anger poem

What's going on? You asked
What's not going on?
What would not be going on in my head
when you smoked and smiled and asked me out for brunch, and,

Go fuck yourself, you scoffed

I will never forget that
I would remember that in my dreams and to my death
what the hell did you mean?

I thought we were just having fun, you mumbled

Fun, I repeat under my breath
But so quiet that you wouldn't hear
Fun. I repeat a bit louder again and this time I smile.

Weirdo. Strange. Hate you. Go away
I will shove you right back as you shoved me
in the shoulder, three nights ago
and ask, what's going on? 

three days after,

as you did to me.
But it will never feel the same
to you nor to me.
And that makes me unbearable.

story poem

My crystal vision is setting in; so I guess this is pain or you hurting my ego

Crystals ain’t diamonds, and crystals break

down my cheeks, shatter on my shirt

I’m okay, but I’m also a liar. It’s hard to be honest when you’re young

You’re the blues and I’m familiar. My mom loved the blues.

I know you’re bored. I want to pay for your diet cokes, your fancy shoes

But my crystal vision

It’s not your fault but you got out the car too quick, you’re oblivious, you’re the best

I go home alone, sleep on the couch to avoid your perfume

With my crystal vision

Story Poem

Blueness represented the love

She studied French lit and loved children. Her name was Adele and was pretty as her name. One day she fell for a girl who was full of blue from head to toe, and was absorbed in fine arts. Slowly Adele got soaked in blue, more and more. First it was only her jacket and next were her dresses. Ear rings were blue and napkins were blue. Time passed by and they lived together. Adele posed for Emma's painting and many people visited her to see. But Emma is more into talking with her companions who are also into fine arts. She is not proud of Adele who is a kindergarten teacher. "What do you do, Adele?" and she says immediately, "Adele writes. Right?". From a certain point Emma grows out of blue. She gets her period twice a month, would not kiss her, and gets home late after working with Lise. But Adele gets absorbed more and more into blueness. One day Adele feels lonely. Emma notices her untruthfulness and they break up. Instead of growing out of blueness, Adele decides to absorb herself into it until she can get over the feeling. She lets herself float on sea as she feels herself completely into Emma while she is completely away.

One day they meet again. Adele is still in love, she picks blue dress and wears her hear differently. She gets invited to Emma's exhibition.

Again on the day of exhibition, her dress is blue. But now on the wall there are paintings of Lise.

Adele decides to leave early.  

blog 4

I loved the poem Camouflaging the Chimera. It just really sucked me in, right from the start. I liked how Komunyakaa didn’t simply describe the place from the standpoint of just observation, but rather showed the reader what the place was like by manipulating certain things about the place as they used it to their own benefit, specifically for camouflage. I also loved how the place became less literal as the poem progressed. It began with the branches in their helmets and the mud on their faces, but soon progressed into things like “chameleons crawled our spines/ changing from day to night,” and “till the moon touched metal.” These are not directly describing the place, not literally, but the characters are still interacting with the place through this language. I think this versatile language really called me through the poem, plus it’s just plain beautiful to read. This poem also seems to be about some things that are not, should not, be beautiful, but I think that describing it in this way gives the situation a dire sense of serenity, and I find that extremely successful and enjoyable. 

Filling Station- Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop adopts diverse descriptions in order to show the image of oil station, and her variation of techniques- rhyme, enjambment and onomatopeia- is amazing. Everything is soaked in oil: father's suit, sons and even the plant. The dark, gray color is successfully transferred to the readers as she says "some comic books provide/ the only note of color". The image of how full of oil the place is can be well shown more than anything through a single sentence of her saying to "be careful with that match" on the first stanza. Overall, she uses "y" a lot, all throughout the poem which not only shows that she is describing but also gives a feeling of unity. The continuous usage of 6-7 sentences and sudden change into 8 sentences on the very last stanza emphasizes message of love. It is a greasy and black place, but still somebody embroiders the doily, waters the plant, and arranges the cans so that they make noise to automobiles. Change of atmosphere out of unity certainly transfers the warmth.

James Wright and Joshua Harmon

The poem "In Response to a Rumor That the Oldest Whorehouse in Wheeling, West Virginia Has Been Condemned", James Wright provides a dark and cynical take on his town Wheeling. At first, his poem is a response to the brothel being condemned. He makes liberal use of the "-one" and "-ong" sounds in the first stanza, making his mournful mood more apparent. Throughout the poem, Wright uses very short sentences and lines, making the imagery in the poem seem sparse. The use of "poured" in the "women poured down the long street in the river" depicts the women being so great in number that they are not just going down to the river, but are rushing in there like incoming water. The poem then takes a much darker turn when Wright reveals that the women are not seen after they make their way to the river; instead they "drown". He states that they are not seen even close to "near dawn", so where could they be? Wright then reveals that he believes that the river in Wheeling only has two shore, one to Hell and one in Bridgeport, Ohio. He then confirms the hints of suicide provided earlier by concluding, "And nobody would commit suicide/only   

To find beyond death/Bridgeport, Ohio."

