The poem below is an experiment in persona poetry. I love reading persona poetry (and using it to teach students about point of view), but sometimes I find writing persona poetry to be problematic. I think that’s because I’ve put so much time into reminding myself that we all have our own filters and therefore it’s nearly impossible to truly know another’s mind; writing in someone else’s voice can feel presumptuous. However, it is an excellent way to build empathy. Consider the following an attempt to break out of my own filter bubble and to honestly consider how a young woman, newly made very powerful, feels about her father. *Photo Credit on featured image: Michael Vadon
Ivanka Trump, on my father
My father trusts me
He trusts me with the family business
just as much as he trusts my brothers
He trusts me to be in the room
He trusts me to meet with foreign leaders
He trusts that I will be successful
that I will give him good advice
He trusts that I will be respectful
Respectful of my father
Respectful of my husband
Respectful of my chosen religion, in all its beauty
Elizabeth DeOrnellas 