Poetry Blog #15

Ethics
By: Linda Pastan

This poem almost seems like a story told by a troubled soul. It talks about the moral decisions that many of us have to make throughout our life, and how hard these decisions wind up becoming.

One day in a class a teacher posses a question of “if there was a fire in a museum which would you save, a Rembrandt painting of an old woman who hadn’t many years left anyhow?” The title of this poem also give you a clue of what the poem is going to be about and personally I think this is a very hard question to answer.

I would like to say that I would save the old woman, and I hope that I would save the old woman because if I didn’t I would feel guilt for the rest of my life and I would always remember the old woman who I didn’t save.

The theme of this poem is that although you say you would save the old lady, it gets you thinking that if you were in a museum and it caught on fire, and you were under all this pressure, would you in fact save the old lady?

Would you?

  

Night Watch 

By: Rembrant in 1642

Poetry Blog #14

A Work of Artifice

By: Marge Piercy

This poem starts out with "The bonsai tree in the attractive pot could have grown eighty feet tall on the side of the mountain till split by lightening." As I started to read this poem, I notice how I get a visual picture in my head of a pretty little bonsai tree in my head growing in a lovely pot outside that is suddenly hit by lightening. As you continue to read on you read about how the gardener carefully prunes the tree and tells the little tree that "It is your nature to be small and cozy, domestic and weak." Once I reached this part in the poem I realized the little bonsai tree represented women and how they are always "pruned" and kept from growing to their full potential.

The theme of this poem is that women can be very powerful and successful, but they are kept from reaching their full potential because men believe women are meant to be domestic, small and weak. Overall this poem had a powerful impact on me because I am glad that in today's society there is less prejudice against women because I want to go to college and make something of myself and I couldn’t do that if I was continuously pruned and only praised for my looks.

Poetry Blog #13

A Study of Reading Habits
By: Philip Larkin



This poem, throughout the first two stanzas is describing the adventures that one can have while reading a book. His use of descriptive words helps the reader visualize these adventures. He uses specific words in lines such as, " To dirty dogs twice my size," and "Evil was just my lark." These lines are catchy and help the reader become interested in the poem wanting to read more. 


At the end of the poem Larkin says in his last line, "Books are a load of crap." I find this very ironic because he spent this entire poem saying how great books are and how useful they can be to the imagination and to the avid reader. For this reason, the end of the poem almost felt as if it came to a halt and was very abrupt. 


The theme of this poem is that although we read about all of these fascinating and dangerous ideas in books that catch our attention and let our imagination run wild, that doesn't mean they are true. Books are not real and they get ideas in children's and adult's heads that can not come true and say things that will never be done.

Poetry Blog #12

365 Days a Year
By: Madison Condon

Pie is
sugary sweet,
mouth watering,
nose tingling,
delicious dessert.

Pie is bringing
family together.

Pie is celebrating
holidays.

4th of July has cherry.
Thanksgiving has pumpkin.
Christmas had apple .

Chocolate, Key Lime, Peach, Blueberry, Pecan & Cream
fill the other 362 days left in the year.

Poetry Blog #11

For the Sleepwalkers
By: Edward Hirsch

This poem is about what happens at night for a sleepwalker. It talks about the journeys they have and the willingness to leave their beds during the night. This poem is about how sleepwalkers put all their trust in themselves at night when they are still sleeping. They do things that they would not normally do during their waking hours. They make decisions that they are too afraid to make during the day with the watching eyes of others around. During the night, they let their heart do what they please leading them down the path that the truly want to go. 

At the end of the poem the author says, "We have to drink the stupefying cup of darkness and wake up to ourselves, nourished and surprised." These couple lines show that when the sleepwalkers wake up in the morning they have to wake up to their true self who is afraid to do what their hearts desire during their waking hours. They have to go back to normal and are surprised to hear what they have done during the long night. 

This poem is a good realizer that when our hearts desire something we should not be ashamed to follow our hearts during our waking hours and not be ashamed to follow our desires despite of what others think.

