1. What is the essential overall meaning of Dylan Thomas’ Poem?
Thomas' poem seems, to me, to be speaking overall of death and giving up. His message, though we know death to be unavoidable, is to never give up, and to fight until the end.
2. To illuminate the meaning, paraphrase what the line, “Do not go gentle in to that good night,” is really saying.
I believe "Do not go gentle in to that good night" could be rephrased as "Go down fighting."
3. To illuminate the meaning, paraphrase what the line, “Rage, rage, against the dying of the light” is really saying.
As darkness approches, fight it.
4. What are the unspoken beliefs about life that you think the poem’s speaker holds?
The poem's speaker seems to be of the opinions that life is worth fighting for, even at the end, despite the fact that death is unavoidable.
5. How does the tool of repetition emphasize meaning in Thomas’ poem? Because I believe Thomas's message to be one of fighting, the repetition to me seems almost like a battlecry.
1. What is the essential, overall meaning in Tupac’s lyrics?
In this song Tupac seems to be to stay grounded throughout life. He seems to perceive the world as a fairly agressive and combative place, and so focusing on things like education and being honest seem to be important in the message of this song.
2. Explain the forces that create a “Me against the world” situation in this poem?
Poverty and Wealth, The bravery to ask questions without fear of being perceived as ignorant or stupid, and the opression of the government versus individual rights.
3. How does Tupac suggest we overcome oppression?
Study, don't settle for less, ask questions, be grateful, keep your essence, do your best, don't panic under pressure.
4. If the poet’s circumstances are so dire and life has so much injustice, explain why the poet would tell the reader “Be grateful for your blessings” (8)?
If the poet's world, or the world in general, is so full of injustice, one has to be grateful for what one has in order to see the world as a decent place to exist.
5. Explain the meaning of why the poet insists the listener should not “ever change/keep your essence” (9).
He states to "be true" to who you are. I think that he is stating that as we grow, develop, and enter the world, one tends to lose sight of who they originally were, or what they originally wanted. Especially in a world potentially full of gangs and violence, one has a lot of high-pressure influences trying to mold you a certain way.
1. Print out the lyrics of a favorite song where you think the music is more important than the words. In a full paragraph, explain why you think the music is the focus.
I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
till the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life
Well, Ive been afraid of changing
cause Ive built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
Im getting older too
Oh, take my love, take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring it down
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe the landslide will bring it down
I believe that the music in Landslide, by Stevie Nicks, is actually more important than the lyrics. While the lyrics are very poetic, they are so vague in nature that it's almost impossible to determine of what she is speaking. Furthermore, this song has been covered by so many artists, and the style of music rarely varies, despite such a variety of artists as Smashing Pumpkins, Tori Amos, and the Dixie Chicks all covering it. I think that, because the music stays so static, it has more depth in the song than the lyrics.
2. Print out the lyrics (words) of a favorite song where you think the lyrics are more important than the music. In a full paragraph, explain why you think the lyrics are the focus.
One breath away from mother OceanÃa
Your nimble feet make prints in my sands
You have done good for yourselves
Since you left my wet embrace
And crawled ashore
Every boy, is a snake is a lily
Every pearl is a lynx, is a girl
Sweet like harmony made into flesh
You dance by my side
Children sublime
You show me continents
I see the islands
You count the centuries
I blink my eyes
Hawks and sparrows race in my waters
Stingrays are floating
Across the sky
Little ones, my sons and my daughters
Your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why
Your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why
These are the lyrics from a song called Oceania by Bjork. I believe that in this song, the lyrics are the focus over the music because it is from her album Medulla. In that album, Bjork's use of music in her songs was amazingly sparse. There are long spaces where you hear nothing other than her speaking or singing the words, and there is actually no instrumentation in the album. All of the instruments are actually vocalizations which are meant to mimic drumbeats, string and wind instruments.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Poetry Journal #8 - Ask Me No More
Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea;
The cloud may stoop from heaven and take the shape,
With fold to fold, of mountain or of cape;
But O too fond, when have I answer'd thee?
Ask me no more.
Ask me no more: what answer should I give?
I love not hollow cheek or faded eye:
Yet, O my friend, I will not have thee die!
Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live;
Ask me no more.
Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal'd:
I strove against the stream and all in vain:
Let the great river take me to the main:
No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield;
Ask me no more.
The cloud may stoop from heaven and take the shape,
With fold to fold, of mountain or of cape;
But O too fond, when have I answer'd thee?
Ask me no more.
Ask me no more: what answer should I give?
I love not hollow cheek or faded eye:
Yet, O my friend, I will not have thee die!
Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live;
Ask me no more.
Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal'd:
I strove against the stream and all in vain:
Let the great river take me to the main:
No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield;
Ask me no more.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
I believe the speaker in this poem is speaking to a lover. The poem has an overall feeling of pleading, with the repeated line "Ask me no more," which is indeed the title of the poem. It seems to me that in the first stanza, the poet is stating that "things may occur" and yet he does not want to provide an answer to the question he is being asked.
In the second stanza he states that he does not love illness or death, but also states that he does not want to command the person to live.
The third stanza to me seems like it could be interpreted in two ways. He describes struggling against an insurmountable force, and it seems to me to either be love or death. If it is death, then "take me to the main" sounds to me like the afterlife. However, the line "for at a touch, I yield" makes me think that he is speaking of love.
Overall, I interpret the meaning of the poem to be one where his lover has asked him a somewhat baited question, along the lines of "will you love me forever?" And so love and eternity and death are all tied in with that question. It seems he does not want to offer that kind of commitment to the person who asked the question.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Poetry Journal #7 - Space Between Our Fingers
When mother found my brother under the porch
that day, she said five words we'll
never forget: "I love you this much."
Smiling, she held her hand out,
space between her fingers
not more than two inches.
From the age my brother could walk,
we have wrestled. Bear cubs
on our Persian rug. I remember always
holding back, five years older
was way too strong. But now, he is bigger,
and when we fight, I cannot bruise him,
only print my nails on his arms,
scattered animal tracks left in snow.
And when I come home, tempered by
small experience, spitting at those who
cross my path, my brother stands at our
kitchen counter announcing, I love my
sister this much, space between his fingers
not more than two inches.
-Jessie Carson
This poem feels very grounded in the body to me. The poet seems to reinforce this with all the parts of the body that are described and the bodily actions: hand, fingers, wrestled, strong, bruise, nails, arms.
I have a hard time determining if this poem is intended to be depressive or uplifting. It caught my attention because my mother used to say the same thing to me as a child, but when she said "I love you this much" she would spread her arms as wide as they could go. So to read the same line in this poem and hear that there is only space between fingers seems somewhat sad to me, that the love is less or diminished.
I'm curious to know why the brother starts out the poem under the porch. This seems a place for hiding or protection, and so it makes me wonder what he needed to hide from. Perhaps it was from the poet, his sister? Had she beaten him at wrestling as a child, and he was upset or hurt? If so, then i believe the poem leaves us in a different and yet familiar place from where it started. The mother provided the comfort to the wounded child in the beginning, and at the end, the sister receives that protection or solace from her brother, whom she spent much of her childhood fighting with.
that day, she said five words we'll
never forget: "I love you this much."
Smiling, she held her hand out,
space between her fingers
not more than two inches.
From the age my brother could walk,
we have wrestled. Bear cubs
on our Persian rug. I remember always
holding back, five years older
was way too strong. But now, he is bigger,
and when we fight, I cannot bruise him,
only print my nails on his arms,
scattered animal tracks left in snow.
And when I come home, tempered by
small experience, spitting at those who
cross my path, my brother stands at our
kitchen counter announcing, I love my
sister this much, space between his fingers
not more than two inches.
-Jessie Carson
This poem feels very grounded in the body to me. The poet seems to reinforce this with all the parts of the body that are described and the bodily actions: hand, fingers, wrestled, strong, bruise, nails, arms.
I have a hard time determining if this poem is intended to be depressive or uplifting. It caught my attention because my mother used to say the same thing to me as a child, but when she said "I love you this much" she would spread her arms as wide as they could go. So to read the same line in this poem and hear that there is only space between fingers seems somewhat sad to me, that the love is less or diminished.
I'm curious to know why the brother starts out the poem under the porch. This seems a place for hiding or protection, and so it makes me wonder what he needed to hide from. Perhaps it was from the poet, his sister? Had she beaten him at wrestling as a child, and he was upset or hurt? If so, then i believe the poem leaves us in a different and yet familiar place from where it started. The mother provided the comfort to the wounded child in the beginning, and at the end, the sister receives that protection or solace from her brother, whom she spent much of her childhood fighting with.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
10/9 CAI Lab Assignment
Read “Luke Havergal” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, linked on your course page. Also Print out a copy of the poem.
Answer fully each of the following questions on a separate sheet.
1. List everything you know about Luke.
There is a fiery night in his eyes, a kiss flames on his forehead that blinds him to the way he must go, if he trusts her she will call.
2. Then list essential information you wish you knew but don’t.
I wish I knew who at what Western Gate he was to travel to, who is speaking to Luke, and who "she" is. Who has kissed his forehead, and why has it blinded him? Why does he have to trust this woman in order for her to call? And to whom is she calling? Luke?
