Mary Oliver
Alligator Poem
I knelt down
at the edge of the water,
and if the white birds standing
in the tops of the trees whistled any warning
I didn’t understand,
I drank up to the very moment it came
crashing toward me,
its tail flailing
like a bundle of swords,
slashing the grass,
and the inside of its cradle-shaped mouth
gaping,
and rimmed with teeth—
and that’s how I almost died
of foolishness
in beautiful Florida.
But I didn’t.
I leaped aside, and fell,
and it streamed past me, crushing everything in its path
as it swept down to the water
and threw itself in,
and, in the end,
this isn’t a poem about foolishness
but about how I rose from the ground
and saw the world as if for the second time,
the way it really is.
The water, that circle of shattered glass,
healed itself with a slow whisper
and lay back
with the back-lit light of polished steel,
and the birds, in the endless waterfalls of the trees,
shook open the snowy pleats of their wings, and drifted away,
while, for a keepsake, and to steady myself,
I reached out,
I picked the wild flowers from the grass around me—
blue stars
and blood-red trumpets
on long green stems—
for hours in my trembling hands they glittered
like fire.
When reading this I was really intrigued about how informal it actually seems, yet it still works. It is almost as if the poem is a short story just in poem form. It is a major turning point when she writes "this isn't a poem about foolishness". At that point the reader realizes that this poem is about a second chance, and then can make the biblical connection to resurection. This poem is really about having a second chance, and realization about how good things actually are until you think they are gone.
In this poem Mary Oliver writes about having a second chance and the importance of realizing what you have. She uses the power and beauty of nature to get this point across. At first the destructive power that nature withholds is portrayed by the alligator. This gator nearly takes the life of the narrator but doesn't. This shows how there is also room for second chances. The beauty of nature is portrayed. After nearly losing her life she see the beauty within her life. Everything seems so different to her, which shows how now through her close experience she has changed so much. This is a useful technique to use: the power held within nature.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
After Basho
Carolyn Kizer
After Basho
Tentatively, you
slip onstage this evening,
pallid famous moon.
The tittle of this poem makes me believe that after an event or person called Basho that somebody was able to come and take the stage now. I quickly looked it up to find that Basho was a haiku poet and was very respected and skilled at what he did. Carolyn Kizer is showing her respect for him and realizes he was the big name in the haiku area of the time. She is saying now that he is gone others can finally slip onto the stage and take their place and try to shine like he did.
Kizer's use of metaphor in this poem is a very useful tool that makes this poem meaningful. She compares "you", an unknown writer, to the pale moon. It's as if saying that you haven't had time to shine bright yet because this other guy has been so marvelous and bright that everyone has been absorbed with him. Now however, since he is gone, other poets can "slip onstage" and become brighter in the eyes of readers and writers because this once bright sun is now gone these people that are compared to the moon can step in and try to fulfill his place.
After Basho
Tentatively, you
slip onstage this evening,
pallid famous moon.
The tittle of this poem makes me believe that after an event or person called Basho that somebody was able to come and take the stage now. I quickly looked it up to find that Basho was a haiku poet and was very respected and skilled at what he did. Carolyn Kizer is showing her respect for him and realizes he was the big name in the haiku area of the time. She is saying now that he is gone others can finally slip onto the stage and take their place and try to shine like he did.
Kizer's use of metaphor in this poem is a very useful tool that makes this poem meaningful. She compares "you", an unknown writer, to the pale moon. It's as if saying that you haven't had time to shine bright yet because this other guy has been so marvelous and bright that everyone has been absorbed with him. Now however, since he is gone, other poets can "slip onstage" and become brighter in the eyes of readers and writers because this once bright sun is now gone these people that are compared to the moon can step in and try to fulfill his place.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Richard Brautigan
Window's Lament
It's not quite cold enough
to go borrow some firewood
from the neighbors.
This poem is very interesting because it isn't your traditional haiku about nature. Brautigan took the structure of a haiku but used a different theme than what haiku's usually are. The poem however still sticks to the concentrated point, which is hard to vary from with only 17 syllables to use. I liked this poem though because it is about his life or peoples' lives and not about nature. It is more psychological than it is natural. Overall I think the idea that he went with in this haiku is effective because it is unique.
The idea that Brautigan uses in this poem that I would like to use is using haiku for daily life in psychological ways, not necessarily in a natural sense. Also just using haiku poems; I want to start writing more haiku style poems than free-style. I'm glad I was able to come across Brautigan's haiku because it has inspired me and solidified the fact that I want to write haiku. The idea of using the structure of a haiku but describing a situation other than what occurs in nature is a unique way to go about writing a haiku and I would like to try it.
Window's Lament
It's not quite cold enough
to go borrow some firewood
from the neighbors.
This poem is very interesting because it isn't your traditional haiku about nature. Brautigan took the structure of a haiku but used a different theme than what haiku's usually are. The poem however still sticks to the concentrated point, which is hard to vary from with only 17 syllables to use. I liked this poem though because it is about his life or peoples' lives and not about nature. It is more psychological than it is natural. Overall I think the idea that he went with in this haiku is effective because it is unique.
The idea that Brautigan uses in this poem that I would like to use is using haiku for daily life in psychological ways, not necessarily in a natural sense. Also just using haiku poems; I want to start writing more haiku style poems than free-style. I'm glad I was able to come across Brautigan's haiku because it has inspired me and solidified the fact that I want to write haiku. The idea of using the structure of a haiku but describing a situation other than what occurs in nature is a unique way to go about writing a haiku and I would like to try it.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Natural History
Natural History
E.B. White
The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unfolds a plan of her devising,
A thin premeditated rig
To use in rising.
And all that journey down through space,
In cool descent and loyal hearted,
She spins a ladder to the place
From where she started.
Thus I, gone forth as spiders do
In spider's web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken thread to you
For my returning.
This letter (in the form of a poem) was written to "Katherine" from the "King Edward Hotel, Toronto". I'm not sure what that means, but the fact that it's a letter shows some significance. It means that these two people were communicating with one another, most likely on good terms. I would even go as far to say that they were lovers. There is an overall sound to the poem which makes it seem like that, such as "attach one silken thread to you for my returning". This sets the poems tone and automatically makes it come across as a love poem.
An effective strategy that E.B. White characterizes the spider as a woman. This is a metaphor to human life, as it is the woman who is stereotyped to stay at home while the man goes out and does his thing. It also shows how a spider, or woman, can be conniving. They seem harmless but trap you in their web. This poem shows a feminist view, but from a male narrarator. This is powerful because it is a view that is sometimes neglected but showing it from the oppositions view point in a positive manner makes it work really well and unique.
E.B. White
The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unfolds a plan of her devising,
A thin premeditated rig
To use in rising.
And all that journey down through space,
In cool descent and loyal hearted,
She spins a ladder to the place
From where she started.
Thus I, gone forth as spiders do
In spider's web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken thread to you
For my returning.
This letter (in the form of a poem) was written to "Katherine" from the "King Edward Hotel, Toronto". I'm not sure what that means, but the fact that it's a letter shows some significance. It means that these two people were communicating with one another, most likely on good terms. I would even go as far to say that they were lovers. There is an overall sound to the poem which makes it seem like that, such as "attach one silken thread to you for my returning". This sets the poems tone and automatically makes it come across as a love poem.
An effective strategy that E.B. White characterizes the spider as a woman. This is a metaphor to human life, as it is the woman who is stereotyped to stay at home while the man goes out and does his thing. It also shows how a spider, or woman, can be conniving. They seem harmless but trap you in their web. This poem shows a feminist view, but from a male narrarator. This is powerful because it is a view that is sometimes neglected but showing it from the oppositions view point in a positive manner makes it work really well and unique.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Those Winter Sundays
Robert Hayden
Those Winter Sundays
Sundays too my father got up early
And put his clothes on in the blueback cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.
I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he'd call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices?
In this poem Robert Hayden's appreciation for his father shows. He must have had a somewhat awkward connection with him because he makes it evident that he cares about what his dad does but never really is able to repay him, even if it is just keeping the house warm. This shows a part of who Hayden is as a person because he is able to appreciate a small thing that many people over look like keeping a house warm in the winter. His dad is up early every morning looking after his family and Hayden realizes this and looks up to his father for it greatly.
A strategy that Hayden uses in this poem is discribing the importance of something that is often overlooked in everyday life. This things which are often under played like this can have an unknown affect on people if they are put unto a pedestal and shown the signifcance of them. This can help a writer because they can write about a familiar topic of importance to them that many other people would ordinarily not understand. This can give people insight to the troubles in the lives of other people than just their own. Writing about personal sentimental stories can be effective because it lets others feel how the author does.
Those Winter Sundays
Sundays too my father got up early
And put his clothes on in the blueback cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.
I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he'd call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices?
In this poem Robert Hayden's appreciation for his father shows. He must have had a somewhat awkward connection with him because he makes it evident that he cares about what his dad does but never really is able to repay him, even if it is just keeping the house warm. This shows a part of who Hayden is as a person because he is able to appreciate a small thing that many people over look like keeping a house warm in the winter. His dad is up early every morning looking after his family and Hayden realizes this and looks up to his father for it greatly.
A strategy that Hayden uses in this poem is discribing the importance of something that is often overlooked in everyday life. This things which are often under played like this can have an unknown affect on people if they are put unto a pedestal and shown the signifcance of them. This can help a writer because they can write about a familiar topic of importance to them that many other people would ordinarily not understand. This can give people insight to the troubles in the lives of other people than just their own. Writing about personal sentimental stories can be effective because it lets others feel how the author does.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Island
Langston Hughes
Wave of sorrow,
Do not drown me now:
I see the island
Still ahead somehow.
I see the island
And its sands are fair:
Wave of sorrow,
Take me there.
This poem feels as if it is a metaphor for not giving up hope. Langston Hughes most likely faced racism and had to deal with it throughout his life, and his poetry may have helped him get through it. In this poem he is saying there is always that place that is good, and you should not give up till you get there. However, the means of getting there may be rough, such as "waves of sorrow". It may take pain to get there, but what he is saying is that you must ride that sorrow and stick it out to get to that "fair" place.
Using metaphors how Hughes uses them in the poem "Island" can be a useful tool. Metaphors can make overused topics seem new because it is a unique approach. In this case he uses and island symbolize hope and waves to symbolize a journey. In the end you can see how it is all a metaphor for racism. Using metaphor can also let you write about topics that may not be acceptable but if you "screen" it using metaphor you can acomplish what you want. Using metaphors can help enhance the meaning behind a story or poem when used properly.
Langston Hughes
Wave of sorrow,
Do not drown me now:
I see the island
Still ahead somehow.
I see the island
And its sands are fair:
Wave of sorrow,
Take me there.
This poem feels as if it is a metaphor for not giving up hope. Langston Hughes most likely faced racism and had to deal with it throughout his life, and his poetry may have helped him get through it. In this poem he is saying there is always that place that is good, and you should not give up till you get there. However, the means of getting there may be rough, such as "waves of sorrow". It may take pain to get there, but what he is saying is that you must ride that sorrow and stick it out to get to that "fair" place.
