1
I wasn't really sure how I felt about this poem. It sounded like more of a short story, rather than a poem. An incredibly short story. Looking at the title, I began to wonder if whether or not November 3, is a symbolic date. Maybe the author met someone special...? Or experienced something life-changing? I'm sure that if it is worth writing about, November 3 means something.
In the first stanza, I literally just picture a guy, at a cafe, drinking a coke. Nothing special. It's pretty straightforward and blunt. During the second stanza, I questioned the way the speaker approached the fly. "A fly is sleeping..." When I see a fly rest on something, I never assume they're asleep. When I read the next part, "I have to wake him up...", I still feel that it is very plain. After the speaker says he needs to wipe is glasses, there's a pretty girl he wants to look at. I believe that the pretty girl might've turned out to be the love of his life. She was so alluring that he felt the need to get a clearer vision of her.
November 3 was a day to be remembered, even though the poem is a bit casual and plain. The author does not say "November 3 was the best/worst day." You can get an idea of that by the ways he addresses the smaller things that day. So what if the fly was asleep? Wake him up. That's the only thing standing in the way of him seeing the girl. Maybe this is a way to express that it's easier to get what you want. "There's a pretty girl I want to look at."
In the first stanza, I literally just picture a guy, at a cafe, drinking a coke. Nothing special. It's pretty straightforward and blunt. During the second stanza, I questioned the way the speaker approached the fly. "A fly is sleeping..." When I see a fly rest on something, I never assume they're asleep. When I read the next part, "I have to wake him up...", I still feel that it is very plain. After the speaker says he needs to wipe is glasses, there's a pretty girl he wants to look at. I believe that the pretty girl might've turned out to be the love of his life. She was so alluring that he felt the need to get a clearer vision of her.
November 3 was a day to be remembered, even though the poem is a bit casual and plain. The author does not say "November 3 was the best/worst day." You can get an idea of that by the ways he addresses the smaller things that day. So what if the fly was asleep? Wake him up. That's the only thing standing in the way of him seeing the girl. Maybe this is a way to express that it's easier to get what you want. "There's a pretty girl I want to look at."
2
I really enjoy this poem. Although it may seem very short, it has one of the deepest meanings I've ever taken from a poem. From the title, I get that 'we' is a general statement. The poet is referring to many people. This is what makes it so relatable. The poem begins with the title, 'we real cool'.
Based on all the things 'we' are doing, I think of teenagers and the reckless things we do. "We Left school. We Lurk late." Many kids, (especially in high school), do these sort of things. 'We' cut class and party late. Maybe we receive a sense of coolness because all the other kids are doing this? It becomes infectious and sooner or later, everyone is doing it.
I don't think you can literally "sing sin". Maybe the poet is referring to rock and metal music. Growing up, I've met many people who are into this type of music and they say that their parents don't approve of it and consider it the 'devil's music'. When the poet writes, "We thin gin.", I immediately think of alcohol and underaged drinking. So many kids start drinking and doing drugs at a young age. I don't think they see the 'wrong' in it. They're just innocently having fun. Soon, the innocence dies and you start to realize how real it is. The repercussions that come with your decisions are frightening. Many teenagers do reckless things when they're not in the right state of mind. It consumes you and then you're always doing it, sober or not.
"We Jazz June." Jazz is a form of music. I'm thinking of a happier tone. Maybe during the summer, the poet refers to it as fun times. The last line really hit me with realization. When the poet writes, "We Die soon.", I think it can be taken both literally and metaphorically. Some of these decisions we make can really end up killing us. And, it could also mean that a part of us dies, like our innocence. It all comes to an end.
Based on all the things 'we' are doing, I think of teenagers and the reckless things we do. "We Left school. We Lurk late." Many kids, (especially in high school), do these sort of things. 'We' cut class and party late. Maybe we receive a sense of coolness because all the other kids are doing this? It becomes infectious and sooner or later, everyone is doing it.
I don't think you can literally "sing sin". Maybe the poet is referring to rock and metal music. Growing up, I've met many people who are into this type of music and they say that their parents don't approve of it and consider it the 'devil's music'. When the poet writes, "We thin gin.", I immediately think of alcohol and underaged drinking. So many kids start drinking and doing drugs at a young age. I don't think they see the 'wrong' in it. They're just innocently having fun. Soon, the innocence dies and you start to realize how real it is. The repercussions that come with your decisions are frightening. Many teenagers do reckless things when they're not in the right state of mind. It consumes you and then you're always doing it, sober or not.
"We Jazz June." Jazz is a form of music. I'm thinking of a happier tone. Maybe during the summer, the poet refers to it as fun times. The last line really hit me with realization. When the poet writes, "We Die soon.", I think it can be taken both literally and metaphorically. Some of these decisions we make can really end up killing us. And, it could also mean that a part of us dies, like our innocence. It all comes to an end.
3
This poem is very meaningful in a unique way. From the title, I begin reading the poem expecting something totally different from what it actually communicates. I would have never guessed that fire and ice can relate to our view on the worlds end. I usually think of differences when I see fire and ice because they're two completely different things. Kind of like "black and white'.
During the first two lines, I instantly got a taste of the poem. People can argue over this, but no will ever be wrong or right. We believe what we think based on our experiences and ideas. Not everyone has gone through the same thing or has seen something identical. We all have different minds and don't think all together. I believe that some people who say the world will end in fire or ice, say this from experience and their own knowledge.
In the next two lines, "From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.", I learn about the poet and what he believes about the world's end. That got me wondering what he experienced for him to agree with fire. What did he go through or see? After that, he mentions that if he were to die (perish) twice, he thinks he would know enough hate to say ice. I think that maybe a new life will bring a new insight. He'll learn or experience something that will alter how he perceives the world's end.
Based on how you've lived and what you've attained through out your life depicts how you view the world and it's end.
During the first two lines, I instantly got a taste of the poem. People can argue over this, but no will ever be wrong or right. We believe what we think based on our experiences and ideas. Not everyone has gone through the same thing or has seen something identical. We all have different minds and don't think all together. I believe that some people who say the world will end in fire or ice, say this from experience and their own knowledge.
In the next two lines, "From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.", I learn about the poet and what he believes about the world's end. That got me wondering what he experienced for him to agree with fire. What did he go through or see? After that, he mentions that if he were to die (perish) twice, he thinks he would know enough hate to say ice. I think that maybe a new life will bring a new insight. He'll learn or experience something that will alter how he perceives the world's end.
Based on how you've lived and what you've attained through out your life depicts how you view the world and it's end.
4
This poem reminds of how our emotions take control and we can't help it. We are human.
The poet starts out with addressing that whoever he's writing to, needs to know one thing. It's like a love letter. He begins writing about how everything reminds him of his lover. Whether he is forgotten doesn't matter. They never will be. "... everything carries me to you... as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me." The poet writes in depth of how strong his feelings are.
After reading the first part of the poem, "... if little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you little by little.", I feel like this stanza contradicts the poet. I don't believe that he will stop loving the person. The way the poet describes their love makes it seem undying and so true. He wants to believe that he will forget her/him even though it's easier written then done. Once she/he forgets the poet, he will supposedly leave and forget as well.
As the poem is finishing, you finally see the poet is hit with realization. "But if each day, each hour, you feel that you are destined for me... in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten... my love feeds on your love, beloved,..." If they admit they still love the poet, he will come running back to them. He never stopped loving he/she in the first place. Sometimes we want to believe something that will benefit us. Maybe it would be easier to cope with if the poet just denied his love for her/him.
The poet starts out with addressing that whoever he's writing to, needs to know one thing. It's like a love letter. He begins writing about how everything reminds him of his lover. Whether he is forgotten doesn't matter. They never will be. "... everything carries me to you... as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me." The poet writes in depth of how strong his feelings are.
After reading the first part of the poem, "... if little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you little by little.", I feel like this stanza contradicts the poet. I don't believe that he will stop loving the person. The way the poet describes their love makes it seem undying and so true. He wants to believe that he will forget her/him even though it's easier written then done. Once she/he forgets the poet, he will supposedly leave and forget as well.
As the poem is finishing, you finally see the poet is hit with realization. "But if each day, each hour, you feel that you are destined for me... in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten... my love feeds on your love, beloved,..." If they admit they still love the poet, he will come running back to them. He never stopped loving he/she in the first place. Sometimes we want to believe something that will benefit us. Maybe it would be easier to cope with if the poet just denied his love for her/him.
5
This poem really conveys how many people look at poetry. They look for a clear meaning that anyone should understand. But that is not what poetry is about. It's about what you take from it as a reader/speaker.
In the beginning, the poet asks the students to look at poetry with a different view. "Hold it up to the light". He really wants them to change their perspective on poetry.
One line reads, "... drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out... feel the walls for a light switch." When reading poetry, you should see where it takes you. Not go with a usual answer. Write/say what you think. Collins wants the children to be delicate, open, and patient with poetry. Understand it. Experiment with it.
He then writes about how all they do is "beat it with a hose to find out what it really means". Despite his efforts, they still expect a clear meaning. They don't understand and grow frustrated. They try to figure it out the wrong way. Read poetry carefully. Eventually you'll interpret something on your own. Poetry is unexpected so don't expect anything.
In the beginning, the poet asks the students to look at poetry with a different view. "Hold it up to the light". He really wants them to change their perspective on poetry.
One line reads, "... drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out... feel the walls for a light switch." When reading poetry, you should see where it takes you. Not go with a usual answer. Write/say what you think. Collins wants the children to be delicate, open, and patient with poetry. Understand it. Experiment with it.
He then writes about how all they do is "beat it with a hose to find out what it really means". Despite his efforts, they still expect a clear meaning. They don't understand and grow frustrated. They try to figure it out the wrong way. Read poetry carefully. Eventually you'll interpret something on your own. Poetry is unexpected so don't expect anything.
6
I really like this poem because it shows that you can learn things unexpectedly.
The title and poem begins with, "I met a genius..." Who did the speaker meet that is a genius? A genius is a very strong term for someone who is exceptionally smart. I think that the person is someone who is older and wiser. But then I learn, that the genius, is about 6 years old! This is when I think back to how smart kids are and the intelligent things they say. The kid looks at the ocean and admits, "it's not pretty." The speaker realizes this for the first time. This proves that you can learn from children.
