The Fall 2017 issue of The Narrow Journal was created by students at Boston University in Poetry Now, a writing seminar in the College of Arts and Sciences. Taught by Carrie Bennett and Jessica Bozek, the class explores various forms and elaborate themes of contemporary poetry. Aside from reading, writing, and analyzing poetry, the students attended poetry readings, engaged in conversations with poets Nathan Hoks and Simone John, and discussed the online publishing process with editor and poet Cheryl Clark Vermeulen.
The poems in this issue were carefully selected for publication by students in the class and were inspired by the four books students read over the course of the semester: The Narrow Circle by Nathan Hoks, Testify by Simone John, Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong, and The Tales by Jessica Bozek. The students used textually artistic forms and weaved themes regarding exterior influences, internal emotional conflict, suppression of voice, and historical events.
These young poets allow the reader to “see the familiar anew” by rerouting “well-trod patterns of thoughts” as Mark Yakich suggests poetry should do. While many individuals ignore poems upon first glance, take the time to experience these heart-wrenching, obscure, and real emotions portrayed by these writers.
the narrow journal 