1. Which images from Lameris’s poem resonate most with you, and why?

I’d have to say the picture of the hands reaching out of the blue sleeve as though they’re reaching out to something. To me it looks as if the hands are there acting as if they’re all places for you to grab onto and pull yourself out of whatever hole you’ve found yourself in.

  1. What is the poet’s argument here? What does she want us, the reader, to consider? and what is your response to her argument(s)? Valid? Half-baked? Too sentimental? Spot on?

I think her argument is all people love and want to be loved. She’s saying love is the natural state humans chose and any other has to be thought about or actively changed as it’s against our nature. I completely believe her. I think going out of your way to compliment someone or helping them find something at the grocery store is an act of love every time. I think any chance you take to make someone happy, even a complete stranger, is an act of love.

  1. In what ways does “Small Kindnesses” interact with ideas or themes from prior course readings? Be specific as you make connections.

I think it contradicts Bloom’s take on empathy as Bloom thinks we should be less emotional towards individuals whereas Laméris thinks we are driven by emotion towards others. I also believe Laméris and DFW have very similar ideas as they’re both powered by thinking about other people rather than being completely self centered. To me this is what Konnikova’s article was worried about losing; this intimacy of being in person with people even if they’re complete strangers. Chen’s article proves Laméris’ point in my opinion because Chen’s article shows that even after years of indoctrination she managed to start caring and loving others because she feels as though loving people is right.

  1. In what ways is this a “pandemic poem”?

I’d say this is a pandemic poem because it romanticizes the everyday things; the little interactions we’d have strangers rather than family to emphasize the importance of everyday interaction. I think seeing people we know is extremely important to our mental health but seeing people we don’t know out living their lives on the street as we walk by is also extremely important to our mental health. We need to know we’re not alone in our little circles.

  1. Read the poem aloud to someone not in our class, then have a brief discussion about it. Write a couple sentences about the interaction.