Using metaphors how Hughes uses them in the poem "Island" can be a useful tool. Metaphors can make overused topics seem new because it is a unique approach. In this case he uses and island symbolize hope and waves to symbolize a journey. In the end you can see how it is all a metaphor for racism. Using metaphor can also let you write about topics that may not be acceptable but if you "screen" it using metaphor you can acomplish what you want. Using metaphors can help enhance the meaning behind a story or poem when used properly.
Monday, December 13, 2010
The End and the Beginning
Wislawa Szymborska
After every war
someone has to clean up.
Things won't
straighten themselves up, after all.
Someone has to push the rubble
to the side of the road,
so the corpse-filled wagons
can pass.
Someone has to get mired
in scum and ashes,
sofa springs,
splintered glass,
and bloody rags.
Someone has to drag in a girder
to prop up a wall,
Someone has to glaze a window,
rehang a door.
Photogenic it's not,
and takes years.
All the cameras have left
for another war.
We'll need the bridges back,
and new railway stations.
Sleeves will go ragged
from rolling them up.
Someone, broom in hand,
still recalls the way it was.
Someone else listens
and nods with unsevered head.
But already there are those nearby
starting to mill about
who will find it dull.
From out of the bushes
sometimes someone still unearths
rusted-out arguments
and carries them to the garbage pile.
Those who knew
what was going on here
must make way for
those who know little.
And less than little.
And finally as little as nothing.
In the grass that has overgrown
causes and effects,
someone must be stretched out
blade of grass in his mouth
gazing at the clouds.
This poem must be based on events that happened in Wislawa Szymborska's life. She writes as if she has first hand knowledge on this subject and actually knows what it is like to recover from war. This poem very easily could have been written to help her vent her frustrations of the war. It is obvious she is bitter because she says how new people come in and think they know what happened there, but really they are just clueless. This poem is very effective at portraying the views of the people who feel that they have been cheated out of something, such as their land.
In this poem Wislawa Szymborska uses first hand knowledge to add emotion to her poem. Whenever you can add first hand knowledge into something you can always make it more meaningful. In this case she states how the people who are left in rubble must fix it themselves while staying out of the way "those who know little" of that place. It is effective because it adds real emotion into the story which makes the reader feel sympathetic towards her, but also feel disgusted by those who would come in and try to take over something that was once good. By using her first hand experiences she has added a feeling of real emotion into her poem, which is able to make readers better connect with the poem
Wislawa Szymborska
After every war
someone has to clean up.
Things won't
straighten themselves up, after all.
Someone has to push the rubble
to the side of the road,
so the corpse-filled wagons
can pass.
Someone has to get mired
in scum and ashes,
sofa springs,
splintered glass,
and bloody rags.
Someone has to drag in a girder
to prop up a wall,
Someone has to glaze a window,
rehang a door.
Photogenic it's not,
and takes years.
All the cameras have left
for another war.
We'll need the bridges back,
and new railway stations.
Sleeves will go ragged
from rolling them up.
Someone, broom in hand,
still recalls the way it was.
Someone else listens
and nods with unsevered head.
But already there are those nearby
starting to mill about
who will find it dull.
From out of the bushes
sometimes someone still unearths
rusted-out arguments
and carries them to the garbage pile.
Those who knew
what was going on here
must make way for
those who know little.
And less than little.
And finally as little as nothing.
In the grass that has overgrown
causes and effects,
someone must be stretched out
blade of grass in his mouth
gazing at the clouds.
This poem must be based on events that happened in Wislawa Szymborska's life. She writes as if she has first hand knowledge on this subject and actually knows what it is like to recover from war. This poem very easily could have been written to help her vent her frustrations of the war. It is obvious she is bitter because she says how new people come in and think they know what happened there, but really they are just clueless. This poem is very effective at portraying the views of the people who feel that they have been cheated out of something, such as their land.
In this poem Wislawa Szymborska uses first hand knowledge to add emotion to her poem. Whenever you can add first hand knowledge into something you can always make it more meaningful. In this case she states how the people who are left in rubble must fix it themselves while staying out of the way "those who know little" of that place. It is effective because it adds real emotion into the story which makes the reader feel sympathetic towards her, but also feel disgusted by those who would come in and try to take over something that was once good. By using her first hand experiences she has added a feeling of real emotion into her poem, which is able to make readers better connect with the poem
Sunday, December 5, 2010
My heart leaps up when I behold
William Wordsworth
MY heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began,
So is it now I am a man,
So be it when I shall grow old
Or let me die!
The child is father of the man:
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
This poem talks about how natural beauty, such as a rainbow, has always been fascinating to him. I think it is interesting how he shows this lasting astonishment for nature throughout his life. I also like how he pretty much states that the day he doesn't find happiness in nature's gifts, like rainbows, than he might as well die. The third to last line sticks out a lot to me; I think he is speaking as that the rainbow is a child since it was just "born" and has given him the joy and happiness and his like. The whole idea about nature giving happiness to man is a very special theme, and it is portrayed very well in this poem.
There are several techniques that Wordsworth uses in this poem that can help poets be more effective. When he uses the repitition of the word "so" to explain the progression in his life it shows there is still similarity regardless of the change in age. This resembles how he is still affected by the sight of a rainbow through out the years even though he is a grown man. Using a single word to congeal a span of time throughout his life and highlight the consistency. By using this I think that a poet can make a passage of time hold together and help show how things can stay the same with time.
William Wordsworth
MY heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began,
So is it now I am a man,
So be it when I shall grow old
Or let me die!
