The reason Jacqueline Woodson gave for reading slowly which spoke to me was that you are able to learn more and respect the author and narrative by doing so. I have always been a very slow reader which resulted in me being unable to complete many standardized English tests. I too felt it was necessary for me to read faster but found that the information was then harder to grasp and the story would not sink in. I enjoyed taking my time when reading because then I would have enough time to reflect on all of what the author is trying to say. When I read quickly I would miss out on the experience of the text. When reading slowly you can fully immerse yourself in the story and closely examine all present aspects and perspectives. I believe that this is the best way to read. Reading slowly is how reading is meant to be done. Written works are not created for readers to fly through them but to transport the reader to a new realm of understanding. It is only by reading slowly that we can truly wrap our heads around the meaning, purpose, and impact of a text.

I chose to revisit the poem “Enemies” by Wendell Berry because when I first read it I felt that I had not picked up on all that the poem is saying. I initially understood the concept that considering others opinions prevents us from being “a monster” but leads to resentment of others and, in turn, will make us another kind of “monster.” Upon my rereading of this poem I feel I have grasped a better understanding of the last lines, “they are to you as sunlight / on a green branch. You must not / think of them again, except / as monsters like yourself, / pitiable because unforgiving.” Opposing forces are what drives us to act, grow, develop, and make changes in the world, just as sunlight fuels a plant. We must both acknowledge and disregard these opposing forces. By acknowledging them, we can be driven and we can be enraged. By disregarding them we allow ourselves to continue on our individual paths towards self-actualization. Those in opposition to us feel the same negativity towards us as we feel towards them. So even though we are not the monster in our own eyes, we are in the eyes of another. Forgiveness is acceptance of others for who they are and what they believe—we may not like it but we must accept it. It is pitiable to not forgive others for their lack of agreement because the inability to forgive demonstrates poor understanding of how the world works, thus, inhibiting one’s own development. It is our duty to acknowledge, understand, and be driven by those who oppose us so that we may act in ways which better ourselves and the world around us.