I think what the speaker realizes is that some things aren't meant to have one specific view or meaning. Kind of like poetry. People will always always have different interpretations and views. Some people just agree on something because everyone is saying the same thing. Soon, it's just an endless cycle of nods and 'I agree."'s. But why do we agree even though we all think differently? It's probably because we think we'll be judged on what we believe and that there should be one idea on something.
The kid speaks HIS mind. What HE thinks. He does not listen to what everyone else thinks. That's the beauty of his innocence and honesty. The speaker truly learns what it means to have YOUR own interpretation/feeling about something. You don't have to agree with everyone else. You should ask yourself about what YOU think.
The title and poem begins with, "I met a genius..." Who did the speaker meet that is a genius? A genius is a very strong term for someone who is exceptionally smart. I think that the person is someone who is older and wiser. But then I learn, that the genius, is about 6 years old! This is when I think back to how smart kids are and the intelligent things they say. The kid looks at the ocean and admits, "it's not pretty." The speaker realizes this for the first time. This proves that you can learn from children.
I think what the speaker realizes is that some things aren't meant to have one specific view or meaning. Kind of like poetry. People will always always have different interpretations and views. Some people just agree on something because everyone is saying the same thing. Soon, it's just an endless cycle of nods and 'I agree."'s. But why do we agree even though we all think differently? It's probably because we think we'll be judged on what we believe and that there should be one idea on something.
The kid speaks HIS mind. What HE thinks. He does not listen to what everyone else thinks. That's the beauty of his innocence and honesty. The speaker truly learns what it means to have YOUR own interpretation/feeling about something. You don't have to agree with everyone else. You should ask yourself about what YOU think.
7
The Quiet World
***1/2 Jeffrey McDaniel In an effort to get people to look into each others eyes more, and also to appease the mutes, the government has decided to allot each person exactly one hundred and sixty-seven words, per day. When the phone rings, I put it to my ear without saying hello. In the restaurant I point at chicken noodle soup. I am adjusting well to the new way. Late at night, I call my long distance lover, proudly say I only used fifty-nine today. I saved the rest for you. When she doesn't respond, I know she's used up all her words, so I slowly whisper I love you thirty-two and a third times. After that, we just sit on the line and listen to each other breathe. |
I've never read a poem like this and I found it really interesting. It was kind of like a story. A story that reminded me of a dystopia in the future. I thought of a dystopia because their words are limited. The speaker mentions the government and how it has decided something for this society which is kind of depressing. I've read many books where a society is sad and distressed because of the government changes and decisions.
Why did the government decide this? Although the speaker mentions "...to appease the mutes...", why choose to approach this by limiting everyone else's ability to speak? Maybe something in the past altered how people communicate. Or maybe, the governor is mute himself! This how he is choosing to let everyone know how it feels. To appease him. Not everyone is mute so it must be challenging to have your words be limited; to 167 words exactly. Which brings me to another question. Why 167 words? That's a specific number. Maybe it's the number of people who are mute or the number of people that caused this change.
The speaker says, “I only used fifty nine today. I saved the rest for you.” From this line, I take it that the speaker really loves the woman. He sacrificed speaking in order to speak to her. This takes patience. I can't imagine having to use only 167 words per day. I say many things that I can't keep track of. It must be very challenging to not able to communicate verbally. It refers to the title because it truly is a 'quiet world'. It’s kind of a metaphor. Since no one is expressing what they feel verbally, some people will have to guess what they're feeling. And soon with the depression, you can’t really see emotion within these people.
Why did the government decide this? Although the speaker mentions "...to appease the mutes...", why choose to approach this by limiting everyone else's ability to speak? Maybe something in the past altered how people communicate. Or maybe, the governor is mute himself! This how he is choosing to let everyone know how it feels. To appease him. Not everyone is mute so it must be challenging to have your words be limited; to 167 words exactly. Which brings me to another question. Why 167 words? That's a specific number. Maybe it's the number of people who are mute or the number of people that caused this change.
The speaker says, “I only used fifty nine today. I saved the rest for you.” From this line, I take it that the speaker really loves the woman. He sacrificed speaking in order to speak to her. This takes patience. I can't imagine having to use only 167 words per day. I say many things that I can't keep track of. It must be very challenging to not able to communicate verbally. It refers to the title because it truly is a 'quiet world'. It’s kind of a metaphor. Since no one is expressing what they feel verbally, some people will have to guess what they're feeling. And soon with the depression, you can’t really see emotion within these people.
8
I really enjoyed this poem. It speaks about a 'flophouse', which is described as a very horrible place to be. When the speaker describes the flophouse, it sounds like he's speaking from experience. He describes it vividly and so in depth that I can actually visualize the horrid place.
One of the first lines says, "56 men squeezed together..." Then he proceeds to speak about how loud everyone snores and the bad odors that he smells. That sounds very unfortunate and uncomfortable. Why are they all in a flophouse? I don't know what a flophouse is, but I'm assuming it's where people go when they do something wrong because they live in cruel conditions and aren't treated so well.
The speaker also says, "... your mind almost breaks under those death-like sounds..." I can understand how loud and annoying the noises are when the author says this. He must be miserable. He then speaks about how all of them are different and worst of all: "the total absence of hope it shrouds them..." All of these people he can't relate to. He doesn't speak of someone like himself because they are all different. Also, they seem to have lost hope. I guess they don't believe in it anymore. The only one who seems to carry the tiniest shred of hope, is the speaker himself.
Towards the end, the speaker writes about all these men and how they were once children. I began to wonder what happened to people and their innocence. Who they were before. Why did those men end up in the flophouse? What happened to their youth? Maybe they made a huge mistake. But everyone makes mistakes. I'm thinking it's one they don't regret and that's why they're in trouble. And the speaker also questions himself: "and what has happened to me? it's dark and cold out here." I'm thinking the author is beginning to realize he is like these men. He just doesn't want to admit it.
One of the first lines says, "56 men squeezed together..." Then he proceeds to speak about how loud everyone snores and the bad odors that he smells. That sounds very unfortunate and uncomfortable. Why are they all in a flophouse? I don't know what a flophouse is, but I'm assuming it's where people go when they do something wrong because they live in cruel conditions and aren't treated so well.
The speaker also says, "... your mind almost breaks under those death-like sounds..." I can understand how loud and annoying the noises are when the author says this. He must be miserable. He then speaks about how all of them are different and worst of all: "the total absence of hope it shrouds them..." All of these people he can't relate to. He doesn't speak of someone like himself because they are all different. Also, they seem to have lost hope. I guess they don't believe in it anymore. The only one who seems to carry the tiniest shred of hope, is the speaker himself.
Towards the end, the speaker writes about all these men and how they were once children. I began to wonder what happened to people and their innocence. Who they were before. Why did those men end up in the flophouse? What happened to their youth? Maybe they made a huge mistake. But everyone makes mistakes. I'm thinking it's one they don't regret and that's why they're in trouble. And the speaker also questions himself: "and what has happened to me? it's dark and cold out here." I'm thinking the author is beginning to realize he is like these men. He just doesn't want to admit it.
9
This poem is very relatable and gives great advice. I think many people can learn from this poem. Especially people who have lost their way and are beginning a new life. Most people nowadays just work and repeat their same routine everyday. This doesn't mean they're happy because they repeat it. They just need some guidance to realize this. When the poet writes, "Go out into the world," you take that life is more than just staying at home and doing nothing. Stop repeating the same cycle. Go explore.
The poet then writes about how you should avoid enclosed spaces with people wearing turtlenecks. Why turtlenecks? When I see turtlenecks, I think of the cold and boring people. I think the poet is trying to communicate that you should not be in a place that doesn't excite you or makes you feel uncomfortable. Don't surround yourself with people who are going to let you down.
Then the poet speaks about visiting a library. The perfect place is an aisle where a young child is playing. "Often he will pull books from the bottom shelf. The title, the author's name, the brooding photo on the flap mean nothing. Red book on black, gray book on brown, he builds a tower." The kid doesn't sit down and observe, he's just happy having fun. Something everyone should try once in a while. Then the poet gives the advice: "When the tower falls, be like the that child. Laugh so loud everybody in the world frowns and says, 'Shhhh.' Then start again." What does this mean? Don't be like everyone or listen to everyone. Be like the kid; innocent and not trying to please everyone. That is when you'll truly have fun doing what you love. And then, repeat. Keep doing what makes you happy.
The poet then writes about how you should avoid enclosed spaces with people wearing turtlenecks. Why turtlenecks? When I see turtlenecks, I think of the cold and boring people. I think the poet is trying to communicate that you should not be in a place that doesn't excite you or makes you feel uncomfortable. Don't surround yourself with people who are going to let you down.
Then the poet speaks about visiting a library. The perfect place is an aisle where a young child is playing. "Often he will pull books from the bottom shelf. The title, the author's name, the brooding photo on the flap mean nothing. Red book on black, gray book on brown, he builds a tower." The kid doesn't sit down and observe, he's just happy having fun. Something everyone should try once in a while. Then the poet gives the advice: "When the tower falls, be like the that child. Laugh so loud everybody in the world frowns and says, 'Shhhh.' Then start again." What does this mean? Don't be like everyone or listen to everyone. Be like the kid; innocent and not trying to please everyone. That is when you'll truly have fun doing what you love. And then, repeat. Keep doing what makes you happy.
10
This poem is depressingly accurate. Our generation is lost or is becoming lost. Everything said in this poem is true although unfortunate. The speaker begins with saying how 'happiness coming from within' is a lie. I never thought of it that way till now. He/she says how in 30 years, they will not tell their children that they are the most important thing in their life. That is pretty harsh. Why not? I think maybe because people in the future will be more bitter. They'll spend time on the things that aren't as important. Our generation will overlook these things.
