10-22-09 Forgotten Language- Silverstein

In this poem the main topic is talking about the forgotten language. It is not necessarily referring to a certain language that is spoken, but it refers to different events that have been lost. Talking about flowers, houseflies and gossip, there are plenty of different languages that can be inferred from this poem. The whole point is to allow the reader to interpret it as they would like.

10-22-09 One Inch Tall- Silverstein

If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door,
And it would take about a month to get down to the store.
A bit of fluff would be your bed,
You'd swing upon a spider's thread,
And wear a thimble on your head
If you were one inch tall.

This poem talks about possible scenarios. If you were... refers to imagining things differently than they actually are. One Inch Tall is a classic written by Shel Silverstein. The poet's voice in this poem is very powerful and is targeted at a specific audience who is very interested in this certain poem.

10-22-09 Where The Sidewalk Ends- Silverstein

Growing up in a good public school, they knew what poems students would actually enjoy to read. As I was younger poems written by Shel Silverstein appeared all over the place for me. In this particular poem, it is one of my favorites of all time just because I grew up with it.

10-22-09 Freedom's Plow- Hughes

When a man starts out with nothing,
When a man starts out with his hands
Empty, but clean,
When a man starts to build a world,
He starts first with himself
And the faith that is in his heart-
The strength there,
The will there to build.

The power of this stanza is very emotional and yet true at the same time. The descriptions in the poem have a unique effect on people when they read it. The first part of the poem begins talking about the dreams and then it goes into how to obtain your dream.

10-22-09 Dreams- Hughes

Dreams are one thing that all humans have in common. I feel the poets vibe in this poem sways to the side of to love your dreams, every dream like it is going to be your last dream forever. Dreams hold the key to experience places and things that one normally could not obtain.

10-22-09 Cultural Exchange- Hughes

The poets voice here describes the cultural change from back during the slave days compared to their dreams they all had during those days. The description of the salve days paint vivid images in anybody's head once they read this powerful poem written by Langston Hughes.

10-22-09 Bad Morning- Hughes

This poem is the shortest poem I have ever read by Langston Hughes. In the poem he quickly explains his morning struggles. I can relate to this because in the morning I barely feel like expressing my thoughts in more than four lines. Just like Hughes, I have trouble talking in the morning so I feel connected to this poem.

10-22-09 As I Grow Older- Hughes

In the poem the poet's attitude is very positive, yet at the same time it is very sad. The poem begins talking in a positive aspect talking about the dreams he has. Throughout the poem Hughes voice begins to become stronger showing he will try to achieve his goal.

10-22-09 April Rain Song- Hughes

This poem is called April Rain Song. Langston Hughes explains the series of events that happen in the rainfall. How puddles form on sidewalks, and how drains overflow. He describes these as negative events, but he still insists on saying that he loves the rain. Go figure?

10-22-09 Cross- Hughes

This poem is discussing Langston Hughes' family. He speaks about his white father and his black mother. The title of the poem seems to be literal. He speaks in a voice that sounds regretful that he ever cursed out his white father, he does not curse him out anymore.

10-21-09 Fire and Ice- Frost

This could be one of my favorite poems I have ever read. Frost explains two different worlds, ice and fire. He examines death in both aspects and compares them and ultimately sees them as the same.

10-21-09 I know A place- Dickinson

Dickinson's poems come back to memories on a lot of different occasions. This poem breaks down into stanzas that talk about experiences Dickinson recalls.

10-21-09 I Meant To Find Her- Dickinson

The poet's voice here explains hardships and experiences that the poet has had to find love. Memories are gained from this poet's experience.

10-21-09 I Dreaded That First- Dickinson

Dickinson is portraying things that she at first dreaded. She goes into accounts of events that she first dreaded and ultimately ended up enjoying.

10-21-09 A Long Long Sleep- Dickinson

As I read this poem I felt Emily Dickinson was trying to portray what the image of sleep is. When you are sleeping there are dreams that occur. All these dreams can be portrayed in this poem.

10-21-09 Love Among the Ruins- Browning

I find the poet's use of language in this poem to be very convincing. The poem talks about the ruins in life, and how life can still give you love amongst the ruins.

10-21-09 Meeting at Night- Browning

I loved how Robert Browning portrayed the sky and moon in this poem. The poem was so descriptive that I had an image in my head as soon as I finished the poem. This is what good imagery should be like.

10-21-09 The Laboratory- Browning

I literally have no idea what Robert Browning is trying to say in this poem. This poem is very confusing and it is in language that is very foreign to me.

10-21-09 In a Gondala- Browning

I really like this poem because it gives vivid imagery throughout the poem. It talks about nature and what it has to offer.

10-21-09 We May Live Together- Bradstreet

I wonder what this means when the poet says we may live together. Is she talking about living with a partner or living with the cruelties of the real world? She is explaining different things throughout the poem.

10-21-09 Of the Four Ages of Man- Bradstreet

I have had similar insights about thoughts that were expressed in this poem. When I was younger I had thoughts of what were the ages of man. Reading this poem made me connect to my previous thoughts and cleared up what the four ages of man are.

