!

!

1. No!Place!like!Home!

2. Batman!Underwear!

3. Another!Moment!

4. The!Unneeded!Breeze!

5. Football!

6. Editor!

7. Indiana!Spring!

8. Dear!Future!Employer!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

9. Ending!of!one,!beginning!of!sun!

10. Graduation!

11. Dear!Christopher!Nolan!

12. Ode!to!the!Brute!

13. Almost!There!

14. Education!ReUdefined!

15. A!sacrifice!to!save!my!soul!

16. Pizza!

17. Dear!Back!Home!

18. LA!Bound!

!

!

Table!of!Contents!

! i!

Dear!reader!and!new!best!friend,!

!

! When!I!started!this!class!I!had!very!little!experience!with!poetry.!My!very!

limited!experience!in!the!basic!readings!you!are!issued!through!high!school!(your!

Shakespeare!and!others).!!What!I!lacked!in!poetry,!I!had!more!than!made!up!for!in!

fiction!and!screen!writing.!I!had!spent!the!first!three!years!at!Ball!State!taking!

creative,!script,!and!fiction!writing!to!expand!on!my!creativity!and!collections!of!

work.!It!wasn’t!until!my!senior!year!I!decided!to!change!it!up!a!bit!and!take!a!poetry!

class.!I!figured!it!would!be!more!laid!back!and!less!writing.!Boy!was!I!wrong!!(Hence!

the!book!of!18!poems)!That!being!said,!I!regret!nothing!!!

! This!class!has!given!me!a!whole!new!perspective!on!poetry!and!I!feel!my!

work!has!come!a!long!way.!From!my!first!poems!I!focused!heavily!on!simple!rhyme!

structure!and!kept!it!lighthearted.!As!we!wrote!more!I!feel!my!work!has!matured!

greatly!allowing!me!to!avoid!having!to!rhyme,!and!focusing!more!on!message!and!

depth.!!

! I!feel!the!overall!theme!of!my!chapbook!is!the!evolution,!of!not!just!my!work,!

but!also!my!life!itself.!!For!examples!poems!like!“Batman!Underwear”!and!“The!

Unneeded!Breeze”!are!fun!poems!about!my!childhood!shenanigans.!!They!are!very!

fast!paced,!goofy!and!real!stories.!On!the!other!hand!poems!such!as!“LA!Bound”!and!

“A!Sacrifice!to!Save!my!Soul”!deal!with!my!hopes,!dreams,!and!struggles.!!

I!have!found!that!poetry!has!been!a!great!outlet!to!talk!about!my!life!and!

personal!things!without!embarrassment!or!stress.!It!allows!me!to!put!down!on!

paper!specific!stories!told!in!the!emotion!that!I!felt.!I!am!even!able!to!share!my!work!

! ii!

and!not!worry!about!sharing!this!side!of!me,!because!poetry!is!such!an!art!form!

rather!than!a!confession.!!

For!my!collection!my!poems!I!used!a!lot!of!free!verse!poetry,!mainly!because!I!

never!felt!I!was!a!good!enough!poet!to!attempt!any!real!structure!(outside!of!a!

haiku).!The!elements!I!enjoyed!using!the!most!were!obscure!line!structures!to!create!

powerful!points!and!lines!stand!out!more.!This!style!is!used!heavily!in!Deulen’s!work!

and!I!was!a!big!fan!of!how!masterful!she!was!at!line!structure!and!placement.!When!

we!finished!reading!Deulen’s!book!Lovely'Asunder!I!immediately!went!through!my!

work!and!did!some!line!revisions!to!attempt!to!create!something!just!as!powerful.!

Another!writer!I!attempted!to!emulate!was!Wicker.!His!book!Maybe'the'Saddest'

Thing!was!probably!my!favorite!collection!of!poems!we!read.!Wicker!used!a!lot!of!

popRculture!references!that!I!could!relate!to!and!really!loved.!Another!element!

Wicker!used!was!italics!to!create!a!second!voice!in!his!work.!I!attempted!to!try!and!

bring!this!element!into!my!work!to!almost!create!a!conversation!with!myself.!I!often!

question!my!own!decisions!in!life,!why!not!within!my!work.!I!also!have!used!the!

letter!format!in!my!chapbook,!this!was!inspired!by!Amy!Newman’s!book!Dear'Editor'

where!she!uses!the!letter!style!poem!to!bring!together!a!collection!of!letters!to!her!

editor!in!hopes!of!being!published.!!

