Poetry at The Institute
By Diómedes Fernández

At last year's Institute, I told myself that I was going to push myself as a writer. That meant No Poetry for me. I decided to try all other styles I could think of, but not poetry. I started writing poems when I was 15 years old, after my 10^th grade Literature teacher introduced me to Pablo Neruda, and since then, poetry has always been my most faithful companion, what helps me understand the world.

This year, on the other hand, I have given myself permission to write in my favorite language. So, I would like to share three of the pieces I have written during the writing exercises of the past two weeks.

Poem #1. From the "choose a picture and exchange" exercise.

Poem #2. I wrote this one after a very entertaining conversation at everyone's favorite marathon stop: Two Scoops. I tried to use elements from what each of us had talked about.

Poem #3. @ the river. Our last stop of the marathon.

I hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

                                                                                                                              D.