3. How many characters are in the poem?
I interpret it to be three characters. Luke, the speaker/poet, and the "she"
4. What do you find out about each character?
Luke is clearly lacking direction or clarity on appropriate action, which we learn from the speaker/poet. This, however, might also simply be the bias of the speaker/poet, who feels that Luke must go to the Western Gate and trust that "she" will call. We also learn that the speaker/poet is dead, with the line "out of the grave." We know almost nothing about the "she" character, though I question whether the "she" might also be the speaker, and speaking in a third person, disembodied.
5. Point out the references to time & seasons.
I believe "crimson vines" is a reference to fall, as many varietals change color in the fall from green to red. However, it seems to be early fall, as the leaves move in the wind, but do not fall, though winds are "tearing them away." This poem occurs at night as "there is no dawn in eastern skies." Though, it may be early night, dusk almost as it says "western glooms are gathering." So it might be shortly after sunset, as the sky is darkening, and gloom seems to spread from the West horizon.
6. What is their significance?
Having the poem occur on what feels like a cold fall night gives the poem a very eery feeling. Additionally, as I am about to reference below, this poem refers to death, and Fall is the period of dying off before the full death of Winter. Sunset also walks this line, as it is not truly "alive" in the sense of daylight, yet not fully dark.
7. How do you interpret “the western gate”?
I just realized that I think that "the western gate" is death. The sun sets in the West, the "death" of the sun. The speaker/poet references coming out of the grave, and how if he goes in that direction, he will be "called."
8. Who is the poem’s speaker? What specific details does the poet reveal about the speaker?
I am back to the idea that the speaker is also the "she" disembodied. The way in which the speaker seems to have a sense of omniscience leads me to believe that it is not a live person, but someone who has more of a sense of the beyond.
9. What does the speaker ask Luke to do?
I believe the speaker ias asking Luke to die.
10. Would you advise Luke Havergal to follow the speaker’s advice? Why or why not?
I would actually, and what changed my mind was the line "I come to quench the kiss that flames upon your forehead" and how "the western glooms are gathering" seems to reference his eyes. I originally pictured Luke as a healthy, virile man, but I now question if he is in fact an ailing person, and this poem is a way of saying to give up, and go to the "she" who may be a long lost love.
11. Note the places where the poem rhymes, both internally & at the end of lines.
The poem follows an AABBCCAA rhyme scheme at the end of each line. The poem also has a very strong internal rhyme to it, but no syllables rhyme specifically, but it seems to me that the poet uses a lot of assonance and alliteration to create a strong rhythm.
12. What is the poem’s tone?
It originally struck me as eerie, but it seems to me to be a message of advice. Almost one of hope.
13. How do rhyme patterns contribute to the tone?
It creates a very musical poem. Again, as my opinion is that the speaker is dead or disembodied, it creates a somewhat magical or ethereal feeling.
Poem in Response:
No beauty in death -
kind words spoken in memory
become stone
placed on earth under shaded
cypress trees
Songs of loss
replaced by the tuneless caw
of terribly fat crows
bouncing along the roots
and nerves, raw
Scared of the middle place
between life and unknown
I hope there's someone
who will take care of me, for
when we die, we're truly gone
Answer fully each of the following questions on a separate sheet.
1. List everything you know about Luke.
There is a fiery night in his eyes, a kiss flames on his forehead that blinds him to the way he must go, if he trusts her she will call.
2. Then list essential information you wish you knew but don’t.
I wish I knew who at what Western Gate he was to travel to, who is speaking to Luke, and who "she" is. Who has kissed his forehead, and why has it blinded him? Why does he have to trust this woman in order for her to call? And to whom is she calling? Luke?
3. How many characters are in the poem?
I interpret it to be three characters. Luke, the speaker/poet, and the "she"
4. What do you find out about each character?
Luke is clearly lacking direction or clarity on appropriate action, which we learn from the speaker/poet. This, however, might also simply be the bias of the speaker/poet, who feels that Luke must go to the Western Gate and trust that "she" will call. We also learn that the speaker/poet is dead, with the line "out of the grave." We know almost nothing about the "she" character, though I question whether the "she" might also be the speaker, and speaking in a third person, disembodied.
5. Point out the references to time & seasons.
I believe "crimson vines" is a reference to fall, as many varietals change color in the fall from green to red. However, it seems to be early fall, as the leaves move in the wind, but do not fall, though winds are "tearing them away." This poem occurs at night as "there is no dawn in eastern skies." Though, it may be early night, dusk almost as it says "western glooms are gathering." So it might be shortly after sunset, as the sky is darkening, and gloom seems to spread from the West horizon.