In "The absent tenant's electricity...", Joshua Harmon also provides a cynical take on an unnamed town. This poem moves from a smaller scale, the absent tenant's apartment, to the rest of the town. This poem works primarily as its, starting with the rotting turkey, going on to the rest of the decrepit apartment to deer having to forage in garbage. The coatimundi reference is unusual since that animal can kept as an exotic pet. Perhaps Harmon is attempting to illustrate the depravity of this town that an animal that should be out in the wild is ostensibly being kept by a negligent breeder. The mayor also promotes this image of this town being corrupt since he has nothing but scorn for his townspeople, even the schoolchildren. Harmon provides a succinct summary of the poem within the poem itself, "a memoir of disintegration. The town's water is apparently unsafe as well, as people only trust the water given out at church. Harmon thens goes onto describe people who are keeping shelter from the rain in their pickup trucks even though they could rent a garage, a poignant use of irony. Finally, the poem ends with a starling, a small and innocent looking bird, watching this disordered town from afar. 

Oh, The Places You'll Go

James Wright’s poems “Lying in a Hammock” and “In Response to a Rumor” share similar poetic elements that bring about nostalgic imagery with a dark twist. In “Lying in a Hammock,” Wright chooses to portray the world of the poem in vivid color: “...I see the bronze butterfly/ Asleep on the black trunk,/ Blowing like a leaf in green shadow.” This simple use of color-coded words brings the narrator’s visions to life for the reader. Assonance and consonance also color the poem, bringing rhythm to the words and unifying the images being created. However, the final line of the poem brings Wright’s vivid landscape to a dark place (“I have wasted my life.”) This volta leaves the reader a bit stunned at first, but brings a thematic element to this poem-how are we spending our days? Are our lives in their present state the way they should be? Have I wasted my life? 

On a similar note, “In Response to a Rumor” brings us to another nostalgic scene for a narrator, though the imagery here is definitely more bleak. In contrast with “Lying in a Hammock,” Wright chooses to strike us with a damning assertion from the very first line of the poem (“I will grieve alone.”) This poem also gives us more glimpses into the narrator’s voice throughout the work, allowing our journey through the landscapes to also become a journey through our own minds. His work with irony and contrast in these two poems demonstrates the importance that a single phrase or statement can have in a piece of literature.

Place Poems Analysis

"The automatic garage-door opener" by Joshua Harmon interested me in its syntax. Often, unique or obscure sentence structure and punctuation grabs my attention. I noticed that Harmon connected the descriptions in the poem with the way it was delivered. Throughout the lines, he describes a setting and the reader's position within the scene while he strings together adjective phases, statements, and descriptives to properly and effectively augment the setting he describes. One of disorder and chaos, it is somewhat shaped into a community or society of sorts just as Harmon strategically expresses his setting this way. I think it is important the analyze the underlying messages in writers' works because often there is a method to the madness.
"Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy's Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota" initially seems to be a stereotypical, simplistic poem describing a setting or place of reverie for the speaker, but James Wright implements an unforeseen concluding line. The speaker seems happy and reflective as he or she enjoys the outdoors and aesthetically pleasing natural beings surrounding, but, in conclusion, it is evident that he or she is unhappy. Looking back through the poem, though, after reading it a couple of times, there are hint phrases scattered that suggest unhappiness or personal vacancy for the reader. Phrases like "empty house," "evening darkens," and "looking for home" suggest unsettling and discontented characteristics. In a way, the character's development becomes a sort of darkening evening.

Whore House

Rhyme is very much present in this poem. Almost like a stumbling beat in the first verse "I will grieve alone/ as I strolled alone/ years ago, down along, The Ohio Shore." That can be the lyrics to a blues song. This entire poem could be a blues song. He uses sounds to keep his beat marching along.

Repetition is also present. It gives the story some anticipation. I love the use of the wings imagery. Almost like these women are fallen angels drowning in their own life. I deeply appreciate his ambiguity and how he uses it in a sort of witty sadness in the verse "For the river at Wheeling, West Virginia, Has only two shores: The one n hell, the other in Bridgeport, Ohio." That is so dark but almost knowingly tongue and cheek.

"And nobody would commit suicide, only to find beyond deal Bridgeport, Ohio."

