Moving in Winter

10/24/09

Moving in Winter by Adrienne Rich

I really connected to this poem because i have moved nine times in my life. I understand how hard it is to pack up all of your belongings and move them to someplace you have yet to callhome. Rich makes a note to mention certain things from this home that have significance to the people who are now forced to move them. It is hard to read this poem with out feeling sorry for these people.

http://www.a1thriftistorage.com/images/moving_boxes.jpg

From a Survivor

10/24/09

From a Survivor by Adrienne Rich

Rich talks about a wasted relationship in this poem. He talks uses very clear but vivid language to talk about how the he thought everything would work out fine, and it was foolish for him not to realize the possibly failures. He has a feeling of regret in his words at the end of the poem. He seems angry that it didn't work out but frustrated at the other person for the failure.

Rosemary

10/24/09

Rosemary by Marianne Moore

I liked the format of the stanzas in this poem. The rhyming was extremely clever. I like the way that the simple language had a powerful and strong message.

Silence

10/24/09

Silence by Marianne Moore

Moore talks about the power of silence in this poem. She indirectly takes a stab at how superior people aren't the greatest type of people. In my opinion this poem can be interpreted in xeveral different ways because it is so complex.

Love After Love

10/24/09

Love After Love by Derek Walcott

This poem is reflective. Walcott is approaching his life or someone's life after losing a love. He infers that even though there is always a mourning period after a loss, eventually you will be able to come to terms with the situation. One day you will be able to find yourself again, and love life once more.

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To a Poor Old Woman

10/24/09

To a Poor Old Woman by William Carlos Williams

In this poem, I liked how the simplicity of the language paralleled the simplicities of the plums to the old woman. It was very clever to approach it that way. It gives this poem more depth. I can picture the woman holding the bag of plums and how having food to eat is a precious gift to her.

Summer Song

10/24/09

Summer Song by William Carlos Williams

This poem is beautifully written. It put me right back into the summer mood when I read it. I like poems that ask questions figuratively and metaphorically, like Summer Song did. This poem gave me a warm feeling, like summer tends to do.

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Portals

10/24/09

Portals by Walt Whitman

Sometimes, the shortest pieces of writing are the ones that make you think the most. Though this poem is only 2 lines long. I read it over about 4 to 5 times to make sure i understood it and grasped the concept. It has extremely deep meaning though it doesn't have pages upon pages of detail.

A Song

10/24/09

A Song by Walk Whitman

This poem has a very patriotic appeal to it. All of the talk about the "life-long" love of comrades is very empowering. This poem is very straight forward and bold. It almost reminds me of a war song. But not an anti-war song, but a patriotic song.

Mirror

10/24/09

Mirror by Sylvia Plath

Plath exemplifies personification with this piece. She speaks as if she is the mirror, which is extremely powerful from the readers perspective. I liked how Plath referred to the mirror as only knowing how to be truthful, it is very true.

http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/assets/images/woman%20looking%20in%20mirror.jpg

April 18

10/24/09

April 18 by Sylvia Plath

Plath's words are extremely dark. She has an extremely pessimistic outlook on the situation she is describing. Her negative and judgmental writing is sad, but intriguing to read. She has incorporated great similes as well.

An English Breeze

10/23/09

An English Breeze by Emily Dickinson

I like the personification Dickinson used. She spoke of the wind as if it was a girl or a woman. All of the places she travels and how she moves. I could see the wind moving as I read this poem. The poem itself made me feel light and airy.

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A Book

10/23/09

A Book by Emily Dickinson

I really like the message that Dickinson is conveying in this poem. I agree that books can take us "lands away". Books can be anyone's escape and should be. She beautifully communicated her ideas.

http://www.artsjournal.com/bookdaddy/Home_Photo_books.jpg

The Crazy Woman

10/23/09

The Crazy Woman by Gwendolyn Brooks

I think that Brooks is metaphorically using the Crazy Woman to describe people who are unique and different than others. The Crazy Woman would rather sing in November, unlike everyone else who would prefer to sing a May song. Just because you may make different choices doesn't mean you've made wrong or immoral choices.

