-less, single mothers need an outlet
to find their voice and express themselves.
I chose this topic because, I, too am a single mother. This research will give me an opportunity to
share my experiences with other single mothers.
We can learn how to use poetry in a therapeutic manner. And
for those that already have experienced poetry in this way, well they can share
their skills with other women who may not be confident in opening up. I am sure that this research and project will
have a positive and powerful impact on the single mothers and on the community.
The
poems written by the single mothers will create a different understanding of their
lives. Instead of some people having a negative
outlook towards single mothers, I believe society will develop an appreciation
for the single mother after they read the poems.
Comments
Post a Comment