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Poetry Unbound

Elisa Gonzalez — To My Twenty-Four-Year-Old Self

Jan 26, 2024
Poet and writer Elisa Gonzalez contemplates her journey as a poet and reflects on the changes in her writing over time. She engages in a conversation with her past self, exploring the limitations of her younger writing. The podcast also discusses the themes of intimacy, truth, and understanding in Elisa Gonzalez's poem 'To My Twenty-Four-Year-Old Self', as well as the struggles of being truthful with friends and the unbridgeable distances in life.
14:49

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • A poem can capture the vast distances and feelings of isolation we experience between our past and present selves, emphasizing the power of self-reflection and self-acceptance.
  • The poem explores the inability to fully bridge distances, both physical and emotional, highlighting the importance of genuine honesty and self-awareness in forming authentic connections.

Deep dives

Intimacy with an Older Woman

The poem explores a 24-year-old's intimate connection with an older woman living in the opposite apartment. The 24-year-old seeks to bridge their isolated feelings through sex, but acknowledges that it doesn't fully overcome the distance. The poem reflects on the changing perspectives of the speaker over time, as it is addressed to the 24-year-old self by an older version of the speaker. There is a longing for honesty and self-knowledge, questioning why the truth was concealed and why the 24-year-old felt embarrassed. The poem contemplates the importance of authentic connections and self-acceptance.

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