The speaker then writes, "Once upon a time Families stayed together but this will not true in my era." This makes me think that this poem is recent. The speaker is comparing back then to now and how different times are. Then the speaker says, that 30 years from now, they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary of their divorce. I don't know why, but I feel like divorce rates have increased. Maybe because in our generation, people are marrying people they don't love or marrying to young. When I read this line, I realized how true it is.
One of the last lines say, "My generation is apathetic and lethargic," I know this means uninterested and sluggish. Many people choose not to care about our generation. This leads the speaker to believing that there is no hope. And why is there no hope? Because no shows any advance to change our generation just like the last line says: "And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it." We control our generation. We need to change it.
The speaker then writes, "Once upon a time Families stayed together but this will not true in my era." This makes me think that this poem is recent. The speaker is comparing back then to now and how different times are. Then the speaker says, that 30 years from now, they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary of their divorce. I don't know why, but I feel like divorce rates have increased. Maybe because in our generation, people are marrying people they don't love or marrying to young. When I read this line, I realized how true it is.
One of the last lines say, "My generation is apathetic and lethargic," I know this means uninterested and sluggish. Many people choose not to care about our generation. This leads the speaker to believing that there is no hope. And why is there no hope? Because no shows any advance to change our generation just like the last line says: "And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it." We control our generation. We need to change it.
11
My Papa’s Waltz
*** Theodore Roethke The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt. |
When I first read this poem, I got a vibe that the speaker was abused by the father. From some lines, like the pans sliding from the kitchen shelf made me feel like they were fighting. But then I read it over and received a totally different meaning. Maybe they really are just dancing.
Why was the father so drunk? The lines that read, "The whiskey on your breath..." and "The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle", make me think that the father liked to drink a lot in order to forget about his problems. Maybe his battered knuckle if from fights he gets into. Getting drunk and dancing with his child was his way to avoid his problems. Even though the child may have not enjoyed his father not being sober, he hung on like death. I get from this that the child loves his father and wants to help him forget about his problems. The mother does not approve of this because she is frowning. I think she is angry that her husband is drunk, but won't stop the waltz because for once, the father is enjoying himself.
This poem sort've sounds like a routine. I'm thinking that this happened a lot. The last lines say, "Then waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt." I think this means that they had fun all day. This was the father's therapy. The child helped him get through the night and now he/she's on his way to bed.
Why was the father so drunk? The lines that read, "The whiskey on your breath..." and "The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle", make me think that the father liked to drink a lot in order to forget about his problems. Maybe his battered knuckle if from fights he gets into. Getting drunk and dancing with his child was his way to avoid his problems. Even though the child may have not enjoyed his father not being sober, he hung on like death. I get from this that the child loves his father and wants to help him forget about his problems. The mother does not approve of this because she is frowning. I think she is angry that her husband is drunk, but won't stop the waltz because for once, the father is enjoying himself.
This poem sort've sounds like a routine. I'm thinking that this happened a lot. The last lines say, "Then waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt." I think this means that they had fun all day. This was the father's therapy. The child helped him get through the night and now he/she's on his way to bed.
12
I really like how the speaker interprets dreams. The poem begins with, "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die..." I think this means that dreams can go away and you can lose hope. That's why you should try to chase them and believe in yourself. Be fast and wise when it comes to your dreams. Life will be a "broken-winged bird that cannot fly" if your dreams die. This means that it will be useless and depressing. A birds purpose is to fly. The bird would be depressed if it didn't. We'd be depressed if we didn't hold on to our dreams.
The speaker then writes, "... For when dreams go life is a barren field frozen with snow." I think a barren field is a place that is void of emotion or life. When it's frozen with snow, I think the speaker is trying to communicate that a life without dreams, is dead and frozen. It's very important to hold on to your dreams because it's good to dream and successfully hold on to them. I think this is what the speaker is trying to convey.
The speaker then writes, "... For when dreams go life is a barren field frozen with snow." I think a barren field is a place that is void of emotion or life. When it's frozen with snow, I think the speaker is trying to communicate that a life without dreams, is dead and frozen. It's very important to hold on to your dreams because it's good to dream and successfully hold on to them. I think this is what the speaker is trying to convey.
13
I was a bit confused with this poem. Some words were confusing, but using context clues, I was able to understand a few lines. I think the speaker of the poem is someone who is witnessing everyone die. I think this poem is about all the men dying, but putting up a fight. From the title and first line, "Do not go gentle into that goodnight," I get a vibe that they don't want to to die. To not go gentle, is to put up a fight.
From the next stanzas that read "wise men... Good men... Wild men...", I feel like the speaker is describing all the different men that are dying and what they did or believed. Some are getting angry that their words didn't make a difference and some are grieving.
The line, "rage, rage against the dying of the light," I think that they shouldn't give up. Do something before they pass away. Old men should not die quietly. In the last stanza, where the speaker is referring to someone as Father, I think he/she is speaking to someone they know that is dying. I think the speaker is trying to communicate that you should fight with death, not just give in to it.
From the next stanzas that read "wise men... Good men... Wild men...", I feel like the speaker is describing all the different men that are dying and what they did or believed. Some are getting angry that their words didn't make a difference and some are grieving.
The line, "rage, rage against the dying of the light," I think that they shouldn't give up. Do something before they pass away. Old men should not die quietly. In the last stanza, where the speaker is referring to someone as Father, I think he/she is speaking to someone they know that is dying. I think the speaker is trying to communicate that you should fight with death, not just give in to it.
14
The Rose that Grew from Concrete
***1/2 Tupac Shakur Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared. |
We really enjoy this poem. In this poem, we wonder if whether or not the rose is metaphorical or literal. We realize that the overall tone of the poem is candidly calm. We noticed that the diction is very calm and soothing yet straight-forward. A couple of lines that reveal this soothing tone is when he/she says, “it learned to breathe fresh air.” This creates a very calming imagery in our mind. Especially because he/she says the words ‘fresh air’. That makes the setting much more serene. We also noticed that the tone of the poem is candid. Candid means like straight-forward. When you read the poem it’s like a story that’s simple and easy to understand.
In the next few lines, the speaker writes, “Proving nature’s law wrong, it learned to walk without having feet.” What we interpret is that proving everything wrong, the ‘rose’ was able to walk without feet. It was able to do something with not having to please someone and on it’s own. We feel like the speaker is referring to a person because roses can’t walk. In the last lines, “Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.” We feel like this means that the speaker respects whoever stood up and grew when everyone else ignored him/her. The tone is candidly calm because the speaker is almost storytelling. They are speaking calming about the ‘rose’.
In the next few lines, the speaker writes, “Proving nature’s law wrong, it learned to walk without having feet.” What we interpret is that proving everything wrong, the ‘rose’ was able to walk without feet. It was able to do something with not having to please someone and on it’s own. We feel like the speaker is referring to a person because roses can’t walk. In the last lines, “Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.” We feel like this means that the speaker respects whoever stood up and grew when everyone else ignored him/her. The tone is candidly calm because the speaker is almost storytelling. They are speaking calming about the ‘rose’.
15
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
*** Mary Elizabeth Frye Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die. |
This poem is very demanding, but soothing at the same time. The speaker is reassuring someone that it will be fine when he/she dies. I think the speaker is someone who isn't afraid of death. Although they aren't scared, he/she knows that it will be hard for their loved ones when they leave so they are reassuring them. He/she's communicating that when they pass, they're not actually dead.
The first line and title reads, "Do not stand at my grave and weep," The speaker is demanding someone. These use of the speaker words let you know that the tone is demanding. The next lines are describing something beautiful that we see normally. For example, "I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow." The speaker is saying that he/she are all these things. Whether they are flying with the wind or the gentle rain, they're still alive. I think that's a beautiful way to describe how it'll be when you pass. The speaker is choosing to look at it another way and the tone is soothing now.
During the last lines, the tone is reassuring. The diction makes this evident. The last lines read, "Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die." The speaker is reassuring someone that they'll never be completely gone. They'll always be around and they are not at the grave. They're telling them not to be sad, but to look at it differently. He/she is not dead. The tone overall is soothingly demanding because the speaker is describing calmly where they'll be and they are ordering someone to not stand by their grave and weep.
The first line and title reads, "Do not stand at my grave and weep," The speaker is demanding someone. These use of the speaker words let you know that the tone is demanding. The next lines are describing something beautiful that we see normally. For example, "I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow." The speaker is saying that he/she are all these things. Whether they are flying with the wind or the gentle rain, they're still alive. I think that's a beautiful way to describe how it'll be when you pass. The speaker is choosing to look at it another way and the tone is soothing now.
During the last lines, the tone is reassuring. The diction makes this evident. The last lines read, "Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die." The speaker is reassuring someone that they'll never be completely gone. They'll always be around and they are not at the grave. They're telling them not to be sad, but to look at it differently. He/she is not dead. The tone overall is soothingly demanding because the speaker is describing calmly where they'll be and they are ordering someone to not stand by their grave and weep.
16
A Poison Tree
*** William Blake I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears; And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles. And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright. And my foe beheld it shine. And he knew that it was mine, And into my garden stole When the night had veiled the pole; In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree. |
People can choose either one of the two ways to deal with an enemy. Either they can ignore them or they could extract revenge. In this case, it’s the latter. William Blake’s poem, A Poison Tree, portrays the extremes of revenge and what extent it can lead to. Through the use of diction and tone, Blake illustrates that when you want revenge on someone, people will go to great lengths in order to avenge themselves.
The speaker begins by saying, “I was angry with my friend: / I told my wrath, my wrath did end. / I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow.” What I understand is that when the speaker is angry with a friend, there is truth involved and eventually the wrath dims. When the speaker is angry with a foe, there is dishonesty involved and the wrath grows. I now learn that that the speaker is angry with someone. Usually when anger grows, people make irrational decisions. Irrational decisions that can be menacing, but bring great pleasure to the afflicter. The tone of this first stanza is kind of calm although the speaker’s topic is revenge and their anger towards a foe. However, the stanzas that come after, have a change in tone and reveals how the speaker concocts their revenge.
From the second stanza, I comprehend that the wrath is growing while the speaker is ‘watering’ it. In other words, the poison tree. The third line uses the word ‘sunned’. Since I didn’t know what it meant exactly, I looked for clues. It has the word ‘sun’ in it, which is bright and the lines reads, “And I sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles”. I’m guessing ‘sunned’ means brightened. Wiles are like cunning schemes. The speaker is suggesting that they are planning something very mischievous. Their anger is feeding off of it. The speaker is growing their own poison tree out of their rage. They are treating their anger like a plant. Plants need water and sunlight which is exactly what he/she is providing for the ‘poison tree’. The tone here is a bit a more deceptive because the speaker is implying that they are deceitful and cunning like the wiles they are feeding the tree.
In the first two lines of the third stanza, the speaker writes, “And it grew both day and night / Till it bore an apple bright.” Is the apple literal or metaphorical? I’m guessing it’s a real apple because in the end of the poem, I interpret that the foe has died beneath the poison tree. The next lines reads, “And my foe beheld it shine / And he knew that it was mine,” (11-12). It is revealed that the foe somehow knows that the apple belongs to the speaker. How? I’m guessing that the speaker is making it obvious in order to lure the foe into their trap. People will sometimes use another’s weakness in order to expose them. The speaker may be mad at something that is similar to stealing their apple so the speaker is teaching the foe a lesson.
In last stanza when the speaker writes, “And into my garden stole / When the night had veiled the pole;” It seems like the plan is working and the foe, did in fact, steal the apple. The speaker then reveals, “In the morning glad I see / My foe outstretched beneath the tree.” Since the speaker is glad, I know that something has happened to the foe. The speaker wanted revenge. The part that reads, “... outstretched beneath the tree,” let’s me know that the foe is dead. I’m guessing that he/she ate the poisonous apple and died. I know the poisonous tree symbolizes the speakers wrath because they both grow, but the tree is still very real. The tone right now is content because the speaker is happy they got their revenge.
In the poem A Poison Tree, Blake tells a tale of revenge and what people will do in order to achieve it. Some people go to extreme lengths for revenge. The speakers vengeful and content tone and diction suggests that the speaker is satisfied with their outcome.
The speaker begins by saying, “I was angry with my friend: / I told my wrath, my wrath did end. / I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow.” What I understand is that when the speaker is angry with a friend, there is truth involved and eventually the wrath dims. When the speaker is angry with a foe, there is dishonesty involved and the wrath grows. I now learn that that the speaker is angry with someone. Usually when anger grows, people make irrational decisions. Irrational decisions that can be menacing, but bring great pleasure to the afflicter. The tone of this first stanza is kind of calm although the speaker’s topic is revenge and their anger towards a foe. However, the stanzas that come after, have a change in tone and reveals how the speaker concocts their revenge.
From the second stanza, I comprehend that the wrath is growing while the speaker is ‘watering’ it. In other words, the poison tree. The third line uses the word ‘sunned’. Since I didn’t know what it meant exactly, I looked for clues. It has the word ‘sun’ in it, which is bright and the lines reads, “And I sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles”. I’m guessing ‘sunned’ means brightened. Wiles are like cunning schemes. The speaker is suggesting that they are planning something very mischievous. Their anger is feeding off of it. The speaker is growing their own poison tree out of their rage. They are treating their anger like a plant. Plants need water and sunlight which is exactly what he/she is providing for the ‘poison tree’. The tone here is a bit a more deceptive because the speaker is implying that they are deceitful and cunning like the wiles they are feeding the tree.
In the first two lines of the third stanza, the speaker writes, “And it grew both day and night / Till it bore an apple bright.” Is the apple literal or metaphorical? I’m guessing it’s a real apple because in the end of the poem, I interpret that the foe has died beneath the poison tree. The next lines reads, “And my foe beheld it shine / And he knew that it was mine,” (11-12). It is revealed that the foe somehow knows that the apple belongs to the speaker. How? I’m guessing that the speaker is making it obvious in order to lure the foe into their trap. People will sometimes use another’s weakness in order to expose them. The speaker may be mad at something that is similar to stealing their apple so the speaker is teaching the foe a lesson.
In last stanza when the speaker writes, “And into my garden stole / When the night had veiled the pole;” It seems like the plan is working and the foe, did in fact, steal the apple. The speaker then reveals, “In the morning glad I see / My foe outstretched beneath the tree.” Since the speaker is glad, I know that something has happened to the foe. The speaker wanted revenge. The part that reads, “... outstretched beneath the tree,” let’s me know that the foe is dead. I’m guessing that he/she ate the poisonous apple and died. I know the poisonous tree symbolizes the speakers wrath because they both grow, but the tree is still very real. The tone right now is content because the speaker is happy they got their revenge.
In the poem A Poison Tree, Blake tells a tale of revenge and what people will do in order to achieve it. Some people go to extreme lengths for revenge. The speakers vengeful and content tone and diction suggests that the speaker is satisfied with their outcome.
17
After Years
*** Ted Kooser Today, from a distance, I saw you walking away, and without a sound the glittering face of a glacier slid into the sea. An ancient oak fell in the Cumberlands, holding only a handful of leaves, and an old woman scattering corn to her chickens looked up for an instant. At the other side of the galaxy, a star thirty-five times the size of our own sun exploded and vanished, leaving a small green spot on the astronomer's retina as he stood on the great open dome of my heart with no one to tell. |
Every human suffers from heartbreak. Whether we choose to express that or not is up to us. Ted Kooser's, After Years, portrays the heartbreak of the speaker and how everything in their world seems to erupt in chaos when their loved one leaves. This poem has a beautiful meaning that is interpreted tragically. Through the use of tone and diction, Kooser portrays that sometimes when you lose someone, it might seem as though your world has ended.
The speaker begins by saying, "Today, from a distance, I saw you / walking away..." From this, I instantly know that the speaker is speaking about someone they care about. Why else would they care why they're walking away? I assume it's a loved one. The tone here is heartbroken. The next line then reads, "and without a sound / the glittering face of a glacier / slid into the sea." I think the speaker is saying that silently, this glacier slid, yet s/he was still focusing on their loved ones retreating figure. Since it slid "without a sound", I'm guessing it's happening, but it doesn't affect him/her as much because all they care about is the person walking away from them.
From the next part, I comprehend that all these insane things are not obvious to anyone, but her/himself. The speaker says, "At the other side / of the galaxy, a star thirty-five times / the size of our own sun exploded / and vanished," This is a huge and unrealistic thing to happen. I'm guessing the heartbreak was so powerful that it affects the whole atmosphere. Comparing the star and sun make it seem like the speaker is revealing that the loved one leaving is a huge thing. The diction used makes the tone seem kind of desperate and anguished. The speaker is so overwhelmed and heartbroken that all this chaos is happening as they watch their significant other leave.
The last lines read, "...leaving a small green spot / on the astronomer's retina / as he stood on the great open dome / of my heart with no one to tell." I feel like these are also all the things s/he wanted to tell their loved one before they left. They wanted to tell that person what an affect their departure has had on them. When it says, "... with no one to tell." I interpret that the speaker has no to tell about how the world is affected by his heartbreak as well.
In the poem, After Years, Kooser explains how a speakers world seems to end the day their loved one leaves. His/her pain affects the whole world. Some people feel as though their world is crashing down on them when realization hits them that a loved one has left them. The speakers heartbroken and anguished tone and diction suggests that the speaker regrets their loved one leaving.
The speaker begins by saying, "Today, from a distance, I saw you / walking away..." From this, I instantly know that the speaker is speaking about someone they care about. Why else would they care why they're walking away? I assume it's a loved one. The tone here is heartbroken. The next line then reads, "and without a sound / the glittering face of a glacier / slid into the sea." I think the speaker is saying that silently, this glacier slid, yet s/he was still focusing on their loved ones retreating figure. Since it slid "without a sound", I'm guessing it's happening, but it doesn't affect him/her as much because all they care about is the person walking away from them.
From the next part, I comprehend that all these insane things are not obvious to anyone, but her/himself. The speaker says, "At the other side / of the galaxy, a star thirty-five times / the size of our own sun exploded / and vanished," This is a huge and unrealistic thing to happen. I'm guessing the heartbreak was so powerful that it affects the whole atmosphere. Comparing the star and sun make it seem like the speaker is revealing that the loved one leaving is a huge thing. The diction used makes the tone seem kind of desperate and anguished. The speaker is so overwhelmed and heartbroken that all this chaos is happening as they watch their significant other leave.
The last lines read, "...leaving a small green spot / on the astronomer's retina / as he stood on the great open dome / of my heart with no one to tell." I feel like these are also all the things s/he wanted to tell their loved one before they left. They wanted to tell that person what an affect their departure has had on them. When it says, "... with no one to tell." I interpret that the speaker has no to tell about how the world is affected by his heartbreak as well.
In the poem, After Years, Kooser explains how a speakers world seems to end the day their loved one leaves. His/her pain affects the whole world. Some people feel as though their world is crashing down on them when realization hits them that a loved one has left them. The speakers heartbroken and anguished tone and diction suggests that the speaker regrets their loved one leaving.
18
Snip Your Hair
*** Regina Desalva I’ll snip your hair Cut it all off until you look like a man I will replace your weight loss bars with bars to make you gain I will cut your credit cards in half I will shrink all your clothes Every trick in the book I will try I will give all your shoes to the dog I will do it all Crazy is where you will be driven Off a cliff you will want to jump Then when I am all done I will look at you with big doughy eyes And I will say I am sorry But I have my fingers crossed |
Everyone makes mistakes. I'm sure that a few people, in return, anticipate forgiveness. Regina Desalva's, Snip Your Hair, tells the silly mistakes a speaker makes and the forgiveness they expect at the end of all the madness. Through the use of tone and diction, Desalva illustrates that after all the crazy mistakes one can make, we apologize in the hopes of being forgiven.
The poem begins by repeating the title; "I’ll snip your hair / Cut it all off until you look like a man" I instantly get a vibe that the speaker is a little child. Many adults don't allow children to have scissors and this shows one reason why. I think of all the mischievous kids who cut hair or draw on peoples face when they're asleep. But they're eventually forgiven because... well they're children. If someone older where to do this, they will be forgiven, but it wouldn't make sense nor would it seem normal. Little children are forgiven for these mistakes because they don't know any better. The tone here is very conniving and straightforward because the speaker is bluntly wording everything bad they'll do to someone.
