But largely, c’mon — you and I both know — real live American poetry is absent from our public schools. The teaching of poetry languishes, and that region of youthful neurological terrain capable of being ignited and aria’d only by poetry is largely dark, unpopulated, and silent, like a classroom whose door is unopened, whose shades are drawn.
This is more than a shame, for poetry is our common treasure-house, and we need its aliveness, its respect for the subconscious, its willingness to entertain ambiguity; we need its plaintive truth-telling about the human condition and its imaginative exhibitions of linguistic freedom, which confront the general culture’s more grotesque manipulations. We need the emotional training sessions poetry conducts us through. We need its previews of coming attractions: heartbreak, survival, failure, endurance, understanding, more heartbreak.
The first part of the fix is very simple: the list of poems taught in our schools needs to be updated. We must make a new and living catalogue accessible to teachers as well as students. The old chestnuts — “The Road Not Taken,” “I heard a fly buzz when I died,” “Do not go gentle into that good night” — great, worthy poems all — must be removed and replaced by poems that are not chestnuts. This refreshing of canonical content and tone will vitalize teachers and students everywhere, and just may revive our sense of the currency and relevance of poetry. Accomplish that, and we can renew the conversation, the teaching, everything. . .
If anthologies were structured to represent the way that most of us actually learn, they would begin in the present and “progress” into the past. I read Lawrence Ferlinghetti before I read D. H. Lawrence before I read Thomas Wyatt. Once the literate appetite is whetted, it will keep turning to new tastes. A reader who first falls in love with Billy Collins or Mary Oliver is likely then to drift into an anthology that includes Emily Dickinson and Thomas Hardy. . .
In the spirit of boosterism, I have selected twenty works I believe worthy of inclusion in this curriculum — works I believe could empower us with a common vocabulary of stories, values, points of reference. The brief explications and justifications I offer below for nine of these poems are not meant to foreclose the interpretive possibilities that are part of a good poem’s life force. Rather, I hope they will point to areas worthy of cultivation in that mysterious inner space, the American mind.
~Tony Hoagland, Poet
Okay, Tony. I accept your challenge. The thing is, I don’t care for your list of poems, so I’ve chosen my own. Class, here are twenty (plus one) poems to whet your appetites, and to entice you into the joys of poetry.
~ Jim MacArthur, Teacher
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Okay, here's what to do with the poetry packet. Two things.
1. Interact with the poems as you read them. Have a conversation with the poet. (See an example to the right as I read two poems by Marie Howe -- two-time poet at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival in Farmington.) If you're not sure how to read a poem -- no seriously, it's different from other reading, go here.
The completed, annotated set of poems must be turned in no later than September 1, 2017.
The completed, annotated set of poems must be turned in no later than September 1, 2017.
(3. If you need a copy of the Poem Packet, go to my THS webpage.)
By the way, I encourage all of you to drop by the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival this summer. (If you're under eighteen, it's free!) Poet Laureates who have read there in the past include Ted Kooser, Robert Pinsky, Billy Collins, Philip Levine, and Natasha Trethewey. (Natasha has been here twice -- once as a young unknown and then later in her first reading as Poet Laureate.) Many of the poets in your packet are Sunken Garden alumni. There's food and drink, live music, then a poetry reading -- all in a beautiful setting on a lovely summer evening. One can hardly get more civilized that that.
Introduction to Poetry really shows the art of poetry itself, not only how it can be an adventure, but the hidden meanings and imagery in poetry that the author conveys.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how it brings up the point that people often try to force meaning out of poetry when instead they should look deeper and find their own meaning.
DeleteUpon reading the section of the introduction which uses the creative metaphor of tying up a poem and torturing a confession out of it, my imagination instantly leapt to images of Vladimir Putin and the Russian KGB. It is quite significant that this short introductory piece was not only able to deliver a clear and powerful theme of actually analyzing poetry for what it is rather than taking such a standardized approach of analysis, but also to use genuinely poetic metaphors and images in the process of doing so.
DeleteOne poem I liked was, Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire, for two reasons. One, is that I grew up just a half hour from this Main Street that Jane Kenyon writes about in the poem. It brings me back to my childhood, reminiscing on trips of driving all the way to Tilton for back to school clothing or to go out for birthday dinners. The small town I lived in, lacked the presence of large retail and chain business, therefore bringing us to Tilton every few weeks. The second reason I enjoy this poem so much is that it brings forth the idea of how quickly time passes us by and how our world and our lives are in constant motion, changing perpetually. We experience events both big and small in life, all of which are certain to pass us by and become replaced by others, whether we realize it or not. I find the essence of time to be a very interesting topic and think that often times, we don't stop to enjoy the little things in life while we still have the time to do so. In many ways, the poem, Testament, by Hayden Carruth shares these same ideas of the passing of time and what we do with our time while we're still living.
ReplyDeleteAnother poem that stood out to me was, "Wishes for Sons", by Lucille Clifton. When I first read the poem, I thought it was funny to be quite honest. Clifton writes about wishing that men all had to go through the same inconveniences and hardships that women have to experience. She does so in a very direct and unreserved way that makes the poem a very "real" way of describing the every day struggles women face with factors that are simply out of their control. Sure, things like cramps, hot flashes, and clots are collectively just facts of life that all women will be forced to endure. However, Clifton doesn't really wish these things upon anyone. What she truly wishes for, is that men and sons realize and acknowledge these circumstances and be more understanding and less arrogant of them. This poem, directed towards men, boldly states that women go through a lot that men don't have to, and the least they could do is show a little empathy!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kacie here...
DeleteThis poem definitely stood out to me as not only as one of the easiest of the 21 to read, but also the one that provided the most meaningful message. Gender roles have always been a major part of our society and continue to be to this day. Lucille Clifton's poem helped me to understand an important, yet commonly overlooked issue in our daily lives. After reading this short text, I can "walk in a female's shoes" much more easily. This was without a doubt my favorite of these poems.
-ricky
I think one of the reasons “Rain in Childhood” was so impactful was because it immediately conjured up memories of school bus windows streaked with droplets and the noise a sudden shower made on the tin roof. The poet took a universal experience of childhood amazement at extreme weather and brought me back to every time we’ve trudged to Birch Grove in a morning storm or complained about our car tires slipping in the parking lot. As seniors, we have a lot to look back on, and I’ll miss standing at the bus stop with an umbrella and the joy of seeing the first snowflake float down from the sky in winter.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Eliza when she touches on the fact she immediately could remember what it was like to be sitting on the bus and waiting outside with her umbrella. This poem doesn't need to be beaten to death to find meaning, it's beautiful in the way it presents itself. The nostalgia I feel and the rain I hear and smell makes me happy. Ormsby writes "Our past already had such distances! Already in that fragrance we could sense the end of childhood, where remembrance stands." I think nostalgia is one of the greatest and most tragic things because something as simple as a smell can bring you back 20 years but at the same time you can never go back and live that again.
DeleteAdding to what both Vanessa and Eliza had sad, I think that the sole fact when Ormsby created such a clear picture of the feeling of closeness on that bus on the way to school on rainy days, we all got that feeling of nostalgia that he himself mentioned in the poem. This was my favorite descriptive poem because of that reason-it really evoked that same sensation I remember in the good old days.
Delete-Sarah Lateer
Two years ago I spent Labor Day in a tiny village in northern Massachusetts, Shelburne Falls, and I immediately thought of this when I read “Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire.” The physical features are the same almost anywhere in New England- the old-fashioned grocery store, the bank, the laundromat- and the unchanging appearance causes the town to seem suspended in time. I remember I was going back to school on Tuesday and being very conscious of trying to enjoy my last day of summer. I thought this poem captured the feeling that comes at the end of every August, when one minute, no matter how ordinary, seems more significant than anything else.
ReplyDelete"The Mercy" grabbed my attention twice - the first time by itself, and the second time because I suddenly remembered a book with a very similar story - right down to the discovery of bananas and oranges - that I read years ago. It got me wondering how many of Ellis Island's stories were the same one with different characters. -Anna Garow
ReplyDeleteI also really liked "The Mercy" because of the metaphor of the orange as mercy. The part about prayers keeping "the mercy" (the boat) afloat was also another metaphor for prayers bringing mercy. The beginning and and the end focus most on the orange. At the beginning, when she has her first orange, it's a metaphor for her first learning what mercy is and receiving it. Later in the last paragraph, where it says "She learns mercy is something you can eat..." it means that mercy is something you can be given again and again and it's always just as precious.
DeleteAlso, Anna's comment is interesting. Maybe this story is based off of a common folktale or a story involving Ellis Island, and maybe so are many of the other stories we hear about it.
The poem that made me the most interested was "Famous." It captivated my thought in a way that makes you think about what each individual thing in the world means to another person, place, or thing altogether. The line that I loved the most was "the bent photograph is famous to the one who carries it and is not at all famous to the one who is pictured" because it engages the idea of importance to a person. The bent photograph is meant to symbolize the idea of it being frequently looked at and brought to many places. The actual photo could symbolizes the memories of that photo because a "photo speaks a thousand words." What I also liked about the poem was the repetition of the word "famous" because it adds to the overall meaning of the poem where the word itself changes based on the context of it.
ReplyDeleteI also loved "Famous". Just reading it made me smile, but I think I interpreted a little differently. I did like how the word "famous" has a slightly different meaning while used in this context, but I'm not sure if the meaning changes or just puts what being "famous" is in a new perspective. I loved how the author wants to be "ordinarily famous" as a regular person known for doing something good.
DeleteI agree Phoebe, I think the author put the word “famous” in a new perspective rather than change the meaning based on the context. Just in the first line “The river is famous to the fish”, we can see that “famous” is placed in the perspective of importance to the fish, the river is the most important thing in the fish’s whole life.
DeleteIn addition to Michael's response about how the word “famous” could mean importance, I have concluded that “famous” could also have a connotation of being well known to something. A direct example from the poem that supports this is when the author writes, “The tear is famous, briefly, to the cheek.” This line explains how the tear is well known by the cheek because whenever people cry, the tear will always roll down their cheeks. Therefore, I believe the word “famous” throughout the poem can be connotated both meanings of important and well known to. -Isabelle Merluzzo
DeleteWhen you hear the word famous you think of celebrities, people you look up to in a weird way, money, popularity, etc. You wouldn't typically think of a buttonhole or a pulley...which is why I love this poem. You don't have to walk on water to be someone and to be something. All a person can ask for is to be remembered and have a void in the world to fill that means something to someone. I think the message is relatable to everyone whether you realize it for yourself or not.
DeleteI agree with all of the previous statements about the poem "Famous". The way the word is used puts it in a new perspective; however, again I think I interpreted it a little differently because I felt as though the author overused the word (though it was purposefully). When I got to the end, saying the word famous sounded funny in my head and almost lost it's meaning entirely. I think the author did this in order to take a hit at the way most people are entranced with "famous" people or things and want to be like them. Is fame a real concept or is it just something we've created in our heads? Is any one truly famous or are we all just living our lives with different perspectives? Because for example, one person could see Beyoncé as the most well-known "famous" person alive and be dying to just get to see her in concert one day, but also you have Beyoncé's daughter who just knows her as "mom".
Delete-Haley Zmijewski
"Those Winter Sundays" only really spoke to me the second time I read it. I, as well as many other people can relate. Parents show their children love in many different ways; some may directly state it, while others show love through the things they do. This father warmed his family's house every winter day, something the narrator took for granted. This poem makes me realize that I don't fully appreciate everything that my parents do for me. It reminded me that I should to say "thank you" just a little more often.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI totally agree with Phoebe. I think that often times we get so caught up in the patterns of our everyday lives that things become natural and we forget to acknowledge and respect the little things our families do for us. In this poem, the father makes sure to do his part and show his fatherly love by getting up on Sunday mornings. Even after his long and brutal work weeks, he'd make the house warm before his son got up and polish his shoes, only to have his son be unappreciative and unthankful. We truly have no reason to be ungrateful or "speak indifferently" towards our parents and yet sometimes, some of us still find ourselves doing so. I think it's important to show our gratitude for others and thank them while we have the opportunity.
DeleteI agree with you both as well. In "Those Winter Sundays", the lines that impacted me the most were, "Then with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him." This shows that this man is a dedicated, responsible father. He is dutifully fulfilling his mission on providing and protecting his family. Like in the aforementioned comments, the issue of 'wanting for nothing' is present. We expect and depend on other people doing crucial things for us and then we become immune to the sacrifices they make day in and day out because it's not a physical burden on us. Personally, I cannot imagine being a parent in my current state because even keeping up with myself and my own life is hard, nevertheless being solely responsible for others. I believe parents deserve the utmost respect for all of the care they give us. This poem goes to show dependability on our parents, especially when we are young, is immense. But this poem also goes to show we expect it and in turn don't appreciate it as much as we should. But then again, maybe this is just nature's course of the parents relationship with offspring.
Delete-Sarah Gorman
Joshua Walls says: I found that there was an overarching theme in the poetry packet. As I was reading, I noticed that the poems started out talking about children, as they went on, it talked about the teen years, puberty, getting in trouble, and the like. It eventually got to the adult years and what those contain, and finally, it talked about looking back on life, what you did during it, and how it ends. I found that to be very interesting.
ReplyDeleteGoing back and looking at it now, I too see that overarching theme.
DeleteTia Meares says: Poems can say things you don’t want to say out loud - they like to sneak in hidden meanings you really have to think about - or they can be just plain loud. One poem that has a clear message to me is Famous. My favorite lines were, “…famous as the one who smiled back… not because it did anything spectacular, but because it never forgot what to do.” Being famous is simple. Not just being famous but being a good person is simple. The way she wrote the poem is quite relaxed. This allowed me to ponder about my life and what small things I already do that largely impacts others. It comes down to the realization that the power to be kind, to be helpful or to make a difference is in our own hands. -Tia Meares
ReplyDeleteAnother poem I thought was food for thought was Anyways. Not only did I repeat the words anyway and anyways in my head a few hundred times but I listened to others around me, testing them to see which one they’d say. It felt natural to say anyways, plural. Like Suzanne Cleary said, it depends on your home, your culture, etc. Quite frankly I think it’s more optimistic to say anyways. When she says, “we hear what isn’t said” it talks about the idea of the unknown. The word “anyways” is a floodgate to multiple reasons because most things don’t have just one answer. -Tia Meares
In the poem Testament, Hayden Carruth writes what he will leave behind
for his lover/wife. He leaves little money because what he truly values are the
little joys in life - tulips for his wife or woodpeckers that will remind her
of fond memories. He describes these essential values as grains of sands
drifting to the bottom. I think Carruth believes American consumerism dominates
our world and we need to fill each of our own hourglasses with love and desires
before our time is up. -Tia Meares
Tia, I like what you said about the poem, "Famous" and how the author's relaxed and straightforward comparisons contributed to the overall feeling of the piece as well as the impact each natural occurrence and each person has on others alike. The author uses the world as a way to relate her own feelings towards her desire to make a difference and influence those around her.
DeleteWhile reading this set of poems, each one had a different impact on me. Whether it made me feel sad, happy, or even altered my opinion on something. That is what I believe makes poetry and literature so unique and important; everyone has a different response and interpretation of each piece.
ReplyDeleteEspecially, I would like to point out the poem "Undertaker". At first glance, only the the title seems to imply a depressing/ dark connotation, but at the conclusion, each left a deepened saddness in my heart.
Right off the bat "Undertaker" displays a gruesome visual, "When a bullet enters the brain, the head explodes". But as it goes on, the tone of death and darkness proceed, however, a sentimental element is added which ultimately leaves me devastated. The author incorporates the families despair as the undertaker preforms his job. This initially shook me because I have never contemplated the struggles an undertaker goes through each day and the terrible reality of what the job entails. It is horrific. I cannot fathom how a person can 'clean up a dead body' after/before talking to the ruined mother about her tragic loss. The line that made my stomach turn and put a knot in my throat was "We both jump as the phone rattles in its hook. I pray it's my wife, a bill collector, a wrong number. But the wide questioning silence on the other end is too familiar". I understand death is reoccurring and a part of life and constantly impending, but the part that breaks my heart is someone's loved one is gone, taken from them, and they will never get them back.
-Sarah Gorman
Kendall Hughes says:
DeleteI agree in that the opening of "Undertaker" shocked me, with its dark depiction of death. However, after multiple reads, it became one of my favorites in the packet. The repeating of the line "fix my boy" drove home the point that these mothers see their sons as they used to be. Mothers see them as children still: young and innocent and free from blame. And yet that isn't the truth. The boys didn't just get caught in the wrong situation at the wrong time. They aren't free from blame, most likely they were knowingly involved in the wrong situation. In this case I agree with the position of the undertaker. It is terrible that these people's children are dead, but you cannot over-glorify their lives. They cannot be forever remembered as innocent and a victim if that wasn't the truth. It's dishonest to their memory, and I think the undertaker wants the parents to realize that and to accept the children for who they truly were at the time of their death.
I had a very similar reaction to Sarah while reading this poem. Death is a brutal, dark concept that is put on a repeating cycle. The author demonstrates this cycle in his last stanza. "We both jump as the phone rattles in its hook...Another mother needing a miracle. Another homeboy coming home". This closing line has a strong significance because it truly emphasizes the darkness of death. The job as an Undertaker is gruesome and carries obvious mental trauma. As Sarah said, it is incredibly hard to fathom how a person can face a mother that just lost their child. Patricia Smith does an efficient job at personalizing this aspect to the audience. "...the mothers who sit doubled before my desk, knotting their smooth brown hands, and begin , fix my boy, fix my boy." She then goes into extreme detail between the difference of the victim's current appearance and his high school picture. However, the part that stood out to me the most was how the Undertaker learned to remove any and all emotional attachments to his patients. It seemed as though he became numb to what he was doing. For instance, "So I swallow hard, turn the photo face down, and talk numbers instead." Personally, I believe this was the authors way of displaying the darkness and misery that comes along with death. Although the Undertaker didn't personally know any of the victims that he's being paid to "fix", he finds himself needing to remove attachment from the victims and their mothers in order to get through his everyday job.
DeleteThis poem is just so incredibly powerful. I have no other words to describe it but just "wow". I love the metaphors in it, though. The undertaker is not just being paid to fix appearances, but to fix the mother's image and memory of her child. The mothers in denial and the undertaker who knows the truth is a really interesting concept, and also made me think of the phrase "don't speak ill of the dead" which is what the mothers are basically trying to do through their hiring the undertaker.
DeleteI think that "Undertaker" is one of the most brutally honest poems out of the entire selection. There are several elements of this poem that really struck me as gruesomely fascinating; the way that the undertaker himself was described as putting the bodies together, not just dutifully, but artistically, "...bent over my grisly puzzle piece, gluing, sticking, creating a chin with a brushstroke...," as well as the undertaker's perspective on the mother's of the deceased. He pitied them for their loss, and admitted he had to try to focus on the "business side" of operations when planning a funeral-"turn[ing] the photos face down..."-and yet quietly resented that there was so much of their sons that they refused to acknowledge. He lists all the excuses and reasons the mothers told him abut their sons' death, and that their son was a "good boy," although the undertaker, having done this for a while, knows it is likely that in urban neighborhoods, their sons' deaths were likely due to criminal activity or gang violence the mothers were not privy to.
DeleteThe main point I wanted to draw attention to was the harsh truth that often times, love (like the love the mothers felt for the sons) can blind you to the negative things that they do. It is in our nature tp want to believe in the good of people, and, as is an overlying theme in this compilation of poems, there is a fine line between belief of the good in people and naivety, which is further exemplified in this poem.
-Sarah Lateer
In addition to my previous comment, another poem that left a saddening impact on me was "Looking Back in My Eighty-First Year". This poem allowed me to concur that one of my biggest fears in life is asking my self on my death bed 'What if'? I want to be as engaged in life as I possibly can be so I can experience everything in life I want to. Reading this poem certainly put a damper on my mood because I actually felt sympathy for this person. This poem is riddled with "I should have" and to me that is depressing. When I am 81 I hope my statements are full of 'remember the time that I' or 'I can't believe that I did...' not 'I wish I did..' or 'I should have done...'. Certainly in life things come up that sidetrack you from your goals, but I think the overall meaning of life is to pursue happiness. At the time when you are young and thriving it is possible you don't know what makes you happy yet, but that is why it's so important to try a variety of different things to discover yourself.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem, I can conclude the reason the narrator did not fulfill her life ambitious is because she was forced into marriage and commitment prematurely. "Why didn't I go? I was fated". This line is disturbing because human life should be based on the idea of free will (to an extent). I believe everyone is born with the natural right to be happy. But as we see in this poem, her fate was decided for her. This relates to idea of men possessing women as objects and not individuals. Gender roles imply a certain set of barriers for women and men alike and as much as we hate to admit it, everyone plays into women should do this and men should be doing that. However, recently huge strides have been made in equality for men, women, and non gender specified persons. This is a sign of the times because today no one wants to reflect on their life and have regrets because they were forced to be someone they didn't want to be. This idea of free will continues to ignite the world's population to fight for equality for all and equal opportunity for all.
-Sarah Gorman
Sarah, I agree with the idea that it was common for women to practically be forced into marriages years ago, but I also think the people involved in the marriage written about in “Looking Back in My Eighty-First Year” genuinely wanted to be together. In the poem it says things like, “Passion had us locked together”, and “Marriage dizzied us”, implying that the couple wasn’t thinking rationally about their future plans when they were young since they were in love. However, I think the woman also had other hopes and dreams, too, that wouldn’t be able to be fulfilled if she got married, and she realized this in time for her wedding day. I think that the woman wanted both to be with this man and also to learn and travel, and she chose only to be with this man since it was the most realistic thing for a woman to do during this time, and she was already invested in the relationship.
DeleteI found the poem "Hymn to a Broken Marriage" to not only be tragic, but also to be extraordinarily insightful into the complicated nature of love. Paul Durcan essentially details how he would marry his wife over and over again to give the marriage a chance to succeed, even though this marriage is currently broken beyond repair. He still clearly loves this woman, but she feels as though she must move on to better things. As he realizes that he will never have a second chance, he accepts his position, even wishing her well in a way, saying "A sane man could not espouse a more intimate friend than you." This phraseology, while initially confusing, embodies the entire meaning of the poem. It essentially is an admission that he was insane to not appreciate what he had in her, while simultaneously being a warm sendoff to signify a lack of animosity towards her. The one other key element of this poem is that it has the feel of a note or a letter, which creates in the reader a feeling that they are the one who the poem is meant for. This genesis of feeling gives the poem a personal touch that forces the reader to truly examine its content and really appreciate the love behind it. The love expressed within this writing is true, and it is obvious that is was allowed to fade to the background throughout the course of this marriage. This, in my opinion, is the cruelest fate that can fall upon anyone person. You can really feel the pain of the author in this poem, and I this that is what makes it so good.
ReplyDelete"Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire" was a poem that specifically stood out to me as I looked back upon this selection of poems. Jane Kenyon did an excellent job of describing the beauty and uniqueness of an ordinary setting. She puts detail into the smallest places to make the scene truly come to life, whether it be her description of the young girl's rubber flip-flop finally disappearing behind the corner by the laundromat, or the "home-made wooden scaffolding" in the bed of the blue pick-up truck, with the woman sat in the cab, thought to be either crying or simply sweating due to the hot day. Kenyon put true interest into things that I wouldn't have thought twice about, which, at least to me, is a large part of poetry.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast to my understanding of "Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire" is my complete stupefaction over "Kafka: Lilacs." I'm not sure if the man being described is dying, or if he is simply so inebriated that he cannot function anymore. Along with this confusion, there is this nature scene that is underlying throughout the poem, but doesn't actually seem to exist. I am truly befuddled, and any assistance with this poem would be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though the subject of the poem is dying and remembering (perhaps deliriously) the events of his life. Death makes more sense than inebriation given the 'reliving one's life' typical of death scenes and the presence of friends. The lilacs in his room, specifically the water in their vase, brought back the memory of the lake, which led to other memories - the nature scene, which is "remote as memory and yet present as these lilacs".
DeleteMy interpretation of "Kafka: Lilacs" was that the man saw himself as the lilacs. He describes how "He thinks of how these last days dying, they have gone on drinking with such pleasure". He then goes on to describe his joyful past memories with his father. It was a happy, lively time in his life. I related this to how, in their prime, the lilacs were once beautiful flowers, but now are dying, just like the author.
DeleteI find it interesting that you considered he might be inebriated. I found a recurring motif of food/beverage throughout the poem, with multiple references of beer in particular. While I don't think that the poor state he is in presently has any relation to alcohol, seeing as it mentions "a glass of beer, and pills/ to numb the pain, both untouched", I do believe that the idea of drinking as he once was able to with his father "at a cafe by the shore" or perhaps with the friend that brings him strawberries, is a particular memory he may be latching onto for mental sustenance.
DeleteI feel comfortable assuming that the man is dying and especially based on the last two stanzas, in which he seems to be vividly imagining the consumption of food and drink as he used to, it seems that mentally is the only way he is able to sustain himself.
Sierra's analysis and the quote she mentions seem very viable too; the lilacs are drinking up the water in the vase the same way he may have his beer and their water sparkles just as the lake used to, and more symbolically, the way his younger self did too.
Out of all the poems in this packet, I spent the most time picking this one apart for meaning, as the first time reading it I was completely lost. I viewed most of this poem through the lens of "The Hunger Artist" by Franz Kafka, which lent the poem its title.
DeleteLike "Metamorphosis" that we read last year, there was a morbid undertone to this novel. The premise was that of a man, the Hunger Artist himself, who went from town to town across Europe where, in each town, he was locked up in a cage in the town's center without food for four days. The townspeople were distrustful of him, thinking that there was some way he was sneaking food in his cage, to the extent that in order to disprove the negations, the hunger artist sang all through the night to prove he wasn't consuming food. He was still tragically misunderstood, for in fact he knew he could go more than four days while fasting, but he was always force fed by his manager so he could not. the artist knew that the only way he was happy was through self-denial, and he was perfectly happy in this state. Eventually, when the townspeople got bored of him, the artist went to a circus, where he could fast (without anyone to force feed him) in relative peace. The circus goers there, too, grew bored of him, attracted to the traditional, more exciting features. Because the artist, while thriving on the self-denial of food, he also felt the attention from the crowd was enough, and so he let himself waste away.
At first, I had a hard time seeing the connection between the two stories. My understanding came to be that like the hunger artist in Kafka's novel, the narrator in the poem also came to a relative ease about his life, and the fact that it was near ending. The narrator appreciates the world around him, from the colors outside, and,namely, the lilacs he feels a connection to, but doesn't actually connect with them. This is similar to how the hunger artist watched life going around him outside, but never took action to be an actual part of it.
-Sarah Lateer
Carling Albrecht says: There were several poems that stood out to me while reading. Yet, "Photograph from September 11," has to be the one that impacted me the most. September 11, 2001 is a date that changed current and future generations of America in such a colossal way. People today still shutter when the date is mentioned. Novels, movies, documentaries have all been written about this tragic date.
ReplyDeleteThis was the first poem I've ever read that focused on such a simple event from this day. Wislawa did an incredible job at using imagery throughout her poem, bringing the reader right back on the streets of New York. Her focus on a singular event resulted in the readers remembering all the horrific emotions surrounding that day. For me, I was only one when tragedy struck American soil, however after reading this poem, I too was brought back to this day and that really moved me in such an impactful way.
Similar to a fellow classmate, I also enjoyed reading the poem “Wishes for Sons” by Lucille Clifton. The first time I read through the poem I laughed to myself at how accurate Lucille’s words and wishes were. For most girls, I’m sure they would have similar wishes to give to boys. Clifton discusses so bluntly about all the embarrassments and difficulties a women endures throughout her lifetime.
I love how the poem is slightly different than the rest in that Lucille directs her audience towards men and boys. She challenges the idea, that has been questioned for years, of who is the stronger gender. After reading this poem and hearing about just some of the hardships, surely one can agree on the answer to that centuries old question. In the end it is revealed that she doesn’t wish men had the same struggles as women but that they would understand and respect women more because of what they have to go through. Her light and humorous tone adds to the overall mood of the poem as well.
While reading “Hymn to a Broken Marriage,” my mood slightly changed from happy to heartbroken as I read the words of a hopeless romantic writing to his lost love. This poem was surely one of my favorites because of how beautifully the poet used his words to describe this destroyed marriage. “Hymn to a Broken Marriage,” is very different than the other poems because it is a song, in this case written for the purpose of adoration for his ex-wife Nessa. Paul Durcan uses repetition throughout the hymn to add emphasis to the idea of how awful it was for him to lose the love of his life. It also adds rhythm to this hymn. After listening to a cover of this song by Bill Whelan I got an even better understanding of the passion that Durcan poured out of his heart while composing this poem.
And also:
DeleteThe poem titled, “Undertaker,” was really interesting to me. The first time I read it I didn’t understand the whole poem. It took me a couple of times, reading it over and over, to really comprehend what the true meaning was. After I understood the poet’s words, I really disliked this poem. Throughout the poem, the undertaker meets with desperate mothers who beg him to bring their deceased child back to life, no matter the cost. It’s a beautiful and tragic idea to picture; a poor mother doing everything she can, no matter what it would cost, so she could see her son one more time. While the mothers are in tears, the undertaker proceeds to explain to the reader how he believes their sons deserved to die. He goes on to say they were’t all perfect, innocent angels their mothers believed them to be, and that they were asking to be shot. Although the poem was very well written, I disliked how Patricia Smith decided to make the undertaker blame the victims without giving us the full story.
After reading all 20 poems, “Mrs.Krikorian,” was one I felt I could connect with the most. Sharon Olds’ choice in writing about a personal experience allowed the readers to relate with the poem more. After reading through this poem, the audience asks themselves if they've ever had a teacher like Mrs.Krikorian who saved them. For me, I know of a few teachers who’ve helped me and transformed my life in such an impactful way. While reading this poem, their faces popped into my head and made me smile. The poem is most impactful when the poet asks herself who saved Mrs.Krikorian, and then dives into the teacher’s past. These lines show how an adult can truly impact a child’s life for the better.
Haley Zmijewski says: (in response to Carling Albrect):
DeleteAnother poem that struck me was Photograph from September 11. As Carling previously stated, I really liked how the author focused on such a simple piece of this day while there were so many other things going on. This was the only time that I’ve ever looked back on the day of September 11, 2001 and not been focused on the whole aspect of terrorists. It let me focus on the innocent victims caught in the attack and that little sliver of hope they had vanishing as they were falling to the ground. I enjoyed how she shined a light on the victims, the ones who truly deserve to be remembered, and the last line really stuck with me- “I can do only two things for them-- describe this flight and not add a last line”. This truly embodied the fact that all of these people will never be forgotten. There will be no last line to their lives because they will live on forever in our hearts and the hearts of their loved ones.
Something I found interesting was the diction in "September 11" One word in particular was the use of "flight" in the last stanza. To me it created an uneasy feeling. It conjured the image of a baby bird trying to fly, even though it was unable to. It made the people seem helpless, which is what they were in that moment in time. By "not adding a last line" I believe Szymborska was keeping them in life, freezing them in time before a gruesome, horrible end, to preserve their memory.
DeleteLike Carling, I very much like the poem “Hymn to a Broken Marriage”. However, in contrast to Carling’s opinion, I see this poem as being more sweet and romantic, rather than heartbreaking. This is because throughout the poem, Durcan looks back on his marriage very fondly. An example from the poem that supports this is when Durcan writes, “A sane man could not espouse a more intimate friend than you.” Here, Durcan is really declaring the love and affection that he had (and seemingly still has) for his previous wife, Nessa, by expressing to her how great and perfect he believes she really is. That is very romantic and adorable, in my opinion. -Isabelle Merluzzo
DeleteLike Carling and Mr. MacArthur, I found "Photograph from September 11" to be a very impacting poem for me. I was a year old as that event unfolded, however, I remember the first time I watched a video of the plane hitting the building and how it impacted me. The poem says "I can do only two things for them- describe this flight and not add a last line." However, while reading, I felt I could do more and my decision on joining the military wasn't just for me, it's also for the innocent souls who lost their lives on that tragic day.
DeleteSimilar to others who have commented about the poem, "Photograph from September 11," I also found the poem to be very impactful. While I was reading, I noticed three sections, separated by different ideas repeated throughout the stanzas.
DeleteThe first two stanzas I noticed had an "up and down" theme occurring. The author states "they jumped from the burning floors... higher, lower." I thought these two lines were connected as jumping is associated with being higher, while the floor is low. This idea is connected to the second stanza of this section because it again repeats the idea of being high then low in the line "above the earth toward the earth."
The second section I noticed talked about how the earth was not affected by this event overall. People still drop their "keys and coins" and the "earth is still complete," as its blood is "well hidden." By writing this poem, the author is preserving the memory of these lives on paper so they will not be lost in history.
The last two stanzas addressed the people on the planes, the author stating that they are "still within the air's reach." I thought this might be related to how the people died in the air, and now their sacrifice will always be lingering in people’s minds, as in they are still within the reach of life because they will not be forgotten. Also, she states that she will "not add a last line." This I inferred to mean that she was leaving the poem unfinished, as the lives that were abruptly ended were also incomplete.
In response to Sierra's comment: I really enjoy your insight on the last stanza of this poem because I didn't truly understand what the author meant. However, your analysis makes a lot of sense and adds a deeper meaning to the poem. When Szymborska stated "I can only do two things for them--describe this flight, and not add a last line", I interpreted it much differently. I thought that he was showing them respect by not adding a last line because there is no way to close a poem about an unimaginable situation. By the use of the term "flight", I believed the author was trying to emphasize the beauty in their bravery, and leave it without a last line because there are no worthy words to describe what they went through. However, your interpretation connects to the overall poem in a way I didn't even think of. In the second stanza, the author said "The photograph halted them in life" which emphasizes their few moments. Thus, the analogy of comparing the "flight" to a baby bird jumping out of the nest is very creative and accurate. Furthermore, it also connects the last line to the same idea that reappears throughout the poem. By not adding a last line, the author accurately freezes them in time.
