The document is a collection of poems and commentary by Matt Wagoner. It includes 14 original poems by Wagoner on themes of loss, isolation, and finding purpose. Between poems, Wagoner provides context for his writing process and what inspired each poem. He also discusses favorite poems by other authors like Poe, Dickinson, Silverstein, and Frost that have impacted him. The compilation gives insight into Wagoner's personal experiences, mental state, and how poetry has provided an outlet for processing grief and life changes.

1. POETRY DEDICATION
By MattWagoner

2. I’ve never been one to discuss things with people, its just something that I don’t do. But in
this case, I feel that this is going to help open me up a little bit. So, not just my mother and
I, but our whole family have been going through a lot this past year and a half.
My nephew passed away at a very young age, he was less than one.
It was horribly difficult until we all found our own outlets.
Mine, of course, were music and writing. Poetry has never really been my thing, but I can write it.
These next few are showcases of all our emotions pretty much compiled together.
I’m going to say it now; thank you for being there, Mom.

3. Beyond
By Matt Wagoner
Where can one be alone?
In a place no one else can see
The place where only one can be
Is the place that shall be shown
The place where one can be alone
But of this place you must agree
It is filled with nothing but dirt and debris
In this lovely place that I have shown
But in the dark I called upon you
To bring forth your light
To a place that was left behind
And even though I have broken through
I still see black and white
As I lay in this unconscious mind

4. This one I wrote a while ago, actually. It was at a time where I didn’t want to talk to or see anyone. I wanted to find a
happy place. It was weird, I was in such a surreal state of mind when I wrote this. And for some reason, it felt really good,
even though no one ever read it, it still was comforting to know it was there.The person I mention in the end really just
represents the friendships I hold in general; the ones who made the recovery process a little easier.The last line is my
recollection of how I felt. I didn’t feel like I was living, like I was just going through the motions. Really that’s how we all
felt, however every one else was a lot more open than I was.
We all have that happy place, it just took me a while to find it.

5. The Raven
By EdgarAllan Poe
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-
Only this, and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
This it is, and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door;-
Darkness there, and nothing more.

6. Oh,The Raven. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve read this over the past year or so, and yes, it’s a favorite of mine.
Also, I know it’s not in it’s entirety. It was as much as I could fit on one PowerPoint slide. Anyway, It could be said that
anyone could pull their own meaning out ofThe Raven, or have their own reason to read it. I could read it ten times over
and would still be completely captivated by it.That’s why I enjoy it; it was something that could take my mind away from
me whilst I read. I found myself looking for these sorts of items more often than usual. And most often those items were
music, however I did read more poetry than I ever have in my life.The surrealism of a world created by someone else
was simply mystifying, and I think that’s the whole reason whyThe Raven was a big deal for me.
Okay, I’m going to get this out of the way now, as we’re just getting started; I am utterly terrified right now.And I have no
idea why.

7. Question?
By MattWagoner
Where are we?
Living or dead?
Imprisoned or free?
Do we make the choices?
Or is there something more?
A Purpose?
A Reason?
Is there even a “something more?”
We go through our lives,
And every day,
We do what we do.
We be what we can be.
That's all there is,
Or is there something more?
A Purpose?
A Reason?
Or even an Obligation?
Is there even a ”something more?”
We all have our faults.
We come in last.
We fail,
And sometimes lose hope.
But do we just give up-
Or is there something more?
A Purpose?
A Reason?
An Obligation?
AQuestion?
Or is there truly a “something more?”

8. I came up with this one when I was falling asleep one night. As I normally do, I ask myself questions, and as I did,
I thought that would be a good idea to base some form of writing on. I ended up using it as a poem. I felt that
something like this needed to be free form, like it’s just someone thinking, which is something that I’ve been doing
quite a bit of recently. I love free form poems. It allows you to put a structure to something that would otherwise be
mindless garble. For some reason, I find free form poetry harder to write than one with a rhyme scheme, I really have
no idea why. Well, that’s all I can say about that, really. It was just a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing.

9. If I Can Stop
- Emily Dickinson
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

10. I love this poem, and not being much of an Emily Dickinson fan that says something.While it may be short, I find it to
be a very well written and simply beautiful poem. As far as a meaning, well, who doesn’t want to do some good in this
world?That’s what I like about it so much; the fact that it’s a simple poem for such a simple thing as a good deed.
That’s really it; there’s really not much more to say. Not everything is bad, we just have to have that need to do something,
something great, and not care what anybody else has to say.That is, if you choose not to hear.

11. Untitled
by Matt Wagoner
There are those whom we cherish.
Who never say a word,
With no intentions of being heard.
How could such a lovely thing perish-
The one whom we cherish-
In an existence blurred?
Although their time was short,
They brought in a heavenly light.
And although they didn't speak,
They bestowed much needed support.
And now when the days seem bleak-
They are the ones who make things bright.