The child is father of the man:
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
This poem talks about how natural beauty, such as a rainbow, has always been fascinating to him. I think it is interesting how he shows this lasting astonishment for nature throughout his life. I also like how he pretty much states that the day he doesn't find happiness in nature's gifts, like rainbows, than he might as well die. The third to last line sticks out a lot to me; I think he is speaking as that the rainbow is a child since it was just "born" and has given him the joy and happiness and his like. The whole idea about nature giving happiness to man is a very special theme, and it is portrayed very well in this poem.
There are several techniques that Wordsworth uses in this poem that can help poets be more effective. When he uses the repitition of the word "so" to explain the progression in his life it shows there is still similarity regardless of the change in age. This resembles how he is still affected by the sight of a rainbow through out the years even though he is a grown man. Using a single word to congeal a span of time throughout his life and highlight the consistency. By using this I think that a poet can make a passage of time hold together and help show how things can stay the same with time.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Eagle
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls:
He watches from the mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
This poem is really cool because it takes a topic that can be just very plain and boring to write/read about but it is actually a good poem. It is short, but precise, just like how the eagle is described as flashing down like a thunderbolt. The poem really shows how open and free eagles are, and how nature around them is so peaceful, yet, the eagle is there to strike down in a moment and capture its pray all in such a graceful manor. I think this poem is really trying to portray the peacefulness that the eagle has. It also shows the eagle as a dominant force in nature.
One thing that can be taken from this poem is the stylistic idea of taking a maybe not so peaceful sight (such as an eagle capturing pray) and making it seem like a delicate and peaceful part of nature. There is nothing in this poem that isn't described with natural words, which makes everything about it seem pure, even the act of catching pray. The poem flows smoothly with words that combine nicely with each other to help it sound like a real setting. Everything about the eagle is just simplistic and easy going. It prooves how nature can really be freeing.
The Eagle
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls:
He watches from the mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
This poem is really cool because it takes a topic that can be just very plain and boring to write/read about but it is actually a good poem. It is short, but precise, just like how the eagle is described as flashing down like a thunderbolt. The poem really shows how open and free eagles are, and how nature around them is so peaceful, yet, the eagle is there to strike down in a moment and capture its pray all in such a graceful manor. I think this poem is really trying to portray the peacefulness that the eagle has. It also shows the eagle as a dominant force in nature.
One thing that can be taken from this poem is the stylistic idea of taking a maybe not so peaceful sight (such as an eagle capturing pray) and making it seem like a delicate and peaceful part of nature. There is nothing in this poem that isn't described with natural words, which makes everything about it seem pure, even the act of catching pray. The poem flows smoothly with words that combine nicely with each other to help it sound like a real setting. Everything about the eagle is just simplistic and easy going. It prooves how nature can really be freeing.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Week 3
The Piano Speaks
by Sandra Beasley Sandra Beasley
After Erik Satie
For an hour I forgot my fat self,
my neurotic innards, my addiction to alignment.
For an hour I forgot my fear of rain.
For an hour I was a salamander
shimmying through the kelp in search of shore,
and under his fingers the notes slid loose
from my belly in a long jellyrope of eggs
that took root in the mud. And what
would hatch, I did not know—
a lie. A waltz. An apostle of glass.
For an hour I stood on two legs
and ran. For an hour I panted and galloped.
For an hour I was a maple tree,
and under the summer of his fingers
the notes seeded and winged away
in the clutch of small, elegant helicopters.
This poem was particularly interesting to me because I was fortunate enough to hear to poet herself actually read the poem to me and my creative writing class. This poem is so intriguing by the way Sandra Beasley gives life to the piano and makes it feel things and think things. It is such a unique concept that a particular piano player (Satie) can give this dull inanimate object so much life and purpose to it. This poem takes the piano and makes it seem so natural and pure. This really proves how she feels that music, especially by an expert like Satie, can make dull things have life and seem brilliant.
The thing that Sandra Beasley used in her poem that I tried to use in mine is the idea of breaking out of a cage and just being free. I lifted a line from her poem to begin mine and took off from there. In my poem the theme was how just unthinking things can help you enjoy life, and that sometimes people just think too much and are too up-tight. Her idea of breaking into primitive instincts, like how the piano did, helps show that life can be excellent if you just go and do what is fun and possibly childish. Another thing Beasley does so well is her imagary and word choice. The lines "under his fingers the notes slid loose/from my belly in a long jellyrope of eggs/that took root in the mud." are, in my opinion, the best example from this poem of how smooth everything the piano was doing was. You can picture exactly what Beasley was intending, and you actually feel the kind of slimy "belly in a long jellyrope of eggs". It is amazing, and this along with many other of her techniques can be valuable to a writer.
by Sandra Beasley Sandra Beasley
After Erik Satie
For an hour I forgot my fat self,
my neurotic innards, my addiction to alignment.
For an hour I forgot my fear of rain.
For an hour I was a salamander
shimmying through the kelp in search of shore,
and under his fingers the notes slid loose
from my belly in a long jellyrope of eggs
that took root in the mud. And what
would hatch, I did not know—
a lie. A waltz. An apostle of glass.
For an hour I stood on two legs
and ran. For an hour I panted and galloped.
For an hour I was a maple tree,
and under the summer of his fingers
the notes seeded and winged away
in the clutch of small, elegant helicopters.
This poem was particularly interesting to me because I was fortunate enough to hear to poet herself actually read the poem to me and my creative writing class. This poem is so intriguing by the way Sandra Beasley gives life to the piano and makes it feel things and think things. It is such a unique concept that a particular piano player (Satie) can give this dull inanimate object so much life and purpose to it. This poem takes the piano and makes it seem so natural and pure. This really proves how she feels that music, especially by an expert like Satie, can make dull things have life and seem brilliant.
