Defense Date
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
First Advisor
Sonja Livingston
Second Advisor
David Wojahn
Third Advisor
Geoff Bouvier
Fourth Advisor
Caddie Alford
Abstract
Author’s Note
Rat King is a hybrid poetry/CNF/graphic piece that tries its damnedest to tell the truth. It explores what it means to be alive when everyone is being pulled in at least thirteen different directions. Naïveté, consequences, relationships, the sublime, death, grief, aging, and survival to name a few. Rat King is meant to be funny and sad. Dismissive and honest. Clear and unclear. Defeatist and hopeful. In no way does this manuscript offer a solution to any of these aforementioned concerns, but—at the very least—maybe it’ll start a conversation.
-Charles
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-1-2026