DeleteLike everyone is saying, "Photograph from September 11" was obviously a poem that is universally understood and taken to heart. To me, the most intriguing stanza was the fourth; "There's enough time for hair to come loose, for keys and coins to fall from pockets." I think this stanza touches on the idea that to us, their fall was fast and quick however to them, jumping from that building and their "flight" they were forced to embark on must have lasted an eternity. To them there was so much time in the air. I think it could also mean they were being stripped of their personal possessions (keys, money, etc.) much like they were stripped of their right as citizens to safety and their own life. All in all, Szymborska writes beautifully, which is a steep task when speaking of such a tragic event. Her words describe the feelings and emotions of that day without actually saying the word "death".
DeleteAidan Doyle says: Blog post for Selected poems:
ReplyDeleteOne poem I found fascinating but confusing was "1964"(For Bert). There were a lot of fragments that were spaced seperate from the rest of the sentence and I could not always figure out what they were for. One example is in stanza 3 where there is a large space between "Pay Day bars" and "our Bar B-Q Lays potato chips". I also was not quite sure about the final stanza and what it meant by saying school would "shape our eyes into prisms" just so that "pigments and shadows and memory of light would be lost from our eyes." It felt contradictory but I think that is most likely what the poet was going for to show the school is not actually trying to help the two kids. Did anyone interpret this poem a little better than I did?
I have been finding that the poems I understand less are the ones that fascinate me actually. I really liked "Thanksgiving". The way the author mixed the imagery of the father's war memories with the thanksgiving meal really engaged me and had me searching for that deeper understanding of it. I also was very confused, humored, and at the same time, horrified by the father's behavior at the table. Through my first read, I thought he was extremely crazy but reading it again I think he is just very desensitized and has PTSD from the Korean War. It may also just be a part of his life he will never forget, even if it's not haunting him. Either way, he kept me on my toes and I was very surprised when he actually got out his cannon and fired it! The whole poem didn't feel like it was in the real world. It felt like a dream to me. Does anyone know why he has bullet holes in his door though? That part still has me puzzled. -Aidan Doyle
While reading, "1964" (For Bert), I felt as if the message the author was trying to convey was that school was shielding their innocence and altering their perception of the reality of the world, something that was not there for them when they played hooky. When they left school, they found themselves subject to the harsh treatment many of the Mexicans in their town experienced everyday. They were also able to witness the daily toil of the laborers who, with each action, were working to earn and keep their livelihood in the town. I believe this event was a shock to the children and broke through their ignorance of the world, something that was upheld simply by their ability to go to school everyday instead of working. The light that was described throughout the poem was the reality of every circumstance in the world. School was able to dilute it for the children, to refract into many different rays representing different aspects of human existence. This prism created by the school allowed the children to experience only that which directly pertained to their life. Outside of the school and without its “prism”, the children were able to experience the full spectrum of the human struggle and the, “ache of this world”, thus giving them insight into, for example, why one might wish to commit suicide. It was this day in which the shadows the school placed in their lives was cast away and they lost their innocence.
DeleteAs for the many pauses and spaces placed throughout the poem, I feel as though their purpose was to draw emphasis to details and moments of the day the author felt to be most important. For example, the space left when Silex writes, “like we would always cry by ourselves,” places enormous emphasis on the fact that they are alone and, combined with the always in the fragment before, helps to convey the idea that these children were alone when dealing with the pain they found in the world, isolated from any exterior support, just as the phrase “by ourselves” is isolated.
-Phoenix Grover
Like Phoenix, as I read this poem I felt as though the author emphasized the idea that school took away children's innocence and creative spark. It sets them into this trained standard that strips one's childhood and hope. In the beginning of the poem, these children were full of life and risk. They were extremely willing and spontaneous. The author accurately showed the equivalence of a child's "rebellion". "We ate our lunch for breakfast spent our 50 cents of milk money at señora Torre's candy store....". However, these innocent actions were quickly put to rest when the consequences came with punishments from "grandpa's belt". Overall, the author was able to conclude that school standards originated from society's expectations and insistence on conforming. The prisms acted as blinders that directed a child's focus only on what they were "supposed" to learn. I interpreted this poem as viewing school negatively. It seems as though society fears a creative mind, so school was meant to erase the "memory of light" from the youth's eyes. Thus, the last line of this poem was meant to demonstrate the idea that in today's society, that creative spark has been stripped of people's lives. The day that these children came to this conclusion was the day that they lost their innocence, opening them up to the darkness and misery that have been forced upon this world by conformity.
DeleteAs for the bullet holes in the door, it never mentions a specific incident but contributes to the image of the father-in-law as violence-driven and slightly unhinged that is suggested by the cannon.
DeleteMeaghan Rowedder says: After reading "Thanksgiving", I was very confused, as Aidan said, by the main character's behavior. I think it is easy to tell he is suffering from PTSD, but I'm still not sure I understand the character though. I feel like the topics bounced around a little and it was hard to follow what exactly was going on. I also felt like there was a little undertone of racism. He talked about how the Mother called him half black and how she spoke of the Indians leaving. He also speaks of his Hispanic heritage and upbringing. Then, at the end of the poem, he brings up the Indians leaving again when Daddy brings out the cannon, and he says, "And I thought: When the first drunken Pilgrim dragged out the cannon at the first Thanksgiving- that's when the Indians left." I don't quite understand it, but I feel like race plays a role in the poem in some way, along with what Aidan said about him being in the Korean War.
DeleteI think that 1964 was less about how school itself was bad, but how innocence was something to celebrate rather than rush out of. While a prism allows you to see a rainbow out of white light, imagine holding a prism up to your eyes all of the time, it'd be kind of annoying, wouldn't it? You can't see the light in its fullness, rather the things that its made of. I think this might have to do with how most art comes from the artist being in pain and wanting to express it and let it out somehow. Once you know the pain the artist was going through, it makes the art itself a little bittersweet, rather than a simply beautiful piece of art with no painful connotation
DeleteWhile reading 1964 I too was fascinated by the author's ability to incorporate innocence. However, what I found very interesting was the way in which he explained innocence without ever coming right out to say it. He used colors and words that as young kids, we associated with happiness. Words including 'sunlight', 'dreams', and 'imagining' were used in the beginning of the poem, expressing a joyous and exciting day. Then as the poem continues and the loss of innocence seems to come, with phrases like 'cry by ourselves' and 'red welts from grandpa's belt'. It turns the poem to a darker more realistic tone. Finally in the last stanza when Silex uses prisms, it helps the reader understand the distortion and sheltering of reality that happens not only in school systems but in life.
DeleteOne poem I felt the most interested in was "Why We Tell Stories" (For Linda Foster). This poem, I feel, embodies the human love for storytelling, something we can all connect to. The instances for which the author says we tell stories for are pretty generic, such as a child believing they can fly, which brings us all back to childhood imagination and innocence, and the emotions that looking back on our younger times ensue. I also found it interesting how the author talks about cavemen, how even back in prehistoric times it was human natures to tell stories; to feel an emotion and want to explain it to others, to want to make others feel something.
ReplyDeleteLike Emily I was really interested in this poem. Something that really stuck with me was the last two lines of the poem, "we will begin our story with the word and". I liked that this is such a simple word to start a story with. Also the idea that 'and' is a conjunction and that's a word that our stories would start with makes me believe that all of our stories are connecting or intertwined some way or another.
DeleteIn addition to the impactful word choice used in this poem, I think the structure was very effective in portraying the idea that stories never really end, just continually connect through time. For example, I noticed that commas were the only form of punctuation used in the poem to show how stories keep continuing instead of ending completely, which would be shown by using a period. This is even avoided at the very end of the poem, which is left without any punctuation at all.
DeleteI also enjoyed how the poem was written in chronological order of the evolution of the world. Through stories and communication humans were able to grow as a race. It helps bind us to our loved ones and pull emotion out of not only the readers but the story teller themselves. It gives each person something to live for something that we can control. We can measure our success through our actions, our bravery, our pride, our self worth. And it is through our tales that others have 'heros' to look up to as a guide. This poem really helps emphasize how much our everyday actions have an effect on generations to come.
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ReplyDeleteA poem that I found intriguing was called "Atlantis" by Mark Doty. Up untill this point, I have never seem a peice of literature so accurately describe the relationship between a dog and a human so well. To start, the author uses haunting anecdotes and 1st person story telling to draw the reader in and demolish any kind of deep understanding going on inside their mind. Then you are imediately forced to re-collect your critical thinking and comprehend the complicated connection between the physical state of an animal and the emotions of a human. Never before have I see this done, and I applaud this author for doing such a great job addressing this subject
ReplyDelete-Luke Bowden
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DeleteI'm a little confused by "Atlantis". From the mentions of a four letter acronym and a virus, it seems to be about losing someone (Wally) to AIDS, but I can't figure out what the dog represents.
ReplyDeleteI found the same confusion while reading this poem. I had difficulty connecting the nightmares to the loss of a person. One interpretation I had was that Arden and the author may have tried to, not necessarily replace their loss with a dog, but cope with it. As it says in the poem, "We don't have a future, we have a dog".
DeleteI also found the last line interesting, "I didn't know who I was trying to protect". My understanding was that he was trying to protect himself from having to deal with another loss. If he lost his dog too, he would lose his coping mechanism and most likely collapse mentally.
I was also confused by the poem at first, but I interpreted the dog as a symbol of innocence. Before his friend/partner died the dog served to comfort them and also figured in anxiety dreams about loss- the dog's imaginary death represented the narrator's anxiety about the forthcoming death of the other person. Dogs sometimes symbolize loyalty/domestic life as well and like Sierra said, the narrator's desperate attempt to protect his dog could be to compensate from Wally's death and to symbolically protect himself.
DeleteMeaghan Rowedder says: I agree with what both Sierra and Anna have said. When I originally read this poem, "Atlantis", I was a little confused and wasn't really quite sure what kind of loss he was experiencing. After reading Anna's comment, the idea of someone having suffered from AIDS shed some light on that for me. I agree that he clearly went through a very traumatic loss and now his dog is all he has left. This can be seen at the beginning and end of the poem when the author first says, "Wally and Arden and I," and then, "-always just me and Arden now-". I agree with Sierra that he is using this dog to cope and he wants to protect him from anything that could happen because he couldn't lose someone else who he loved. I really enjoyed this poem once I started to understand it more. I still am not completely sure I understand what other loss he experienced but I enjoyed the mystery and the sorrow that it exudes.
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ReplyDeleteWhen reading poetry, I have found that I really hate when an author uses metaphors that are so complicated that it ruins the flow of a peice and takes away from the message they are trying to display. When I started to read "Famous" by Naomi Shihab Nye, I felt overwhelmed by the "is famous to" metaphor that was being repeated over and over. Yet, as I finished the poem and read the line that said, "I want to be famous the way a pulley is famous, or a buttonhole, not because it did anthing spectacular, but because it never forgot what it could do." Then I realized that the first object in the sentence does not forgot the power it holds over the second object. An example of this is "The loud voice is famous to silence", because a loud voice and destroy silence in an instant. I went back and re-read all of the stanzas again with this in mind, and this poem turned out to be very insightful and held a great deal of wisdom. The metaphor unlocked a whole new way of looking at the poem, and I thought it was smart for the author to put the key at the end, forcing the reader to go back and really think about what is being said. It turn a normal, complicated poem into one that was fun to read.
ReplyDelete-Luke Bowden
The poem "Undertaker" was one of my favorites from the collection for many reasons, one being it was able to present a setting without actually describing it. I pictured a rough neighborhood simply from Smith's description of the people the undertaker worked on. They were described as "gang members", "trying to get off the streets", and "it was self-defense". This makes it easy to visualize gang violence, dark neighborhood streets, and fights breaking out on the daily.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I found interesting about this poem was how Smith described the undertaker's work. She made it sound as though it was an art. She did this through her diction making the "patient" sound inhuman using words like "puzzle pieces", "brushstroke", "carve", and "paint". These words make it seems as though she is creating a work of art instead of patching up a dead body. It was that type of description in this poem that made it especially intriguing.
One poem I enjoyed was "Mrs. Krikorian". I related it to the movie "Matilda" where the main character, although not a trouble maker like the boy in this poem, found sanctuary in the library. Books opened up a new world of knowledge and understanding for her. She was able to find an escape in it, just as the boy was able to escape from class and enter a world of history and better understanding of life in general. This poem emphasized the power of reading and knowledge.
ReplyDeleteEven though this poem wasn't one of my favorites it spoke to me because ever student has had that "Mrs.Krikorian" teacher. That teacher that believes in you and pushes you to explore new things. A teacher that inspires you to want to learn.
DeleteI also liked the character development in this poem, this 6th grader is labeled as a known criminal. When he first goes to the library he looks up words like spank and breast which show his immaturity. But then later on he is looking at Abe Lincoln and Helen Keller, both of who are influential to today's society. I think this shows how much he has matured and grown simply by having access to knowledge.
“Rain in Childhood” was vivid in its imagery and descriptive language and this made me very engaged in the poem. The topic was also something that we can easily relate to, which placed a feeling of nostalgia in the poem as I can recall many school mornings just like the one described. In addition I think this was a good point in our lives to read this poem because the line, “Our past already had such distances!” made me think about how fast time has gone by, and how we will be making our next steps in life such as college.
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ReplyDeleteI really appreciated the poem “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden. Throughout the poem, Hayden's realizes all the hard work that his father does on the sunday mornings for his family. Then he notices how all of that work his father does is always taken for granted by him. When Hayden's discovers this, he begins to speak to him more caringly and with much more appreciation. While reading the poem, it encouraged me to appreciate the work that my father and mother do for my family every morning without us recognizing how much they actually do for us. I am now very inspired to be thankful to have them working hard for my family and I. I really like the message conveyed through "Those Winter Sundays”. -Isabelle Merluzzo
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DeleteI also experienced this newfound appreciation for my parents who, like the father in this poem, work incredibly hard to supply for the family and go out of their way to make me and my siblings feel warm and safe.
DeleteThe last two lines had a particularly strong effect on me. The author states "What did I know, what did I know of love's austere and lonely offices?" It shows how the son in the poem, or children in general, are unable to understand the sacrifice made by parents who will do anything for their children. Love makes it impossible for this father to sleep in and stay out of the "blueback cold" and avoid using his “cracked hands that ached” because that would put his family at risk. Hayden states that love's "offices" are "austere and lonely" but he does not understand them because he does not have this love for a child, as his father does. Even on a Sunday, the day of rest, his father gets up to ensure that their home stays warm, showing how the job of loving is not easy.
Megan Corbin has a lot to say about the poems, including: “Hymn to a Broken Marriage,” by Paul Durcan stood out to me as I read the poetry packet. Growing up at church, I admired hymns for their unique meter and rhyme schemes, they seemed to carry more meaning- even if it was just for the sometimes inverted word choice. Reading “hymns” as poetry in English class would often frustrate me though, because many did not follow the outline for a hymn, but rather used the word in the title for more symbolic reasons. However, while reading this poem by Durcan, I was not at all frustrated. It was easy to sink into the mood of the verse, an aching yet thankful voice, declaring the course of its affection. From the repetition in lines 4-6, the reader can see where Durcan may have gotten lost in emotions and memories of with his beloved Nessa. The memories, enticing a childish hope, that she may take him back. These lines also reminded me of the old lullabye, “... and if that mockingbird don’t sing, Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.” The repetition from the lullaby “Hush Little Baby,” was meant to soothe a child, just as I picture the idea of marrying Nessa again and again may have soothed Durcan’s heart for small moments in time. Reading this poem also reminded me of a theory I had read about last year, in which theologist John Piper asserted that in marriage, couples transitions through three types of love. Beginning with Eros, a more physical love- what one can get from another- Durcan hints at this, in the line, “Even you require to shake off the addiction of romantic love,” and later simply mentioning, “Loverliness.” Supposedly, a couple would then transition to Phileo love - a learned appreciation for one another while knowing the flaws they bear. This is seen in line 11, which states, “And seek instead, the herbal remedy of sane affection.” Suggesting, their love had simmered to comfortably display small terms of affection without upsetting each other's expectations. And finally, they move into Storge love, the familial care for one another that would warrant statements such as, “brotherliness,” and “intimate friend.” This stage of love is a settlement in which both involved have invested enough time and care that they can rely on a deep rooted trust to be the gravity of their relationship. Yet it is possible that one of these transitions was not complete, or other unknown variables kept the couple from being “enough” for each other, for it is a hymn to a broken marriage.