Poetry Blog #9

Acquainted with the Night
By: Robert Frost

In Frost's poem, Acquainted with the Night, he uses many forms of literature to help make his poem effective. He uses repetition of the phrase, "I have," at the beginning of each line in the first stanza. He also uses the same phrase in the second and fifth stanza. This repetition helps create a connection throughout the whole poem and gives it a sense of unity. He also uses past tense throughout the whole poem such as," I have been," or "I have passed," which tells you he is recurring a event or thought that has already occurred. Frost uses many descriptive words throughout his poem and that really helps get his point across.

The theme or meaning behind this poem is that even though things may happen or decision have been made, you must move on from the past. You need to not live in the past because it will only hinder and hold you behind. If you keep reliving those past events that are troubling you, then that is what your life will be centered around. If you continue to hold those grudges and linger on those not so good decisions then that's your choice, but the best option is to move on because you can't change the past.

Poetry Blog #8

I, Too, Sing America

I really enjoyed this poem by Langston Hughes. I found it really interesting that he responded to I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman. It was a very brave and risky thing for him to do, but he did it anyway. I like how he uses the title of Whitmans' poem in his own title and how he really makes you think after reading both of the poems.

Hughes poem is about the American Dream. Whitman made it seem like the dream is only achievable by the white man because he never said anything about the blacks in America. Hughes wanted the black man to be included in this rejoicing of America. He starts his poem with," I, too, sing America" and ends it with the same phrase giving a great introduction to what the poem is going to be about and a strong conclusion finalizing and summing up his strong statement.

In stanza three he says," Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes." He is not literally says that tomorrow he will be at the table, but is using it figuratively as in someday in the future he will be able to eat at the table with the whites because he will someday not be segregate against.

I really enjoy Langston Hughes. Every piece of his that I have read has really touched me. His use of strong words, repeating important phrases really has a powerful impact on me.

Poetry Blog #7

Inoculation

This was a very interesting historical poem. It talks about real people such as Cotton Mather and his slave Onesimus. This poem was written during the time period of the small pox scare. During this time they were experimenting with new ways to cure those who had become infected. They would actually inject some of the virus into those who had been infected to hope that it would boost the body’s immunity to the disease. Injecting some of the disease would also reduce the severity of the infection. Many people were afraid to try this new method because they didn’t know if it worked or no, so Donnelly wrote a poem about this controversial time.

There is also a little irony in the last two lines of this poem. It says, "She scratched my skin and I got sick, but lived to come here, free of smallpox, as your slave." His slave had small pox, but survived, but he had to come work for Cotton Mather. Onesimus is free of the small pox, but is not a free slave. I found that last line very amusing and thought it made the poem.

Identity Poem

As I walk down the hall,

to others I'm just another pretty face,

going through the motions of life.

Some may think they see who I really am,

but most just see that I am tall,

academic,

and like to run.

But it seems that no one ever sees who I truly am.

They don't know what I feel inside.

They don't know what it feels like to be me.

Always trying,

Always caring,

Always hurt.

I'm just another pretty face 

among the hundreds walking through the halls.

Alternate Ending to The Heart of Darkness

Here is an alternate ending to The Heart of Darkness...

"You were with him to the last? I think of his loneliness. Nobody near to understand him as I would have understood. Perhaps no one to hear..." she said.

"To the very end," I said shakily. " I heard his very last words..." I stopped in a fright.

"Repeat them," she murmured in a heart broken tone. "I want-I want-something-something-to-to live with. "

What should I say to her? Who am I to tell her those luminous last words. He horror, the horror.... Who am I to know his intentions and to share it with someone who he regarded so slightly. The darkness of the truth she won't understand... Would she even believe the truth? In Herr eyes he was a hero who could do no wrong. She never saw the dark side of Kurtz and he was not great enough of a man to have people thinking kindly of him in his end.

Her eyes bore into me, but I found no answer in the darkness of my soul. I left admitively rudely without so much as a goodbye.

As I blended in with others who weren't effected by any of the tragedies that had just occurred in that house, or down the river. I found I couldn't forget the horror...