The poem has a sense of saddened admiration and awe for the girls.

4. "The absent tenant's electricity..."

This poem immediately caught my attention because of its physical form--it is written without line breaks. From afar, it doesn't even look like a poem; it looks like a paragraph of a story or narrative. The actual content of the poem, however, is even more intriguing.

The most striking thing about this poem for me was the strong and consistent imagery throughout. By using "for two July weeks the twelve-pound turkey in the freezer thaws" as a way to describe the electricity in a house going out, the writer created an extremely visual and creative image for me that connected me with the writing. Throughout the poem, the haunting tones of loneliness and abandonment grow. This poem appears to describe a very poor, desolate neighborhood. It does not use traditional poem forms or rhyme, but its poetry is instead contained in its language. For example, the line "So many garages for rent, but a tarp stretched over the bed of the pickup truck will hold off the rain a while longer" captures not only another strong image, but also the feelings of poorness and desolation that echo through the whole poem.

I also found a few short instances of alliteration ("dumpsters where deer forage;" "coatamundi caged;" "summer school bus") to be strong poetic elements of this piece that enforced its flow and further colored the images already forming in my mind. Hints of bitterness are sprinkled throughout the overall somber poem as the mayer scowls through this bifocals and ice cream truck music is unexpectedly described as "demented." These small details truly added to my larger reading of the poem. Overall, I thought that even though this piece did not conform to conventional forms and rhymes, its imagery, tone, and bursts of alliteration and creative language truly defined it as a poem.

Place Poems

"Filling Station" by Elizabeth Bishop drew me in with vivid details that make you feel like you are at the gas station with her. Bishop uses lots of literal imagery where she describes and observes everything around her. She uses a little of hyperbole when she describes the comic books as the " only note of color"because she wants the reader to imagine a dim, gray place. Bishop also uses a little bit of personification when she describes the cans of oil as speaking to "high-strung automobiles" that "softly say: ESSO-SO-SO-SO." She also plays with tone by describing the gas station as "dirty", "gray", and a "black translucency." Bishop gives the poem a gross, but comforting place to be because even with the ugliest places, there is always someone that finds them beautiful. 

Similarly, "Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy's Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota" by James Wright uses imagery, but his imagery portrays a more figurative kind of imagery. When he says, "The cowbells follow one another", he figuratively means the sound of the cowbells travels while he swings in the hammock. I really like how this poem is so simple because he just sits in a hammock and describes what he sees or hears or feels. Wright uses a metaphor when he says, "The droppings of last year's horses/ Blaze up into golden stones" and obviously they do not literally become golden stones, but he sees the light makes the "droppings" seem golden. Wright uses assonance comparing what is on his right, "To my right,/ In a field of sunlight between two pines..." Here, he uses the vowel sound of "i" in the words "right", "sunlight", and "pines." This poem has an overall relaxing and peaceful poem that makes any reader feel comfortable. The ending line jolted me because it was so sudden and different from the rest of the poem. I cannot decide if it means he has wasted his life enjoying everything around him, living in the moment, or if he just comes to this conclusion in general while sitting and thinking about his past achievements and future goals.

Blog 4: Place Poems

There's something about "Reflection at Lagunitas" by Robert Hass that really struck me. It has a very melancholic tone, which is immediately set with the first line, "All the new thinking is about loss," and it carries throughout the whole poem. I really like that it's all one stanza and the use of enjambments and caesuras. I think that makes it feel more of a story, rather than just simply a poem, despite the fact that all of these poems are stories. For most of the poem, there's a sense of building up to something, but Hass's use of "But" in the twenty-sixth line completely turns the tone. It shifts from hopeful to reminiscent and nostalgic. It's a poem that, although I've never been in this situation, feels very easy to relate to. Hass reveals Lagunitas in a subtle way - not through the places exactly, but through moments, sights, and sounds. It's like a snapshot, rather than the big picture.

"Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy's Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota" by James Wright also struck me because it conveys a significant amount of feelings for a shorter poem. William Duffy's farm is revealed through a lot of figurative imagery, such as the "bronze butterfly" and "The dropping of last year's horses / Blaze up into golden stones." It gives a really vivid image of the farm, as does the personification of the cowbells that "follow one another." The last line is what's the most striking of the whole poem, though. It's so different from the rest of the poem, and so final, which I really, really like.

Meditation on Lagunitas

Meditation on Lagunitas by Robert Hass was a compelling poem filled with poetic techniques that enhanced the manner in which place was revealed and explored throughout the piece. Of all the poems presented, this particular one intellectually intrigued me due to its eloquent yet philosophical writing style. Within the speaker’s words are deeper, more profound meanings that made the poem seem that much more impactful.  Initially, the speaker attempts to persuade the reader into believing into his seemingly grandiose nature. He begins by comparing two different types of thinking which are “old thinking” and “new thinking” then starts to discuss general philosophical ideas.