I!would!say!that!from!beginning!to!end!in!this!class!I!have!evolved!greatly!in!

my!work!with!poetry.!Going!from!a!novice!with!barely!any!experience!to!being!a!

novice!with!more!experience,!and!I!feel!my!work!in!this!book!reflects!that.!While!I!

am!not!the!best,!or!even!close!to!it,!I!still!feel!my!work!can!entertain!and!I!hope!it!

does!just!that.!

!

! 1!

!!!!

No#Place#like#Home#!

Found!on!conservatism.!Ordained!to!judge.!Reluctant!to!change.!Tough!to!get!along!with.!!We!ignore!and!move!on.! !Acceptance!limited.!You!can!pay!your!way.!Never!wavering.!Every!staying.!! !

!

! 2!

!!!!

Batman#Underwear#!

Saturday!morning,!early!to!rise!first!is!cereal,!sugary!and!sweet!

plant!myself!inches!from!the!screen!!

Colors!flash,!simply!mesmerized!Heroes!saving!the!city,!and!!Pokemon!attempting!to!catch!

!Spoon!misses!my!mouth,!Eyes!fixated!on!the!prize!

Day!melts!to!noon,!unyielding!!

Mother!wakes,!to!find!me!!In!my!spot,!sees!the!milk!!Dripping!from!my!chin!

!Tells!me!I’ll!go!blind,!Just!like!my!sister,!if!

I!don’t!put!on!some!pants.!!! !

!

! 3!

!!!Another#Moment#

!The!wraiths!of!night!follow!full!of!hatred,!Tensions!high,!the!moment!mocked!I!stand!strong,!while!sitting!jaded.!!Fantasies!fly,!face!to!screen!controller!on!hand,!!!mind!escaped,!eyes!gleamed.!!! !Work!piled,!pushed!away!responsibility!ignored,!she!waits,!forever!stayed.!!Pressing!forward,!reality!gone!devoted!to!the!wrong!one,!she!gives!up!and!moves!on.!!Moments!missed!and!shunned!When!it!comes!again,!!I’ll!choose!the!right!one.!!!! !

!

! 4!

! !!

The#Unneeded#Breeze##

It!was!the!first!day!of!daycare.!New!faces,!all!watching!I!am!different,!strange,!and!interesting.!Where!I!go,!eyes!follow!with!whispers!of!“Who!is!that?”!I!sit!in!the!corner!by!myself,!too!afraid!to!play.!Groups!of!kids!gather!around!Legos,!the!colors!scattered!on!a!rug!lined!with!roads,!toys!with!missing!arms,!!fighting!epic!battles!upon!dollhouse!room!tops.!I!wish!to!join,!but!still!I!remain.!!“Zachary!come!play!”!a!soft!voice!beacons!me,!I!stand!quickly,!ready!to!run…!but!too!soon,!catching!my!pants!on!a!rung.!Eyes!shocked,!wide!with!terror.!Ripped!down,!!batman!undies!shown.!As!quick!as!I!stood,!I!am!to!sit.!And!there!I!remained!for!hours,!until!it!was!time!for!me!to!go.!Walking!only!in!angles,!in!hopes!I!don’t!get!exposed.!!!! !

!

! 5!

!! !!!!

Football#Sundays!spent!with!family,!!Gathered!around!the!tv.!with!screams!of!joy!and!more!of!anger,!missed!catches!and!big!tackles.!!Every!moment!intense,!my!father!on!the!edge!!of!his!seat.!As!Peyton!heads!under!center,!!we!lean!waiting!for!the!big!play.!One!bad!play!and!a!cussing!fit!ensues,!followed!closely!by!apologizes,!and!slumps!into!our!seats.!Last!minute!wins!define!the!Luck!of!our!season.!Long!after!the!game!and!season!is!gone,!we!discuss!the!past!and!future!of!what!is!to!come.!No!matter!the!time!or!day,!we!can!always!talk!shop!and!look!forward!to!Sunday.!!!!! !

!

! 6!