The lines, "I will cut your credit cards in half / I will shrink all your clothes / Every trick in the book I will try", confirm my suspicions of the speaker being a child. The speaker is proceeding to list all the things they will eventually do. I think they're speaking to a parent. The child is letting the parents know in advance of all these things s/he will do. In the moment of doing these things, they won't care about the repercussions. They then say, "Crazy is where you will be driven / Off a cliff you will want to jump," The speaker is admitting that everything the parent(s) are enduring will drive them crazy. The child is aware of this and does not seem sorry at the moment. I guess what the poem is trying to communicate is that when we make a mistake, we don't care for our actions as much because we expect forgiveness in the end. Children always expects their parents to forgive them. This applies to everyone else as well because we constantly apologize after what we did instead of preventing it. We anticipate to be forgiven. The tone here is more revealing and mischievous because the speaker is aware of how crazy their actions will drive the person.
The last lines read, "I will look at you with big doughy eyes / And I will say I am sorry / But I have my fingers crossed" The speaker is now apologizing to the person after everything they did. They obviously know what they did is wrong and are now taking responsibility. Some children don't have huge responsibilities so apologizing might not seem like such a huge deal because they're eventually forgiven. The lines that reads, "But I have my fingers crossed", let me know that they are hoping for an acceptance of their apology.
In the poem, Snip Your Hair, Desalva speaks through the perspective of a child in order to explain the mistakes we make and the forgiveness we expect afterwards. Some people willingly do something wrong because we hope and prepare ourselves to be forgiven. The speakers impish and anticipated tone and diction reveal that the speaker expects forgiveness despite all their wiles.
The poem begins by repeating the title; "I’ll snip your hair / Cut it all off until you look like a man" I instantly get a vibe that the speaker is a little child. Many adults don't allow children to have scissors and this shows one reason why. I think of all the mischievous kids who cut hair or draw on peoples face when they're asleep. But they're eventually forgiven because... well they're children. If someone older where to do this, they will be forgiven, but it wouldn't make sense nor would it seem normal. Little children are forgiven for these mistakes because they don't know any better. The tone here is very conniving and straightforward because the speaker is bluntly wording everything bad they'll do to someone.
The lines, "I will cut your credit cards in half / I will shrink all your clothes / Every trick in the book I will try", confirm my suspicions of the speaker being a child. The speaker is proceeding to list all the things they will eventually do. I think they're speaking to a parent. The child is letting the parents know in advance of all these things s/he will do. In the moment of doing these things, they won't care about the repercussions. They then say, "Crazy is where you will be driven / Off a cliff you will want to jump," The speaker is admitting that everything the parent(s) are enduring will drive them crazy. The child is aware of this and does not seem sorry at the moment. I guess what the poem is trying to communicate is that when we make a mistake, we don't care for our actions as much because we expect forgiveness in the end. Children always expects their parents to forgive them. This applies to everyone else as well because we constantly apologize after what we did instead of preventing it. We anticipate to be forgiven. The tone here is more revealing and mischievous because the speaker is aware of how crazy their actions will drive the person.
The last lines read, "I will look at you with big doughy eyes / And I will say I am sorry / But I have my fingers crossed" The speaker is now apologizing to the person after everything they did. They obviously know what they did is wrong and are now taking responsibility. Some children don't have huge responsibilities so apologizing might not seem like such a huge deal because they're eventually forgiven. The lines that reads, "But I have my fingers crossed", let me know that they are hoping for an acceptance of their apology.
In the poem, Snip Your Hair, Desalva speaks through the perspective of a child in order to explain the mistakes we make and the forgiveness we expect afterwards. Some people willingly do something wrong because we hope and prepare ourselves to be forgiven. The speakers impish and anticipated tone and diction reveal that the speaker expects forgiveness despite all their wiles.
19
Words can hurt. Sometimes they can hurt more than physical pain. Many people do not think about what they say before they speak and when they do, it can hurt someone. Shaun Shane's, Tongues Made Of Glass, portrays that words can hurt and the only way we'd think before we speak is if we were to have tongue made of glass. Through the simplicity of the two stanzas, Shane considers the perplex idea of tongues made of glass.
The first lines read,
if only
our tongues
were made
of glass (1-4)
I get an image of a glass tongue, literally. Glass is very fragile. Glass can break easily. Since the speaker chooses to make the tongue of glass, the speaker is communicating that our tongues can be easily broken; The tone here is almost yearning because the speaker starts off with, "if only," This gives a vibe of someone in distress. He/she wants everyone to have glass tongues. The question is why is he referring to a glass tongue?
The next lines answer my question,
how much
more careful
we would be
when we
speak (5-8)
I now understand why the speaker uses glass tongues. The idea the speaker is trying to communicate is that we should think before we speak. We might say things that can offend or hurt someone. If our tongues were made of glass, we'd take caution before saying anything. This is in fear of our tongue breaking. Since our glass tongues are so fragile, they'd break if we spoke too much or if we say the wrong things. The shards of glass can also cut and hurt us. I'm pretty sure people would think because they would not want their glass tongue to break. The separation between the two stanzas give me as a reader time to consider our glass tongues. It's let me get an image of our glass tongues. The tone switches from yearning to more of a realization.
The first lines read,
if only
our tongues
were made
of glass (1-4)
I get an image of a glass tongue, literally. Glass is very fragile. Glass can break easily. Since the speaker chooses to make the tongue of glass, the speaker is communicating that our tongues can be easily broken; The tone here is almost yearning because the speaker starts off with, "if only," This gives a vibe of someone in distress. He/she wants everyone to have glass tongues. The question is why is he referring to a glass tongue?
The next lines answer my question,
how much
more careful
we would be
when we
speak (5-8)
I now understand why the speaker uses glass tongues. The idea the speaker is trying to communicate is that we should think before we speak. We might say things that can offend or hurt someone. If our tongues were made of glass, we'd take caution before saying anything. This is in fear of our tongue breaking. Since our glass tongues are so fragile, they'd break if we spoke too much or if we say the wrong things. The shards of glass can also cut and hurt us. I'm pretty sure people would think because they would not want their glass tongue to break. The separation between the two stanzas give me as a reader time to consider our glass tongues. It's let me get an image of our glass tongues. The tone switches from yearning to more of a realization.
20
The words that stick out to me in the poem are the colors. The speaker chooses to describe the streets and her dress, using the colors 'red' and 'white'. When I see or hear the color red, I think of blood or violence. I've heard the term 'blood red' to describe a very intense shade of red. Since the speaker uses this color, I think she's trying to say that the streets are full of violence. There's so much war and cruelty that the streets are engraved with blood. The speaker would like to come, but the horrid scene outside is stopping her. The tone here is terrified because the speaker is too afraid to go outside and walk the streets.
The speaker then says:
And I do not have
But my white dress. (3-4)
When I see or hear the color white, purity comes to mind. The speaker using white to be her dress color, makes me believe that she is saying she is innocent. Too innocent to witness what's going on outside. All the crime and violence is too much for her to handle so she chooses to stay inside. I think that is the only thing stopping her from meeting who she's talking to. It's almost like a letter. She's telling this person that she cannot go to them because the violence has scarred her clean mind. The tone here is more innocent because the speaker has not experienced or understood the violence outside.
In the poem, Wish, Hassan portrays the ugly world outside and the beauty of the speakers innocence in just four lines. Sometimes it's hard to see something that is red when all you know is white.
The speaker then says:
And I do not have
But my white dress. (3-4)
When I see or hear the color white, purity comes to mind. The speaker using white to be her dress color, makes me believe that she is saying she is innocent. Too innocent to witness what's going on outside. All the crime and violence is too much for her to handle so she chooses to stay inside. I think that is the only thing stopping her from meeting who she's talking to. It's almost like a letter. She's telling this person that she cannot go to them because the violence has scarred her clean mind. The tone here is more innocent because the speaker has not experienced or understood the violence outside.
In the poem, Wish, Hassan portrays the ugly world outside and the beauty of the speakers innocence in just four lines. Sometimes it's hard to see something that is red when all you know is white.
21
People sometimes choose to bring you down, but we choose if whether or not we are affected. They may try, but we decide if whether or not their attempts are victorious. Maya Angelou's, Still I Rise, portrays society's efforts to break the speaker and the speakers choice to still rise above all. Through the use of tone and diction, Angelou illustrates that when people try to 'kill you with their hatefulness', it is best to remain confident and prove your extraordinary self-worth.
In the first stanza, the speaker writes, "You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies," (1-2). The speaker is saying that someone is trying to 'write her down'. What I interpret from this is that, society is trying to bring her down; Everyone is trying to ruin her with all their manipulative lies. This reminds me of society today. Everyone wants a certain image, so when you stand out, people don't like that. It might be because they're jealous or maybe because they don't like 'different'. She then proceeds to speak about how she still rises. The speaker chooses to rise despite society's efforts to bring her down. The tone and mood here is just radiating confidence. The speaker is confident when she speaks about how she still rises. And the mood I receive is confidence because I believe that everyone, including yourself, should feel this way. Everyone should rise above all.
Throughout the poem, the speaker writes,
Does my sassiness upset you? (5)
Does my haughtiness offend you? (17)
Does my sexiness upset you? (25)
The speaker is choosing to express how she doesn't acknowledge society through her sassy tone. She's asking them if things such as her looks and confidence offend society. This is a way of the speaker saying that these people are foolish. Why else would they pick on her? She is questioning if whether or not they're annoyed by these things. She obviously does not care about what they say/do. She knows she's all these things and her sassy tone lets them know that she's proud. She also says:
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs? (26-28)
Obviously the speaker is referring to her lady part. Diamonds are extremely valuable and priceless. This simile/comparison communicates what the speaker is saying; her lady part is the most invaluable and precious. The tone here is very assertive and confident again because referring her lady parts to diamonds, shows how strongly she believes that she's better than the people who try to bring her down.