The thing that Sandra Beasley used in her poem that I tried to use in mine is the idea of breaking out of a cage and just being free. I lifted a line from her poem to begin mine and took off from there. In my poem the theme was how just unthinking things can help you enjoy life, and that sometimes people just think too much and are too up-tight. Her idea of breaking into primitive instincts, like how the piano did, helps show that life can be excellent if you just go and do what is fun and possibly childish. Another thing Beasley does so well is her imagary and word choice. The lines "under his fingers the notes slid loose/from my belly in a long jellyrope of eggs/that took root in the mud." are, in my opinion, the best example from this poem of how smooth everything the piano was doing was. You can picture exactly what Beasley was intending, and you actually feel the kind of slimy "belly in a long jellyrope of eggs". It is amazing, and this along with many other of her techniques can be valuable to a writer.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Whatif
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!
Shel Silverstein
This poem fits the characteristics that Silverstein is known by. Its fun rhythm and rhymes about everyday situations makes it a perfect signature poem of his. The repetition in this poem really shows how the mind can run wild at night, going through many thoughts rapidly. This poem is very relatable to pretty much anyone. Everybody has those times when they just lie in bed thinking about life, and sometimes things that are completely obsurd. This poem captures those thoughts by offering realistic ideas that may shoot through peoples' heads to more farfetched ideas that are unique to each individual. This poem shows how people can be self-conscious when they have time to think. The ending of this poem is that brief moment when sleep is almost upon you, then you are suddenly hit by another thought that keeps you going on to new thoughts. It is a process that is tiring and sometimes frustrating, but at the same time entertaining. Silverstein captures all of this in the poem by using his repetition and unique ideas.
One thing useful from this poem is how is runs through the actual stages of a real event. The poem goes from unrest to a brief moment of rest, just like at night-time your mind can go from thought after thought to suddenly slowing down and being ready to sleep. The idea of portraying the real time events in the same order as in your poem helps it make more sense and adds effect. This process can be used for any type of poem, from school to seasons to the development of your life. This process also helps set up your poems by helping you know an obvious starting point and a logical ending point. The sequence this poem follows is obvious and really portrays the chaos that happens when your mind runs wild at night. Using a technique like this could be an effective way to add more feeling to your poems and help readers easily relate to them.
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!
Shel Silverstein
This poem fits the characteristics that Silverstein is known by. Its fun rhythm and rhymes about everyday situations makes it a perfect signature poem of his. The repetition in this poem really shows how the mind can run wild at night, going through many thoughts rapidly. This poem is very relatable to pretty much anyone. Everybody has those times when they just lie in bed thinking about life, and sometimes things that are completely obsurd. This poem captures those thoughts by offering realistic ideas that may shoot through peoples' heads to more farfetched ideas that are unique to each individual. This poem shows how people can be self-conscious when they have time to think. The ending of this poem is that brief moment when sleep is almost upon you, then you are suddenly hit by another thought that keeps you going on to new thoughts. It is a process that is tiring and sometimes frustrating, but at the same time entertaining. Silverstein captures all of this in the poem by using his repetition and unique ideas.
One thing useful from this poem is how is runs through the actual stages of a real event. The poem goes from unrest to a brief moment of rest, just like at night-time your mind can go from thought after thought to suddenly slowing down and being ready to sleep. The idea of portraying the real time events in the same order as in your poem helps it make more sense and adds effect. This process can be used for any type of poem, from school to seasons to the development of your life. This process also helps set up your poems by helping you know an obvious starting point and a logical ending point. The sequence this poem follows is obvious and really portrays the chaos that happens when your mind runs wild at night. Using a technique like this could be an effective way to add more feeling to your poems and help readers easily relate to them.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
This poem seems very unique. It speaks of destruction of the Earth in a very calm manner. Actually, Robert Frost doesn't just keep his cool when writing, but he goes to suggest that he would prefer to be destroyed by fire over ice. I am curious as to what inspired him to write this poem. It is a laid back poem about a dire situation. Frost's style really shines through in this one showing that he is not caught up in how he is going to leave this world, he simply accepts the fact that he will go in some fasion and it truly doesn't matter to him.
I think the most important thing that can be taken from this poem is the style that Robert Frost shows. His style seems more like what you would see in a poem about daily activities that are somewhat comical. This event is a pretty big thing and he writes in a way that comes across as laid back or even unphased by the end of the earth. This style can be effective because it gives the reader a curve ball. It makes them curious and interested in your writing and your topic and how you could keep controlled and stay nonchalant about it. The contrast of two destructions, for Frost, comes across as if it is just a decision as to whether he wants his pizza microwaved or straight from the fridge. His style in this poem effective and powerful, and can be used to make different works have a unique edge and come across as meaningful.
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
This poem seems very unique. It speaks of destruction of the Earth in a very calm manner. Actually, Robert Frost doesn't just keep his cool when writing, but he goes to suggest that he would prefer to be destroyed by fire over ice. I am curious as to what inspired him to write this poem. It is a laid back poem about a dire situation. Frost's style really shines through in this one showing that he is not caught up in how he is going to leave this world, he simply accepts the fact that he will go in some fasion and it truly doesn't matter to him.
