Trethewey's Mark

I have never really been a fan of poetry. I tried writing poetry and only focused on rhyming so it never really had much meaning. Natasha Trethewey, on the other hand, has changed my view somewhat. The first poem in Native Guard that actually got my attention was "Graveyard Blues." It was actually a poem that I could relate to because I remember being in a similar situation. The poem describes the process of her mother being buried. My uncle's burial was almost like Trethewey's mom's. It reminded me of what Trethewey said at the Fall Poetry and Fiction Festival about people trying to figure out which parts of her life are a part of her work. It is obvious that this poem was a dark time in her life. Her writing contradicts the statement she made at the festival because if she didn't want people to wonder, why write it and publish it? Another poem I found interesting was "What The Body Can Say" because it raised an interesting connection between the body and spirit which is linked by the soul. I enjoyed Trethewey's creativity when reading the references made to God and communion throughout the poem. Overall, I actually enjoyed reading Trethewey's poetry and I'm not a poetry lover.