Courtney Carter Harbour is a Doctor of Liberal of Studies student at Southern Methodist University. She actively pursues her interests in narrative identity, creativity, and social movements through research, presentations and performances, and creative writing. Currently, she serves as the Executive Dean for the Arts & Communications division at Eastfield campus at Dallas College and draws inspiration from her artistic colleagues in the Visual and Performing Arts disciplines. She also enjoys teaching and learning from her community college students in public speaking, communication studies, and humanities courses. One of her favorite quotes, “Be a voice, not an echo” by Albert Einstein, are empowering words she lives by and guides the production of her creative works in mixed media, spoken word, poetry, and prose.
poetry
Fractured Humility
Courtney Carter Harbour, Southern Methodist University
You know, the struggle is real
balancing the feels
of what it means to be human.
It is the unintended consequence of a desire to live,
a means to an end.
But, what about the end?
THE END?
Can we bend beyond our personal desires?
Baby, you cannot even comprehend because you will not listen.
So, let me theorize and contextualize what I need for you to recognize
as you drown in the vastness of the universe.
Please find your inner peace.
Accept the living reality, extend your effervescent dreams, troubled fantasies, feelings of those fancy frees,
and then,
take she
ME
and what it means to be more.
When she looks at herself square in the face, looks at the earth below
she is not afraid to get her hands dirty, dirty, down dirty deep.
She is worthy.
It is her hearty essence tasked with sifting through self-imposed ideas.
The trait is rare.
Compare.
Powerfully quiet and gently urgent.
From her unsuspecting kindness,
we can summon the courage and humbly add beauty to the world
Much love to that girl!
What she knows, oh how she glows, she is just soooo…
We are the most human when we are humble.
Copyright © 2020 by Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs