Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Thesis Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

Committee Chairperson

Cherise A. Pollard, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Justin Rademaekers, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jacqueline Alnes, Ph.D.

Abstract

The Breathing World is a collection of lyrical nonfiction essays interspersed with poetry and art that explore the depth of our human connections across time and distance. By examining themes of resilience and transformation in the face of life’s inevitable, but often surprising challenges, this collection works to understand the ways that nature can serve as inspiration and teacher. The Breathing World intertwines personal accounts of breast cancer, motherhood, and family history with ecology and quantum physics to show the complexity of our interconnectedness and the possibility of change. Ultimately, this is a project that strives to focus on hope, love, and regeneration by confronting the darkness and allowing it to wash over and through.

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