The End

Poetry Blog #4

Blackberries for Amelia

The poem Blackberries for Amelia is a straight forward poem. It is talking about the process of the blackberries throughout the growing season. This poem uses great description and really paints a picture in my head. Phrases such as "brambles dark-and-light," and five-petalled blooms of chalky white" paint the picture of dark blackberry bushes with bright white flowers before the fruit has begun to grow. There is also some alliteration such as "savage sweet" adds a nice addition to the poem. The rhythm throughout the poem is A, B, B, A. This rhyme scheme makes the poem easy to read and helps it flow and makes the reader wanted to go on.

In the last paragraph Wilbur talks about having a grandchild to pick the blackberries with and the title is Blackberries for Amelia and so he probably has a grandchild named Amelia who he would like to pick blackberries with when she next comes over. I would almost call this poem a story told by a grandparent.

Poetry Blog #3

The White Man's Burden

The first thing I noticed when reading this program is the repetition of "Take up the white Man's burden---", which gives a sense of rhythm throughout the poem. The rhythm gives the poem s beat that makes it easier to get through the poem.

In the first stanza Kipling talks about how we better send forth our best men to fight and that we are binding our sons to people who don't want to be helped, but they are stuck there no matter what.

In the second stanza he says how it is going to take time for them to accept us because we need to break down the wall between us so they will allow us to help them. He also says that we are going to have to repeat ourselves a hundred times before they sill even startup listen to us.

The third stanza says that this war will help bring peace and rid them of famine and sickness. Although the outsiders still are really against us helping them. They want us to go away.

The fourth stanza states that we will not be ruling over them like kings we will be their servants working for their greater good.

In the fifth stanza Kipling is still talking about how they don't want our help and they want to be left alone.

The main theme of the sigh stanza is tht even though it's hard you can't deny freedom because it's always going to be keep coming up.

The final stanza sums up that this isnt going to be like childhood, it's going to hard and lots of work, but in the end it will be worth it.

Richard Kipling supported imperialism and wanted to go over and help those countries less fortunate than us and that's what he express throughout this pome.

Poetry Blog #2

Evening Concert, Saint-Chapelle

This poem is giving a very deep description of what it's like to experience an evening concert and the beautiful Saint-Chapelle in Paris, France. At first it describes the beautiful glass stained windows that have the light shining through them to display amazing colors and how these colors are reflected across the Seine, or river. The orchestra is setting up and begisn to play pieces by the famous Vivaldi and Brahms. The poem says, "...so that the listening eye saw suddenly the black lines, in shapes of shield and cross and strut and brace...." This is saying that the orchestra played the pieces so beautifully that the audience could imagine the story that was being told within the music. At the end of the poem it says," our violins were cased in thin but solid sheets of lead." This last line is saying that at the end of the concert everything that happened before has a thin layer over it. Which means that the past is the past and there is no use worrying over what can not be changed.

Sorry it's late! I kept thinking yesterday was Saturday! These three day weekends have me all confused!

Poetry Blog #1

Mr. Fear

In this poem by Lawrence Raab, he talks about a conversation one might have with Mr. Fear. This poem means that when one is afraid they are wishing for something less dramatic to happen to them. They. or the reader would prefer a "small brown bat" to "death." The author is also saying that Mr. Fear follows us around just waiting to surprise us, the reader, with something awful and terrifying. "Let it fit in my pocket, let it fall through the hole in my pocket." The whole poem is about how the reader would rather have a small fear that can easily being pushed away rather than a large fear that could have a big impact on the readers life. Overall I think the theme of this poem is that you can never know what is going to happen next so you will just have to be prepared for whatever life throws at you.

Heart of Darkness

Before I began reading The Heart of Darkness I didn’t know what this book was about so before I stated reading I looked up what this book was about. The summary sounded intriguing and actually really interesting, which was the opposite of what I thought it was going to be. In the end this book turned out to be one of my favorite. I loved the detailed description that Conrad used throughout the book. The description he used pulled me farther into the book and made me want to read it even more. I also love the idea of a story within a story. It makes it that much more interesting.

Marlow, the main character, himself was quite interesting. To me he almost seemed insane and crazy because he was haunted by his past. As the reader I could tell that Marlow’s past was important to him and that he wanted to share his past experience with others.