In the poem, Still I Rise, Angelou beautifully and strongly portrays that it is best to keep your head up when society is trying to bring you down. Do not let them shoot you with their words or cut you with their eyes. You'll feel better and realize how valuable you truly are. She shows that she won't let anyone break her by repeating "I rise." The speakers confident and audacious tone and diction suggests that the speaker is strong and will not let anyone bring her down.
In the first stanza, the speaker writes, "You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies," (1-2). The speaker is saying that someone is trying to 'write her down'. What I interpret from this is that, society is trying to bring her down; Everyone is trying to ruin her with all their manipulative lies. This reminds me of society today. Everyone wants a certain image, so when you stand out, people don't like that. It might be because they're jealous or maybe because they don't like 'different'. She then proceeds to speak about how she still rises. The speaker chooses to rise despite society's efforts to bring her down. The tone and mood here is just radiating confidence. The speaker is confident when she speaks about how she still rises. And the mood I receive is confidence because I believe that everyone, including yourself, should feel this way. Everyone should rise above all.
Throughout the poem, the speaker writes,
Does my sassiness upset you? (5)
Does my haughtiness offend you? (17)
Does my sexiness upset you? (25)
The speaker is choosing to express how she doesn't acknowledge society through her sassy tone. She's asking them if things such as her looks and confidence offend society. This is a way of the speaker saying that these people are foolish. Why else would they pick on her? She is questioning if whether or not they're annoyed by these things. She obviously does not care about what they say/do. She knows she's all these things and her sassy tone lets them know that she's proud. She also says:
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs? (26-28)
Obviously the speaker is referring to her lady part. Diamonds are extremely valuable and priceless. This simile/comparison communicates what the speaker is saying; her lady part is the most invaluable and precious. The tone here is very assertive and confident again because referring her lady parts to diamonds, shows how strongly she believes that she's better than the people who try to bring her down.
In the poem, Still I Rise, Angelou beautifully and strongly portrays that it is best to keep your head up when society is trying to bring you down. Do not let them shoot you with their words or cut you with their eyes. You'll feel better and realize how valuable you truly are. She shows that she won't let anyone break her by repeating "I rise." The speakers confident and audacious tone and diction suggests that the speaker is strong and will not let anyone bring her down.
22
When you're in an area where a lot is happening, always try to be alert and calm. You never know what might happen or if someone may sneak up on you. Annie Finch's, In Cities, Be Alert, explores the chaos and distractions in a city and the precaution you should take while visiting. Through the use of tone and diction, Finch illustrates that being aware of your surroundings is a must when in cities because you never know what's going to happen.
The first stanza of the poem has an understanding and cautious tone:
You may hear that your heartbeat is uneven
and let new tension climb around your shoulders,
thinking you've found the trick for going mad.
But try to keep a grip on where you are. (1-4)
The speaker is describing the sort of rush and anxiousness you feel when in the city. But s/he is also warning you and telling you to stay calm. It is best to stay relaxed so that you can focus more on the environment you're in. The speaker is communicating that it's more intelligent to keep calm then to be nervous or edgy. I think this is great advice considering I usually hear it from my parents when in the city. Being too jittery may attract unwanted attention and you won't be able to focus on certain things. The speaker then proceeds to give you advice. S/he mentions, "Remember: all around you is pure city; / try to stay alert." The speaker is reminding you about where you are and that you should be attentive. Make sure to take in all your surroundings and observe.
In the the third stanza, the speakers tone shifts from cautious to helpful:
of a sideways flicker from a neon sign
may utterly and briefly disconcert you--
but as you go, you'll find that noise is worse.
Prepare for noise. But never scream... (9-12)
The speaker is revealing how the smallest things may distract you. Small things like the flicker from a neon sign could capture your attention briefly. Then, they're more obvious and annoying things that may distract you. Like the noise. The noise will be roaring considering there's hundreds of people in the city. You have to remember that the city isn't revolving around you. Anyone and anything is there. And anyone and anything could distract you. But you must not let it affect your caution. One distraction may lead to another and next thing you know, you've forgotten to stay aware and something happens. The speaker is giving honest advice; things will distract you. But you choose if whether or not they'll divert you completely.
The last stanza summarizes the poem and once again, reminds you to be alert. The last lines read, "just try to stay alert. You'll never know / exactly who is coming up behind you, / but the sudden movement of pedestrians / will finally, of course, be what disarms you." (16-19). The tone here is more direct and remindful. The speaker is repeating and pressing the importance of being alert in the city. They say you never know who is exactly coming up behind you, which is another reason of why you should be observant. S/he is also reminding you of distractions. S/he is communicating that someone is going to distract you, but you must remain calm and attentive.
In the poem, In Cities, Be Alert, Finch expresses the importance of being alert when in cities. Some people may get distracted easily, but they should comprehend that caution in their surroundings is way more salient. The mood I receive is grateful because of the speakers advice. The speakers insistent and cautious tone and diction suggests that the speaker believes your environment is one of the most important things to keep in mind and aware of when visiting cities.
The first stanza of the poem has an understanding and cautious tone:
You may hear that your heartbeat is uneven
and let new tension climb around your shoulders,
thinking you've found the trick for going mad.
But try to keep a grip on where you are. (1-4)
The speaker is describing the sort of rush and anxiousness you feel when in the city. But s/he is also warning you and telling you to stay calm. It is best to stay relaxed so that you can focus more on the environment you're in. The speaker is communicating that it's more intelligent to keep calm then to be nervous or edgy. I think this is great advice considering I usually hear it from my parents when in the city. Being too jittery may attract unwanted attention and you won't be able to focus on certain things. The speaker then proceeds to give you advice. S/he mentions, "Remember: all around you is pure city; / try to stay alert." The speaker is reminding you about where you are and that you should be attentive. Make sure to take in all your surroundings and observe.
In the the third stanza, the speakers tone shifts from cautious to helpful:
of a sideways flicker from a neon sign
may utterly and briefly disconcert you--
but as you go, you'll find that noise is worse.
Prepare for noise. But never scream... (9-12)
The speaker is revealing how the smallest things may distract you. Small things like the flicker from a neon sign could capture your attention briefly. Then, they're more obvious and annoying things that may distract you. Like the noise. The noise will be roaring considering there's hundreds of people in the city. You have to remember that the city isn't revolving around you. Anyone and anything is there. And anyone and anything could distract you. But you must not let it affect your caution. One distraction may lead to another and next thing you know, you've forgotten to stay aware and something happens. The speaker is giving honest advice; things will distract you. But you choose if whether or not they'll divert you completely.
The last stanza summarizes the poem and once again, reminds you to be alert. The last lines read, "just try to stay alert. You'll never know / exactly who is coming up behind you, / but the sudden movement of pedestrians / will finally, of course, be what disarms you." (16-19). The tone here is more direct and remindful. The speaker is repeating and pressing the importance of being alert in the city. They say you never know who is exactly coming up behind you, which is another reason of why you should be observant. S/he is also reminding you of distractions. S/he is communicating that someone is going to distract you, but you must remain calm and attentive.
In the poem, In Cities, Be Alert, Finch expresses the importance of being alert when in cities. Some people may get distracted easily, but they should comprehend that caution in their surroundings is way more salient. The mood I receive is grateful because of the speakers advice. The speakers insistent and cautious tone and diction suggests that the speaker believes your environment is one of the most important things to keep in mind and aware of when visiting cities.
23
Sometimes we may not see something when it's right in front us. We may long for something that has been there all along. Dorothy Parker's poem, A Certain Lady, portrays the longing efforts of a woman and how they fail as the person she loves does not notice nor reciprocate her feelings. Through the use of tone and diction, Parker illustrates the emotional chaos called love, and the heartbreak we receive when our love is not returned.
The speaker begins with saying, "Oh, I can smile for you, and tilt my head, And drink your rushing words with eager lips," The speaker is using 'can' instead of just saying 'I smile for you...' This makes the speaker sound like she feels obligated to, although it's not what she wants to do. She is expressing that she can and will do all these things for someone out of love. The next lines read, "And paint my mouth for you a fragrant red, And trace your brows with tutored finger-tips." She is saying how she will wear makeup for him. She also sounds reluctant here, but she is wearing it for his benefit. When she says 'with tutored finger-tips', I understand that she's done this before and has experience. Maybe she's a prostitute. But prostitutes are capable of loving someone.
The next lines read,
When you rehearse your list of loves to me,
Oh, I can laugh and marvel, rapturous-eyed.
And you laugh back, nor can you ever see
The thousand little deaths my heart has died. (5-8)
I think the list of loves are the mans conquests. I'm assuming he goes through many woman in search of love. Maybe since she's a prostitute, he just uses her for pleasure and to tell her about his unfortunate love life. She sticks around, listens, and laughs because she is so in love with him. This is pretty ironic considering he seems to complain about finding no one to love him when someone who loves him dearly, is right in front of him. He cannot see 'the thousand little deaths her heart has died'. Every time he mentions a new woman, her heart dies a little. She is heartbroken that he does not love her. She then says how 'she knows her part so well'. That she is 'gay as morning'. This means that she is putting on an act for him. While she is laughing, she is actually nursing her broken heart. She might look like she's happy, but in the inside, she's breaking. He will never know what goes on in her heart. The tone here is sadness and heartbreak. She feels dejected because he does not love her. The mood here is also sad because you realize it must be hard to love someone who doesn't love you back. Who doesn't even know.
The part of the next stanza reads,
Oh, I can laugh and listen, when we meet,
And you bring tales of fresh adventurings, --
Of ladies delicately indiscreet,
Of lingering hands, and gently whispered things. (13-16)
He still continues to speak about the other women. He brings new stories and indiscretions about them. Unfortunately, he does not look past the fun he has with the women and towards the love the speaker has for him. It must be hard for the speaker to hear him speak about his other lovers. She stays with him because she's so in love with him and wants to be there for him. The tone here is still sad because she listens to him speak about other women although it breaks her heart.
The last part of the poem reads,
And when, in search of novelty, you stray,
Oh, I can kiss you blithely as you go ....
