A Chinese Bowl - Poem Resonse 7

Wowzers. I read this poem... easily 10 times. Still, the intense metaphors, sad lines, and reflective thought made my mood kind of gloomy. I really really liked how the author incorporated lines in the poem that clearly reflect specific childhood memories. For example, she talks about how the bowl from a thrift store was old, chipped, and had some faded painting, yet it was the symbol of childhood. Also, the scene where her dad is writing some document on the desk, while she is writing some story, thinking she should be happy. Yet, for me, the general outlook on those lines was kind of nostalgic and sad because it talks about a lock box type of thing that holds all these terrible memories. "Black list," "Party Business," "Drink," "Mother's Death" all connect negative things. This made me reflect and kind of literally think about what has been locked away that no longer allows me to be happy. I feel fortunate in the fact that I am a genuinely happy person. I feel like my lock box fills up with events, but those events slowly crumble away with the slightest erosion of happy memories. I might be too young to have dramatic events that hinder my absolute happiness, like others might, but I also feel that people must find a way to- not necessarily go to a shrink and drastically change his or her life- move past limiting factors. Everyone should be given the opportunity to be happy. Great poem! :)
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