###

Editor!Eight!years!of!my!life!Spent!through!a!lens.!Shooting!and!piecing!scenes!from!a!dream,!typed!to!paper!and!hopes!of!coming!true.!Always!envision!more,!never!satisfied,!

my!drive!that!makes!me!great!and!!pushes!for!perfection.!!

Syncing!video!to!sound,!and!sound!to!beat.!

We!do!our!best!to!create!the!best!scene.!!! !

!

! 7!

!!Indiana#Spring#!Indiana,!a!state!that!only!recognizes!two!seasons.!Too!damn!hot,!and!too!damn!cold.!Those!awkward!!transitions!that!we!call!fall!and!spring,!the!only!difference!lying!in!the!color!of!the!leaves.!As!the!snow!melts!we!hope!the!heat!follows.!Random!days!dancing!in!the!60s,!nothing!but!a!tease!for!what!is!too!come,!but!put!off!too!long.!We!remain!hopeful,!sleeves!short,!shades!pulled!basking!!in!the!warm!suns!light,!while!our!eyes!water!from!the!!biting!wind!ripping!the!tears!free.!Lips!crack!and!skin!bumps!a!million!brail!messages!demanding!protection.!!And!when!the!heat!final!comes,!giving!salvation!!We!!complain!and!hide,!what!a!beautiful!day!to!stay!inside.!!!! !

!

! 8!

!!!!Dear#Future#Employer!–!!! I!am!writing!to!let!you!know,!I!have!give!up!all!hope.!Pick!a!task!and!it!shall!be!done,!cast!me!aside!as!a!slave!to!the!minimum!wage!and!nothing!more.!All!I!look!is!for!the!chance!to!be!given,!what!I!have!been!denied…!over…and!over.!I!request!the!chance!for,!a!chance.!I!will!do!all!it!takes!for!you!to!allow!me!to,!allow!myself!to!prove!all!I!am.!Run!mail,!get!coffee,!scrub!the!floor,!or!constantly!kiss!the!ass!in!most!need!of!affection.!I!am!down!on!one!knee,!begging,!pleading,!for!the!mercy!of!the!opportunity!to!show!I!have!earned!this!degree!and!merit!the!chance!to!be,!maybe,!something.!I!know!my!road!is!long!and!the!chances!are!slim,!but!if!I!don’t!try!I!shall!forever!be!cast!in!my!own!shadow!of!doubt!and!shame,!sloth!and!desire!becoming!my!darkest!sins.!Repent!and!set!me!free,!from!this!barren!track!of!misery.!My!confidence!and!hope!is!in!need!of!your!fortification.!!So!please,!!For!your!consideration!!

Zachary Harrison ! !

!

! 9!

!!!!!

Ending#of#one,#beginning#of#Sun#

The!hands!move!slowly,!lethargic!with!no!pace.!15!to!go.!Voices!dulled!and!distance,!I!overt!my!eyes,!hopeful!!avoid!the!gaze!of!its!mocking!face.!Mustn’t!look.!9!to!go.!I!exhale,!anxious.!Only!a!few!moments!until:!long!nights!followed!by!warm!days!wake!when!I!please,!sleep!a!last!resort.!!Day!dreaming!as!the!moments!slip!away,!awaken!to!the!reality!of!the!bell.!As!school!finally!ends,!My!summer!begins.!

!!!!!!!

!!! !

!

! 10!

!

!

!

!

!

!!

Graduation#Moving!on!my!own!

distance!so!far,!all!behind!wonder!what!is!next!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!

! 11!

!!!!!!Dear#Christopher#Nolan,!!Where!do!I!begin?!All!you!have!done,!is!what!I!hope!to!follow.!Movies!with!tenacity,!setting!us!on!the!edge!of!our!seats.!Beautifully!shot!and!masterfully!written,!every!moment!a!scene!not!to!be!missed.!Key!things!cast!nonchalant,!forcing!us!to!watch!again.!Carelessly!overlooked,!purposefully!placed.!All!detail,!ever!so!small,!planned!and!essential.!!All!you!are,!is!what!I!wish!to!be.!!! !

!

! 12!

!!!!!

Ode#to#the#Brute#!

Bullies,!all!the!same.!Clumped!together.!One!mass!of!unguided,!misdirected!hate.!

Poor!kids,!over!weight,!

those!deemed!“different”.!There!is!no!rhyme!or!reason,!to!the!picking.!

