Today, with a week to prepare, none of my students were prepared to talk about Yusef Komunyakaa. College-level students? Yes, a sad state of affairs, indeed...the induction was to shame, blame, and take it personally. Instead, I did "snake breath" lowered my pulse & avoided the induction. It was difficult (the pull to react felt gravitational), but I did it. And it all worked out! I read a Stuart Dybek short story for them, then we all talked for a good long while - spirited, lively discourse. Afterward, I said, "Next week we'll discuss Yusef Komunyakaa. Be ready." What I learned is the eternal lesson: It's impossible to reclaim projections if you're not willing to check your ego.
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