Through his strategic use of syntax and diction, Hass is able to aid his readers in envisioning the image he attempts to fabricate. Place is revealed through Hass’s use of imagery and descriptive language. As opposed to the more common broad, showy nature of man, we see that Hass seemingly makes himself vulnerable. Although there is no apparent rhyme scheme within the poem, there is a certain flow to it and it makes the story that much more compelling. This point of view provides readers which sense of not only emotional pain but psychological pain.  One thing I didn’t really understand was his placement and choice of words he speaks of randomly. For example, he says, “justice,pine, hair, woman, you and I” and “blackberry, blackberry, blackberry”Towards the middle of the poem, the author then moves from his pompous tone and begins to inform the reader of his childhood and love life. I admired how quickly Hass changed his topic and went from one subject to another. It was almost as if the author was trying to build a certain relationship or bond with the reader by opening up and sharing his experience. I am better able to appreciate his work and experience through this poem and am empathetic with what he has to say, good or bad.

Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota: A Review

I felt that this poem had a lot of irony. It takes a place so calm and serene but it ends with someone's sad realization. And a part of it doesn't make sense and it makes me wonder why James Wright thinks that his life is wasted. The poem also has a sing-songish rhythm to it until the final sentence. Also the imagery pulls in more than just sight but also the noises around him. Everything about it reminds me of a place where all you need to do is to just relax. It makes me ask a lot of questions though. Like what is he trying to say that being relaxed can not be a good thing. That sometimes when you are calm and in a calm space it makes you think about life. I guess that’s what Wright was doing in this poem. He was trying to figure out what was going on in his life.

Place poems

The first poem "Filing Station" is very interactive, she asks questions such as "do they live in the station?", "why the extraneous plant?", "why the taberet?" which not only prompts the reader to develop a visual of what is in the station and why it's there, but also it makes the reader feel as if they are standing there next to her. She reveals the characteristics of the place she is in first by commenting on its fifth, next by going through the items on the porch.
In "Camoflauging the Chamela", the author takes a different approach in describing place as the last poem I mentioned. He isn't interactive and he describes it as a first hand experienced not an onlooker. "We tied branches to our helmets."  With his metaphoric way of describing actions, such as "we wove ourselves into the terrain" and "we hugged bamboo and leaned ourselves against the breeze" readers get the opportunity to picture men navigating through the forest in close contact with nature in a descriptive way that is fun and keeps them interested.
The poem "Lying in a hammock" was definitley my favorite because I miss lying in my hammock and hope the cold weather stops soon lol! This one creates some intense imagery of a beautiful naturesque scene and ends quite somberly with "I have wasted my life." Almost every object he describes has a color to go with it, "bronze butterfly", "black trunk", "green shadow" , this helps with imagery also. And lastly, he makes a good use of idioms "distances of the afternoon", "field of sunlight", "droppings of last year's horses"- the first is almost somber, the second is full of brightness and the third is a bit confusing to me, but all of them bring about different moods within the same place which is really cool.

The Language of the Brag

Out of all the poems I could have chosen, I chose this one because of the raw power behind its imagery, its themes, and its unique structure. I believe the strongest aspect of this poem definitely lies within its voice. As the chapter discusses previously, poetic voice allows diction to become content. When diction transitions into content, the poet is able to "...reveal their way of looking at the world the moment they open their mouths" (311). In "The Language of the Brag," diction dictates both the atmosphere and "vibe" of the poem and also the content of the poem. Sharon Olds imbues her first stanza with a strong theme of masculinity by using the connotations of phrases such as "knife-throw," "strong and accurate arms," and most obviously, the phrase "heavily vibrating like the cock." Interestingly enough, Olds breaks the reader's expectation for the rest of the poem by the third stanza. Now, in masculinity's stead, stands femininity represented by the physical pains of pregnancy. Phrases such as "breasts oozing mucus," "my belly big with cowardice and safety," and "my stool black with iron pills" conjure an entirely different feel to go along with the poem. As opposed to the spirit of brass showmanship, we now have a sense of the emotional and physical pains and pressures that come along with pregnancy.

 I believe this poem stood out to me because of how much it reminded me of how my mother describes pregnancy. I've always been reared to appreciate pregnancy for the same matters discussed in "The Language of the Brag." Pregnancy isn't a soft, "lollipop lane" experience. Its a long, arduous, and wondrous journey not intended for the faint of heart. Courage, heroism, "an epic use for an excellent body," are all things that come out of pregnancy and this can be seen throughout the lines in Olds' poem.

Sylvia Plath's "Stillborn"

When I read Sylvia Plath’s poem "Stillborn" , I was in awe. She was able to produce heartachingly beautiful verses describing the despair she feels at learning that her poetry is not alive, much like a stillborn child. The imagery utilized in this poem is able to really capture the readers attention and make them visualize what Plath is trying to portray. This comparison is absolutely genius because poems come from the most vulnerable and private space within us, it’s creation is something beautiful and intimate much like that of a baby. As writers, we carry our poetry inside us, taking care of it, nurturing it, watching it grow and develop to become something that no longer needs us to survive. Naturally, your heart is shattered once you realize that this thing that was a part of you has everything it’s supposed to have except a soul and it makes you wonder at what point did it die and how could you not notice when it slipped through your fingers?

Stillborn by Sylvia Plath

In "Stillborn", Plath unsettlingly compares the process of writing poems to child-rearing. Thus, poems, usually seen as just pure language, are likened to stillborn children with "toes and fingers...foreheads" still developing. Plath uses an irregular rhyming scheme in this poem, with the second and fifth line of each stanza having a regular or slant rhyme to each other. In the second stanza, the poem takes a more surreal turn with Plath bemoaning how fruitless her poem-children are again. Weirdly, she describes them being in "pickling fluid", which does not seem to be proper child or poem rearing procedure. I was pretty confused by this line. When Plath writes, "They smile and smile and smile at me," the repeated use of the word "smile" seems to convey a sense of aggravation and impatience at the poem-children's lack of development. Plath later complains that although the poem-children fully follow poetic standards, being "human" rather than being a "fish" or "pig" is likened to being a proper poem. Plath admits that the children's stillborn status is due to her being "dead with distraction", even though while developing these poems, they were once "alive".

Stillborn: Plath

I have always heard great things about Plath. I've also heard pretty tragic things about her. Ironically, though I've heard so much I have never read any of her work. This was a striking poem to read by her.  Her metaphor throughout this piece is so poignant. It speaks to anyone whom, in the creative sphere, feels both loss and unconditional love for that which never seems to bloom. Here repetition of the word "smile" seems almost impatient with itself. It is almost painful. She then ends the thought tragically as she states "and still the lungs won't fill and the heart won't start." There is a sense of desperation in that that is beautifully worded and almost untouchable. All she seems to want is for her poems to live. She births them but they seem, at least to her, to fall short of living. It was surprising to see someone express themselves that deeply about work that seems to never see the light of day. We have all been through that that is so relatable! It is genius. She is genius. I loved the poem, really.

Philip Larkin- Annus Mirabilis

 Philip Larkin holds strong message in altering but repetetive rhyme scheme of ABBAB. Within the musicality of differing rhymes, alliteration, repetition of lines and differing feet: trimeter and tetrameter, he suddenly alters the mood from the third stanza which gives a change in the ton of voice. He also alters the feet and rhyme scheme from trimeter to tetrameter and the other way around, line after line, successfully stressing the message he wishes to tell the readers. Such alternation hid underneath seems as if he is keeping readers in tension. Although read from fast skim it seems like he is talking about his own first sexual experience, readers can know he is talking more about something deeper as Larkin was already 41 years old on 1963. Instead, he is talking about the great sexual revolution that took part in 1963, bringing up Lady Chatterly's Lover on the fourth line of first and last stanza. Also, he uses Beatles' first LP, which is assumed to be refering to the particular song "Please Please Me", 1963. It holds comparatively sexual connotations in the lines as they sing "Whoa yeah, like I please you". Larkin's strong voice  as he says "So life was never netter than/ In nineteen sixty-three/ (Though just too late for me)-/ Between the end of the Chatterly ban/ And the Beatle's first LP" (16-19) represents his support on sexual revoultion of the day.

The Language of the Brags

"The Language of the Brag" by Sharon Olds was one of my favorites because the poem created a story from start to finish. I love how she turned a usually negative term into something so endearing and unselfish. This poem shows how having a child can change a woman's life, not just physically, but emotionally.
I noticed how she used first person pronouns throughout the entirety of the poem until the last stanza, she starts using second person, although it isn't towards her baby, but towards two famous poets. After she mentions them, she goes back to first person, which is unusual because usually women would transition their priorities to their new born child. Olds uses this idea of bragging and selfishness to show that bragging isn't all bad, especially when she is finally proud of her accomplishments. Her descriptions of her pregnancy and her birth were vague and she never says it plainly. She states her well being very beautiful and unexpected. Although she complains about her pregnancy and the side effects that come with it, she seems strong and seems as if she is only describing herself more than complaining. Throughout the poem, she says, "I have wanted..." multiple times and continuing that with an activity that she could do with her beautiful body. Once she births her child, she explains, "I have done this thing/I and the other women this exceptional act with the exceptional heroic body..." She realizes that her body can do beautiful things by giving someone life, living for someone else, not just for herself.