ReplyDeleteAnd also: Another poem I favored was “What the Living Do” by Marie Howe. It seemed to be pessimistic, in that she only mentioned things that had gone wrong, or the drudgery of monotonous tasks. However, it is hard to be annoyed with her on these accounts, especially as it seems that she in addressing her thoughts to a loved one who has passed. In my mind, I’ve come to the conclusion that “Johnny,” was her husband or fiance who had died at a young age. Throughout the poem, she hopelessly refers to her actions as those of the living, therefore conveying the message of his death, without having to directly state it. In this way, her grieving does not seem to be new, but intermediate. As she is able to go about her life, but cannot bring herself to say that he is dead. Each of her waking moments, she feels the ache of is absence. She addresses her struggles and thoughts to him, because if he were still there with her, they would not be so displeasing. At the end of line three, Howe says, “This is the everyday we spoke of,” insinuating that they had looked forward to the day they would share humdrum chores. Yet now, without him, her perspective has shrunk to only include the past to the day she’s living in. Still, through her grief, Howe makes the piercing observation, “we want more and more and then more of it.” Reflecting on human greed to have the most of what pleases us, rather than balancing our needs and wants. This poem made my own heart ache for her. It is difficult to imagine the intimate torment a loss such as this would elicit. Just reading through another’s experience evokes piercing sentiment.
Delete“Those Winter Sundays”: I agreed wholeheartedly to the earlier comments left by Phoebe, Kacie, and Sarah. So as I wish not to restate their well composed responses, I’d like to talk about the language used by Hayden. There were a few phrases and specific word use that reinvigorated my excitement about the english language. The first description that caught me was that of the cold, to be exact it was “the blueblack cold.” It not only denoted how early he had to rise, but for me also made me image the intensity of the cold. I immediately thought of a black and blue bruise left by the cold, an unyielding bitterness that lingers. The next line that caused me to pause was, “I’d wake to hear the cold splintering, breaking.” This is was most likely the sound of a fire crackling, a relatively cliche poetic sound. But by reversing it, with the cold “splintering,” a new mental picture comes about. I was reminded of a time I tried to put a cold glass pan into a hot oven, and watching the a long crack strike through the bottom, and fractures splinting outward - leaving me in a tremendous amount of trouble. Finally, the last line, “Love’s austere and lonely offices,” gave me pause as I tried to connect the idea of love with such a dull workplace. All of these phrases were composed with acute attention to the readers more physical senses. I believe the concrete actions given to otherwise intangible sensations, grounded the poetry so that the content would not be lost to vague purpose.
As well as: Looking back through the poems, I too saw an overarching theme that Josh Walls has mentioned, but I also saw one less specific to the order. With each poem, there is a feel of necessity to share. Whether the information is pertinent to others, or simply an observation, each poem was written because the words formulated by the author had become too large to remain in their mind. The first poem of the packet for instance, was titled, “Why We Tell Stories.” This is not a coincidence that the first verses we read for the summer were an interpretation of why we speak and write the way we do. Each word, spoken or written, was purposed as a story. It doesn’t matter much if it's a good one or not, we are conditioned to tell them anyways. As Lisel Mueller so keenly said, “Because the story of our life / becomes our life / Because each of us tells / the same story / but tells it differently.” We each desire to in some way shape our own paths, and so by telling our past stories and voicing future ambitions, we can determine (somewhat) what our life becomes. By doing this we can angle ourselves toward a legacy or something beyond our mortal lives. And even though we fear being forgotten, we cannot help but tell the same stories. We echo other lives that we idolize, or subconsciously copy ambition. This is where the innate necessity to voice our own stories comes into play. There is a hope that if we as individuals speak up for our own stories, they will be seen by all as “different”, thus enhancing the chances of a legacy. Therefore, each of the following poems in our packets was a story. No matter its initial intentions, there is an underlying need for each of them to be set apart and heard, so that the authors may be remember, even if only in a vague recognizance.
DeleteMegan, I loved reading your thoughts on these poems. Your insight added a really interesting element to what I had already read-I actually went back and re-read a few of them!
DeleteSpecifically, I agree with what you commented about the poem "What the Living Do." Originally, I, too, was a little annoyed with the woman narrating. While at first it seemed like this poem was a letter of sorts to an ex-lover, by the end of the poem it was apparent that Johnny had died, and the narrator was in a grieving process for him.
This is where my interpretation varies a little. I think Johnny killed himself.
"This is it/Parking. Slamming the car door shut in the cold. What you called yearning/ What you finally gave up." It is a combination of elements in this line that lead me to this conclusion. The narrator says that Johnny didn't lose or avoid, but rather purposefully gave up the everyday things and the everyday life they had once wanted together. The trivial things we do every day-the things that don't really have any significant meaning in our lives except for the fact that they can only exist for people in life-got to be too inconsequential and meaningless for Johnny. I think that this is an easy, and almost logical way to think about our lives. Nothing we do has a significant impact on a whole lot. We mostly go through the same things everyday, thoughtlessly, without meaning. The narrator, in my opinion, inderstood this about Johnny's mental state, and because of this, because of his tiredness with the world around him, takes a particular interest in appreciating the small things like her hair blowing in the wind. She is conscious of the things only the living can do after losing a love one who, in my theory, got so disgusted and saddened by the monotony of life that he chose to give it up.
-Sarah Lateer
Katrina Griffin says: One poem that I thoroughly enjoyed was, “wishes for sons” by Lucille Clifton. When I first read this poem, I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that the author wanted all men to go through the same challenges that women go through everyday. But of course, she doesn't actually want them to experience cramps and hot flashes, she just wants men and their sons to understand and show empathy for the struggles that women deal with. Clifton writes with such a simplistic, clear style that it’s easy to understand what she is asking/wishing of men. In addition, I think it's interesting that the majority of the poem, including the title, is not capitalized. This just adds to the more simplistic style of writing and a more casual poem in general because there is such a clear message/goal that the author is trying to get across.
ReplyDeleteAnother poem that I especially liked was “Photograph from September 11” by Wislawa Szymborska because it is so powerful in such a simple way. September 11, 2001 will obviously be a date of importance to everyone as the day the world as we know it changed for our generation and future generations. In this poem, Szymborska describes the emotions of just one horrific aspect of that terrible day and has the reader think about watching several people fall from the Twin Towers. The simplicity of the poem is very engaging in that it is a single event that everyone has a memory of in this day and age. It is so moving that it takes the reader back to that day, watching the events unfold on their television screens. The author’s view is interesting in the sense that she writes about what the people falling must have been thinking about as their personal items are stripped from them. The interpretation and overall tone of the poem suggests that we as a society halted that day and we became like the people during their fall, stopped in time.
Meghan Gifford says: •The reason why I like "Wishes for Sons" so much is because I could think of many people who I believe are in need of experiencing some of Lucille Clifton's wishes. Not to mention the fact that we as a society should normalize the woman's body. Rather a woman only be of use to please men, and then become a burden when they need assistance to care for what happens biologically, we should be sympathetic to their needs. As amusing as it is to think of some boys experience some of the inconveniences of a woman, perhaps they do need to walk a mile in our shoes to really understand where we are coming from.
ReplyDelete•What I like about "Famous" is that Nye wants to be famous, but not in the celebrity way where one would think it is for the attention or money, but rather she wants to have a place in the world. Famous in the sense that she is where she belongs.
• My favorite section in "Anyways" was from "A man dies..." to " The beauty school student sighs, 'It'll grow back anyways'" because my use of "anyway(s)" has been to change topics, but Cleary uses it as another form of "and yet..." and I think it's beautiful the way she does so.
The poem that stood out to me the most was "Why We Tell Stories (For Linda Foster)", it talked about dreaming as far back as sitting by the fire in a cave. The poem insinuates that it is human nature to dream and create ideas and stories. I think this is something that a lot of people relate to and feel the need to tell their own story as said in the poem. Everyone has a different story to tell and that's what makes each one valuable.
ReplyDelete"Famous" was interesting to me because of the fact that it was not what most would initially think of when they hear the word. Many minds would instantly go to a celebrity when it could be as simple as being known as the person who smiles at you in the grocery store every week.
The last one to catch my interest was "Undertaker (For Floyd Williams)" because it spoke of a world so different from our own. It described a setting without giving any description besides the boy and his mothers reaction. As well as the mother willing her child back to life by paying an artist to "paint the skin to suggest warmth, an impending breath." This one has had the most of an impression on me because I couldn't imagine growing up and living in a world like that, meanwhile people do it every day.
-Alana Ward
One of my favorite poems was "Why We Tell Stories" by Linda Foster. I grew up reading myths and constantly badgering my parents with the questions "how?" and "why?" However I often leaned towards the mythological explanations of things as I did not understand the actual answer. For this reason I related to the idea in the poem about how stories were created for things that we cannot explain. Foster repeats throughout the first section how we tell stories to explain why "our muscles feel a tug" or "our children believe they can fly" because the concept of evolution is unproven and often an illogical explanation is more well received.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I related to the idea of stories being created to motivate you or keep you dreaming about a goal or something unreachable. Foster gives the example of how cave men “made up the tale about a treasure mountain” to show how stories are created by dreams and wishes, in this case, the ultimate goal was wealth.
The last stanza was my favorite to read because it told about how stories are told differently by each person who inserts their own dreams. I loved this idea because, to me, stories are a reflection of each person’s life and therefore unique to every storyteller.
My initial impression upon reading the “Undertaker” was the violence described was excessive. However, upon reading through the poem again the gruesome descriptions were needed to accurately get the message of the poem across and makes the reader realize that this is the bleak reality. The story of loss, and of those not ready to be forgotten. In addition, he point of the view was described perfectly as the job was an evil but necessary one that he had to continue to do without the expression of emotion. Overall, all these aspects which the poem entailed made it a very interesting read.
ReplyDeleteThe poem titled “1964” was my favorite out of the group. I often struggle when analyzing poetry, however this particular poem was written about something that I completely agree with and also was written in a way that was simple to comprehend. Though the concept was straightforward, the diction and word choice that Edgar Gabriel Silex used kept the reader interested. I especially enjoyed the section of the poem when he wrote, “School would shape our eyes into prisms that could split the brilliance so that everything we saw we would see through pigments and shadows and the memory of light would be lost from our eyes”. I think the way he incorporated the theme of light and dark was brilliant, as school blocks the ‘darkness’ just as a prism refracts the light. I, as well, believe this is true. The academic system hides the ugly truths of the world, leaving children seeming foolish as they do not know or understand the hardships some are put through each and every day. -Katie Yates
ReplyDeleteI also thoroughly enjoyed this poem and the line you mentioned. I thought the theme of light versus dark as well as the incorporation of colors in the poem added to the effect it had. One of the things I found most interesting was how Silex repeated the use of warm tones such as the "shiny red crystal balls" and "our bronze people" throughout the poem. Personally, when I think of the Mexican border, the colors I associate with this location are all warm with the hot sun, as mentioned several times, and the reddish desert sands. This added a visual aspect to the story which I really enjoyed.
DeleteI totally agree with Katie. I also like how the poem's theme is loss of innocence, like when they got in trouble and were beat by their grandparents, and what school taught them. The most profound part that goes with the loss of innocence theme is the last two lines, in my opinion. "We learned the secret of why some people fulfill their own wishes to die" is just so powerful yet simple.
DeleteOne poem that I thought left the readers pondering was “Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire”. This particular poem stayed in my mind and in a way, forced me to read it multiple times. There were three different stories incorporated into this poem: the author’s own, the mother and the child’s, and the pickup truck couple. Reading it the first time through, I was confused because I felt it ended abruptly; however, after reading it a few more times, I found out that was the point. Most towns have main streets that hold the attractions the town has to offer and these stories were just one moment in time on this particular main street. Soon after, that moment had passed and each story was replaced with new ones that were “equally equivocal”. Having the poem end with just a few short lines, emphasized the concept of moments ending quickly.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie. The poem has a very specific time frame; three days before labor day, 1984, 4:47, in Tilton, NH. I think the point of giving us all this information is that so many things happen every minute in every town all over the world, and everything that happens is open for your own interpretation. In the poem Kenyon writes "...with paper bags full of -what- maybe new clothes for school" and "...but it was hot and still, and maybe she wasn't weeping at all." Her use of the word "maybe" intrigues me because who knows what is going on in those people's lives and who knows what anyone is really doing ever! I think there's a lot of meaning behind this simple poem and that's what I like about it.
DeleteAnother poem that caught my attention was “Undertaker”. The impactful first line, “When a bullet enters the brain, the head explodes,” was a theme that I thought was carried throughout the poem. The author uses this line both literally and figuratively. While the bullet did ‘explode’ in the son’s brain, it also explodes the mother’s life. Her whole world has just changed and now everything is devoted to making sure that her son’s passing is beautiful and peaceful. We learn how the narrator deals with this impossible lifestyle of constant weeping women and deceased, broken bodies, by simply not thinking about it. He “[swallows] hard, [turns] the photo face down, and [talks] numbers instead”. I especially liked this poem because of the ongoing story it told. At the end of it, the narrator receives another call for another body, however hoping that it wasn’t. This just expresses the grief-filled life these undertakers have.
ReplyDeletePage Dodd says: I agree with Josh Walls, going back and looking over the poems I do notice the theme of starting at younger years, going to teen years and then into young adult years. One poem that really stuck out to me was "Mrs. Krikorian." This poem really expressed the struggles of being a delinquent child and meeting one person who can change all of that for you. My favorite line from this poem is "I end up owning my soul to so many," this line speaks volumes. It not only shows that one person can change your life but multiple people, and there is only so much you can do to repay each person. Another poem I thought that was written really well was "wishes for sons." This poem expresses the constant pain and agony woman experience that men don't have to go through and have no idea about. This poem is all about wishing the same pain that woman go through on a daily on men, whether it be for one day or one hour. Woman would give anything for men to experience their pain. Lastly, "Hymn to a Broken Marriage" was written very well. I love how it expresses the constant change that each person goes through and how it can all change one thing that they thought would never change. I like how in this poem it explains all the "ifs" that would have happened if they could make them come true. This poem expresses the heartbreak but the calm that came after it was all over.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Paige about the story "Mrs. Krikorian" tells. The idea of somebody looking after you for the better is something insightful and relieving. I also took the line you chose "I end up owning my soul to so many" as also a way for others that the writer could of hurt as well. The writer's soul is through them changing and growing from the experiences through so many people.
DeleteOne of my favorite poems of this packet was "Wishes For Sons". Many of these poems contained death and despair, however this one included a great amount of humor. I genuinely enjoyed reading this light hearted poem. The main part that caught my eye was how accurate of a depiction Clifton pointed out. She mentioned many subtle but common struggles that women go through, but are never acknowledged for. All of these inconveniences are accompanied by embarrassment, frustration, and anxiety, however Clifton managed to efficiently add humor. Furthermore, this poem is clearly meant for an audience of men, who have never experienced these discomforts. I believe the meaning of this poem is catch the attention of males in hopes to draw recognition to the women that survive these highly inconvenient ordeals.
ReplyDeleteI also thought this poem was hilarious. It helps talk about an otherwise sensitive subject in a lighter tone. Although, I did find it very intriguing that not one gentleman wrote about this poem. I would have at least expected a response defending that they go through everyday struggles as well. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but I do find it very interesting that even though it has been a struggle that women have gone through now for a long time that it is still an awkward and silenced topic. Many people feel uncomfortable even mentioning the subject and I think through humor it was able to put some at ease and help explain everyday issues.
DeleteI also thought this poem was hilarious. It helps talk about an otherwise sensitive subject in a lighter tone. Although, I did find it very intriguing that not one gentleman wrote about this poem. I would have at least expected a response defending that they go through everyday struggles as well. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but I do find it very interesting that even though it has been a struggle that women have gone through now for a long time that it is still an awkward and silenced topic. Many people feel uncomfortable even mentioning the subject and I think through humor it was able to put some at ease and help explain everyday issues.
DeleteI agree with both of you that periods have become a very taboo topic that women feel ashamed of even though its a regular, healthy thing. I feel its important for men to see this poem and possibly learn about a usually glossed over topic in a humorous way. Though the poem is titled wishes for sons, I don't believe she actively wishes for sons to get periods, I think its supposed to be a humbling title to make men actually think about what the women around them go through monthly.
DeletePaige Fluckiger
"Why We Tell Stories" impacted me significantly, simply because of the beautiful truth it holds. The human imagination is incredibly strong, and there are so many individuals who harness that power to create the most amazing things. This poem demonstrates how every one of us uses great talent to turn reality into anything we so choose.
ReplyDeleteI found the final stanza, "and though we listen only/ haphazardly, with one ear,/ we will begin our story/ with the word and" particularly impactful. The stories and inventions we create are, except in the most fantastic of cases, improvements off of something familiar. The idea that all of our stories in some way begin with the word "and" demonstrates that we are able to take the things or situations we have been given or thrown into and add something to them - an explanation, a sequel, magic, or comfort - and transform them into a new reality.
Likewise, we have the power to take existing fiction and begin new stories of the same whimsical subjects with the same word "and" to delve deeper into an endless fantasy world.
I loved this poem also for the deep connections and spirituality in the imagery. I loved how it focused on the mythological part of history instead of the factual, and the third section had a lot of deeply truthful points. The first three stanzas of the third part are just so TRUE and interesting, and I love the way it's written because the way we "tell our stories" greatly impacts how we see the world and are seen by the world.
