MoodBoard

Caspian Von Lattorff ‘26

A piece to honor the different realms I take inspiration from.

To Write a Poem it Takes Forgiveness

To Write A Poem, It Takes Forgiveness. 

It takes memory,  remembering childhood and  trauma to build sympathy. 

It takes the detailed images of plastic ponies  and crayon butterflies on walls washed with Clorox wipes. To write a poem, it takes the memory 

of bittersweet moments —the father he’ll never be, leaving on a plane to the west coast, not east— childhood trauma to build sympathy. 

It takes wishes for reverie,  dreams of searching for sea glass and shards of shared seconds. To write a poem, it takes the memory 

of piercing resentment for leaving a single mother in Miami, while he apologizes over sweet ice cream on boardwalks. But, guilt is necessary to build sympathy 

and forgiveness, rising like the sun over Swiss peaks. It takes hikes up frozen mountains hand in hand with trauma to forgive. Through a poem it takes memory and acceptance to build sympathy and rekindle family.

Tatum White 25’

This piece is a reflection on my relationship with my father. It reflects resentment I had around his past actions, but ultimately forgiveness was more powerful than anger. This poem is also a play on a villanelle, so while writing, I had to keep in mind the repetitive nature of the poetic form.