The Surrender Theory: Poems

Product Information

As I write this, The Surrender Theory is three months away from being two years old. But really, thinking about when I first started writing the poems that would end up in the book, it’s actually around six years old. I’ve lived with those poems for so long. They have climbed with me into bed on countless occasions, and lingered in my body like earworms. I have spoken them aloud in different countries and within classrooms, to crowds of many and crowds of few. The Surrender Theory is my creature, and it’s hard not to look at it with a bit of exhaustion. As if to say, it’s still just the two of us? The third precept of Social Contract Theory posits that the legitimacy of a government comes from the consent of its citizens. According to this view, governments have authority because individuals agree to give up some of their freedom in exchange for the state’s protection and other benefits. Therefore, the power wielded by governments is based on the agreement and consent of the governed. Moreover, Social Contract Theory suggests that individuals have the power to hold the government accountable if it breaks the terms of the social contract by infringing on citizens’ rights or failing to uphold its end of the agreement. This could include protesting, participating in peaceful demonstrations or engaging in other civic actions to seek redress. The Origins of Social Contract Theory

While growing up, I never really understood poetry. The odd structure and the abstract metaphors left me confused. The dramatic tone and intense imagery felt forced and unrealistic. Irritated, I wondered why poets couldn't express their thoughts and emotions more clearly so that I could better follow them.Mental illness: It is also believed we will be playing as someone dealing with mental health issues. The mutual obligations of the social contract have implications for both the government and citizens. For the government, it implies creating policies, establishing laws, and providing essential services that benefit citizens. The government must prioritize citizens’ needs, ensure social justice and equality, and guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights. Just over a year ago I figured out the general theme of the collection I’m working on right now. It began, broadly, as “performance” and has since developed into a funky little manuscript that masquerades as a play, with characters and props and little spurts of dialogue written accordingly. It’s different from The Surrender Theory in a lot of ways. Mostly because I’ve become a better writer in the last six years. I love the poems in my first collection fiercely, but I wrote them a long time ago. If they were a person, they’d be in school by now. They’d be able to have conversations with me—and they do. The title - and very first - poem, which is the one I had read and loved before I read the collection, stands out head and shoulders above the rest. A few others that I really enjoyed include 'Pareidolia', 'Nesting Doll' and 'After', and while I understand that grief does different things to us all, most of the poems about it were my least favourite of the bunch.

Furthermore, the role of the government goes beyond providing essential services and resources; it must also safeguard the country’s future. This implies that the government should take proactive measures to prevent activities that may be harmful to citizens or the country’s environment in the long run. Unfortunately, Caitlin Conlon's 'The Surrender Theory' was more of the latter than anything else to me.I received an advanced reader copy of this poetry collection from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Shout out to Central Avenue Publishing and Caitlin Conlon. The government’s obligation to work for the common good is based on the idea that the purpose of government is to serve the needs of its citizens. The government must establish policies that promote equality and social justice, ensuring that every citizen has access to basic human rights and necessities. The Social Contract Theory suggests that the government’s primary responsibility is to work for the common good of its citizens. This means that the government must strive to provide services and resources that enable citizens to thrive, even if it means implementing policies that may not receive widespread support from every section of the society.