12. I really struggle to bring myself to read this. I’m sure if you look at the second slide of this PowerPoint you’ll know
exactly who this was for. I was so lost in thought when I wrote this I barely remember doing so, nor do I remember having
a title planned. In all honesty, I have no idea why I am even writing this explanation, for, I find, the poem speaks for itself.
I’m sure anyone who has had a similar experience could relate to this no matter how they read it. I know hoe I feel about it,
but that feeling’s diluted. It’s weird feeling I can’t really describe. It’s like trying to explain the color red to someone, or the
taste of water. My point is; don’t take anything for granted.That’s it. No more.

14. WhileThe Raven may be my favorite poem, Shel Silverstein is by far my favorite poet, and has been for a very long
time . And while he may be renowned for his funny and silly children’s poems, I happen to enjoy his…I don’t know,
metaphorical poems a lot more, such as Invitation. Invitation , I feel, speaks out to people who see the world in a
different point of view. I find this intriguing, because what if every person with a creative mind got together and
just talked?What would they talk about?What stories would they tell ? It’s just a fun little thing to think about. I also
love the illustrations in all of Shel’s poems. In Invitation it’s very simple; just a lit candle, but it does mean something.
Lit candles always seem inviting, hence the use of one in a poem called Invitation.

15. Gone
By Matt Wagoner
So here I thought you could be the one
But could it be so easy to tell?
The one who would never be outdone
And to whom I'd never say farewell
All these days I thought you were the same
Although I never bothered to ask
To prevent it going up in flame
But I knew soon it would be unmasked
I never thought it could be me
To hold such a burden
That if asked I would say
I'm at lost at sea
Looking for a lost treasure
When all I have now is vicarious pleasure

16. I’m not sure who I really wrote this for. It could’ve been myself, it could’ve been my parents. I don’t know, I guess it was for
everyone. Even though I wrote this, I still struggle to find a direct meaning. However, looking at it from a reader’s
perspective, I see two possible interpretations. One, I see it as a relative or a close friend leaving.Two, I see it as someone
passing who had much to say. Even still, I’m not 100% sure about how I feel about this poem. I guess it’s all up to the
person reading it and their current state of mind. Nothing’s quite what it seems, however. I’m sure someone would be
able to find a completely different meaning other than the two I figured. Like I said, everything varies from person to
person.

18. Another great poem by Shel Silverstein.This one, I feel, is one of his more inspirational poems. It shows that the only
person that can control your life is you.It’s pretty much the internal instinct that tells us right from wrong.
I don’t know why, but I’ve never fully understood the whole “conscience” thing , which is probably why I enjoy this so
much. But really, the one major role this poem plays, for me, anyway, is the fact that I’m in control, and no one else is
going to sway me, which is quite important, if you ask me. I remember reading this poem back to back a while ago, a
really long time ago, though. I think it was about three or four years ago, when I still had the book. Now that I think of
it, Shel has played a big role in terms of the poetry I grew up with. I’m not sure what I would’ve read if It wasn’t him.

19. Home
By Matt Wagoner
This place along the road
The one we seek to find
This lovely, homely abode
To which we were inclined
A place no one knows
A place no one can see
A place were a cold wind blows
The place where we can be

20. This is an older poem of mine, but it’s one I truly cherish. About two years ago, in a Literature class, I was asked to
write a poem about something that I liked. It wasn’t necessarily supposed to be an ode, it was just supposed to be
about something I liked.What you saw was how it turned out, and for some reason I chose to keep it. It was one of
those you were really proud of yourself for doing, but never really showed anyone, I guess you could say.
When I wrote it, I was like, “Wow, this was something I did.”Which was something I never ever told myself. Ever.
Also, this was done at a time where I completely despised writing.This may have been the thing that allowed me
to truly enjoy writing and see it in it’s entirety.

21. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

22. This poem by Robert Frost is one of my favorite poems, bested only byThe Raven. It perfectly fits my definition of
a perfect poem. It’s easy and enjoyable to read and has a very captivating story. Many times I’ve tried to find deeper
meaning in this, and many times I’ve failed. What I’ve found is what it does best it does by getting its story across.
It doesn’t need any cryptic or alternative meanings. It’s there for people to enjoy, nothing more.
Why is this on here? Because I enjoy it. Especially the final stanza; those four lines are probably the most
memorable out of anything I think I’ve ever read.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

23. Bibliography
Dickinson, Emily. N.p..Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://allpoetry.com/poem/8441923-If_I_can_stop_-by-
Emily_Dickinson>.
Silverstein, Shel. "TheVoice." Lookingforthemagic. N.p., 7
Dec 2011. Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://lookingforthemagic.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/t
he-voice-shel-silverstein/>.
Silverstein, Shel. "Welcome." Autostraddle. N.p..Web. 26
May 2013. <http://www.autostraddle.com/pure-poetry-
shel-silverstein-78856/shel-silverstein-welcome/>.
Poe, EdgarA.. "Raven." PoeStories. N.p., 25 Sep 1845.
Web. 26 May 2013. <http://poestories.com/read/raven>.
Frost, Robert. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."
Poetry Foundation. N.p., n.d.Web. 26 May 2013.
<http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171621>.