Poetry and the GRE

I am going to take a break from a place to muse (until the last week of August). Studying for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) has taken over my life. I have always been a little nervous about my academic abilities. I am not being modest. I am not one of those straight A students who is nervous about getting a B. I like Bs. Bs are my friend. I have always done just what I have to academically--nothing more or less.

In high school I got a 3.0 GPA so that I would be able to maintain lower car insurance rates. In college I got a 2.5 GPA so that I could keep my job as an R.A. It is not that I couldn't have gotten better grades--I just never had any reason to try...until now. So I don't know what I am capable of doing academically. I will find out soon enough.

This is my last year of my MA in Christian Thought at Bethel Seminary and hopefully it will be on to a PhD program in American Literature after that. This is something that I never thought I would do--more school.

When I return to the blogosphere I will post pictures of a recent camping trip that I was on and hopefully share a story (and picture) of the best blanket that I have ever owned. For now I will leave you with a poem that I have written....

I admittedly do not know much about poetry. It is a hobby that I would like to develop. So if any of you reading this do know things about poetry I am always starving for constructive criticism. You can do it publicly with a comment on this blog or email me personally. Don't worry about hurting my feelings (or flattering me). As of this point I am not emotionally attached to my abilities as a poet (at least I don't think I am). The poem is a bit out of season...


I have left my breath
behind as I've walked
for all to see
the strain on my heart--
my lungs can't disguise it.
'Everyone's Welcome'
at the Blue Moon Cafe--
but my feelings
seem to be descending
like this mist--
like the temperature
for that matter.
So why? and why
should I take
the long way--
forgetting you hurt me
seems so much
warmer today.

Will we say
a partial good-bye--
like those ancient swords
in plexi-glass cases
at the Chicago Art Museum?

I should have worn
another jacket.
It is a long, cold
walk to Spring.


Brett Knutson
aka b-nut