Pedagogy Forum, week 2

I am really enjoying The Triggering Town. The first three chapters clarified the early process of writing poetry. I find it refreshing that Hugo makes an art that is abstract and difficult to define, a seemingly attainable craft for anyone to enjoy. He explains how to write by explaining how not to. As poetry is a creative endeavor, it makes sense that to get to truth you have to be trying to find something else. By creating an imaginary town one can always attain a fresh perspective. The trick is, as Hugo explains, to nurture an emotional connection to your creation and let words do the driving.
    Chapter 6 also struck me because it enlightened me in terms of the purpose of poetry. Hugo's story about  his high school classmate confessing his encounter with a whorehouse in the 1940s really spoke to the value of the art. Hugo's teacher applauds the boy for his candidness in a time when most teachers would have kicked him out of school. God knows what that did for the boy's confidence and faith in the expression of himself. Hugo really sums up the value of creative writing in the following quote: "You may ridicule the affectionate way he takes that day through a life drab enough to need it, but please stay the hell away from me" (64). Here, Hugo is discussing the feeling of satisfaction one might take from the creation of a quality piece of writing and how he might cherish it throughout a lifetime. This reflection makes me realize the power we can give to students as teachers.