Poetry

The poem, “Fairy-tale Logic” by A.E.Stallings, fit so well into the frame of mind that I have been attempting to put myself in for this semester. During our first assignment, while discussing how to be a good reader I came to the conclusion that I would carry with me a sense of openness, and a completely genuine, limitless approach when reading a story. I would not come into any piece of literature with any preconceptions, and I would see it as it was truly meant to be. I also believe that this is the most difficult when it comes to fairy tales. As adults, or more significantly, as college students, we are submerged by logic, by facts, and by reason. So what better poem for me to have read than a poem about the importance of keeping an open mind, and immersing yourself in a world of dragons and invisible cloaks?

http://www.layoutsparks.com/pictures/nature-fairy-0

At the beginning of the second stanza, Stallings write, “You have to fight with magic. You have to believe.” (Stallings 9) In all honesty, I don’t believe that he was writing this poem in an attempt to make his readers “better readers”. He was simply painting a picture of fairy tales throughout time. He was portraying how impossible the tasks are in a fairy tale, and how the only way to be successful in the end, is to use the same impossibilities to your benefit. Yet the beautiful thing about poetry is that everyone interprets it differently. My own personal interpretation of this poem was to just let it go. Go with the impractical, believe that anything is achievable and you will be triumphant. I mean really, if you can, “Marry a monster. Hand over your first born son.” (Stallings 14), than you can pretty much do anything right? 

Here is a great blog post about the importance of continuing to believe in fairy tales throughout your life. While there's a fine line, I think that keeping this king of upbeat mentality is rewarding. Especially if you have children!