This poem is so powerful and moving because this woman loves herself, not in a bad and snobby way, but she is proud of herself and her accomplishments and that is rare to find in a woman.

3. "Dream Song 14"

"Dream Song 14" is a sad poem. The speaker of the poem goes on and on about how everything bores him, from the great aspects of nature to profound art. The speaker sounds very empty as he goes through the poem and lists all the things that bore him. I would say that he comes across as very jaded and hollow. He even starts out the poem on such a strong, sad note: "Life, friends, is boring."

I found that the language of the poem mirrored the mood of it. This poem uses a fair amount of enjambment, as the lines run into each other, one after the other. I especially found that the final stanza just seemed to all run together in one long and sad sentence. The enjambment created a monotonous effect that perfectly captured the speaker's boredom. The poem has no clear rhyme scheme, but it had a clear rhythm to it as I read it out loud. I'd have to attribute this rhythm to the assonance throughout the poem ("plight &gripes," "as bad as") and to the repetition, especially of the word "bore."

Perhaps the thing that baffles me most about this poem is its title. I'd like to know the context of the title "Dream Song 14" not only in relation to the actual poem, but also to other poems that John Berryman might have published in the same collection. I also am especially struck by the very first line of the poem because it seems as though the speaker is addressing the reader as a "friend." There are so many different connotations that this could have. Is the speaker an older man who is speaking to a younger generation about his take on life? Is the speaker being sarcastic? Is the speaker actually personally calling us "friend," or just shouting to no one in particular about his boredom with life? I suppose this truly is left up to our own interpretation.

Blog 3: Fathers by Grace Paley

Of all the poems, I have to say I enjoyed "Fathers" the most, though that's not saying much. It's possible that it's just because I've never particularly been a fan of poetry - reading or writing, it doesn't matter. That being said, I found Paley's poem to be relatively pleasant. I really, really liked the grammatical structure of it; how the only capitalized words are proper nouns and the first word of the poem. I don't think it's a really smooth read, but I think I actually liked it because it added to the message. Throughout the whole poem, it was incredibly easy for me to picture the scenarios described. The subject of the poem is kind of hard to relate to, though, because I'm not at the age where I can experience the "new" fathers, but I also don't relate to the "older" fathers. The way it works, though, is that the style of the poem - the constant, unexpected changing of ideas/subjects - mirrors that of the changing style of being a father. To be completely honest, though, all in all, I can't say there was anything that made me react in any strong way.

Stillborn

I find it so interesting that Plath decided to portray this poem through the idea of a stillborn. However morbid of an idea it may be, it’s still so beautiful to read – the language just knocks me out. I also love this idea that “If they missed out on walking about like people/ It wasn’t for any lack of motherly love” (Plath). It may be a stretch, but this reminds me of the difficulties I feel with my own writing. Even though I tend and tend and tend to it, sometimes it’s just dead, or seemingly equivalent; Plath makes something beautiful out of this for me. I also love how this poem is essentially just a mix of metaphors and personification – two of my all-time favorite things to not only read, but to use in my own writing as well. I like how she uses rhymes sparingly in this poem. They only truly jump out at me in the 7^th and 10^th lines, with “part,” “heart,” and “start.” She also includes repetition, stating the same word multiple times within one line (i.e, “smile and smile and smile and smile”) which are effective as rhymes, but also great at really driving home a particular point within a small amount of space. This poem was not only a pleasure to read, but it borderlines on relatable for me, as well. I loved it.

Fathers- Grace Paley

In reading "Fathers," I was captured by Grace Paley's realization that fathers are becoming more "motherly." She references women's liberation and how men are lucky for their freedom being granted. It interested me that Paley brought up this topic in her poem. The syntax of "Fathers" initially confused me, but it successfully augmented the theme of the poem. The messy, jumbled ideas presented in the poem match the unstructured lines of the poem. Run-on sentences fail to separate thoughts and ideas in the poem just like no true structure was implemented to initiate this change in fathers. Nothing prepared this swing in society as nothing prepared the reader for the multiple swings in topic. The conclusion of the poem puzzles me. "Fathers" was presented in the text to have a "conclusion with a startling understatement," but I question whether it is an understatement. The true shock of the conclusion summits when Paley states that "old fathers...consider the eradication of the new fathering fathers (who are their sons)." Do the old men wish this because of their upbringing and experiences in "Army camps" and war time, or do they simply disapprove of their sons' techniques of parenting? Furthermore, if the sons must be eradicated "as well as the women and children," who do they allow? What end do the old men desire? I enjoyed the mystery and ambiguity of this poem, but its mystery perplexes me.