All!targets,!waiting!to!be!acquired.!!

Poke!and!prod,!builds!our!character.!Laugh!and!point,!fuels!our!fire.!

Time!passes,!we!callous!and!flourish!–!You!remain!the!same.!

!!! !

!

! 13!

!!

!!!

! ! Almost#There#!

Too!long!have!I!been!gone,!chances!missed!spent!catching!up,!

attempting!to!get!ahead.!Restless!nights!will!be!put!to!bed,!

taking!the!next!few!days!off!to!spend!with!my!mom!and!dad.!

I!should!probably!stay,!I!have!much!to!do.!Midterms!coming!so!soon.!A!paper!to!write,!

quizzes!need!taken,!studying!to!be!had.!Its!no!surprise!20!credit!hours!would!be!this!bad.!

All!worth!it!to!walk!in!May,!!but!that!will!have!to!wait.!

This!weekend!will!be!my!great!escape.!!! !

!

! 14!

!!!!!Education#ReJdefined#

Faded!memories,!either!from!time!or!inebriation.!Nights!spent!late!doing!what!was!put!off!too!long,!and!not!yet!ready!to!turn!off.!Lustful!ventures!!filled!with!excitement!and!breathless!nights.!!Years!spent!finding,!losing!and!understanding!“love”.!Friends,!good!grades,!and!rest.!!A!trio,!only!coming!in!pairs.!Winding!down!too!fast,!as!all!good!things!do.!Reality!setting!in!and!responsibility!in!sight,!unsure!if!I!will!crumble!or!step!up.!!! !

!

! 15!

!!A#sacrifice#to#save#my#Soul#

Lent.!!A!time!to!lose!our!joys.!Good!Catholics!casting!aside,!the!things!we!love.!!Candy,!snacks,!exercise!more!!Selfless!sacrifices!for!ourselves!–!!! !The!questions!I!asked,!that!aren’t!allowed.!!Never!Answered.!Blind!belief,!is!all!they!request.!! !What!shall!I!martyr,!to!prove!my!god!fearing!to!an!all!loving!God?!The!answer!obvious,!what!I!must!give!up.!Lent.!A!sacrifice!to!save!my!Soul.!!! !

!

! 16!

!!Pizza#

! ! !The!treat!I!love!to!hate,!delicious!when!warm,!!and!even!better!when!cold.!My!body!frowns!at!all!the!cheese!and!bread,!my!stomach!growls!for!grease!and!!meats.!I!mustn’t!allow!myself!to!indulge.!The!savoring!flavor!always!tempting,!my!inebriated!mind!never!denying.!The!morning!after,!also!of!guilt!and!shame!of!my!one!night!stand!with!my!Italian!mistress.!!!!! !

!

! 17!

!!!Dear#Back#Home!–!! I!have!never!been!a!homebody,!and!don’t!see!that!changing.!I!feel!guilty!for!being!away!for!so!long,!and!not!thinking!much!of!it.!Its!not!that!I!don’t!love!my!family!or!enjoy!my!times!with!you,!but!when!I!am!away!I!have!so!much!to!do.!Friends,!distractions,!and!just!being!on!my!own.!It!feels!wrong,!not!to!want!to!be!there!more.!I!can’t!bear!to!tell!you!that!while!I!miss!you,!I!don’t!feel!the!need!for!an!effort!to!change.!I!am!eager!to!explore,!travel,!and!tend!not!to!look!back.!But!no!matter!where!I!go!for!how!long,!I!want!to!you!to!know!you!will!always!be!home.!!!! !

!

! 18!

!#LA#Bound#!Everyone!wishes!to!be!famous,!silver!screens!and!golden!dreams.!Me?!Not!so!much.!!To!create!and!make!is!my!fantasy.!!My!ideas!projected!in!a!false!reality,!!for!people!to!watch,!be!moved,!and!entertained.!!So!I!am!LA!bound,!!alone!and!scared.!Willing!to!risk!it!all!!on!an!idea!that!I!too!can!!be!somebody.!!Not!with!my!face!plastered!on!billboards,!!dvd!covers,!and!accepting!awards.!!All!I!am!is!a!name,!following!a!scene,!!a!credit!is!all!I!need.!!