I think the most important thing that can be taken from this poem is the style that Robert Frost shows. His style seems more like what you would see in a poem about daily activities that are somewhat comical. This event is a pretty big thing and he writes in a way that comes across as laid back or even unphased by the end of the earth. This style can be effective because it gives the reader a curve ball. It makes them curious and interested in your writing and your topic and how you could keep controlled and stay nonchalant about it. The contrast of two destructions, for Frost, comes across as if it is just a decision as to whether he wants his pizza microwaved or straight from the fridge. His style in this poem effective and powerful, and can be used to make different works have a unique edge and come across as meaningful.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Chapter 22
In this Chapter Foster talks about blind people and how they generally have a better view of the world then the main character. It is the blind person that shows the main character the proper ways, or sheds true light on whatever subject. At first I thought of blind main characters like Daredevil and the guy from "The Book of Eli" but then I realized how it talked about a side character being blind. The first thing that came to my head was the play "Antigone". Tiresias is the blind guy in this play like mentioned in the chapter, but he is the only one that sees what is the truth and what will actually happen. Introducing a blind man into a play adds irony automatically because it is almost guaranteed that the blind person will be more aware then those that can actually see what is going on. One of the main purposes for making somebody blind is to highlight the ignorance around that man. If a blind man can see the world for what it actually is then why can't a person who has vision? Writers use the blind characters to help make their points clearer and to help point out flaws with regular humans that don't suffer such handicaps.
Chapter 21
For this chapter I refer to Harry Potter book/movie.
In this Chapter Foster reveals how characters that are marked with some unusual physical characteristic are marked for greatness. Some of the first things that came to my mind when responding to this chapter were Forest Gump and Nemo. Those, of course, are movies so I decided to actually choose a book that I had read: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Harry's mark on his forehead represents many things of his past, and what he will become in the future. Everyone knows Lord Voldemort came to the Potter house, murdered his family and tried to kill Harry but could not succeed. What was left of Voldemort's attemp was a zig-zag scar or Harry's forehead. This scar represents his tragic past, the power that is within him, and the dificult road he has ahead of him. You may ask how is this a mark of greatness? Well it is because of all the reasons for what the scar represents. The fact that one of the most powerful wizards known could not but leave a scar on an infant's forehead automatically sets Harry up for stardom. The reason why Voldemort couldn't hurt him though is even more important: the fact that Harry has so much magic potential in him that made him able to resists spells. This just shows that if he takes the proper path and listens to guidance he will inevitably be a great wizard. Finally the scar represents the path ahead of him because he knows Voldemort is still out there and able to get him. The scar is a mark of greatness in so many different ways, and really exemplifies the thoughts of the chapter almost perfectly.
In this Chapter Foster reveals how characters that are marked with some unusual physical characteristic are marked for greatness. Some of the first things that came to my mind when responding to this chapter were Forest Gump and Nemo. Those, of course, are movies so I decided to actually choose a book that I had read: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Harry's mark on his forehead represents many things of his past, and what he will become in the future. Everyone knows Lord Voldemort came to the Potter house, murdered his family and tried to kill Harry but could not succeed. What was left of Voldemort's attemp was a zig-zag scar or Harry's forehead. This scar represents his tragic past, the power that is within him, and the dificult road he has ahead of him. You may ask how is this a mark of greatness? Well it is because of all the reasons for what the scar represents. The fact that one of the most powerful wizards known could not but leave a scar on an infant's forehead automatically sets Harry up for stardom. The reason why Voldemort couldn't hurt him though is even more important: the fact that Harry has so much magic potential in him that made him able to resists spells. This just shows that if he takes the proper path and listens to guidance he will inevitably be a great wizard. Finally the scar represents the path ahead of him because he knows Voldemort is still out there and able to get him. The scar is a mark of greatness in so many different ways, and really exemplifies the thoughts of the chapter almost perfectly.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Chapter 26
For this I read the "The Unknown Citizen"
This poem was definitely not my favorite I have ever read. I also did not find anything super ironic about it, but I'm taking a stab in hopes to become a better AP student. After reading this, I find it ironic that a poem would be written about an average old joe like the guy the narrator is describing. Then I go on to and remember the "Bureau of Statistics were in on every detail of this man's life. It is weird that they would want to know so much about a guy who is just like everyone else in the world. Then it goes to talk about he had five children, which Eugenists say is a normal amount of kids. I actually have never heard of a Eugenist, but to have one giving advise about this average guy being talked about seems like it would cost money to get his opinion. In general, to be researching every detail of this man's life is just ironic. He has done no heroics, nothing spectacular, nothing outgoing, yet he is still under the microscope. For him to be called the "unknown man" is the biggest irony of the poem because infact everything is known about him except his name. All things this man has done are known, but his name is left a mystery, which of course is a great example of irony
This poem was definitely not my favorite I have ever read. I also did not find anything super ironic about it, but I'm taking a stab in hopes to become a better AP student. After reading this, I find it ironic that a poem would be written about an average old joe like the guy the narrator is describing. Then I go on to and remember the "Bureau of Statistics were in on every detail of this man's life. It is weird that they would want to know so much about a guy who is just like everyone else in the world. Then it goes to talk about he had five children, which Eugenists say is a normal amount of kids. I actually have never heard of a Eugenist, but to have one giving advise about this average guy being talked about seems like it would cost money to get his opinion. In general, to be researching every detail of this man's life is just ironic. He has done no heroics, nothing spectacular, nothing outgoing, yet he is still under the microscope. For him to be called the "unknown man" is the biggest irony of the poem because infact everything is known about him except his name. All things this man has done are known, but his name is left a mystery, which of course is a great example of irony
Chapter 19
I'll refer to The Scarlet Letter for this one.