And what goes on, my love, while you're away,
You'll never know. (21-24)
When the man leaves in search for a new woman, she kisses him goodbye... but he does not know what goes on when he leaves. I think the speaker is implying, that she too, has conquests of her own. More men to please. Maybe she says this in hopes that the man will finally feel the way she does. Maybe when he finds out that she has other men of her own, he'll realizes he loves her. Sadly, there is no telling what the speaker is up to or if the man finally declares his love for her.
The speaker comes off as helpless and heartbroken. She still touches him, pleasures him, and even listens to him despite the fact that the feelings aren't mutual. She gives him her full attention although he chooses to enjoy the company of more than one woman.
In the poem, A Certain Lady, Parker portrays the speakers love for a man and the heartbreak she receives constantly because he does not reciprocate these feelings. It is hard for her to love him when he does not love her. Although he is in search for love, he's oblivious even when she is right in front of him. The speakers sad and regretful tone and diction suggests that the women regrets loving a man who will never love her.
The speaker begins with saying, "Oh, I can smile for you, and tilt my head, And drink your rushing words with eager lips," The speaker is using 'can' instead of just saying 'I smile for you...' This makes the speaker sound like she feels obligated to, although it's not what she wants to do. She is expressing that she can and will do all these things for someone out of love. The next lines read, "And paint my mouth for you a fragrant red, And trace your brows with tutored finger-tips." She is saying how she will wear makeup for him. She also sounds reluctant here, but she is wearing it for his benefit. When she says 'with tutored finger-tips', I understand that she's done this before and has experience. Maybe she's a prostitute. But prostitutes are capable of loving someone.
The next lines read,
When you rehearse your list of loves to me,
Oh, I can laugh and marvel, rapturous-eyed.
And you laugh back, nor can you ever see
The thousand little deaths my heart has died. (5-8)
I think the list of loves are the mans conquests. I'm assuming he goes through many woman in search of love. Maybe since she's a prostitute, he just uses her for pleasure and to tell her about his unfortunate love life. She sticks around, listens, and laughs because she is so in love with him. This is pretty ironic considering he seems to complain about finding no one to love him when someone who loves him dearly, is right in front of him. He cannot see 'the thousand little deaths her heart has died'. Every time he mentions a new woman, her heart dies a little. She is heartbroken that he does not love her. She then says how 'she knows her part so well'. That she is 'gay as morning'. This means that she is putting on an act for him. While she is laughing, she is actually nursing her broken heart. She might look like she's happy, but in the inside, she's breaking. He will never know what goes on in her heart. The tone here is sadness and heartbreak. She feels dejected because he does not love her. The mood here is also sad because you realize it must be hard to love someone who doesn't love you back. Who doesn't even know.
The part of the next stanza reads,
Oh, I can laugh and listen, when we meet,
And you bring tales of fresh adventurings, --
Of ladies delicately indiscreet,
Of lingering hands, and gently whispered things. (13-16)
He still continues to speak about the other women. He brings new stories and indiscretions about them. Unfortunately, he does not look past the fun he has with the women and towards the love the speaker has for him. It must be hard for the speaker to hear him speak about his other lovers. She stays with him because she's so in love with him and wants to be there for him. The tone here is still sad because she listens to him speak about other women although it breaks her heart.
The last part of the poem reads,
And when, in search of novelty, you stray,
Oh, I can kiss you blithely as you go ....
And what goes on, my love, while you're away,
You'll never know. (21-24)
When the man leaves in search for a new woman, she kisses him goodbye... but he does not know what goes on when he leaves. I think the speaker is implying, that she too, has conquests of her own. More men to please. Maybe she says this in hopes that the man will finally feel the way she does. Maybe when he finds out that she has other men of her own, he'll realizes he loves her. Sadly, there is no telling what the speaker is up to or if the man finally declares his love for her.
The speaker comes off as helpless and heartbroken. She still touches him, pleasures him, and even listens to him despite the fact that the feelings aren't mutual. She gives him her full attention although he chooses to enjoy the company of more than one woman.
In the poem, A Certain Lady, Parker portrays the speakers love for a man and the heartbreak she receives constantly because he does not reciprocate these feelings. It is hard for her to love him when he does not love her. Although he is in search for love, he's oblivious even when she is right in front of him. The speakers sad and regretful tone and diction suggests that the women regrets loving a man who will never love her.
24
Sometimes, people may neglect you based on how you look or where you're from. People may believe they're better because of how they look or where they're form. Langston Hughes, Children's Rhymes, portrays the discrimination the speaker feels as someone who is not white Through the use of tone and diction, Hughes suggests liberty and justice was certainly not for all.
The speaker begins with the lines:
By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President. (1-5)
The speaker is saying that they can not be President. Now, the speaker can be any nationality besides white. I think what the speaker is trying to say is that, they can't be anything important because they're not white. Not just being the President, but other things as well. Being the President is already a major thing. Since the speaker is talking about how they can't be president, I'm guessing they believe they can't be anything important. This is because they're not white. I mean, the first lines are: "By what sends / the white kids..." The speaker mentions this to reveal they're not white. Not important. The tone here is a bit envious. The speaker is jealous that they're not as important. The mood here is revealing because I realize many people today, are neglected because of their race, nationality, etc.
The next lines read:
What don't bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain't free. (6-10)
The speaker admits that it 'bugs them'. It bothers them that they're not free. It doesn't bug the white kids because they are free. They always have been. This reminds me of the Civil War. White people were believed to be the superior race at the time. African Americans were discriminated. I guess even after the war ended, African Americans still felt discriminated. Left out. Some opportunities were still not available to them. When the speaker says, "We know everybody / ain't free", I get the sense that everyone knows this because the speaker is referring to 'we', in a general sense. Not just himself. The tone here is more aggravated. The speaker is angry that there isn't equality for everyone.
The last lines read:
Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice--
Huh!--For All? (11-15)
I think the speaker is trying to say that people are lying as they try to bestow equality upon everyone. That's not the truth according to the speaker. I think the speaker has experience with racism or discrimination. This is probably why they don't feel that everyone has equal rights. The speakers tone switches from anger like to sarcastic. The last two lines read, "Liberty And Justice--Huh!--For All?" The speaker sounds sarcastic here as he/she questions if there really is liberty and justice for all. They do not believe that this is the case.
In the poem, Children's Rhymes, Hughes illustrates the struggle with accepting equality for the speaker when they don't even see it. The speaker believes that the white children will always be more important. The speakers envious and irritated tone suggests they are angry that everyone is allegedly equal when that is not true.
The speaker begins with the lines:
By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President. (1-5)
The speaker is saying that they can not be President. Now, the speaker can be any nationality besides white. I think what the speaker is trying to say is that, they can't be anything important because they're not white. Not just being the President, but other things as well. Being the President is already a major thing. Since the speaker is talking about how they can't be president, I'm guessing they believe they can't be anything important. This is because they're not white. I mean, the first lines are: "By what sends / the white kids..." The speaker mentions this to reveal they're not white. Not important. The tone here is a bit envious. The speaker is jealous that they're not as important. The mood here is revealing because I realize many people today, are neglected because of their race, nationality, etc.
The next lines read:
What don't bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain't free. (6-10)
The speaker admits that it 'bugs them'. It bothers them that they're not free. It doesn't bug the white kids because they are free. They always have been. This reminds me of the Civil War. White people were believed to be the superior race at the time. African Americans were discriminated. I guess even after the war ended, African Americans still felt discriminated. Left out. Some opportunities were still not available to them. When the speaker says, "We know everybody / ain't free", I get the sense that everyone knows this because the speaker is referring to 'we', in a general sense. Not just himself. The tone here is more aggravated. The speaker is angry that there isn't equality for everyone.
The last lines read:
Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice--
Huh!--For All? (11-15)
I think the speaker is trying to say that people are lying as they try to bestow equality upon everyone. That's not the truth according to the speaker. I think the speaker has experience with racism or discrimination. This is probably why they don't feel that everyone has equal rights. The speakers tone switches from anger like to sarcastic. The last two lines read, "Liberty And Justice--Huh!--For All?" The speaker sounds sarcastic here as he/she questions if there really is liberty and justice for all. They do not believe that this is the case.
In the poem, Children's Rhymes, Hughes illustrates the struggle with accepting equality for the speaker when they don't even see it. The speaker believes that the white children will always be more important. The speakers envious and irritated tone suggests they are angry that everyone is allegedly equal when that is not true.
25
Sometimes we may know of an eventual end to a relationship, but we choose to let it continue and reminisce on the good memories. It's easier to remember them and accept it rather than to think of it negatively and meet a harsh ending. Charles Bukowski's poem, Raw With Love, portrays the speakers memories of their time together with a loved one, a girlfriend I presume. They seem to be aware of their eventual breakup. Through the use of tone and diction, Bukowski illustrates the speakers choice to accept that they will sever ties one day, and their choice to remember the good times.
The title of the poem is Raw With Love. Raw can mean a few things. Things like, uncooked, red or painful. But the raw Bukowski is referring to is strong, rough, and intense. The speaker has a love so intense, crazy, good, and bad... all of these things. Most of all, the love is real and raw. I think the speaker is 'raw with love' because of everything their love consists of and how true it is. I rated this poem five stars because of the speakers choice and the way they choose to describe their love. Usually when people separate, it's more bitter and harsh. It's as if they never loved one another. It's sad to look at it that way because their was a point when you looked at them like they were the only person in the world. You should not choose to forget the good memories because at the time you enjoyed them. I love how the speaker rather admit that they enjoy the memories and will not fear their eventual separation. The speaker admits they won't regret it in the beginning of the poem when they say, "I won't flinch and / I won't blame / you..."