We Real Cool

10/23/09

We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks

I feel that Brooks is mocking groups of people or gangs that think they are "cool" by being rebellious, but in actuality they are foolish. I felt that Brooks wrote this poem from a superior perspective. Her writing made me analyze what I feel is "cool" and for what reasons I feel that.

Introduction to Poetry

10/22/09

Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

This is one of my all time favorites. It is a poem about reading poems. In my opinion I think it is directed toward high school students. It's funny but extremely true. It talks about how high school students often try too hard to analyze or understand poetry when sometimes all you have to do is read it, sit for a minute, and let the words sink in to your mind.

Juke Box Love Song

10/22/09

Luke Box Love Song by Langston Hughes

I interpreted this poem as a tribute to the culture of Harlem, NY. Hughes highlights several different pars of Harlem in a celebratory way. I appreciate the excitement and joy that this piece conveys to me.

http://www.lite1068.com/images/jukebox.jpg

Dreams

10/22/09

Dreams by Langston Hughes

I agreed with Hughes' message about dreams in this poem. It was short and concise, but at the same time very powerful. Comparing dreams to flight and birds is a great visual and feeling to couple with this piece.

As I Grew Older

10/21/09

As I Grew Older by Langston Hughes

I thought this poem was about a personal struggle that Hughes suffered at a time in his life. It is also a reflection on the African American struggle that Hughes often writes about. The single word or few word lines are very powerful. Enjoyed it!

April Rain Song

10/21/09

April Rain Song by Langston Hughes

I liked the repetition of this poem. I enjoyed how it was very simplistic but at the same time conveyed a complex meaning. Everyone feels different emotions when it rains and this poem accentuated the very beautiful things about the rain.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjkIBjiUsqECVswilJPMvtcVHZoG8sr39YdBHLf94-OtIfD6jcVg6XC62iEivbZ1Hj-IvnzgeSGFmUj_u6Kfe7zpLVfFy8hXRtOdcJCBih2oCD_wSi9KDeK0cMkiGQa_mJxZRKlZT1uN0/s400/January_rain_in_Boston_SICB_2009.jpg

Flirtation

10/20/09

Flirtation by Rita Dove

Loved the way that Dove did not mention anything typical that you would associate with flirting and flirtation. She presented a very creative way to look at the act of flirting and the feeling that it gives her. Reading this poem put a smile on my face. Her imagery and metaphors are one of a kind!

http://www.flirt.bz/images/img_flirt01.jpg

Persephone, Falling

10/20/09

Persephone, Falling by Rita Dove

I interpreted this poem from a child's perspective because Dove eludes to and adult or adults reprimanding a small child in the second half of the poem. She put this part in parenthesis as if it to be something to consider after the fact. I'm not sure if Dove is considering the character in the poem to be Persephone, the daughter of the mythological God Zues, or if Persephone is supposed to be the flower that is picked from the ground by the child. Regardless, the poem in a way condemns childhood curiosity.

Hades' Pitch

10/20/09

Hades' Pitch by Rita Dove

I feel that this poem could be analyzed in multiple ways. I took it as a very emotional and intense poem. I felt that though it was short, it communicated a deep and almost scary story. I liked the way that dialogue was used as well as the way Dove incorporated the woman's thoughts and her reactions to what the man was saying to her. Very powerful.

Vacation

10/20/09

Vacation by Rita Dove

I really enjoyed this poem by Dove. I loved the way that she delved into the lives of all of the people you come across in an airport. The "stretch of no time" she speaks of puts the reader right in the author's shoes. You can understand the exact feeling she is describing. The way Dove linked all of the characters to having the same goal on their vacation in the end of the poem was also very clever.

http://www.tropicalislandvacation.com/images/05.jpg

Golden Oldie

10/20/09

Golden Oldie by Rita Dove

As I read this poem, I could picture the scene in my head. I could see her sitting in her car in the driveway, sweating from the heat, but too immersed by the lyrics of the song to go. I really like when poets use imagery in their writing. I also liked the insecurity she presented in the last 3 lines. It showed her vulnerability.