I truly thought it was interesting that throughout the book Conrad used the phrases “death” and “darkness” in close correlation because in the end I made the conclusion that the darkness was death. Conrad also talked a lot about the “heart of darkness” and he always seemed to talk about the darkness as if it was a living, breathing human being who was praying on the men and women nesting at its opening.

I was a little worried when I heard we were reading this book because I was afraid it was going to be difficult to understand so I left it for last. As it turns out, I saved the best for last!

The Great Gatsby

When I began reading The Great Gatsby, I had no initial background besides the short paragraph on the back of the book. I knew it was set in to 1920's, but beyond that I didn't not know what I should be expecting. Overall I thought the initial plot and progression of the book was very interesting. I thought the growth of the characters and the complication of the love triangle made The Great Gatsby an enjoyable and intriguing book to read.

Throughout the book I enjoyed Fitzgerald’s use of deep description. His use of one of the five senses helped me make a clear mental picture in my head that allowed to me visualize the story as I was reading. The words he used were in themselves descriptive and added more enjoyment to my reading. Although Fitzgerald deeply depicted his characters explaining all their greatnesses and faults, I didn’t not grow emotionally attached to any of the characters.

It was also interesting that once Tom found out Daisy may be in love with Gatsby it was defiantly not allowed, but it was okay for his to have a mistress. Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship seemed to be pure and true after their first meeting in five years at Nick’s house. I found it sad and disappointing that Daisy never sent flowers or her sorrow for Gatsby’s death. I also found it strange that for most of the book Nick and Jordan were an inseparable pair. Her character was described as impure and dishonest, which is the complete opposite of Nick’s character.

There is also the interesting fact of East and West Egg, which divides the rich and the poor just as so many things have throughout the existence of the human race.

I was a little disappointed with the ending. I though that Tom and Daisy would separate on good terms seeing as the both loved someone else. Gatsby would finally be reunited with his love after waiting five years and Tom would go away with the terrible Mrs. Wilson. It did please me however that Nick and Ms. Baker did not end up together because they are not an appropriate match. It just disappointed me how Daisy ran away with Tom leaving Nick to be one of Gatsby’s few mourners.

In the end the overall learned is that a few close friends are of more greater value than a whole house full of strangers who barely know your name because in end that house full of strangers won’t be disappointed of your absence. The only thing on their mind is that they will have to find someone else’s house to invade on Saturday nights.

The Kite Runner

Overall I did not really enjoy reading The Kite Runner. I understand that this certain situation in places such as Afghanistan are not the most pleasant to read about, but I just found this book depressing.

Amir was a coward boy who could never stand up for himself. Hassan, his servant, always stood up for him even in the worst situations. Whenever the time arose for Amir to help Hassan, Amir did not return the favor. He not only let harm come to Hassan, but he also kicked him and his father out of his house barely caring that he had hurt Hassan, Ali, and his father Baba.

When Baba and Amir moved to America it was a good thing for the two men. Baba was used to being the rich party man who everyone loved, and Amir was consumed with him past. In America the men were not treated the same as in Kabul. This new “adventure” opened their eyes to a new world that helped them become better people. Once in America Baba showed Amir the love and attention that he never received throughout his childhood in Kabul. He supported his schooling and even though he was a little weary about Amir becoming a writer he still reluctantly gave his support. Amir had regretted the day in the alley when he did return the favor to Hassan, but in America he was trying to move past the horrible thing he had done. Since the memory of that day in the alley was so engraved into Amir’s mind, that day was always looming over him and he could never seem to get rid of his guilt.

Amir was, in a way, forgiven for his sin after he went to retrieve Hassan’s son Sohrab. At first he was not willing to risk his life for this boy, but eventually he agreed. The fact that Amir went and risked his life to save Sohrab “made him good again” just like Rahim Khan had promised.

It is sad that Sohrab didn’t adjust well to his life in America. He had been through so much with his parents being killed, living in an orphanage, being sold to a bad man named Assef, treated unkindly, and witnessing the terrible events of a violent war. At the end of the book when Amir cut down the green kite at the Afghan New Year Festival the smile that Sohrab gave was a glimmer of hope to Amir that everything was finally going to be alright even after all these years of terrible events.