The first lines read,
little dark girl with
kind eyes
when it comes time to
use the knife
I won't flinch and
I won't blame
you, (1-7)
The speaker is saying that when the time comes to cut ties, he will not blame her. I assume the speaker is a man now because the poem begins with, "little dark girl with / kind eyes," When the speaker says this, I think he's trying to communicate that the girl has a dark and cold interior. Maybe she is a bit bare and moody. The kind eyes mean that she looked sweet and deceived him in a way. But I'm guessing that's what he loves about her. He loves the contrast and mystery that she is. He is fortunate to know that although she may look innocent, she is 'dark'. Only he knows this. It then says, "when it comes time to / use the knife / I won't flinch and / I won't blame / you," I think the knife is a metaphor for the end of their relationship. When it is time for the girl to break up with him, he won't question it or blame her. He will accept it. He knows they won't last so he rather enjoy the time they have left. Knifes also cut and cause pain. I think this means that the end will be painful and leave a scar, and although the mark will remain, the speaker will choose to look at it positively. The tone here is acceptance because the speaker is okay with knowing that him and his partner won't last. The mood I receive is admiration. I respect that the speaker chooses to accept that they will break up.
In the next part of the poem, the tone switches from acceptance to more nostalgic,
I won't blame you,
instead
I will remember the kisses
our lips raw with love
and how you gave me
everything you had
and how I
offered you what was left of
me, (13-21)
The speaker is remembering the love they felt together. Their kisses that are raw with love sound like they don't have a care in the world. Only the connection they feel when their lips intertwine. He also says that she gave him everything. When the speaker says everything, I know that she gave him all of her. All her secrets and all her stories. That is also what makes their love so strong. It is real. They gave their everything to one another. When the speaker says, he offered her what "was left of him", I feel like the speaker was a bit broken. The speaker also shares their secrets in return. He gave her what was left of him because he loves her so much, and is willing to give her everything even it is the remains. The tone here is nostalgic because the reader is choosing to remember their love.
The next parts of the poem remain nostalgic as he continues to reminisce;
and I will remember your small room
the feel of you
the light in the window
your records
your books (22-26)
The speaker is saying how he will remember things specifically about her only. What kind of person she was. Things such as her room, her records, and her books. All these things can tell a lot about a person. Her room probably contains things that remind him of her, her scent, or even how she looks. Her taste of music and reading also tells him a lot about herself. Things that he loves about her.
He then says,
our morning coffee
our noons our nights
our bodies spilled together
sleeping
the tiny flowing currents
immediate and forever
your leg my leg
your arm my arm (27-34)
The use of 'our' lets me know that the speaker is now saying how he'll remember their time together. I'm guessing they have a routine because the poem follows them from their morning coffee to their nights where their bodies are spilled together as they sleep. This suggests that they spent a lot of time together. When the speaker says, "the tiny flowing currents / immediate and forever", it means that even the smallest things in their love will last a long time. The currents would flow forever in their ocean. The ocean meaning their love. When the speaker says, "your leg my leg / your arm my arm", it shows a connection between them. The use of their limbs together with no comma to separate them shows that they are one. The mood I receive from the nostalgic tone is intrusive. I feel like I'm intruding on something so personal and deep. The speakers love is only something they know about.
Towards the end the speaker writes,
your smile and the warmth
of you
who made me laugh
again. (35-38)
This confirms by suspicions of the speaker being broken or sad before they met the 'dark girl with kind eyes'. The smile and warmth of her made him laugh again. I learn from this that the speaker didn't laugh for a long time. Part of all the reasons why he loves her is that she is able to fix him. Help him smile again. These lines helped me understand what the speaker meant by the last lines,
little dark girl with kind eyes
you have no
knife. the knife is
mine and I won't use it
yet. (36-40)
The speaker is saying that he is now carrying the knife. He now holds their future when they break up. I think he now realizes that she wasn't going to break up with him. Since she has stayed with him through out everything and continues to fix him, he realizes how strong her love is. Now he has the final word in their relationship. He chooses when they'll separate. I think this is because he knows they won't last from some reason. For what reason? I don't know because it is something only the speaker knows. She probably does not see it because she enjoys helping him and she loves him. The reason of why he's choosing to remember all the good memories are because he knows what's coming next.
The image I receive from this beautiful poem is of a couple who are crazy about one another. A couple who is raw with love. I can picture them spending their lives together and loving each other. And I can picture how they need one another to survive in a way. He needed her to laugh again. But I also picture nostalgia within the speaker. The speaker is saying how he'll remember all these things. He is writing as if they've already broken up. This communicates the big idea. Since the speaker is almost certain that they won't last, he chooses to go about it positively and reminisce.
In the poem, Raw With Love, Bukowski illustrates the components to a love that is raw though the speakers nostalgia. The speaker accepts that him and his love will sever ties and he chooses to reminisce on the good memories. The speakers nostalgic and accepting tone and diction suggests they will not flinch or blame the little dark girl with kind eyes when she uses her knife.
The title of the poem is Raw With Love. Raw can mean a few things. Things like, uncooked, red or painful. But the raw Bukowski is referring to is strong, rough, and intense. The speaker has a love so intense, crazy, good, and bad... all of these things. Most of all, the love is real and raw. I think the speaker is 'raw with love' because of everything their love consists of and how true it is. I rated this poem five stars because of the speakers choice and the way they choose to describe their love. Usually when people separate, it's more bitter and harsh. It's as if they never loved one another. It's sad to look at it that way because their was a point when you looked at them like they were the only person in the world. You should not choose to forget the good memories because at the time you enjoyed them. I love how the speaker rather admit that they enjoy the memories and will not fear their eventual separation. The speaker admits they won't regret it in the beginning of the poem when they say, "I won't flinch and / I won't blame / you..."
The first lines read,
little dark girl with
kind eyes
when it comes time to
use the knife
I won't flinch and
I won't blame
you, (1-7)
The speaker is saying that when the time comes to cut ties, he will not blame her. I assume the speaker is a man now because the poem begins with, "little dark girl with / kind eyes," When the speaker says this, I think he's trying to communicate that the girl has a dark and cold interior. Maybe she is a bit bare and moody. The kind eyes mean that she looked sweet and deceived him in a way. But I'm guessing that's what he loves about her. He loves the contrast and mystery that she is. He is fortunate to know that although she may look innocent, she is 'dark'. Only he knows this. It then says, "when it comes time to / use the knife / I won't flinch and / I won't blame / you," I think the knife is a metaphor for the end of their relationship. When it is time for the girl to break up with him, he won't question it or blame her. He will accept it. He knows they won't last so he rather enjoy the time they have left. Knifes also cut and cause pain. I think this means that the end will be painful and leave a scar, and although the mark will remain, the speaker will choose to look at it positively. The tone here is acceptance because the speaker is okay with knowing that him and his partner won't last. The mood I receive is admiration. I respect that the speaker chooses to accept that they will break up.
In the next part of the poem, the tone switches from acceptance to more nostalgic,
I won't blame you,
instead
I will remember the kisses
our lips raw with love
and how you gave me
everything you had
and how I
offered you what was left of
me, (13-21)
The speaker is remembering the love they felt together. Their kisses that are raw with love sound like they don't have a care in the world. Only the connection they feel when their lips intertwine. He also says that she gave him everything. When the speaker says everything, I know that she gave him all of her. All her secrets and all her stories. That is also what makes their love so strong. It is real. They gave their everything to one another. When the speaker says, he offered her what "was left of him", I feel like the speaker was a bit broken. The speaker also shares their secrets in return. He gave her what was left of him because he loves her so much, and is willing to give her everything even it is the remains. The tone here is nostalgic because the reader is choosing to remember their love.
The next parts of the poem remain nostalgic as he continues to reminisce;
and I will remember your small room
the feel of you
the light in the window
your records
your books (22-26)
The speaker is saying how he will remember things specifically about her only. What kind of person she was. Things such as her room, her records, and her books. All these things can tell a lot about a person. Her room probably contains things that remind him of her, her scent, or even how she looks. Her taste of music and reading also tells him a lot about herself. Things that he loves about her.
He then says,
our morning coffee
our noons our nights
our bodies spilled together
sleeping
the tiny flowing currents
immediate and forever
your leg my leg
your arm my arm (27-34)
The use of 'our' lets me know that the speaker is now saying how he'll remember their time together. I'm guessing they have a routine because the poem follows them from their morning coffee to their nights where their bodies are spilled together as they sleep. This suggests that they spent a lot of time together. When the speaker says, "the tiny flowing currents / immediate and forever", it means that even the smallest things in their love will last a long time. The currents would flow forever in their ocean. The ocean meaning their love. When the speaker says, "your leg my leg / your arm my arm", it shows a connection between them. The use of their limbs together with no comma to separate them shows that they are one. The mood I receive from the nostalgic tone is intrusive. I feel like I'm intruding on something so personal and deep. The speakers love is only something they know about.
Towards the end the speaker writes,
your smile and the warmth
of you
who made me laugh
again. (35-38)
This confirms by suspicions of the speaker being broken or sad before they met the 'dark girl with kind eyes'. The smile and warmth of her made him laugh again. I learn from this that the speaker didn't laugh for a long time. Part of all the reasons why he loves her is that she is able to fix him. Help him smile again. These lines helped me understand what the speaker meant by the last lines,
little dark girl with kind eyes
you have no
knife. the knife is
mine and I won't use it
yet. (36-40)
The speaker is saying that he is now carrying the knife. He now holds their future when they break up. I think he now realizes that she wasn't going to break up with him. Since she has stayed with him through out everything and continues to fix him, he realizes how strong her love is. Now he has the final word in their relationship. He chooses when they'll separate. I think this is because he knows they won't last from some reason. For what reason? I don't know because it is something only the speaker knows. She probably does not see it because she enjoys helping him and she loves him. The reason of why he's choosing to remember all the good memories are because he knows what's coming next.
The image I receive from this beautiful poem is of a couple who are crazy about one another. A couple who is raw with love. I can picture them spending their lives together and loving each other. And I can picture how they need one another to survive in a way. He needed her to laugh again. But I also picture nostalgia within the speaker. The speaker is saying how he'll remember all these things. He is writing as if they've already broken up. This communicates the big idea. Since the speaker is almost certain that they won't last, he chooses to go about it positively and reminisce.
In the poem, Raw With Love, Bukowski illustrates the components to a love that is raw though the speakers nostalgia. The speaker accepts that him and his love will sever ties and he chooses to reminisce on the good memories. The speakers nostalgic and accepting tone and diction suggests they will not flinch or blame the little dark girl with kind eyes when she uses her knife.