DeleteA lingering theme that I picked up on in several of these poems was a concept prominent in the Transcendentalist movement: that educated sophistication is detrimental to the self, while maintaining youthful innocence is favorable. In "1964" this belief seems evident, as the boys discover on "the best day of our schooling" that the freedom found in the appreciation in the wonders of their own small world leads to far more intellectual fulfillment than another day in their classroom ever could.
ReplyDeleteThis idea comes up again in "Rain in Childhood", yet with a different approach. Rather than condemning the school for keeping students "from seeing that sunlight created this world", this poem seems to pay homage to the educational system for not only teaching mathematics and geography, but also for creating a venue in which children can first "sense/ the end of childhood, where remembrance stands." I noticed this within this poem upon considering the last stanza in which it discusses "the school's facade". I took this to mean that while it appears a school will teach children how to read and do math, it is also surreptitiously teaching much more; the insignificant memory of being huddled on a bus with the other little children in raincoats, all looking out the window together, smelling the same smells, and growing up within the same four walls, becomes very significant indeed. By displaying this kind of personal growth in the setting of a schoolhouse, Eric Ormsby was able to show how education can be about both intellectual growth and advancement of knowledge.
The final poem I found to demonstrate this well was "At the Smithville Methodist Church". While it was rather disheartening to read from this cynical narrator's perspective, as an objective reader I was able to appreciate the contrast between the enthralled daughter and the incredulous parent. The fact that the adult in this parallel is filled with this turmoil over what he should say, do, or think, while the child accepts what she is taught with open arms and a loud singing voice proves that anxiety can be shed instantaneously when one simply allows things to happen and to withhold judgement and disbelief.
I agree with you on your theme in "1964". The message was that the only way to really experience the world is to go out and experience it yourself, not to rely on the image of the world that is portrayed to them by schooling or other influences in their life. In that one day they realized what the world truly was, and that was the day they learned more than they ever have.
DeleteI found myself feeling as though I had just read something very significant after completing "What the Living Do", yet its last line leaves such ambiguity that I'm not certain I feel content with my own understanding. I initially liked this poem because I related to the unpredictable occasions of being struck by the full realization of LIFE and your own belonging to it, even in doing the smallest things. However, the mention of "you" within the poem and particularly the last jarring statement, "I remember you.", leaves me wondering who the other character is and what their role is to this narrator.
ReplyDeleteDid this other person die?
For that matter, the phrase, "What you finally gave up", implies to me that if this person did die, that it may have been a suicide?
I feel like I may be reading too far into this, but as I mentioned, the poem itself feels very important and for that reason I would like to better understand its meaning and hear others' opinions.
"Looking back in my eighty first year" was very interesting to me, because of the themes it brought up. The author is reminiscing on how she grew up too fast, and is wondering where her childhood/youth went. She married young instead of following her dreams, and in hindsight, is saying what she should have done, but can't do anything to change it. The line saying "it was fated" interests me especially, like she is blaming fate for how her life turned out. I feel like a lot of passive people do this, they let life control them instead of making their own choices, and later regret it, but do nothing about it and insist it wasn't their fault. Though, maybe it isn't, because it is always easier to see the right choice once you've lived the outcome of the wrong one. In the moment, things often aren't as clear.
ReplyDeleteI had very similar thoughts to Sam in regard to this poem. I found the lack of active accountability for how her life ended up to be dissapointing. Against reason and logic, which told the narrator that her would-be husband said he'd wait for her through university, the narrator married him anyway instead of going. Personally, I thought that even though love and passion were made to seem like they were out of the narrator's control, she chose to get married instead of venturing across the ocean-a risky thing considering the post WWII time period-because of her fear. Although now, looking back on her past, she realized that the love she had dizzied her and put her priorities askew, I don't think that changes the fact that she was afraid to take active control over her life.
Delete-Sarah Lateer
Jillian Haggerty says: I thought the poem “wishes for sons” was very interesting especially to me since I am female. I really want to know what males think of this poem and what their different points of view might be. Particularly, the title. In my opinion I wouldn’t want to wish some of the difficulties and discomforts of a women to my children (in regards to “son”). Why do you think the author chose this title? One explanation I can think of is if mothers teach their sons some of the hardships women go through, they will grow up to respect and value them more. So not taken so literally a mother wishes pain upon her son. What does the title mean to you? - Jillian Haggerty
ReplyDelete“At the Smithville Methodist Church” was a poem that brought up viewpoints of parenting coinciding with religion. In the poem, parents pick up their child from camp coming to find his or her interest in Jesus and faith. However, the child’s parents don’t seem to believe in this same faith. They make remarks to their beliefs of evolution. As a parent should you force your religion and beliefs onto your child or let them create their own individual beliefs as they grow? The parents in this poem struggle with this decision and their young child. Conveying to their child what they believe in seems to not come easy. This is stated in “You can’t say to your child “Evolution loves you.” The story stinks of extinction and nothing”. It may be hard to explain such broad, complicated things with children. While religion and beliefs are very opinionated, they are an important aspect of life. I think it is definitely a parent’s job to teach their children about their personal beliefs.
I like your comment about "Wishes for Son's" because I too am curious about the opinion of men and how they feel about the topics discussed in this poem. I occasionally find myself irritated that men never have to endure the monthly nuisance that is your period and all of the other things women deal with that they will never know. To answer your question, I agree that it may have been so men would grow to respect and appreciate women more. However, I don't think that this title is necessarily saying that a mother wants her son to suffer, but to rather obtain this respect. This poem is saying that by enduring the hardships of a women, men could potentially further understand and appreciate women.
DeleteJillian, I like what you said about "At the Smithville Methodist Church". The poem shows what happens when conflicting beliefs arise, especially when one side of the conflict is a child who doesn't understand why their parents don't want you to sing about God and pray at the dinner table. My favorite line is "Soon it became clear to us: you can't teach disbelief to a child". Children have innocent minds and when new ideas arise they grasp onto them and don't let go. When teaching a kid life lessons it doesn't go
Delete-kindness
-respect
-disbelief
-honesty
A child's mind is still colorful and I think the fact that the parents are unsure and don't necessarily like the fact that their child doesn't see what they see reflects how your mind may change or become less colorful as you get older.
Marissa Paolangeli says: One poem that really stood out to me was "Famous". I enjoyed how Nye deciphers a whole new meaning of the term "famous". Nye uses multiple examples including the cat being famous to the bird and the river being famous to the fish, showing importance. She exhibits purpose through her conception of this word "...because it never forgot what it could do". That was the last sentence of the poem and it really stood out to me because Nye compares herself to useful objects, but is inspired by the idea of exploiting individual skills to develop a purpose in life.
ReplyDeleteThe seventh stanza of this poem was my favorite. "The bent photograph is famous to the one who carries it and is not famous to the one who is pictured". After reading this, I pondered it for a minute and soon it made a lot of sense to me. People usually carry photos of others that are important to them, though they usually won't carry around a photo of themselves, signifying that photograph/person is special to them; having a purpose.
Ryan Angers adds: This poem also stood out to me a lot for the same reason. Nye displayed how much perspectives can entirely change things. Something that seems like just a river within our world is the world in its entirety to the fish i it. Even the idea that boots are only famous to the outdoor ground whereas dress shoes are famous to floors. The poem shows how certain things can be completely meaningless and invaluable, yet at the same time mean everything and anything to someone else. I think the last two stanzas show that having realized how much a change in perspective can change the meaning of something, the author would always try to be a positive famous for others. Nye realizes that doing something as simple as making others smile may mean nothing, but at the same time it could mean everything to someone. So we must never forget what we can do because or actions could be the world to others.
DeleteChristina Lawrence says: I really liked "Famous" by Naomi Shihab Nye because it showcases the word famous in a different light. When many hear the word they automatically think of well-known people such as celebrities or important historical figures. According to the poem, being famous is "not because it did anything spectacular, but because it never forgot what it could do." I really liked this poem because it shows that everything has a reason. Also, I really liked the line "The bent photograph is famous to the one who carries it and is not at all famous to the one who is pictured." It shows that even simple everyday stuff, such as a photograph, doesn’t have to be well-known or important in order for it to mean something special.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed "wishes for sons" by Lucille Clifton because of the way she conveys and executes her message through a humorous and simplistic manner. She expresses throughout the poem that she would like men to have a better understanding towards what women experience. She goes on to explain her message in an amusing way by saying she wishes these problems on men like "i wish them one week early / and wearing a white skirt. / i wish them one week late." Overall, I liked her straightforward writing style.
When examining the roles of the parent and the child in At the Smithville Methodist Church, one has probably been both at some point in their lives. They have been the parent, struggling over whether to speak up or not about a different belief, not wanting to impress their opinions on others but also wanting to spread the truth. They have been the child, who found something new to believe in wholeheartedly, sometimes not realizing what they have chosen has pushed others around them to be uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteThis theme can reach many different areas, most of them touchy (politics, global warming, Black Lives Matter, etc.), but in keeping with the religious theme, I'll share an experience my friend and I recently had over the summer while visiting a basilica.
My friend had been saying to me, "That man doesn't like me saying Jesus" when a bystander heard it as, "I don't like Jesus." She came up to us, asked her [my friend] why she didn't like Jesus, and then told us Jesus loved us. We were two super confused (as in not metaphorically but literally confused because we weren't completely sure what was happening at the time) and vaguely uncomfortable (due to said confusion and not wanting to inadvertently offend someone) agnostics. The awkwardness of the opposing ideologies in this experience could also be seen in the poem, and if we were to assign roles, the woman and [my friend + I] could both be the father (the woman, wondering over whether she should speak up / my friend + I trying to find an appropriate response, only to end up remaining silent) and the child (the woman, being the vocal party of her beliefs / my friend and I being seen as the "naive" ones).
Despite being from the first person point of view of the parents, this poem does a good job of summarizing the emotions of both roles.
DeleteMeaghan Rowedder says: I agree with what many of my fellow classmates have said about "Rain in Childhood" instilling a lot of nostalgia on the reader. Especially for someone our age, who is growing up and about to go to college. This spoke to me specifically when the author said, "That steamy, tar-damp smell of morning rain, its secret smokiness upon our mouths, surprised us with some sorrow of nostalgia. Our past already had such distances!" I really loved how he talked about how quickly time flies. I think the start of senior year is really starting to show how quickly the time goes by and reading it in the poem really resonated. Also, he talks about being surprised by the little things he is nostalgic about. I liked the description in the quote above of how some small things you never even really thought about or particularly enjoyed are the things that you will miss and reminisce over the most.
ReplyDeleteCorynne Mahlstedt says: I absolutely loved the first poem, “Introduction to Poetry,” because it was almost reassuring. We were told not to “tie the poem to a chair with a rope and torture a confession out of it” and not to “beat it with a hose to find out what it really means.” And I know that as high school students this is how we view studying poetry. A very, very small portion of us genuinely enjoy reading poetry because it’s so tedious and all we’ve done is solve the puzzle of what the poem is about or what the author is trying to hint at. Billy Collins is telling us that rather than just understanding what the story is, we should let ourselves enjoy the beauty of the writing and, as he describes it, explore the poem. “Walk inside the poem’s room and feel the walls for a light switch.” I found it reassuring because when I read a poem and struggled to figure out what it was about, I thought about “Introduction to Poetry” and remember that the poem isn’t just about the meaning, but about the poem’s every little bit and piece. And if you actually look at those bits and pieces, things start to make sense.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Cory says about having to study poetry in school. I have often thought when asked, "what does the author mean by that" or "what is the author trying to say" how the heck am I suppose to know what the author is trying to say. The author could be conveying anything even though this is true students are forced to find a meaning to a poem, better yet the correct meaning that has been predetermined by an analysis years ago. This poem suggests that there are many ways to interpret a poem and that no way is the right or wrong way, in some way the poem gives hope to students who must find the meaning in poetry.
DeleteI really agree with what Corynne and Annie talked about in this posts. I've always avoided poetry like the plague because I felt intimidated by the open-ended nature of poems and the vast themes that a small piece of writing provides. The "Introduction to Poetry" gave me the reassurance I needed, like that a lot of poetry is about what you feel and think about it. I was more afraid to comment on the poetry blog posts then the two books we read, but this introduction taught me that poetry is a conversation rather than a straight answer or theme.
DeleteAllie Simon says: I agree with Cory in that I also found this poem reassuring. I know sometimes I fear that my interpretation of a poem may be different than everyone else’s, therefore making it wrong, or that the purpose of poetry is no longer to open up your mind to different thoughts, but rather to juice it down to such a literal meaning. I want to enjoy poetry, instead of looking at the meaning as a destination that I have to reach. I want to be able to look at the poem for five days in a row, and not be satisfied with my understanding of it until the last.
DeleteThe poem "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden speaks very interestingly to the nature of love. The household that this poem describes is, at least on the surface, cold and unwelcoming. Nevertheless, the father gets up early every winter morning and makes sure the house is warm before everyone else awakens. Even though he does this completely selfless task for his family, he receives no thanks from any of them. This scenario, at least in my eyes, is one of true magnanimous love for one's family. This, in and of itself, makes this a moving piece of poetry. When this base is coupled with the final two lines of "What did I know, what did I know of love's austere and lonely offices," the message is really brought home. It becomes clear that, even though the father is cold on the outside, the love he has for his children is certainly strong, and the fact that his children are unable to recognize that evokes sympathy for him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. I think the underlying message and most important theme that comes out of this three stanza poem is a father's unspoken love for his family and still dreaming son. I noticed that throughout the poem the constant "K" sound is used a lot. For example, blueback, cracked, ached, weekday, banked, thanked, all in the first stanza alone. The "K" sound creates a hard and harsh tone that ties the profound message of love with the father's cold exterior.
DeleteRyan Angers says: I found the poem Anyways (for David) to be pretty interesting. From my perspective I see the word anyways as a representation that, good or bad, life will go on and it will be okay. Even though she was accustomed to everyone having that similar mindset of being detached from any specific outcome, she still married her husband whose views were different. She said she knows home because someone would say something that they know could ruin everything, just because of that content mindset. But with her husband she changed from that and said regardless to end the poem. This represents how she grew and finally ventured beyond what she was familiar with because she loved her husband and finally knew what she wanted rather than accepting coming up short. I do think that the last few lines are very much up for interpretation though so I wonder what anyone else may think.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ryan also wants to say: The final poem Testament gives an interesting perspective on life. I found it interesting that the hour glass starts out full with ego when one is young. Then as life goes on there becomes less and less ego as it becomes love. Then when one is finally full of love and no longer has a big ego they can see life from a more caring view, but at that point it is too late. The hourglass has drained fully and life comes to an end. So when it comes time for a testament, the author wished to leave inanimate things that he has learned are more valuable than any amount of money or financial plan. He said that he left many of those inanimate things unspent because he realized too late that they were what truly mattered in life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assessment of the poem "Testament" wholeheartedly. In my opinion, this was the perfect poem to close with in this packet because it may have had the best lesson/advice out of any of the poems that we have read. The entire hourglass motif was extremely accurate and powerful. Most of us start out with a lot of ego and not enough love and it takes the years of living and experiencing life to become a mountain of love, but at that point, it will be too late. That was a wonderful point that you made. I thought it was powerful how the money he left was not that much because it made the point that you don't need to have a lot of money to live a fulfilling life. You need to follow you passions like the narrator did. The money is less important than all the tulips he planted under the lilac tree, all the kisses, and all the embracings. In my opinion, this is a powerful and influential piece
DeleteTimothy Lewis says: Reading through all these poems seemed like a chore at first, but as I started going through them I ended up doing ¾ of the packet all at once because I ended up finding them quite interesting, though I did have some trouble figuring out exactly what I was supposed to annotate in a few. Of all of them I think one of the very first ones, “Why We Tell Stories”, is my favorite. To me it seems that it is trying to say everything is connected in the history of the world and that each of our own stories contributes to this history as well, which is why we must tell them. Other than this one I found most of the poems to be mediocre, but still interesting, and didn’t really dislike any in particular, which I believe is a good thing as it means that the summer reading given is actually engaging and interesting, making it less of a chore and more of something fun to do in a bit of free time.
