2020 USU Creative Writing Contest

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A Re-established Poetic Dictionary of the Voiceless Andrew Romriell

I would define the poetry of words as the rhythmical creation of beauty.- Edgar Allan Poe

Allegory [al-uh-gohr-ee] n. 1. A symbol. 2. An extended metaphor or tale in which characters, places, and objects in a narrative carry figurative meaning. a. “Many believe the tale of Christ is just history rather than an allegory.” b. “Christian, Latter-Day Saint children were taught to find meaning in the written words of ancient prophets from the Bible. While some would believe the stories to be allegories, but the lessons would often be delivered like history.” Ballad [bal-uh d] n. 1. A popular narrative song passed down orally. (eg. the words of prophets rang from the Bible, but these LDS children would be taught to listen to the living prophets too—that they spoke for God.) a. “One LDS boy asked his sunday school teacher if he could be a First Place

prophet someday. The boy had hoped that if he worked hard enough, was righteous enough, he could do it. Then, he’d hear God’s voice like them. A ballad from a Heavenly Father. Real.” b. “The boy’s teacher cocked her head and smiled. She told him that as long as he held true to his faith, nothing was impossible. He found out later, however, that prophets weren’t chosen by highest spirituality, but rather seniority. It was an ancient ballad he must adhere to.” Cacophony [kuh-kof-uh-nee] n. 1. Harsh or discordant sounds. 2. Dissonance. a. “In September 2012, when the boy was older, he prayed deep in the woods near his childhood home while a cacophony of sounds from nature surrounded him. He wanted to believe God could tell him it was okay to be gay instead of the punishment he believed it to be” (See Negative Capability). b. “Three years later, in November 2015, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints leadership announced a policy change to their handbook, labelling those in same-sex marriages apos-

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Andrew Romriell


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