Poetry - Love is Not an Emergency

Of all the poems in this unit, Erin Belieu’s “Love is Not an Emergency” stood out in the crowd. In this poem, Burroway’s ideas about the power of creating full sentences and the importance of line are demonstrated. Though the enjambment breaks play with the physical appearance of the poem, it also emphasizes certain metaphors and images that Belieu wants readers to pay close attention to. For example, lines 16 and 17 are enjambed to bring depth to the image being created in the sentence: “who smeared on love’s blackface, rattling/ his damage like a tambourine.” This enjambment breaks the lines apart from each other, but more importantly gives emphasis to the final image of the sentence. Though “Love is Not an Emergency” is comprised of full sentences, the way in which the lines are divided brings more depth and interest to the work than there would be if the poem was presented in a more standard format. 

Another aspect of this poem that I enjoyed was Belieu’s ability to create a dark, melancholy tone without cliche images and metaphors blocking the way. The images speak for themselves without too many adjectives interfering with my interpretation, yet remain clear enough where my mind doesn’t have to do much work in forming these pictures. In reading this poem aloud, I found that this tone was also aided by the snapshot-esque nature of the lines, forcing my mind to slow down my reading and really focus on the weight of the images being presented. I especially love the build-up that “Love is Not an Emergency” has; all of the images brought to mind throughout the poem come to a thematic peak in the final three lines: “because ‘we grant the name of love/ to something less than love’;/ because we all have to eat.” These lines have that ton-of-bricks effect because of the images that led up to them. Suddenly, the poem has meaning and we’re left questioning everything we know about picnics and tambourines.

The Grammar Lesson

I think this poem is really cool because it has a whole lot of word play such as "a can can roll", also in this sentence is the portrayal of how the English language can have two different meaning for the same word. The only imagery it uses is in the repeated line "our can of beets is filled with purple fuzz" throughout the whole poem this is the picture in your head, it's quite a funny picture and it certainly makes it easier to remember the rule stressed in the next frequently repeated line "a nouns a thing and a verb the thing it does." This seems to be the "thesis" or point of the poem, to get this simple grammatical rule across using a very sophisticated style of writing. Also, the poem has rhyming, although in no consistent pattern, (sometimes it skips a line and at the end it is the last two lines which rhyme) this adds to the fun of reading the poem. This poem is also dense in the respect that it conveys both  a grammar lesson and a poetry lesson on how to combine different elements such as rhyme, imagery, and a kind of style which plays with grammar while explaining it at the same time.

Snow Day

This poem uses plenty of imagery to describe the setting in the poem. Even though I only saw real snow a handful of times, I can perfectly imagine the "Revolution of Snow." I like how it paints the picture of all the buildings and the train tracks being covered in snow and also describing the actions of the kid and his dog. Once it gets to the radio listening part, it gets kinda weird. All the school names are odd. It is as if the poet tried to think of the most whimsical names they could put. Ding-Dong School, Hi-Ho Nursery School, Tom Thumb Child center, Peanuts Play School. All these names put me in a playful mindset, like everything is just good. That's why the last line in the last stanza is so jarring.With all the kids playing in the previous lines these girls are just plotting by the fences on taking someone down. It really breaks the innocent and whimsical illusion the poet was making just with that one line.

Roger Ebert: The Essential Man

First and foremost, I cannot express how impressed I am with Ebert for continuing his passion for writing despite his physical disability. Throughout this piece, I was overwhelmed with a variety of emotions and was amazed by Jones's ability to convey each of these emotions simply through his writing.When he spoke of how he had to have his jaw removed, I was overwhelmed with sadness and empathy. But as I continued reading of his strength and success the tides quickly changed and those feelings of empathy changed to awe.  

The eloquence by which Chris Jones spoke in his writing really tied the story together and was one of the stronger points that helped this piece come together. A good story and someone talented enough to tell it will inevitably lead to a best seller. Although, Chris Jones wrote the story, he was not really a character within it. I could appreciate the third person perspective he used and I thought that really enhanced the experience. There was distance between the narrator, Chris Jones and the main character, Ebert, but I admired how the distance did not make the story any less emotional. Jones’s  writing style does well in making sure the story is told adequately without leaving out any vital details.

Ebert made the most out of his situation- even though he was dealt very unfortunate cards he still managed to make an amazing life for himself. Most would feel pity for him because of his condition, but I have nothing but respect for a man who despite the struggles he underwent, came out on top.