ReplyDeleteOne poem that stood out for me was “At the Smithville Methodist Church”. One thing I thought was important was the differences between the nature of the parent’s and child’s lives, particularly what led each of them to their own beliefs. The parents throughout the entire poem carried the ideal that Jesus was dead and a silly fiction in their lives, simply because they felt no need for religion in their lives. Specifically when Stephen Dunn wrote, “It had been so long since we believed, so long/ since we needed Jesus/ as our nemesis and friend, that we thought he was/ sufficiently dead,” I got the idea that the center of the parent’s belief system was need. Jesus only existed when they needed something and when they didn’t get what they want, their faith crumbles further. However, their daughter allowed religion into her life, not out of a selfish necessity, but because it offered her something that she could connect to. Dunn writes, “You can’t say to your child/ ‘Evolution loves you.” Science itself is very cold and devoid of the personal touch that a child craves. Children become invested in something not because they need or want something from it, but for the simple enjoyment of it. They have no ulterior motives that interrupt their lives. Thus, this poem gives insight into the motivating factors of kids and adults, both in religion and other factors of life.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I found it interesting how the parents were so concerned with instilling disbelief in their child when they once, most likely as a child, had felt that faith. It pretty clear that a child and an adult have experienced different things in the duration of their lifetime that would impact their faith. It was obvious that the parents had experienced something that made them lose their faith. After all they mentioned that they were staying on the side of cynicism. However, they fail to remember, as I mentioned above, that they had faith as a child before they felt possibly betrayed and let down by religion. This is exactly what their child was going through. Dunn writes, “Soon it became clear to us: you can’t teach disbelief/ to a child.” This is because disbelief comes from a feeling of being wronged or abandoned in the world. Children still have their innocence and are generally unaware of the the terrible wrongs that exist in this world. The difference between who possess religion in the family comes down simply to what they have experienced in the world. This just goes to show further how need based the parent’s emotions were based. They couldn’t even reflect enough into their past faith to connect and understand their child, rather choosing to take a passive route and, “drive, ride it out, sing along/ in silence.”
-Phoenix Grover
Another poem that I found particularly interesting was “Atlantis”. It told a tragic tale, one of an individual's struggle through pain and loss. Throughout the poem, it becomes clear that the narrator is facing the enormous challenge of standing idly by while someone they love dearly is fading away into death, with nothing they can do to prevent it from occurring. The dog, Arden, and the dream that the narrator has about him symbolizes his fears of loss and his sense of not being in control. When Mark Doty describes the dream writing, “he’s struck and takes off/ so we don’t know where he is/ or how bad,” there is a sense of anxiety and uncertainty that translates into what he is experiencing with Wally. In addition, when Doty writes, “We don’t have a future/ we have a dog,” I believe he referencing back to the dream about the dog. The dog, running wild into the street and dying in some horrible way is their future, thus they have no future, nothing for them to look forward too. Finally, we see the narrator screaming a name as his dog goes out to cross the street, presumably at a time when Wally is already dead or very close to death. In this instant, I believe the name shouted out by the narrator was Wally, and in that moment he truly saw the dog as his lost friend. The last line, “I didn’t know who I was trying to protect,” shows further how the narrator’s life had been altered. Wally was gone and there was no one left for him to protect. In this moment, the reality of the situation and his loss seems to really crash down on top of him. This poem, using the symbolism of the dog, did a terrific job of conveying the desolate feeling of a tragic loss that this narrator endured.
ReplyDelete-Phoenix Grover
Paul Durcan's "Hymn to a Broken Marriage" particularly struck a chord with me. The entire piece has a genuinely haunting atmosphere of delirium and intense emotional sorrow stemming from the narrator's lost love - Nessa, a woman whom he had once been wed to. The sheer inability expressed by the narrator to let go of Nessa shows a stubborn romanticism which I find in no way contemptible, however completely misguided and tragic. Feverish dedication is emphasized to an alarming, obsessive degree by Paul's repetition, most prominently in how he would marry his wife again; simultaneously, the narrator's frame of mind - one which exclusively lives in the past, is depicted as seemingly insane as a result of his emotional trauma. The poor mental health of the narrator is later emphasized in verse which states that a sane man could find solace in an intimate friendship with Nessa, rather than a romantic relationship. The narrator goes as far as to imply he himself is insane, and this is essentially where the hymn ends. I was left with a sickeningly vicarious feeling upon concluding the poem, as if I had lived the emotional Hell described by Paul, who genuinely comes across as a broken romantic driven to delusion by the failure of his marriage.
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ReplyDeleteOne poem that took multiple reads for me was 1964 by Edgar Gabriel Silex. After my first read, I did not like this poem. I thought the author was this nihilistic, anti-establishment hippy who wrote this poem to "stick it to the man." But after rereading it a few times, its come to grow on me. The poem is less "anti-conformity" than it is supporting innocence and appreciating things in a child-like manner. This really struck me at the line "school would shape our eyes into prisms that could split the brilliance so that everything we saw we would see through pigments and shadows." This was the line that, at first made me dislike the poem, but I've come to interpret it differently now. It's about appreciating something for what it is, rather than seeing it in a negative light. I interpreted the "bronze men" as Mexicans attempting to cross the Rio Grande in an attempt to reach the US, but ultimately failing as the river was fighting against them. But the children are watching them, eating chips and drinking soda, they don't understand what's going on. All they see are people swimming due to their childish innocence. Now that they're older, they wouldn't be able to see the situation in the same way anymore. They would realize these people are trying to escape a harmful life, and once they cross the border, they still have to get past US police for the rest of their lives. Without their innocence, they are aware of all the pains and evils in the world, preventing them from seeing the beauty of the world
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite poems was "What the Living Do". I think the poem reflects all the small problems that add up in our lives that seem like a big deal in the moment, clouding our vision of the life we have been given. Complain about that clogged sink and the grocery bag that is slightly too heavy breaking in the parking lot is what the living do. We always want more and we always feel the need to ask for more. Howe writes about catching a glimpse of yourself in a store window and remembering how important your life is. The living can't see what they have right in front of them, and the dying with they had their chance to see their reflection in the store window just one more time.
ReplyDeleteI think “Introduction to Poetry” was a great way to begin the set of poems because of the encouraging tone that it left readers with as we prepared to read the rest of the packet. It urged readers to have fun with poetry and explore it by saying, “Waterski across the surface of a poem”. It later explained that readers are often too worried about analyzing the poems and finding the correct symbolic meaning instead of enjoying the literature when it said, “But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it”. This implies that people stress about searching for one correct analysis of a poem when in reality, each person who reads the poem could develop different and logical interpretations. I also don’t think I have ever read a poem about poetry, so it was interesting to read something different from other poems and new to me.
ReplyDeleteAidan Devaney says: “Why we tell stories”
ReplyDeleteAt first, the title made me feel like this was a poem that would elicit a feeling of reminiscence from when I was younger, but as I read it through it really made me think of evolution and our true roots. How we all had much humbler beginnings and that no matter what our journey has been we all come from the same place. I couldn’t help but think about the events in Virginia and how people see each other as inferior or superior but in the grand scheme of things we all originated from the same thing. As the poem progressed it reminded me of the things we do in order to protect our mental state. Telling ourselves that things are “OK” when they really aren’t, so by trying to hide the horrors of reality behind the wonders of fantasy one can escape.
“Mrs Krikorian”
I really enjoyed this poem actually. I’d say this is my favorite of them all because I really related to how the narrator felt. In middle school I was definitely not the greatest of kids. One thing I did in fact do though was rush through my work in order to get to a book. This proved to be problematic for me though because I had to have a sit down with all of my teachers and talk about it. Unfortunately the solution was that they took my book away from me at the beginning of class and would read over my work or give me extra work so I didn’t read. There was one teacher who didn’t do this and it made me gain an immense appreciation for them. It allowed me to still get my work done but at the same time read which is what I enjoyed most at the time. Of course not quite to the extent that the author did, but I still feel the closeness with Mrs. Gedansky for being different than the rest and allowing me to do what I wanted.
“Looking back in my Eighty-First year”
This immense feeling of regret that seems to be coming from the poem makes me reflect on my own life a little as well. Almost all the things the author wish she had done can only be looked at as reminiscent because she can’t take the opportunities that were presented to her in the past now. Unfortunately we end up regretting the things we didn’t more than the things we did do and in this instance she didn’t do a lot of things that she wanted to. Now that the author is looking back on her life in her older age, she could do some of the things she had wanted to do in order to fill some of this regret and get more fulfillment out of her life than she feels like she has.
Colton Freeman says: The poem, “These Winter Sundays” stood out to me because I think it really fits in with our society. I feel like in today’s society, children, myself included, take more and more for granted without even realizing it. I think a lot of us can relate to this poem, especially lines 7 and 8, “When the rooms were warm, he’d call, and slowly I would rise and dress..” where we are lucky enough to sleep in late and wake up to a warm and comfortable house. It is a good reminder for us to always be thankful for what our parents, relatives, etc. do for us because they often don’t get the credit that they deserve.
ReplyDeleteThe poem, “At the Smithville Methodist Church”, stood out to me as well because it reminded me of the Scopes Trials we learned about in U.S. History last year where religious leaders fought against the new teachings of evolution that were just being discovered in science. I think this poem also really emphasizes the innocence and vulnerability of children at a young age to be steered toward certain beliefs. Especially lines 27-30, “Soon it became clear to us: you can’t teach disbelief to a child, only wonderful stories, and we hadn’t a story nearly as good.” This shows the church’s method of turning children to believing Jesus and the teachings of the Bible using stories that will interest a younger audience.
I agree that the meaning of the poem, “Famous” is to emphasize being “ordinarily famous.” I think this is reinforced in the final stanza when Nye says “...not because it did anything spectacular, but because it never forgot what it could do.” I think this really enforces the idea that people do not need to do something incredible to be considered famous because from one perspective or another, you’re seen as famous in some way.
Rylee Kavanagh says: One poem I liked was “Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire” I very much enjoyed this poem because I love small towns and have travelled to many throughout the US and Europe and to Tilton even for my yearly New Hampshire vacation. I love the charm and character of a small town and this poem by Jane Kenyon embodies the small town vibe. I like how the poem teaches a lesson, the woman narrating the poem is noticing three different people in a moment in time and the possible scenarios that are happening in each person's life. It advises the reader to slow down and take some time to breathe and appreciate the smaller things in life.
ReplyDeleteMarissa Paolangeli says: Another poem I enjoyed was "Anyways (for David)" . I found it very interesting how Cleary explored a larger meaning for the word "anyways". Meaning "...our way of saying there is more than one reason, and there is that which is beyond reason, that which cannot be said". This gives the word a whole new wondrous meaning to me. When people use the word "anyways", they have their own reasons that they cannot share. For example, "The lake is cold, but I swim in it anyways...". It's sort of a mysterious ending to a sentence, because it doesn't completely show a reason why. Another quote I connect to is, "We end our stories too soon, trailing off "Anyways...."". I know that I can relate to doing that a lot as well, having my own "secret reasons". Lastly, I enjoyed the ending of the poem, how it moves from mysteriousness to love.
ReplyDeleteLacey Ryan says: One of the poems that stuck out to me was “Famous”. When I first read the title, I thought it would be about someone longing for stardom and wanting to be in the public eye. After reading the poem, I realized it was nothing like what I thought. The poet, Naomi Shihab Nye, doesn’t want stardom, but rather wants to be well-known for her likability. The last stanza stuck out to me because she said “not because it did anything spectacular, but because it never forgot what it could do”. She doesn’t want to be famous from one specific event or talent, but instead wants to be famous for never confiding to someone else’s perception of her, staying true to herself, and being a person that someone can depend on.
ReplyDeleteAnother poem that stuck out to me was “Photograph from September 11” because the topic was something that every American can relate to. I liked the second stanza how it said “The photograph halted them in life”. When looking at the pictures of people jumping out of the burning towers, some people have fear plastered on their face while others have a sense of calmness. Even though they die, in that photograph, they are still alive and that’s what this poet chooses to remember. Szymborska also says, “They’re still within the air’s reach”, meaning in the photographs, they are still alive and seam as though they could be saved. The last line of the poem leaves it on an open note, but it infers that everyone dies in the end. The poet doesn’t want to add a dark mood to the poem, so he leaves it as the reader can decide if the jumpers will die or survive.
During my reading of "Anyways (for David)" by Suzanne Cleary, I was intrigued immediately by her pensive commentaries on the Slovak tendency to use "anyways" rather than "anyway" in every day speech. As someone fascinated by the cultures of all Eastern European countries, Cleary's verses struck me as coming from somewhere profound within her own identity; through her nostalgic explanations of why she, and her countrymen, use "anyways", there rung a love for the culture of Slovakia as well as an underlying sadness to their way of life. For instance, in explaining why the Slovaks use "anyways" rather than "anyway", Cleary describes abusive relationships, cold waters, heartburn, a worker who has lost a finger, a rainy city, and darkening skies as poetic images which speak volumes of what I perceive as a bleak worldview not unlike those of other Eastern European cultures. In this sense, her nostalgia comes across as a sad sentimentality, however almost more significant in a sense that she remains proud of her Slovak identity. Conclusively, I feel very moved having read and analyzed this piece, and likewise I feel as if I have had a small glimpse into the culture which Mrs. Cleary seems so very in touch with.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Cochis says: My personal favorite poem was Mrs. Krikorian because to me it demonstrated what the role of a teacher should be. So often in the news we hear about teachers being fired for fraud or sexual assault, and it leaves an impression on us about teachers in general. Stories like this always make me smile because the role a teacher should be filling is of a guide to point you in the right direction. Reading this reminded me of all the really good teachers I’ve had and I was very happy to read about how this boy's life was changed by education.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite poem was certainly "Rain in Childhood" by Eric Ormsby. This poem really hit home for me concerning the nostalgia and sadness that most high school students or teenagers feel when looking back on the days of being packed in a school bus like "a flotilla of little ducks". Besides the underlying message of this poem, I felt as if the imagery and similes used were very descriptive and powerful as well. Using very strong words such as "pummeled", "concussive ricochets" along with similes such as, "like a road map glimpsed by flashlight in a car" made the poem powerful. Besides the wonderful imagery, it made me feel nostalgic and saddened to realize that our childhoods have passed us by. It was a nice read and funny to look back on the days of taking a bus ride in the rain.
ReplyDeletePersonally, my favorite poem was "At Smithville Methodist Church." While I am not atheist, I'm not necessarily active in the religious community, and troublesome events in the Catholic church, such as the shunning of homosexuality and sweeping the molestation by priests and cardinals under the rug, have made me lose faith in the Church that I was part of as a child. The poem shows how young minds can be shaped, and how hopeless we are to change that. Interestingly enough, the author, Stephen Dunn points out how we can't sing songs about evolution, but that is not true. Each group of people finds a higher power to worship and seeks explanation for natural events through that high power. Those who are religious believe that a god or multiple gods created the Earth we live on today, while scientists believe in the Big Bang and evolution. Dunn does an excellent job of juxtaposing the cheery Christian beliefs with his darker perception of reality.
ReplyDeleteI also liked this poem because I thought that the view from the parent had a very realistic take. No matter where we go and what we do, we're constantly being told and taught different things from the time we're young, and the youth especially are very easily influenced by adults and things that entertain. In this poem, the little girl goes to church and does crafts, sings, and learns all about Jesus and the Bible, and whether she truly understands it or not, she chooses to partake in the beliefs because she's enjoying herself. Her parents soon realize, although they believe in evolution and the truth found in science, "you can't teach disbelief to a child" because it doesn't provide the same type of excitement and wonder that the Bible tells.
DeleteOne poem that I thoroughly enjoyed was "Kafka: Lilacs" by Robert Cording. When I first read this poem I was slightly confused on what was going on. I soon realized that this man was slowly dying from some unmentioned illness. Obviously the effects of this disease include not being able to eat or really drink much of anything. He is just waiting to die, similarly to the lilacs in his room. He finds it comical that the lilacs are able to drink yet they are in their "last days, dying" similarly to him. It is just a waiting game for the both of them. Our main character falls into a dream, a memory of a lake that he swam in with his father. He remembers the bright, vibrant colors, birds singing, and certainly the perfectly chilled beer that he drank with his father. He is awakened by a friend and knocked back into reality. It is symbolic to his physical state when the author uses phrases such as " trellised with blue shadows" and "a glass of beer... untouched", because we learn how much he used to enjoy the vibrant colors and cold beers. This is overall a sad poem and we can only assume based on the symbolic nature of these verses that he will pass soon.
ReplyDeleteAnother poem I enjoyed was "Testament," because it was incredibly resonating. The poet, Hayden Carruth, writes from the perspective of a dying man. Over the course of the poem, the message becomes prevalent: money isn't everything. The narrator, on his deathbed, is completely at peace with his life, despite not being able to leave his significant other a decent amount of money. He makes the point to cherish all the incredible moments of life rather than to focus on money. The last line, "I know millions of these [moments] will be still unspent when the last grain of sand falls with its whisper, its inconsequence, on the mountain of my love below," is powerful because he states that money will eventually all be spent, but the love and memories that he and his significant other have shared will last an eternity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Oliver that the message of "Testament" really resonated with me. Most of the time in life I feel like everyone wants too much. They take but they never give. It was refreshing to read from the point of view of someone who doesn't feel like money is the most important thing in the world. I loved reading about someone that really cherished the loving memories in his life and wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world. The poem broke my heart (as it was from a dying man's point of view) yet at the same time left me feeling hopeful which I loved.
