A Poem by Sam Tillman and a letter of thanks by Taylor Ann Landrie (scroll down).

Urseus, Son of Fuirreous

In old and wilder days when men where bold

And left the fold

And Urseus son of Fuirreous went marching on the north

With grim fixed eyes, and iron gaze

No fear to leave a building razed

On Urseus son of Fuirreous goes marching on the north

What motivates this march but love of self?

No! It is for love Esilreth the elf

That Urseus son of Fuirreous goes marching on the north

For Esireth is held by former friends

In her own lineage that rends

For on goes Urseus son of Fuirreous marching ‘gainst the north

Somewhere the joy is ringing, of music in the air

But not in the north with desolation everywhere

When Urseus son of Fuirreous goes marching ‘gainst the north

For Urseus had a lover in the north of fair elf stock

That was in shock

When Urseus son of Fuirreous went marching on the north

But Urseus had done more harm than good when fighting for his bride

For all her kin lay dieing on the ground

When Urseus son of Fuirreous led his troops to town

Like so did the journey back have more gloom than joy

His elven bride remembered her kin he laid rest

When Urseus son of Fuirreous went marching on the north

So when back they reach at last the southern lands

She felt no love within her heart for the day

When Urseus son of Fuirreous marching on the north

-- Sam Tillman

Kate Chopin,

                I write to you to give thanks.  In The Awakening, you created a novel both ahead of its time, and everlasting in its theme and conflict.  The truth is, though it was unaccepted in the days of its first publishing, The Awakening is a significant part of the evolution of literary works of art.  In your protagonist, Edna Pontellier, you portrayed something that every woman, of every time and every place, has felt: the need for independence, and the feeling of oppression from her society and peers.  You did all this with the most sensual and beautiful writing I’ve ever had the opportunity to read.

                I think what I most appreciated about The Awakening was the self-realization that Mrs. Pontellier gained, and the slow, but visible change that she went through to reach that realization.  As a young woman, I can see many parallels between me and your character, and I watch myself – as though looking through a window – going through similar changes and feeling similar feelings.  In every woman’s life, I believe there is a time when she must truly find herself among the slews of images and expectations thrown at her feet by her parents, friends, boyfriends, and society.  Edna Pontellier’s awakening – sexual, artistic, emotional, and personal – is mirrored in the lives of all women, and the difficulties she overcomes in finding herself is still pertinent in today’s age.  What inspired you to write such a daring and passionate story about one woman’s independence at a time when women were supposed to the quiet and submissive properties of their husbands?  I don’t know if I could ever possess the courage and self-assurance to write and publish something that confrontational.

                Much like you, I’ve spent my childhood surrounded by women.  They’ve been my most intelligent mentors, my most compassionate confidants, and my most honest critics.  I can see how growing up in a similar way could greatly affect your writing – it’s like adding a certain spice to a bland recipe, the difference is enough to make a seemingly plain dish into something savory and unique.  This savory and unique flavor is obvious in the language you used when writing The Awakening.  As I read it, I could not only see the images you presented, but also smell the scents, taste the flavors, feel the ocean breeze against my skin.  It was not a one-dimensional picture, but an entirely different world I fell into every time I opened the book.  For the first time, I saw the use of words like “delicious” to describe something that wasn’t edible; and you wrote it in a way that was not blatantly and inappropriately sexual, but quietly seductive.

                Your use of the sea as a reoccurring metaphor sparked my interest.  You were able to relay rebirth, independence, cultural and social rebellion, and sexual passion all with the ocean.  Seamlessly, you displayed Edna Pontellier’s personal growth and eventual social freedom (by death), with the sea.  Never before had I seen that salty body of water with such eager eyes.  Had you considered from the very start of your writing that you would use the ocean to convey so many meanings?  Had you planned for months the entirety of your story, or did you just let the words flow straight from your mind?

                  I can respect that not everyone is going to like The Awakening, though for me, it was the rebirth of a deep and honest love for reading.  I had forgotten that books could be so satisfying and so personal.  With The Awakening, you created a novel that has always been classic.  You had the heart and mind to finally tell the tale of Woman versus Society, and with exceptional and delicious (that’s your word) skill.  Thank you for writing something that you knew would cause some drama.  Thank you for taking a chance.  Because of your courage, young women can find themselves in Edna Pontellier now, and forever after.

-- Taylor Ann Landrie

Letters About Literature  was sponsored by West Virginia Center for the Book and Target Stores.  Taylor Ann won Honorable Mention in the 9th - 12 grade category in the state of West Virginia.