Read the below examples of writers (myself included!) who have used Commager’s piece as inspiration for their own remix of it.
1. Which TWO worked best for you? (Help me understand why.)
2. After reading all the below examples, what do you now realize about Commager’s piece that perhaps you didn’t notice or fully grasp?
3. Even though all the below examples (remixes) are different in terms of topic, what’s the MAIN thing they share or have in common — in terms of STYLE or STRUCTURE?
1. Ari Zeiger “Born to Run”
It’s easier to say what jogging is not than what it is. Jogging is not training. It’s not racing. It’s not competition. It is not running faster or farther than the OTHER guy. It’s not tweeting your mileage or posting your route on Facebook. It’s not coming from behind or staying in front. It’s not protein shakes, carb loading, or electrolyte gels. Jogging isn’t sacrifice or suffering.
Jogging is gratitude, trust, patience. It’s accepting that in time you will get everything you need. It’s practice. It’s imperfection. It’s letting go of all the voices, all the critics, the measuring sticks, the slogans. It’s moving free, loose, childlike. It’s open and alive and forward. It’s the journey, the quieting of mind, the stilling of breath. It’s focused but relaxed. It’s your heart. It’s the realization that you were born. To run.
2. Hannah Ballinger “Craigslist”
It is easier to say what Craigslist is not than what it is. Craigslist is not the bulletin board in the atrium of Rouse’s—the online version. It is not clearing out your Grandma’s storage unit for her. It is not selling the bed where your fiancé caught you cheating. It is not posting a picture of a treadmill still covered in unfolded laundry. It is not downsizing, upsizing, upgrading, redecorating. It is not making an easy buck. It is not making rent.
Craigslist is a human connection in a climate-controlled world. It is a fresh start: trying on a different life for size. It is finally coming to terms with the type of life you lead for once. It is finally letting go of the ones you once loved. It is honesty. It is discovery. Craigslist is rebirth.
3. Alma Chavez “Basketball”
It’s easier to say what basketball is not than what it is. Basketball is not just a sport. It is not just running up and down the court. It’s not about being better than other players. It is not snapchatting that you’re always in the gym. It’s not about the Gatorade. It is not showing off skills. Basketball isn’t about always about being the best.
Basketball is love, passion, and life. It’s hard work. It is discipline. It’s creativity. It is a sisterhood and brotherhood. It’s a growing family. It’s roadtrips. It’s holding memories that you will remember for the rest of your life. It is trust and respect. It is proving yourself. It’s about getting better on and off the court. It is knowing your role. It’s holding yourself accountable. It is going the extra mile without looking back to see who is watching. It’s a journey filled with ups and downs. It’s about not giving up. It is a way of life.
4. Laurie Spivak “What is Poetry?”
It’s easier to say what poetry is not than what it is. Poetry is not prose (not even in the prose poem). It is not obscure. It is not antiquated. It is not writing less clearly or more succinctly than the essay, short story, novel, letter, blog, email, text (even if they have poetical elements). It’s not getting published or publishing online or reading at an open mic. It’s not being the loudest, the quietest, or having the most or least attitude. It’s not condescending, not exclusive, nor demeaning. Poetry isn’t all about the poet or the appearance of the poet.
Poetry is seeing, hearing, knowing. It’s noticing the minute details that open up an image, situation, thought and elevates the ordinary to extraordinary. It’s commitment. It’s failure. It’s moving beyond when the words don’t work out on the page, beyond the fear, beyond the inadequacy of self and world. It is freedom, heartbeats, breath. It’s loss and gain and gain through loss. It’s distillation of raw and cooked thoughts, pictures, sounds, voices. It is disciplined but open. It’s the collective brain. The breaking of the sternum to set the heart free. It is poetry.