Delete-Haley Zmijewski
In the poem 1964 "(For Bert)," I found the concept of light and dark very interesting. Light is usually a positive aspect to a poem, it represents brightness or happiness, but in this poem the sunlight is the darkness of the poem. The sunlight means the outside world, and when he (the author) is outside the classroom, in the sunlight, he is vulnerable to the evils of the real world; versus when he is out of the sunlight, sheltered by his classroom where he is protected from the harshness of the outside world.-Emily Steiner
ReplyDelete"Rain in Childhood," was one of my personal favorite poems. It brought me back to my childhood, and the childlike wonder kids have about simple events such as a rainy day. The thunder, to the child in the poem, "pummeled" with "concussive ricochets," showing how kids see natural events, ones older people might not even bat an eye at, almost magical. I also like the line that says "Already in that fragrance we could sense the end of childhood, where remembrance stands." I enjoy this line because it shows how even a scent can bring you back to certain moments, and it adds to the overall nostalgic mood this poem creates.
ReplyDeleteJust as Emily said when I read "Rain in Childhood" it immediately brought me back to my own childhood. It made me miss the days when a thunderstorm seemed truly magical and not just a nuisance to my schedule or the reason why I couldn't straighten my hair in the morning. Just reading this poem made me smile. It made me feel like I was six years old again and I always love poems, or even books, that you can truly visualize and take you to another place. Overall, I think this poem made me feel as though I need to appreciate life and the little beauties of this world more because one day I won't be here anymore and will have wished I never took it for granted.
Delete-Haley Zmijewski
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed " Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire" because it reminded me of my childhood. Though I didn't grow up in New Hampshire or visit there often, I would go to similar places in Maine or Vermont. I would sit in truck stop parking lots while my mother went in and got food, and I would watch the people passing by. The author really captured that picture well, and made it very relatable. I also loved how the poem ended. She dragged on a moment in time and in the end reminded us that we are all part of something wide and vast. That there are many moments, and most will be equivocal to each other but that doesn't mean they aren't worth enjoying while they last. I noticed how she mentioned multiple people but didn't give anyone a name or title. I think she did that to add to one of the themes, that we are all living in the same world, living in the same moments, no matter who we are.
ReplyDelete"Undertaker" stayed with me for weeks after reading it. The contrast between the speaker's cold realism throughout much of the poem and their prayer that the phone call is a wrong number, a bill, anything but another death, was very powerful.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked "What the Living Do". It was so simple yet so deep. I really like the description of average everyday difficulties that us, as living people, have to deal with. I thought the theme of the poem was that even thought we face everyday challenges, we are grateful we are alive. We enjoy the challenges and they make the good times even better. When she says " I remember you" at the end, I believe that is what she was referring to. That after all the little unpredictabilities and hardships that might make her question life, she remembers how good it is to be alive. I also thought it was similar to " Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire" in the way that it gave us a greater understanding of life. We may think the things we do don't mean anything, and maybe they don't, but they are all apart of living. While Naomi Shihab Nye addresses this more generally, and Jane Kenyon elaborates one specific moment, they both touch on the topic.
ReplyDeleteOne poem that stood out to me was “What the Living Do” by Marie Howe. This poem drew my attention because I misinterpreted it when I first read it over. The first time I read it, I thought that the poem was only about humanity in general. I believed that the line “we want more, and more and then more of it” was giving the reader the message that humans are never satisfied. We should really think about that and try to be thankful and happy with all that we have. When reading, I just glanced over the name “Johnny”, “this is the everyday we spoke of”, and “what you called that yearning”. After reading the last line “I remember you”, I realized that I must have missed something in the poem. I read back through the poem and picked up the lines that I previously mentioned, discovering the true meaning of the poem. This poem was written in remembrance of Johnny. He may have been either her father or husband because of the daily tasks mentioned such as needing the kitchen sink to be unclogged or cleaning the crusty dishes. Johnny must have died of a terminal illness because the line that says “this is the everyday we spoke of” means that they must have talked about the day he would not be here. I found this poem to be a little bit sad because she is remembering someone that she has lost who really meant a lot to her. In conclusion, this poem stood out to me because I did like the interpretation of human nature and it taught me that I really need to reread poem a few times to understand the true message.
ReplyDeleteAnother poem that I took an interest to was “Mrs. Krikorian” by Sharon Olds. I really think that all readers can relate to this poem because everybody has a Mrs. Krikorian. There is a person that has changed you for the better, inspired you, and made you want to achieve more. I know that I had a teacher two years ago who made me want to work harder and achieve more. While reading this poem, she popped into my head and I am sure that each reader’s own “Mrs. Krikorian” popped into their own heads. This poem really shows how one single person can have such a positive and influential effect on a child, and maybe even change the life that they were going to live.
A final poem that I enjoyed reading was “Rain in Childhood” by Eric Ormsby. This poem gave me a feeling of nostalgia and reminiscence as I think back to when I was younger and those rainy days. I remember the mornings with the bus windows all fogged up and looking out the window at the rain pouring down all around the bus. I agree with what Michael said before about the timing of us reading this poem. At this point in our lives these memories are still present and it reminds us that we are growing up fast. This poem serves to remind the reader of a rainy day in our childhood, and just the memory that we are not little kids anymore. Our lives are flying by. We will be going off to college and starting the rest of our lives soon, but we will still always have these memories of being younger.
-Brie McNamee
I agree with Brie when she says that she misinterpreted the poem the first time because I did the same thing as well. I really liked the idea that this poem was written for someone the author has lost. They seem to have played a significant role in Marie Howes life, becasue she remembers them quite often. Just doing everyday things like getting out of the car or seeing herself in a shop window reminds this person of the recent death that has occurred in her life.
DeleteMy favorite poem was "Rain In Childhood". Its vivid descriptions brought back childhood memories of rain and thunderstorms at school. I thought is was special how Ormsby made the rain sound like an important event to the children because I can connect to that feeling. When I was younger, I used to be afraid of storms and they used to seem like the scariest but most interesting event. This is a similar feeling to those of the children in the poem when the "thunder pummeled the embrittled clouds". I also liked how this poem talked about a sense of nostalgia brought by the smell of the morning rain. Something about that smell always makes me feel nostalgic as well.
ReplyDeleteAnother poem that I enjoyed was "Photograph from September 11". I though this poem was incredibly powerful and meaningful because it can be understood by almost everyone who reads it. Although it is short and simplistic, it makes a lasting impact on the reader and conveys the feeling of tragedy that was felt on that day and years after. My favorite part of this poem was how the author made the first three stanzas feel like a pause in time at the moment this photograph was taken. It seems as if she is trying to preserve the moment that the photograph was taken, when everyone was still alive, and cherish it before tragedy struck.
Like some of my other classmates, I also enjoyed "Rain in Childhood" because of the feeling you have while reading it. While reading, a warm feeling of comfort was apparent by feeling like a bunch of young children are huddled into a noisy bus while the outside is silenced by the rain and thunderstorms. The poem also uses strong sensory where the "steamy, tar-damp smell of morning rain" brings back memories of the times standing in your raincoat by the bus stop waiting for the bus to keep you dry. Another line that brought nostalgia was "on school days when the windows of the bus dimmed with all our breath and we pressed close in jostling stickers." The memories of wiping your hand to see out the window or drawing a smiley-face brought back the childhood some of us hardly forget. I think Ormsby creates a strong piece where many can relate and bring the memories of the rain to their childhood.
ReplyDeleteAnother poem I found to be enjoyable was "Testament". This poem sheds light on the importance of time and how fast it goes. In the poem states "the hourglass with its grains of sand drifting down, not as an object in our world but as a sign, a symbol, our lives drifting down grain by grain, sifting away", becomes a clear explanation of how fast life can go. Grain by grain until the sand stops flowing is all we get and this poem put it together perfectly. In addition to this, the rhetorical questions asked in the end of the poem become visions of all things ever accomplished during the time the sand sifted through the hourglass. I found this poem to be an interesting last poem to read.
ReplyDeleteI hate to mention the poem "Rain in Childhood" again, but it resonated with me. Tolland has been a perfect place to be grown up and maybe I'm just sentimental going into my senior year, but recently I've been reflecting on my elementary school years. Part of the poem took place in the bus, which I still find was a very important part of me growing up. When you think about it, we've all spent a lot of time on the bus, which for me, was filled with a lot of window gazing. I think Eric Orsby did a phenomenal job expressing the feeling of riding a bus and looking out the window. I thought the symbolism of the ducks paddling together really captured the essence of going to school. One of the amazing things about ducks is that they naturally remember their migratory routes, which I think is similar to students getting used to the regular school routine and letting the bus take us everyday to the same place; always returning to the same place.
ReplyDeleteIntroduction to Poetry has a major theme of exploration. It tells us to explore a poem by reading and listening to it, drop a mouse into a poem, and walk inside the poem's room. The author repeatedly brings up the idea of exploration. He wants people to see poems with a sense of adventure and exploration. I agree with the author that it is important and necessary to "explore" poems to understand them.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the Undertaker, I thought that it was strange that a female wrote this poem, mostly because I had always pictured a man as having the undertaker job. Secondly I thought it was strangle that it was title to someone, seeing that this poem is rather dark and brutal, I thought why would anyone write a poem like this for someone else. Those two things sparked my curiosity, so I looked the poem up and as it turns out Patricia Smith is a very renowned poetry slam performer. This particular piece was one of multiple poems she wrote for her son who was starting to flirt with gang violence. This knowledge made me like the piece then more! The poem itself is a warning to her son and many other young man like him, a warning of the consequences that may come if you are not careful with what you get into. It's saying how your actions could effect everyone around you, most importantly your family; your mother.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was very hesitant to write a blog post about Lucille Clifton's poem "wishes for son", but I think it taught me (male) something very important. Firstly, I think there was definitely a light humor throughout the play and she didn't actually wish these experiences and pains on men, but I applaud the humor because it kept it engaging and refreshing. I think one of Clifton's goal was to express the experiences that women go through that men will never understand, but more importantly hope that men will start to understand and acknowledge these inconveniences for women instead of never addressing it. I hope this poem sticks with me because sometimes I forget that as a male we are lucky to not experience cramps, hot flashes, etc.
ReplyDeleteLucas, I agree with you completely, I think the sole purpose of this poem was to bring awareness to men about the daily hardships women have to endure. I was also wondering what you thought of when you read the line, "let them think they have accepted arrogance in the universe." Personally I thought that is was referring to the fact that in history men thought of themselves as being 'superior' to women, without understanding our hardships. This lead me to think about how women could be viewed as stronger because we deal with things such as cramps and other things that come with periods, but act like we are fine and nothing is affecting us throughout the day.
DeleteIt was challenging to try to address this poem objectively, being a girl and experiencing many of the more painful realities of being a girl. I viewed this poem similarly to Julia and Lucas-I think CLifton was both trying to bring awareness to men of what women go through, but more importantly pushing for a re-evaluation of the strength of both men and women. Women are generally viewed to be the more vulnerable sex, and yet a large part of this judgement is based off of circumstantial and universal factors no one has control over. The wish of Clifton is for these situations to come upon men (and sons) so that their strength would be tested by the same standards as women.
Delete-Sarah Lateer
Allie Simon says: "Undertaker" had to be one of my favorite poems from the packet. The sheer honesty of how money is always a factor, no matter the situation, took me by surprise. Dealing with such a sensitive topic as the death of the son, and trying to have them returned to their peaceful physical state while lying in cold death is still consumed by the greater evil of money. Williams wrote," The high price/ of miracles startles the still- young woman". I think showing that there is no separation of money, even in death, is a powerful message.
ReplyDelete“Photographs from September 11” is one of those pieces of literature that prove it is not the length of a work, or the embellished detail, that necessarily makes it impactful. It is the careful arrangement and simplicity of the lines that made this poem stand out to me. I once saw a documentary about this photograph of a falling man taken during the 9/11 terror attacks. The man had to make the decision to either burn to death inside the building, or fall to his death. To me, this poem captures the moment of peace that the latter decision may have brought to a falling victim. In the photograph I saw, the man looks at peace, ironically, as he was falling through midair in his final moments. He seemed frozen in time but content, as if he had accepted his fate. The poem reads, “Each is still complete,/ with a particular face/ and blood well hidden.” These simple words describe this photograph, as the man that I saw seemed to not be in fear, but in a state of the most pure acceptance of his fate. Maybe it was that he had no time to dread his death, or that the circumstance just forced him to the final state of acceptance that much sooner.
“At the Smithville Methodist Church” was another poem that stood out to me, through its innocent nature and different perspective of a child’s faith. I watched an interview of Stephen Dunn talking about this poem. He said when he would read it in places in the South, people tended to walk out in the middle, before even waiting for the ending of sweet lingering faith. I absolutely love this theme of not guiding a child’s innocent faith, even if it goes in a different direction than the parents’. The poem reads, “Could we say Jesus doesn’t love you? Could I tell her the Bible is a great book certain people use to make you feel bad? We sent her back without a word.” This is such a strong message because I find so much importance in allowing children to form their own beliefs and opinions. Another line I loved was “you can’t teach disbelief to a child…”. Children can manage to have this faith because they are still naive to the world. Their faith has not left them, but is still only growing larger.
Avery Savoie has a couple of insights to offer: One of the poems that struck me as unique was Kafka: Lilacs. I really enjoyed how Cording used alternating phrases to discuss what appeared to be a dying man’s life, and the lilacs on the bedside table of his hospital room. I researched Kafka because I didn’t know what it meant, and found that it was the surname of a popular European writer from the turn of the twentieth century famous for using themes in his works such as guilt, absurdity, existential anxiety, and alienation. I think that Cording, in including his surname in the title of his poem was hinting at the alienation that the dying patient feels throughout the poem. In verses such as
ReplyDelete“At arm’s reach, a glass of beer, and pills
To numb the pain, both untouched. A clock
Replays the same hours and the sun
Arrives right on schedule, pausing now…”
I felt as though Cording was painting a picture of the man feeling like the world was operating around him, and he was a fly on the wall in his own life and memories.
In response to Samantha Golden:
I thought it was very insightful how you pointed out that she blamed fate for how her life turned out, and strongly agree with your statement that it’s always easier to see the right choice once you’ve lived the outcome of the wrong one. But, I don’t think that she is necessarily thinking that she made the wrong choice, but that it was her father that made her choices for her, and she wished that she could have done what she wanted to do with her life rather than what her father and society expected of her, like take the fellowship at the University of Grenoble.
In response to Christina Lawrence:
I strongly agree with your evaluation of the poem “Famous.” I liked the quote that you chose to share, “not because it did anything spectacular, but because it never forgot what it could do.” I think this quote emphasizes the amazing feats living things are capable of, and how many frequently forget the opportunity that lies within every life. I also like how you pointed out the author’s interpretation of little things meaning a lot to certain people because they impacted that person’s life, without impacting thousands or millions more. I think it is crucial to remember the importance of little things.
I really enjoyed this packet in general. It is a change of pace from the large and complicated novels we read in previous English classes. I was really able to see the points made in "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins. Often times I find myself looking much farther into the poetry than what is probably necessary. I want to find a small hidden meaning in the poetry, but the poet wants the audience to understand exactly what they are saying. There is often time not a complicated hidden meaning in the simple metaphors used.
ReplyDeleteLike some of my other classmates, I really enjoyed the piece "Famous" by Naomi Shihab Nye. The last three lines are what made me fall in love with it. "I want to be famous in the way a pulley is famous or a buttonhole, not because it did anything spectacular, but because it never forgot what it could do." This poem is very inspirational. It motivates the reader to see their own ability and potential and not worry about how other perceive them. We may, unknowingly, be famous to someone. If you think about your parents, you are their world. Especially when we were infants, they were/are our world. Everyone see the other as famous because they are the most important thing in their life. I think the ideas that is poem brings are absolutely beautiful and they made it my favorite of the bunch.
Holly McGrath says: In reply to Kacie G’s entry from July 17: I completely agree with everything you said! One part of the poem that really stuck out to me was the ending in which Clifton states “let them think they have accepted/arrogance in the universe/...not unlike themselves” I interpreted this to be Clifton calling men out for being ignorant. As you said, she is encouraging men to show some empathy, but I also think she is simply trying to inform them of the struggles women go through because many men just don't understand.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to Eliza's entry from July 20: I agree with what Eliza and Vanessa said. In fact, the very same Lines Vanessa mentioned were the lines that stuck out to me. However, when I read this poem the feeling was less nostalgia of the past and more excitement for the future as we are all starting to drive instead of take the bus. As we are preparing to leave High School and say goodbye to our childhood we are looking directly at Adulthood.
In reply to Eliza's entry from July 20: Interestingly, I read “Main Street: Tilton, New Hampshire” during my second week being away from my home and my family while dorming in New York City. It was interesting to recall the similarities that this New Hampshire town shares with so many other old New England villages. It was even more interesting to compare that setting to the modern, Bustling atmosphere of New York. Both locations have markets, gathering places, and laundromats, but the characteristics of the places can be so different. I get a certain feeling whenever I am in New York, and I also got a certain familiar feeling while reading about Tilton. The two feelings were polar opposites but still, both brought me happiness and good vibes.
In reply to Emily S entry from August 21: I found it interesting that Mueller began her poem with “because” and ended it with “and”. Neither the first nor last thought is complete. I took this to mean that one’s story is never finished and that the art of storytelling is a never ending cycle.
