Orientation
parents carry gift bags into the dining hall
and discuss enhanced menu options
while their children play games at campus sites
in my alcove I ponder ways my students can translate
their cultural capital into an honest paycheck
13 thoughts on "Orientation"
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Excellent! Love the understanding shown with “cultural capital” and the hint of weary cynicism from the speaker.
Alcove is my new word of the day haha
Nice poem
This poem is a great “orientation” and it asks us to reorient our perspective around higher education. It’s intriguing.
Nice one, Gaby! It has the shape of an ancient Chinese poem but is so contemporary, (I’ve been reading a lot of Chinese poetry — 700-1700 timespan.)
Great word choice with “alcove “- it has such safe, wombish nuances yet is not completely closed off. I love that you worry about your students and the role of higher education in their lives. “Cultural capital” melted my poetic heart!!
“cultural capital” = perfection!
Much better said than “ROI.”
Wonderful and wise.
oh this is good
“translate/their cultural capital into an honest paycheck” Some friends and I were talking about this being the transaction of higher education more than people recognize. A lot offered in a very concise piece.
Love the title and how it is elaborated in the poem.
acute and concise ✨ oh how a paycheck has become the bottom line
Reminded me of when I took my daughter many years ago to her orientation at UArts in Philly. Then, getting “paychecks”weren’t part of a curriculum in vocal jazz! Amazing she actually does make a living singing jazz and other genres in Louisville! I like how you show how the folks involved At orientation have very different priorities!