Jennifer Grotz: The Window At Night

1. Jennifer Grotz: The Window At Night By: Rylie Moore

2. A Good Poem This poem is different than other poems because it’s recent. It was published two years ago, so the poem’s meaning is still occurring today. The poem is about a social aspect of things more than historical or cultural aspects. Social aspects of a poem are easier to interpret in my opinion. Even though I think this work is good, I also like it. It has meaning, and has happened to me, so I have a very particular bond to this poem. Most of the music I listen to makes absolutely no sense. It’s just people rambling on about pointless things. But in this poem, everything makes sense, and Grotz is talking about important things that are going on in todays society.

3. Behind the poems… Jennifer Grotz was born in 1971 and besides her obvious career, she is also a translator who teaches English and creative writing at the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers and at the University of Rochester, where she is Associate Professor. Grotz is also a contributing Editor for Born Magazine and the Assistant Director of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She grew up all around small towns in Texas but has lived in France and Poland also. Grotz currently lives in Rochester, NY, but spends part of her year in France and Poland for her poetry. She has multiple degrees from Tulane (BA), Indiana (MA/MFA), and Houston University (PhD). She also studied literature at the University of Paris, where she discovered her interests in translating French Poetry.

4. Awards & Accomplishments • 2007: Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award • 2007: Camargo Fellowship, Cassis, Fance • 2007: Fellowship from the Vermont Studio Center • 2007: New Writing Award from the Fellowship of Southern Writers • 2005: Inprint/James Michener Fellowship from the University of Houston • 2004: Texas Institute of Arts and Letters: Natalie Ornish Poetry Prize for Best First Book • 2004: Individual Artist Grant from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston • 2003: American Translators Association, Student Translation Award • 2002: Katherine BakelessNason Poetry Prize • 2002: Prague Summer Program Fellowship in Poetry • 2001: Individual Artist Fellowship from the Oregon Arts Commission • 1997: Fellowship in Poetry from Literary Arts, Inc.

5. What Happened in 2011? • Historically: America ended war in Iraq, there was an earthquake in Japan and radiation leaked, Osama and Gadhafi were killed. • Culturally: The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. • Socially: The final Harry Potter movie came out, Amy Winehouse died, Charlie Sheen, Katy Perry dyed her hair pink.

6. 2011: How Does it Relate? Society and history were the main aspects that set the context for the poem. Grotz didn’t really have anything culturally in her poem. Practically anything that happened in 2011 was a part of society, because society was always affected. Grotz had more social aspects in her poem, because she was stating how your face can tell who you are. People in today’s society won’t talk to you, if you look mad. She sort of compares today to how it used to be when anyone would go up to you and socialize with you.

7. Why This Poem? I chose this poem because it seemed interesting. I wanted a poem that had meaning, but you had to interpret yourself. As I read the poem I grew more and more interested by it. The poet uses a window and compares it to how people acknowledge you. “Like the window at night, the face reflects too, uncertain how to change when greeting itself (and is not cruel when another’s face won’t reflect acknowledgement of you?)” I believe this poem is good because it has meaning. It’s not just a poem that makes no sense, this poem makes a lot of sense. You just have to read it to find out.