Karly Nivison says: One of the poems that I found I enjoyed the most was Testament by Hayden Carruth. Throughout this poem, the author compares life to a hourglass slowly ticking away leaving the moments shorter with every grain of sand that is dropped. But it is not only life that slips the grasp, it is also memories and feelings and everything that is important in life. She/he talks about the past jobs they have had and different stages in life they have gone through (the banker, the broker, ect). she /he then goes on to things that have become outgrown in this culture we live in today. How CDs are laying in the pile of sand and what has been put in the will for the author’s child to take. It’s almost heart wrenching to read all of the memories and thoughts and feelings are becoming sand and the questions that are left unanswered. It is almost like the author is preparing themselves for when that last grain of salt finally leaves. The end of the poem is something I can relate to very much so. It is the author wondering if everything they did was enough and if they gave enough kisses or if the flowers under the lilac tree will grow. The last few lines are what stuck out to me the most,
ReplyDelete“I know millions of these will be still
Unspent when the last grain of sand
Falls within its whisper, its inconsequence,
On the mountain of my love below.”
These lines are so beautifully written and it makes you pause and look back on your life to see if you have done enough. It makes you wonder if you will be happy with your own mountain of love when your last grain of sand falls,
Another poem that I found very intriguing was Undertaker by Patricia Smith. The poem is very grotesque and morbid in a way. Speaking for myself, I have never thought of the struggles an Undertaker has to go through and this poem gives me a whole newfound respect for those people who do this as a job. The first line left such an unpleasant taste in my mouth and it was just so cold and a bit upsetting. “When a bullet enter the head, the brain explodes.” reading that right there gives me chills, how can it not? But the chills never left my body until the poem had ended. What struck me the most was the fact that all these mothers wanted the Undertake to fix their children. And as I read, I noticed that the mothers always assumed that their child was innocent or they were just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. But that isn't always true. It made me think of how our parents think of us and how we can change their lives.
A poem that really stood out to me was "1964" by Edgar Gabriel Silex. I was shocked by the turn of events because the first part of the poem and the last half were so drastically different. In the beginning of the poem, it takes you back to the days when you were a little kid and your main focus was on candy and games. Once I read up to the part where it said, "we never got to eat our candy apples because the Border Patrol came thought we were Mexicans" I came to a realization that this poem was all about the loss of innocence. Another line that stuck with me was, "pigments and shadows and the memory of light would be lost from our eyes that day" when I read this the tone of the whole poem shifted and it truly saddened me. It saddened me because it made me realize that the harsh realities of life impact the way you look at life itself and that at some point you stop looking through life in your rose-colored glasses. And I feel like that childlike sense of wonder and the inquisitiveness that comes with it is what makes life enjoyable, and to have that taken away from somebody disheartens me. Overall, this poem was very eye opening and it made me really think about how the loss of innocence impacts a person for the rest of their lives. -Julia Robinson
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the points that Julia made. The loss of innocence theme was very striking in the way that the reader slowly realized the environment that the kids featured in the poem grew up in, and how that reflected the loss of childlike disillusionment. One of my favorite lines in this poem was, "...and the world's misery was still covered in iridescence before I got pneumonia and heard the sweet drowning voice of death." It was not really the narrator's being on the brink of death as much as the singular word choice of "iridescence" that stayed with me throughout the poem. I think that this was the perfect word to describe childhood before a loss of innocence; it is generally used to describe a type of light that is not illuminating, but more blinding-the reflection of light, but not light itself. It was this very lack of knowledge and understanding that shielded, like the poem said, "the world's misery" from the children, and vice versa. After they were brought home by the Border Patrol, Silex wrote, "we learned school was meant to keep us from seeing that sunlight created this world/school would shape our eyes." This, too, ties back to the idea of the artificial iridescence of what is supposed to be the "light of knowledge" at school which serves in this case as something to blind and keep the children from the harsh and unfair, but true realities of the world. In my opinion, it was the fact that they were being purposefully kept from the full freedom that marked the true loss of innocence for the children.
Delete-Sarah Lateer
"The Mercy" is a poem that I really enjoyed reading. I found the storyline very interesting. When the immigrant bordered the ship everything was new and exciting but as the voyage drags on reality begins to set in. To me the mother has come to America in search of the American dream, "only to rediscover the same nightmare [she] left at home." But it was the last four lines that really stood out to me. The orange to me represents the excitement and the hope of the American dream. It is something that everyone is constantly chasing and there may be set backs but you can just wipe those away because "you can never get enough."
ReplyDeleteOne of the major themes I saw in this packet of poems was the balance between two forces, such as passion versus reason, innocence versus maturity, the living versus the dead, sickness versus health, and truth versus denial.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite poem in this compilation in regard to this theme was "Anyways (for David). Unlike many other of my classmates, I didn't think of the narrator making the change between her new life with the man she loved (her husband) and the home she loved, but her thought process in defending her anyways because as much as she loved her husband, she respected the reason for the anyways more. In the first couple of lines, Suzanne Cleary gives some clear examples of how anyways is used in her town: "The lake is cold but I swim in it anyways. Kielbasa gives me heartburn but I eat it anyways. (She/He) treats me bad but I love (her/him) anyways." Right off the bat are seemingly contradictory phrases using the word anyways, something that defies common sense. After all, if something or someone is bad for it, why would we continue to indulge yourself with that thing or person? This is the argument of passion versus reason.
"My people live in the third rainiest city in the country, but we pack our picnic baskets as the sky darkens. We fall in love knowing it may not last, but we fall." The object for respect in these statements according to Clearly is the bravery it takes to accept the bad and live with it just for the hope of knowing that somthing good may come of it. The lake may be cold, but they will swim anyway because they love the feel of water rushing between their fingers. Keilbasa gives them heartburn but they eat it anyways because its their family's favorite food. They see the dark clouds ahead, and rather than shying away from them, head onward, knowing wither that they could get drenched and live with it or the storm could pass right over them. They know their lives and loves are not guaranteed, but that does not stop them from persisting anyways, because against the infallibility of logic, against the logic of "anyways" themselves, the people from her home know that to persist in love and life is to persist in loss as well. This is a balance that too often goes unrecognized. There is a great strength in this quality that the narrator both recognizes and refuses to be ashamed of, even after hearing from her husband that the word was grammatically incorrect. She kept him waiting in tribute to all the reasons and weights her people carried on their backs.
It is not just the powerful ideas put forth in this poem that captivated me, but the technicalities and precision of the writing itself. In congruence with the strong connection that the narrator has with the people in her town as shown through the content of the poem, I found that this idea was more subtly reinforced by the use of inclusive pronouns. The words "we" and "our" created a sense of prideful community that existed between the two even though the narrator was long since physically separated from her old home. Additionally, I enjoy how Clearly ended the poem with "This is how we know home: someone who will look into our eyes/ and say what could ruin everything, but say it/regardless." The fact that she coul have easily ended the poem with "anyways" instead of "regardless"-the word that would be a reflection of the poem's preceding structure-but still did it, against logic, anyways.
-Sarah Lateer
I was immediately drawn in by simply the title of "Why We Tell Stories" and was not disappointed. I wrote, erased, wrote, erased my annotations because I simply did not have enough space on the fronts and didn't want to go onto the back, and I cannot say enough positive things about it. The spirituality of this poem and the fantastical quality about it is almost like the hook that drags us into each and every story we enjoy in the form of a poem. The first two stanzas talk about folklore more so than fantasy, such as oral history passed down by Native Americans, ideas about our evolution from other animals. Other stanzas tell more about the fantasy-related stories we tell, made up when we were alone, poor, bored, and weak. We envision worlds where we are larger than life to distract from our less-than-unique lives. Because although on the surface, we are all the same, none of us are the same, and that is why storytelling is so great. Because variety is the spice of life, and because the same type of story can be told billions of different ways by billions of different people, all of them special and beautiful people, and as I thought and developed a deeper understanding for this poem, I liked it more and more.
ReplyDeleteRain in Childhood made me nostalgic, because it never made me happier than to ride home in the bus during a rainstorm or thunderstorm, for almost no explicable reason, but I still like rain/thunderstorms. And this poem goes further than the surface explanation as well. It gives us a glimpse at what really missing childhood feels like and how sometimes the simplest things can explain to us where our paths in life might lead, or where we wish they would lead. "The lightning lace the school's facade with instantaneous traceries... like a road map glimpsed by a flashlight in a car." This creates a subliminal message about how some methods of learning, including some taught in schools, are not worth what they claim to be, and happiness and wonder have much more value.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually not a fan of poetry, so I was surprised that I enjoyed quite a few of them. My favorite was Why We Tell Stories by Lisel Mueller. I thought that putting the poem into three sections made it easier to understand. The first section seemed to be what people tell stories about, the second section could be why people tell stories, and the third section being who tells the stories. I liked how she described things but never directly stated what she was talking about because it gave the reader room to imagine. I am a lover of stories, so I really connected with this poem.
ReplyDeleteMy second favorite poem was Rain in Childhood by Eric Ormsby. I think almost every kid has a very similar memory of being on the bus while it's raining, and just basking in the atmosphere the weather creates. Those were some of my favorite bus rides because it felt like riding through a rain forest, especially if there was a road with a lot of foliage. While the poem itself is not just about the rain, that's the part that really caught my attention. The feelings of nostalgia Ormsby relates to these bus rides resonated with me too.
Paige Fluckiger
One poem that I found interesting was "At the Southern Methodist Church." Immediately you can tell that the author is not religious, by her reference to her daughter's Jesus Saves button as "ancient craft." Yet, it seems as if the parents, however much against the religion, want to keep their child's innocence in the world, and do not want to ruin her happiness she has found. If the parents were to tell her that evolution is where she came from, then the girl wouldn't really have anything to be excited about. Lastly, the line that stuck with me the most was, "I didn't have a wonderful story for my child and she was beeming." It seems as if the author feels like they can't provide the magic that their child craves yet happy that his child is happy.
ReplyDelete-Luke Bowden
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ReplyDeleteSophia Webster says: One of the poems that struck me the most of our large selection was 1964 (For Bert). I enjoyed this poem because it read a lot like a short story. The beginning seemed so light hearted and youthful referencing such american comforts to kids such as potato chips, Pepsi, Payday bars, and candy apples. The young age of the characters also added to the youthful lighthearted tone I was feeling. However, as the poem progressed the day playing hooky turned into so much more as they were captured by border patrol.
ReplyDeleteThis experience is one that the narrator makes clear he will never forget. It is the day the narrator lost his youthful innocence, the day he realised that the world is not a perfect society. As he said, before this event, “the world’s misery was still covered in an iridescence”.
This poem is very interesting because everyone can relate to a day when the world lost even a little of its shiny exterior and the much plainer, and harsher realities of life are revealed.
Another poem that I think is worth mentioning is Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden. This poem is very short with only 14 lines, all within 3 stanzas. While the peom is short it seems to be a memory of childhood laid out so honestly. There are aspects of respect, sacrifice, and gratitude for this father figure that seems to do so much for the family with no need for thanks.
However, what is most interesting about the piece is that there is a feeling of disconnect. There is gratitude but the presence of love is in question. There is also a reference to “chronic angers of the house” which are completely left to the reader’s imagination. This honesty along with the mystery of the sparse details that leaves me wanting more is what makes this poem so intriguing to me.
Mallory Goldsmith says: REPLY TO KATRINA GRIFFIN: Like Katrina, I really liked the poem, "wishes for sons" by Lucille Clifton. I, as well as many other females, often share the same wishes that Clifton wrote about. The dry sense of humor was enough for me to detect that she didn't literally wish these struggles upon men, but wished for some sympathy, or acknowledgement. I also noticed the inconsistent capitalization, but I am still wondering why it was done seemingly erratically. For example, the poem reads, "i wish them cramps", but also says in the same stanza, "I wish them no 7-11". I agree that the lack of capitalization adds to the simplicity of the poem in a way, but i think the irregular use of capitalization makes the piece a little more complex at the same time, since there must be some sort of pattern that was used. -Mallory Goldsmith
ReplyDeleteREPLY TO ALEXZANDRIA WELLS: I enjoyed, "Introduction to Poetry" as well. Like Alex, I was able to clearly see the points made, and found them to be refreshingly relatable. In all honesty, I've never enjoyed poetry. Actually, I despised it. However, I believe the reason I disliked this form of art so much was because, like Alex, I would look too far into a piece. I would almost always miss the actual point of the poem, and would come up with a wacky, irrelevant conclusion. "Introduction to Poetry" was a really great way to start off this summer's poetry adventure. It essentially went over the wrong way to read poetry, and the right way to read and comprehend a poem, and did so through descriptive metaphors. It helped me to be able to look at poems from a different viewpoint, and I found understanding the pieces much more doable after reading it.
Julia Pereira says: Despite the fact that all of these poems were interesting to read, my favorite would have to be Testament. What I liked about this poem was how Mr. Carruth described the ending of the characters life. In a few of the other poems, when death was put into the picture, it carried a negative connotation with it. However, in this poem, Mr. Carruth describes it as being “ almost entirely love.” Actually, my favorite part of the entire poem would have to be “ The stuff of ego with which we began, the mass in the upper chamber, filters away as love accumulates below. Now I am almost entirely love.” I’ve read anything that view dying this way. What makes the poem even better is how the character really has nothing worth giving to those he will leave behind, all he has to offer is acts and signs of love. I wish everyone viewed death this way, then there wouldn't be so much terror or fear when one's life is close to the end. It also makes it easier for those who are left behind too. We never really miss our grandpa's sweater, or ours grandma's necklace. We miss the freshly baked cookies and hugs that were so tight, breathing seemed impossible. We miss their slobbery kisses and contagious laugh. This poem understood that. This poem understood the power of leaving love behind.
ReplyDeleteKettie Rose Cormier says: I agree with Eliza with the fact that "Rain in Childhood" dramatically applies a sense of nostalgia by using descriptive word choice and imagery to help describe the feeling of living life through your childhood years. The poem almost seems more impactful to us as seniors because we are living through the last of our childhood years, even though we seem so much like adults already. Also agreeing with Eliza, this poem really takes you back to the years of Birch Grove and the early morning rains that would occur on our way to school. I can remember having raindrop "races" on the windows as me and my childhood friends would play freely on the way to our short, easy, and playful classes. The poet, Without having including any other knowldge besides setting the scene, manages to still largely impact each reader and bring them back to their own unique childhood. Overall, the poet took an overlooking view of school in your childhood years and inflicted an overlooking theme of relative smells and sights to connect every reader to how it felt to be a child, while also reminiscing on how deep into the past that childhood took place.
ReplyDeleteGoing off what Katie said in the poem "Undertaker", I liked how she talked about the line, "when a bullet enters the brain, the head explodes," as it having a meaning figuratively and literally. To go one step further, the literally meaning was to show the reader the effects of the actual bullet directly, as in harming the son. This direct cause and hurt to the son showed the damage from the direct bullet and its path. The figurative meaning behind the quote was to show how it hurt his mother. This damage to the mother was caused by a rippling effect from the bullet. Although the damage from the bullet didn't harm the mother directly, it permanently damaged her life causing her whole world to change completely.
One of my favorite poems by far was the poem "Anyways" by Suzanne Cleary. She spoke about the word anyways, relating to also the word anyway. What hit me most was the line "I looked into his eyes, their smoky constellations, and then I told him. It is anyways, plural, because the word must be large enough to hold all of our reasons. Anyways is our way of saying there is more than one reason, and there is that which is beyond reason, that which cannot be said." This part of the poem shows the depth of what people mean when the freely use the word "Anyways" to give reasoning to their action. When a person uses the words anyways, it usually shows them doing an act that seems unfavorable and maybe not in their best interest, but they do it "anyways", for reasons that they believe outweigh the consequences. What Cleary was trying to describe in the poem is the difference between "anyway" and "anyways" showing that people need the depth behind the word "anyways", as in multiple "anyways", to show what is beyond their own basic reason that cannot be said in full. Another part of the poem that I loved was at the end, the author has the perfect setup to use the word "anyways" as she had previously in the poem, yet instead she had used the word "regardless". I believe this word choice the author made was to help prove her point earlier in the sentence, that it is human choice to know better but we do what we want to simply because we have to choice to. As she puts it, "This is how we know home". This is how we know everything to be, imperfect humans who still make wrong choices and smile while doing so. "Even though we know what we say could ruin everything, we say it, regardless." The word choice of regardless proves her point of change and doing what we do because of our imperfect human traits.
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ReplyDeleteFelicity Roche says: One poem that stood out to me the most was "those Winter Sundays" because it describes a kind of unappreciated love. The narrator notices all his father does for him and the family - works to keep the house warm, shines shoes, etc., even on Sundays - which show his father's love and dedication, though he mat speak brashly at times. I think that this poem is a great example of another way people show love to one another.
Poem: Honestly, I also really liked “Introduction to Poetry”. It really helped me make sure to relax and take my time processing each poem, and I found such joy in feeling a lightbulb come on in my head rather than getting frustrated like I normally would.