In chapter 19 Foster describes the importance that geography has in literature. While I was reading this chapter I was thinking about what books I have read that stand true to what he is saying. The first book I thought of right off the top of my head was The Scarlet Letter. In this book all the settings help build not just the imagery, but the plot, mood, and charaterization of each indvidual. The dreary town in Massachusetts is describe in the very opening, and the buildings and everything around the town that set the book off in the right direction by making it seem so bland. The rose described outside the courthouse or jailhouse (or whatever it was) is part of the geography as well, which shows a sign of hope and beauty when all else looks bad. The Massachusetts setting is very important to remember in this story because in that time period those people were very stuck to their ways and none of this could have taken place anywhere else. It was the Northeast that was very superstitious, religious, and paranoid. It is important to remember geography is not just setting, but can be symbollic. In The Scarlet Letter alot takes place in a forest. This forest isn't imporant only because it is outside of the town and provides Hester protection, but this forest represents the evil of the blackman, the seldomness Hester faces, the self providingness that Hester has learned. Just like a forest she is on her own. This novel's geography is very vital in setting up the book how it is, and in like many stories it would not be the same without its geography.
In chapter 19 Foster describes the importance that geography has in literature. While I was reading this chapter I was thinking about what books I have read that stand true to what he is saying. The first book I thought of right off the top of my head was The Scarlet Letter. In this book all the settings help build not just the imagery, but the plot, mood, and charaterization of each indvidual. The dreary town in Massachusetts is describe in the very opening, and the buildings and everything around the town that set the book off in the right direction by making it seem so bland. The rose described outside the courthouse or jailhouse (or whatever it was) is part of the geography as well, which shows a sign of hope and beauty when all else looks bad. The Massachusetts setting is very important to remember in this story because in that time period those people were very stuck to their ways and none of this could have taken place anywhere else. It was the Northeast that was very superstitious, religious, and paranoid. It is important to remember geography is not just setting, but can be symbollic. In The Scarlet Letter alot takes place in a forest. This forest isn't imporant only because it is outside of the town and provides Hester protection, but this forest represents the evil of the blackman, the seldomness Hester faces, the self providingness that Hester has learned. Just like a forest she is on her own. This novel's geography is very vital in setting up the book how it is, and in like many stories it would not be the same without its geography.
Chapter 15
"It's really pretty straightforward: flight is freedom. It doesn't always work out that way, but the basic principle is pretty sound. Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus offers a comparative rarity, a fictional character who actually possesses wings. Carter's heroine, Fevvers, is a woman whose flying act has made her the toast of circuses a music halls across Europe. It also set her apart. She is not like other people, cannot comfortably fit into normal human life." (Page 128)
In this chapter Foster makes to major assertions. The first is that the ability to fly is the ability to be free. Then he goes on to say how Fevvers is indeed not free because society has trapped her to abuse her abilities for entertainment. I think there may be a deeper message in all of these. It's that she has the ability to be free, but society reigns her in and makes her do what they want. I think you could relate this to individual citizens and their government. Each individual has an opportunity to be free, but they must follow the rules of the government or suffer the consequences such as jail. It's an irony that Foster mentions, flight means freedom, but this freedom is usually limited. A perfect example of this is Peter Pan. He is an orphan that feels trapped in the orphanage but gains the ability to fly and thus gains freedom. This freedom is also abused sometimes like mentioned with Icarus. This represents the freedom people want, but abuse it or those that do not appreciate it. Why people are like that is unable to be answered. But for literary uses, flight or the ability to fly work very effectively in displaying the freedom that is involved with flight and the restrictions as well.
In this chapter Foster makes to major assertions. The first is that the ability to fly is the ability to be free. Then he goes on to say how Fevvers is indeed not free because society has trapped her to abuse her abilities for entertainment. I think there may be a deeper message in all of these. It's that she has the ability to be free, but society reigns her in and makes her do what they want. I think you could relate this to individual citizens and their government. Each individual has an opportunity to be free, but they must follow the rules of the government or suffer the consequences such as jail. It's an irony that Foster mentions, flight means freedom, but this freedom is usually limited. A perfect example of this is Peter Pan. He is an orphan that feels trapped in the orphanage but gains the ability to fly and thus gains freedom. This freedom is also abused sometimes like mentioned with Icarus. This represents the freedom people want, but abuse it or those that do not appreciate it. Why people are like that is unable to be answered. But for literary uses, flight or the ability to fly work very effectively in displaying the freedom that is involved with flight and the restrictions as well.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Chapter 16
"There's an ugly rumor circulating that english porfessors have dirty minds. It's not true, of course. We're no more dirty-minded than society at large, although that may not be of any great comfort. Well, let me assure you that english professors are not innately prurient. It's just that they can recognize the sexual intentions of writers, who may well have dirty minds." (Page 135)
In this chapter Foster suggests that sex is a big part of literature and is hiden within all sorts of works. This idea is a little farfetched to me, but maybe the next chapter will clarify. I can somewhat understand what Foster is saying about sex being encoded in literature at some times, but to say "it's all about sex" is just outrageous. I do get that it would be a little graphic and inappropriate to write certain things in books, or even show them in movies, so writers use other scenes to portray these actions. I don't read much literature but I definitely see it in movies or tv shows all to often. The last little section in the chapter about bowls and keys representing sex is pretty weird and I don't quite get how people could conclude that it does. Anyhow, maybe I'll follow this up with another blog after I read the next chapter entitled "unless it's not".
In this chapter Foster suggests that sex is a big part of literature and is hiden within all sorts of works. This idea is a little farfetched to me, but maybe the next chapter will clarify. I can somewhat understand what Foster is saying about sex being encoded in literature at some times, but to say "it's all about sex" is just outrageous. I do get that it would be a little graphic and inappropriate to write certain things in books, or even show them in movies, so writers use other scenes to portray these actions. I don't read much literature but I definitely see it in movies or tv shows all to often. The last little section in the chapter about bowls and keys representing sex is pretty weird and I don't quite get how people could conclude that it does. Anyhow, maybe I'll follow this up with another blog after I read the next chapter entitled "unless it's not".
