Dictionary of Storms

Authors

Marci CalabrettaFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Major/Program

Creative Writing

First Advisor's Name

Campbell McGrath

First Advisor's Committee Title

Professor

Second Advisor's Name

Julie Marie Wade

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Assistant Professor

Third Advisor's Name

Vernon Dickson

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Professor

Keywords

poetry, Korea, pearl diver, ocean, grief

Date of Defense

3-5-2014

Abstract

DICTIONARY OF STORMS is a collection of poetry that explores the dynamics of one family through their son’s absence. Using recurring images of skin, water, dragonflies, and pearls, the poems examine distance and absence, wanderlust and filial obligation from different family members’ perspectives. Desires are sloughed off, replaced by new ones, re-cultivated as mythos.

The architecture of many individual poems, and the collection as a whole, are structured by meditative lyricism reminiscent of Li-Young Lee. Robert Hass’s poems and translations serve as a model for articulating both the difficulty and beauty of longing. Personae such as “Admonishing Brother Returns as Chrysanthemum” and “Hungry Brother Returns as Octopus” are influenced by Ai and Louise Glück. In the spirit of Emily Dickinson and John Keats, DICTIONARY OF STORMS reflects upon longing, grief, and desire.

Identifier

FI14040828

Recommended Citation

Calabretta, Marci, "Dictionary of Storms" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1131.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1131