10-21-09 In Reference to her Children, 23 June 1659- Bradstreet

My first response to this poem was that I felt connected to it. The poem talks about her children, but it explains what they did when they grew up. The speaker reminds me of my Mom because she was the one who brought me up with my brother as we were younger.

10-20-09 The More Loving One- Auden

I find the speaker's voice in the poem to be disconcerting. The speaker speaks of the night when there are no stars in the sky, making me weary if he is a depressed poet. He says he will learn to appreciate the stars once they are gone. Relating that to me is easy, you do not know what you have until it is gone.

10-20-09 As I walked Out One Evening- Auden

After I read this poem I immediately felt a connection to it. In the poem it explains what it feels like walking outside in the evening. I had immediate memories pop into my head from previous summers playing manhunt and running around town at night.

10-20-09 Lullaby -Auden

The speaker-reader audience reminds me of the times when I was younger and slept in the same room as my brother. Max and I would lay down and just hang out while we fell asleep.

What do I Believe?

I believe in fate, love, and karma. 

An Old Life- Donald Hall

An Old Life

Snow fell in the night.

At five-fifteen I woke to a bluish

mounded softness where 

the Honda was. Cat fed and coffee made,

I broomed snow off the car

and drove to the Kearsarge Mini-Mart

before Amy opened 

to yank my Globe out of the bundle.

Back, I set my cup of coffee

beside Jane, still half-asleep,

murmuring stuporous

thanks in the aquamarine morning.

Then I sat in my blue chair 

with blueberry bagels and strong

black coffee reading news, 

the obits, the comics, and the sports.

Carrying my cup twenty feet, 

I sat myself at the desk

for this day's lifelong

engagement with the one task and desire. 

- Donald Hall

www.poet.org

I chose this poem by Donald Hall because it expresses his feelings about the past. He talks very descriptively about his encounters during a normal day of his life. He explains that he has an engagement with the one task and desire. I really enjoy this poem  because it explains his life. Enjoying your everyday life is a very important thing to have. 

"It is difficult to get the news from poetry, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there."- William Carlos Williams

I think Williams Carlos Williams accurately states a position that many people are in when they read poetry. Poetry can be a hard thing to pick apart and realize some forms of symbolism and meanings. Not all people look at poetry the same, some people look into it very deeply and some others just look at the face value. People need to appreciate and enjoy the art of poetry. 

Future

I am now 45 years old and am having a very successful career as a sports agent. I am a prominent force in the industry and have over fifty clients throughout all sports. I live in California and travel to New York City three times a week in my private air liner. When i need to meet with my clients I am one text message, e-mail or phone call away. I have two children and they both are in high school and are living happy lives. My home is the perfect size for a family of four and a pet and I have a nice car and both my children share one. The life I live is a great one and I am very happy for my healthy family. 

Describe This

It was gleaming with a reflection of the sun. The corners were so round and the surface was so smooth. It was the support of so many students in the past, and will be for so many students in the future. The flat top was wide and sturdy. It was the holding place for many objects. 

Cathedral & Everyday Use

Both short stories we read in class have a role reversal in the ending. In the "Cathedral", the ending switches for the husband and the blind man. Now the blind man is the one teaching and encouraging the husband to finish drawing the cathedral. In the beginning of the short story, the husband was mocking the blind man to his wife, and was trying to explain and ask him questions that he could not answer due to his disability. In the end this was not the case, it was the blind man who was encouraging and aiding the husband to finish the drawing and to explain the feeling and looks of a cathedral. The blind man says something like "Draw some people in the cathedral, what is a cathedral without people?".
The short story "Everyday Use" describes an African American family with two daughters and is narrated following the mother. Dee is the eldest of the family followed by Maggie. Dee is always the better looking one and Maggie is never the focus of anybody. Maggie's mother never acknowledges her or favors her. In the end of the story, Maggie is given quilts from her mother, a first time that her mother feels for Maggie rather than the know renamed Dee. Maggie has eclipsed her sister with more loyalty from her mother now.

Inauguration

Today's Inauguration is obviously a very historic one. I wish I was there in Washington, D.C. with the millions of spectators to witness history. On this day, the first African American president will be sworn in with the same bible that Abraham Lincoln used on his inauguration today. Today is a day to remember in American History. This will be a time to remember that I will tell my children about when I grow old. 

Bad Secret

The effect on me when I had to keep a bad secret was not fun. I was nervous because I didn't want to tell my friend that his girl friend cheated on him. She told me not to tell anybody but I knew I had to tell my friend. In the end I told him, which was breaking the promise, but my best friend comes before his girlfriend. 

Scarlet Letter

As of chapter 13, I am enjoying the book. The book recently has became very interesting and keeps getting more and more in depth. The novel keeps my interest and appeals to me because of the conflicts and problems. I am enjoying this novel and enjoy discussing it in groups. 

New Year's Resolution

My New Year's resolution is to create better study habits and set up a schedule for upcoming days of the week. I am going to do this in a disciplined way and continue to do this throughout the school year. My schedule will consist of events that include: homework, sports, tests, projects etc. My study habits will be focused more on meeting with my tutor frequently and studying several days for a test.