by Kelly Keene The one certainty we know in life is that at some point, it ends. This is a scary thought for many. Even billionaires, with all the wealth and power they possess, cannot thwart death itself. Emily Dickinson, in her poem Because I Could Not Stop For Death paints an image of Death … Continue reading Don’t Stop for Death; An Analysis of Emily Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop For Death”
Essays
Mask Up!; An Analysis of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “We Wear the Mask”
Written by Kelly Keene Public scorn and ridicule can be brutal. Subtle microaggressions might also feel like daggers if you don’t fit in, or are a part of a marginalized group. When we marginalize people, sometimes they adapt by pretending to fit in. Sometimes, that is easier than standing up to the violence of prejudice. … Continue reading Mask Up!; An Analysis of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “We Wear the Mask”
Light’s Dance at Dawn; An Analysis of Alvin Feinman’s Poem “November Sunday Morning”
by Kelly Keene I stayed late at work last week, and it felt like such a grind. Especially now, that the days get darker sooner. My reward was the magnificent November sunset. I got to witness its fiery oranges and pinks it all the way home. Light takes on a life of its own this … Continue reading Light’s Dance at Dawn; An Analysis of Alvin Feinman’s Poem “November Sunday Morning”
A Reckoning of Memory; An Analysis of Indran Amirthanayagam’s “The City, with Elephants”
by Kelly Keene Elephants have incredible memories. They form tight-knit communities, and are even known to mourn their dead, and remember them seasons after they’ve passed. In Indran Amirthanayagam’s poem The City, with Elephants, he uses the image of “the elephants of reckoning” to describe a city with a disconnect between its working and privileged … Continue reading A Reckoning of Memory; An Analysis of Indran Amirthanayagam’s “The City, with Elephants”
A Guiding Star: An Analysis of “To a Star Seen at Twilight” by John Rollin Ridge
By Kelly Keene To a Star Seen at Twilight by John Rollin Ridge is a poem about inspiration. The speaker, a solitary observer, pauses to look at the first star to appear as night begins to fall. Twilight, the last vestige of light before the total dark, blocks out all stars except for the brightest … Continue reading A Guiding Star: An Analysis of “To a Star Seen at Twilight” by John Rollin Ridge
Dear Teaching
July 7, 2025 Dear Teaching, I anticipate you every August, like the high tide sandy shores waiting for the predictable afternoon flooding. You overwhelm me. I plan and prepare as much as I can- too much. But it doesn’t matter. Experience helps me navigate the tides, predict them. And they often still feel so treacherous. … Continue reading Dear Teaching
Girls Love Cars Tu
By Kelly Keene My friend Diba told me that she didn’t believe in saying “I love you,” but she did believe that a man’s footwear was a good judge of character. She would never date a guy in sandals and jeans. At the time, we were in 9th grade, and I couldn’t believe what I … Continue reading Girls Love Cars Tu
Acceptable Petting
By Kelly Keene Paula brought her dog, Stella, to the bar on Saturday. Stella is a rescue. Some sort of chihuahua mix with Dobby ears and an aggressive underbite. I know that her previous owners passed away, and that she and the other dog she had lived with were separated at the shelter. Paula adopted … Continue reading Acceptable Petting
Ambition
By Kelly Keene “You’re ambitious, aren’t you?” He looked down at me, and for a moment, I started to doubt my plan. I had just finished outlining how I would take what I had learned from a year-long teaching fellowship and apply it to my classroom. The fellowship was awesome. Every session we had brought … Continue reading Ambition
Experiences or Relationships; My Response to “Into the Wild”
By Kelly Keene I am reading Into the Wild and loving it. I hated it before when my mom read it and loved it so much that she put quotes from the book up all over our house. Reading it helps me understand my mom so much more. I just finished chapter six, where Chris … Continue reading Experiences or Relationships; My Response to “Into the Wild”
Kelly Keene 