Blog 2: Mister Rogers

When the name "Mister Rogers" crosses my mind, I can confidently say "hero." While Junod's touching article portrays Mister Rogers as a messiah-type figure, it never loses track of his humanity. In one paragraph Junod dedicates a segment of his article to showing how Mister Rogers, just like everyone else, gets tired: "'Oh, please, sister,' Mister Rogers says. 'I'm done.' And now Margy comes up behind him and massages his shoulders. 'No, you're not,' she says. 'Roy Rogers is done. Mister Rogers still has a ways to go.'" I believe this was a crucial point in the article because it showed readers how Rogers must press on through his low-points in order to be the greatest he can be. It also goes to show just how exhausting the life Mister Rogers truly is, and as a result of Junod's showcasing of this exhaustive life, readers develop a greater sense of appreciation for the good deeds of Mister Rogers.

Furthermore, I enjoyed this article because it depicts the life Mister Rogers led as the television character and as the person behind the show. Specifically, I loved how the difference between Mister Rogers on screen hardly differed from Fred Rogers on the streets. In regards to the voice of the article, Junod's article appears to have been primarily spoken by Mister Rogers himself. Junod's diction throughout the piece is thought-invoking, gentle and not too loud, just as one would expect out of a conversation with Mister Rogers himself.

The Definitive Mr. Rogers....

In “The Definitive Mister Rogers Profile….”, Tom Junod establishes a voice that is whimsical with a strong narrative bent. Junod often uses “Once upon a time…” to introduce stories of Mister Rogers helping various people, which introduces a fairytale-like atmosphere and adds interest to his story. Junod does not specify the names of the individuals that were helped by Mister Rogers. Instead, Juno wraps these possibly mundane stories like a irritable child being calmed down by Mister Rogers by describing it in more fanciful terms, “Once upon a time, a little boy with a big sword into battle against Mister Rogers.” He also avoids using longer words and uses simpler statements like “Her name was Deb. She was very pretty,” that could be understood by children. These shorter descriptions add to the childlike charm of the profile. Overall, Junod does a masterful job of providing a playful yet very humanized profile of Mister Rogers.

Roger Ebert

When writing a profile, a writer must be sure to not only capture what a person allows the world to see, but also who the person is on the inside. Chris Jones was able to do that in his profile,  Roger Ebert: The Essential Man. Chris Jones gives emphasis on how Mr. Ebert communicates without his oratory skills and his emotions towards the loss of his communication. The reader comes to learn that it can be very frustrating for Mr. Ebert, which is what makes Jones’ representation so amazing. It’s as if he extracted himself from the experience and focused solely on the trials and tribulations that form the life of Roger Ebert. By extracting himself from the narrative, Jones is able to give Ebert something that had been suddenly taken from him. As Gabrielle eloquently put it, he was able to capture the true voice of Roger Ebert by strategically using his own.

Mister Rodgers Blog 2

Everyone knows Mister Rodgers. Multiple generations grew up with him, sang along with him and always put a colored sweater on him with him. Tom Junod created a profile about Mister Rodgers in a new perspective, through the stories Mister Rodgers has saved. Each childhood story starts out as "Once Upon a Time..." and that resonates with how Junod is trying to portray Mister Rodgers as a miracle for children who watched him and felt like themselves, watched him and felt no one can touch them because Mister Rodgers was their neighbor. Junod writes this profile in such a way that brought me to tears because he doesn't describe Mister Rodgers as much as the children that Mister Rodgers touched and helped survive. 

The paragraph where Mister Rodgers takes Junod to his childhood home impacted me because he wasn't even supposed to go in to his own home, his home where he learned everything special that he knows today just by looking through each window. He realizes that he shouldn't go in because '"all the people who made this house special to [him] are not here anyway. They're all in heaven"' (Junod). That moment made me realize this was one of the few moments we learned about Mister Rodger’s childhood and how different this profile is from the others we have read because Mister Rodgers isn't just a man. He recreated lives for children that watched him every weekday. That is all Junod really wanted us to see, how much he impacted the world. Mister Rodgers is seen as a God-like figure in this profile to many of his fans because he is always there if they are in need. He even tells them to pray for him, so they do not get caught up in their problems, but look out for someone else, just like he does. The little moments Junod reveals to us about Mister Rodgers himself such as being color blind and losing his entire family become more memorable because seeing that Mister Rodgers has problems and insecurities makes him all the more human to us. The reason why Mister Rodgers always brought the question back to Tom Junod is the reason why he is known as Mister Rodgers today; he is always there if you need help, just like God.