This chapter took me a while to read because I would read one of the poems and then get inspired and write one myself, and this happened a few times. I really liked this section though. This was one of the few chapters where Hirshfield gave us very clear advise to help us with our writing. As Hirshfield says, you need to enter into a threshold in order to write. Sometimes you can write off of personal experience, but one person can only experience so much. If you want to be a really great writer you need to step away and write from beyond the self. You need to connect with the earth and accept that you are no one. This section kind of made me want to leave all my stuff behind and go live in the woods for a month. Too bad we're all under a stay at home order (I'm secretly glad though because I hate bugs and could never live in the woods). Anyway I thought this was a perfect closing chapter for Nine Gates.
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Hi Ella! Great post, I really agree with everything you said. I think most of the messages behind all the chapters we read is that placing yourself outside of your own experiences is a really powerful writing tool. I agree that it was a fitting end to the book!
hi ella!
I felt like this chapter definitely did give concise advice on how to become a better writer and I too felt inspired by what Hirshfield was saying. In terms of stepping away from yourself and becoming vulnerable and open with your readers, I agree on this idea completely. Sometimes we find it hard to be completely honest in our writing because of the fear of others seeing this raw version of yourself, but I feel it is the only way to get your true intended message across.
I also really liked what Hirshfield said about having to not care what other people think of you. You have to take what people said about you but still continue to be you. This can be hard but in poetry you need to be vulnerable sometimes and be completely open with the readers. You can do this by stepping away from yourself and from the constraints of society.