Inside Out Centos

I read the book Inside Out and Back Again. Initially I was a little skeptical about how much I was going to enjoy the book, but I was intrigued about the background of the author. I was curious about how the use of poetry as a vehicle to demonstrate a series of memories. Although I have read similar styles of poetry, rarely is it an entire book depicting a chronological series of events in a child’s life. I was also a bit worried about the effectiveness of poetry when it is supposed to be recollections of a child.

All of the issues I thought I’d have with this book were quickly quelled. The structure of the poetry, although a little rough for a refined adult, was melodic and incredibly accurate for the memories of childhood. The short, burst-like lines forced me to focus on certain aspects of the events she was describing. I ended up really liking this aspect of the poetry style. As I read, I found myself thinking back to school memories from that time period, and the parts I remember were short, almost sporadic descriptions, not unlike how Thanhha Lai created her memories.

Since I am not intending on being a teacher, it is difficult for me to attempt to ponder how I would use a text such as this in a classroom. As an older student who does enjoy writing, I can make only one assumption, and that it is an example of how to use structure as a mode to clarify memories. Perhaps I would, in theory, have the class read sections of the book, analyzing the structure and language, and discuss how that structure affected the way the poems were read. I would have to find other works that complimented this use of poetry. Using that discussion, I would have students construct memories of younger childhood in poetry form. I think this would be a fitting exercise for older children, perhaps 6^th grade plus, or even junior high/high school age kids.

I read my cento in class, but here it is again. All of the lines I drew from my book, and I did retitle it as a new, standalone poem that is unrelated to the original text.

The First Dance

Our lives will twist inside out

            The chant is long,

                        The voice low and sure.

            I love him.

                        I shiver with hope.

We glide

            And I feel

                        That I am floating.

I wanted to play with the line structure a little, to slow down the pacing of the poem. The lines themselves, because of the style of the book, were fast paced, and I wanted to slow it down to match the idea of a dance at a wedding. I actually really like how it turned out.