Chapter 13
"So is every literary work political? I can't go that far. Some of my more political colleagues may tell you yes, that every work is either part of the social problem or part of the solution. I do think, though, that most works must engage with their own specific period in ways that can be called political." (Page 115)
In this chapter Foster makes it clear that he believes politics influence a major portion of all literature, and I have to agree with that. He talks about how writers generally write about the world around them and much of the stuff going on around them is a part of politics. So whatever the writer is inspired by to write about more chances than not it will be influenced by politics. Sometimes the writer may be writing to simply state their views on a possible solution to fix something in society that they feel does not work. Others may write because they feel there are problems in society that are not well known or understood so writing a novel could help spread the word about the issue. Using works of literature can be a very effective way of persuading or influencing an audience without them even knowing it. When a reader is reading, they generally connect with the main character. If this main character were to be in poverty or whatever it may be, the reader would be more apt to feel sympathy towards that type of person, even if they're fictional, because they get to see every detail about that person's hardships. This is a manipulative way that writers use that can broaden their audiences political views to that of the writers. In the end, it is safe to say that writers are motivated by the world around them, and since the world around them is governed by politics there will likely be a politcal aspect to the literary work.
In this chapter Foster makes it clear that he believes politics influence a major portion of all literature, and I have to agree with that. He talks about how writers generally write about the world around them and much of the stuff going on around them is a part of politics. So whatever the writer is inspired by to write about more chances than not it will be influenced by politics. Sometimes the writer may be writing to simply state their views on a possible solution to fix something in society that they feel does not work. Others may write because they feel there are problems in society that are not well known or understood so writing a novel could help spread the word about the issue. Using works of literature can be a very effective way of persuading or influencing an audience without them even knowing it. When a reader is reading, they generally connect with the main character. If this main character were to be in poverty or whatever it may be, the reader would be more apt to feel sympathy towards that type of person, even if they're fictional, because they get to see every detail about that person's hardships. This is a manipulative way that writers use that can broaden their audiences political views to that of the writers. In the end, it is safe to say that writers are motivated by the world around them, and since the world around them is governed by politics there will likely be a politcal aspect to the literary work.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Chapter 12
For this chapter I read "Digging" by Seamus Heaney. (Mainly because I was already familiar with it because of Ms. Short's class)
The symbols are evident in the poem "Digging", well actually I suppose anything could be a symbol after reading this chapter, and any symbol could have any meaning, but there are a few that stand out in this poem. With a name like Seamus Heaney it is very safe to assume the writer is Irish if you have no prior knowledge of him. Also the details in the story fit that of the Irish life style. Having established that we're talking about an Irish family, the symbols can be narrowed down in their meaning now. First of what sticks out most is the "squat pen" mentioned in the second line. The pen represents the life style Seamus Heaney has chosen for himself. His ancestors have mastered the spade, however Seamus Heaney changes paths and seeks to master the pen, or writing. This pen doesn't only represent his style of life chosen, it represents the power of choice and the ability to chose what fits for each individual. The spade and pen may be different chosen life styles the father and son picked up, but there is similarity in this poem. Line 14 mentions how "we love" the feeling of potatoes in their hands. Both father and son enjoy something that one works to harvest, which makes me assume that both father and son can enjoy poems, or literature. This line, or simply just the potato, symbolizes the togetherness of bloodlines and how each generation may vary they always have some common ground they can go back to. Finally, the last line, one word in particular: Dig, sticks out and symbolizes the work that is being chosen. Heaney says "Between my finger and my thumb the squat pen rests. I'll dig with it." Obviously he won't dig with it, but this serves as a metaphor that shows the symbolic meaning of the word dig and how it just symbolizes any profession any general whether it be writing or digging or anything. Any interpretation can be taking from any writing, and what I learned is that symbols are unique to the reader, and these are what struck me as symbols in the poem.
The symbols are evident in the poem "Digging", well actually I suppose anything could be a symbol after reading this chapter, and any symbol could have any meaning, but there are a few that stand out in this poem. With a name like Seamus Heaney it is very safe to assume the writer is Irish if you have no prior knowledge of him. Also the details in the story fit that of the Irish life style. Having established that we're talking about an Irish family, the symbols can be narrowed down in their meaning now. First of what sticks out most is the "squat pen" mentioned in the second line. The pen represents the life style Seamus Heaney has chosen for himself. His ancestors have mastered the spade, however Seamus Heaney changes paths and seeks to master the pen, or writing. This pen doesn't only represent his style of life chosen, it represents the power of choice and the ability to chose what fits for each individual. The spade and pen may be different chosen life styles the father and son picked up, but there is similarity in this poem. Line 14 mentions how "we love" the feeling of potatoes in their hands. Both father and son enjoy something that one works to harvest, which makes me assume that both father and son can enjoy poems, or literature. This line, or simply just the potato, symbolizes the togetherness of bloodlines and how each generation may vary they always have some common ground they can go back to. Finally, the last line, one word in particular: Dig, sticks out and symbolizes the work that is being chosen. Heaney says "Between my finger and my thumb the squat pen rests. I'll dig with it." Obviously he won't dig with it, but this serves as a metaphor that shows the symbolic meaning of the word dig and how it just symbolizes any profession any general whether it be writing or digging or anything. Any interpretation can be taking from any writing, and what I learned is that symbols are unique to the reader, and these are what struck me as symbols in the poem.
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