Four Good Legs
Cynthia W.
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This creative nonfiction piece is a tribute to my late grandfather, who instilled in me the values of kindness, humility, and, above all, resilience. While my piece compares the before and after, I aimed to focus most on the idea of lifelong love—how unexpected life events brought us closer together. One of my fondest memories was searching for and taking photos of various flora together in China or at nearby parks, so I include metaphorical imagery of constellations, mountain ranges, and other scenes in nature to describe our unbreakable relationship. The symbolism of paradise birds, a type of flower referred to at the beginning and end of the poem, brings the narration full circle. Ultimately, to me, writing is a method for catharsis and introspection. As a second-generation Chinese American living thousands of miles away from her parents’ hometowns, I have had a tumultuous relationship with writing. While writing this piece, I tried to not only let go of my own insecurities but also interweave them into the paragraphs to leave a deeply personal message. The story attempts to capture several intense feelings: my initial apprehension toward what lies in the future, the stage of acceptance associated with grief, and the pure joy that comes with familial love. Pursuing creative nonfiction has challenged me creatively and technically, and I look forward to continuing to develop my voice.
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In my life, creativity represents freedom—freedom to take risks in my art, learn from those around me, and explore the unknown in my personal and academic lives. Writing is one of many artistic manifestations of diversity, and the very root of creativity encourages freedom of thought and expression.
