Previous volumes of Kaleidoscope M. have included wonderful poetry. Vol¬ume 2 presented Phillip Sauerbeck's own poetry and his rumination on translating poetry from the original Greek. Volume 3 contained Melanie Fee's narrative of a rela-tionship through her collection of short poems entitled "A Letter Would Have Been Fine." This year, three outstanding young poets submitted their works to Kaleidoscope. Together, these works allow the inclusion of an entire section of the journal devoted exclusively to poetry and to the discussion thereof. Given the notable quality of these works, it is to be hoped that many other undergraduate poets will contribute their works for future issues.
Mentor:
Nikky Finney, Distinguished Professor,
Associate Professor of English
A phenomenon is by definition a very notable, extraordinary, or exceptional fact or occurrence. It is something or someone remarkable for some unusual quality. Many phenomenal things are made up of gases and minerals, others make their way into our lives by torrent and wind power beyond our imaginations, and still others are composed of a sweet profundity of language, intellect, and heart tissue and walk in our classrooms in magnificent human form. I don't believe in using already overused words in more overused ways. As a poet I choose my words carefully for their truth and accuracy. I believe our young people need all of the truth and accuracy we can possibly stand up and say about them. If something or someone is phenomenal then we should call them by their name, no matter how embarrassing it might be to them. Tasha Pedigo is a phenomenal young poet.
Tasha is a marvelment of what the head, heart, and hands can accomplish when they live in sync and work in tandem, when they burn with the fire of loving one something so much that all else nearby is touched by the smoke, ash, and light of it. The vast world of poetry is Tasha's greatest love. I was Tasha Pedigo's instructor this past semester in ENG 507 Imaginative Writing.
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I am from Glasgow KY. This summer, I am taking two French courses at The Sorbonne and am also working on a collection of prose poems about the young poet travel ing abroad in the 21st century and impressions of daily liv ing in Paris. Right now, I am at the Bibliotheque National in Paris working on my collection. I'm really enjoying be ing in France and exploring all the famous bookshops am cafes that my favorite artists frequented in the early 20t century! As excited as I am about the trip, I'm also a bit nervous to be living in France for two months, working in poetic form that is new to me, and producing my own body of work
I will be a senior English major, French minor nex fall. I am in the Honors Program and edit the Honors news letter Tidings. I am particularly interested in French am American literature. I study poetry and hope to earn , joint MA/MFA degree. This fall, I will be applying to graduate schools. I want to thank my advisor, Nikky Finney.
She was highly self-motivated. Always prepared. Al ways doing more than what was asked of her. Her mini was always at work churning the windblown topsoil ove to the riches beneath. At the end of the semester shf was without a doubt the highest ranked student in thf class. Her final project in the class was a joy and a sen sation to read. This is what I would like for you to know Tasha Pedigo is something to write home about, she i surely one for the book, a stunner, a creative lighthouse a live Christmas tree of ideas and imagination. I've in structed young creative writers at the University of Ken tucky for the last twelve years. Tasha's ability and desin are rare and profound. What Tasha is willing to work for, what she wants in this life is just now taking a fini and definitive shape. I've never met or taught a more promising young artist, scholar, and human being.
Tasha Pedigo is a grounded down-to-earth studen who respects her honest fears and honest questions abou life and learning and is not careless or cavalier about he bright mind and probing heart and her greatest love -poetry. She is not gregarious about her gifts. She connects with her peers. She is helpful and attentive to wha they too are trying to probe up and under in these ric discovery years. Her prospective time at the Sorbonne, in the cobbled streets of Paris, in the museums, at the librarie there - will transform her.
What is it that makes Tasha Pedigo truly phenomenal She is as capable an original poet as she is at interpretin and analyzing historical reams of poetry by others. To b quite technical about it; both sides of her brain work ama; ingly well together. This is a radical rare thing. It is comparable, let's say, to being a two-headed firefly. Which light does a two-headed firefly follow? Is one light brighter tha the other? A two-headed firefly is a limitless original creation. A two-headed firefly follows both lights. That is her
