Through Kundiman, I sensed that I was a part of something greater in the literary world and beyond. It is a privilege to be surrounded by fellow poets who share a hunger to learn, write, and discuss the craft of writing. This community is small enough to permit individuals to be open and vulnerable about their work. It is also large enough to possess diversity in aesthetics, poetics, and personal histories. This intimacy and range allows for dialogue. We converse about the tonal shift of a stanza to the arrangement of poems in a manuscript. We also discuss issues that normally do not arise in workshops but relate to the art of poetry and our roles as poets. How do we create more audiences? How will we be engaged with the literary world? There is also a dialogue with history. How have Asian American poets interpreted and written elegies? Who paved a way for us?  Because of these discussions and questions, I am trying to develop a longer view of my life. I challenge myself to write, write well, and consider how that is done. Kundiman has challenged me to consider how I may contribute to American poetry as a poet, a reader, and an Asian American. This challenge is so much bigger than me. But I can approach it because I have Kundiman, a community that I can support and will support me.

--Diana Park