DIALOGUE III: Reflections & Questions
Reflections on DIALOGUE III from Start at Belonging
Sam
The conundrum of any system is to cater to needs, as an educator, I have a sense of the challenge that presents. Any system needs firm ground (the cuboids) to function from, but this security leaves little room for dealing with the complexities of public health. The grid-like image here represents both existing linear systems and directions. It is both compass-like and net-like, it guides you and snares you.
For the traveler it is both enabling and disabling. I wanted to reflect these ideas in the imagery. The figure at the top of the page, with its reaching shadow, is reflective of the cover. It is my attempt at trying to share my understanding of what it might be like to have a condition that you are keeping up with as it reaches and takes you to an emotional state you haven’t been to before.
QUESTION PROMPTS
How does the speaker’s perspective on movement change throughout the poem? Have you experienced moments where action felt more important than direction?
The dialogue explores the challenge of moving forward despite apathy and illness. What are some obstacles—internal or external—that have shaped your own journey?
The imagery shifts between personal experience and landscape. How do you interpret the idea of the speaker becoming “a spirited landscape”?
The dialogue suggests that community is found in shared struggles and simple gestures. How do you see connection and isolation represented in both the poem and the illustration?
The final stanza shifts away from direction and instead emphasizes the act of stepping forward. How does this message resonate with your own experiences of uncertainty or perseverance?