6. What is their significance?
Having the poem occur on what feels like a cold fall night gives the poem a very eery feeling. Additionally, as I am about to reference below, this poem refers to death, and Fall is the period of dying off before the full death of Winter. Sunset also walks this line, as it is not truly "alive" in the sense of daylight, yet not fully dark.
7. How do you interpret “the western gate”?
I just realized that I think that "the western gate" is death. The sun sets in the West, the "death" of the sun. The speaker/poet references coming out of the grave, and how if he goes in that direction, he will be "called."
8. Who is the poem’s speaker? What specific details does the poet reveal about the speaker?
I am back to the idea that the speaker is also the "she" disembodied. The way in which the speaker seems to have a sense of omniscience leads me to believe that it is not a live person, but someone who has more of a sense of the beyond.
9. What does the speaker ask Luke to do?
I believe the speaker ias asking Luke to die.
10. Would you advise Luke Havergal to follow the speaker’s advice? Why or why not?
I would actually, and what changed my mind was the line "I come to quench the kiss that flames upon your forehead" and how "the western glooms are gathering" seems to reference his eyes. I originally pictured Luke as a healthy, virile man, but I now question if he is in fact an ailing person, and this poem is a way of saying to give up, and go to the "she" who may be a long lost love.
11. Note the places where the poem rhymes, both internally & at the end of lines.
The poem follows an AABBCCAA rhyme scheme at the end of each line. The poem also has a very strong internal rhyme to it, but no syllables rhyme specifically, but it seems to me that the poet uses a lot of assonance and alliteration to create a strong rhythm.
12. What is the poem’s tone?
It originally struck me as eerie, but it seems to me to be a message of advice. Almost one of hope.
13. How do rhyme patterns contribute to the tone?
It creates a very musical poem. Again, as my opinion is that the speaker is dead or disembodied, it creates a somewhat magical or ethereal feeling.
Poem in Response:
No beauty in death -
kind words spoken in memory
become stone
placed on earth under shaded
cypress trees
Songs of loss
replaced by the tuneless caw
of terribly fat crows
bouncing along the roots
and nerves, raw
Scared of the middle place
between life and unknown
I hope there's someone
who will take care of me, for
when we die, we're truly gone
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Poetry Journal #6 - Untitled
death is easy like taking a bath
with an electric fan and waving hello to god
you could die like walking in front of a bus
or jumping into the big blue air
or into the lake
or doing almost anything
you could die by living in minnesota
and forgetting your scarf
or remembering your scarf
and it catches on the axle and strangles you
god is love but
he doesn't necessarily drop
everything and go save you
does he
-Garrison Keillor
This poem sounds to me like the poet is simply musing, and is not speaking to a specific audience or recipient. Though he does use the phrase "you" it seems to be simply an objective noun rather than a "you" directed at a specific person.
This clearly is a humorous poem, and instantly evokes curiosity on where the poet is going with the opening line "death is easy like taking a bath." Firstly, none of us really feel that death is easy, as we spend our lives trying desperately to avoid it, so that portion of the sentence, in and of itself is attention-grabbing. Secondly, the part "like taking a bath" leads our curiosity to the second like "with an electric fan and waving hello to God."
Having no punctuation in this poem is interesting, because it forces the reader to insert pauses or breaks where they feel is appropriate. I feel that my favorite line is "God is love but" and I choose to insert a sizeable pause after "but" because this poem feels so much like a comedic musing, it seems very humorous to question the statement "God is love" as few of those who believe in God would believe anything different. So placing that pause seems to fit with the emotion behind the poem.
This poem reminds me of the joke of the man who's city was flooding and he sat on his roof waiting for "god to save him" as a boat, raft, and helicopter all stopped and offered assistance and he refused them all saying "god will save me." Then he drowns and asks God why he didn't save him, and God replies "I sent a raft, a boat, and a helicopter, what more do you want?"
with an electric fan and waving hello to god
you could die like walking in front of a bus
or jumping into the big blue air
or into the lake
or doing almost anything
you could die by living in minnesota
and forgetting your scarf
or remembering your scarf
and it catches on the axle and strangles you
god is love but
he doesn't necessarily drop
everything and go save you
does he
-Garrison Keillor
This poem sounds to me like the poet is simply musing, and is not speaking to a specific audience or recipient. Though he does use the phrase "you" it seems to be simply an objective noun rather than a "you" directed at a specific person.
This clearly is a humorous poem, and instantly evokes curiosity on where the poet is going with the opening line "death is easy like taking a bath." Firstly, none of us really feel that death is easy, as we spend our lives trying desperately to avoid it, so that portion of the sentence, in and of itself is attention-grabbing. Secondly, the part "like taking a bath" leads our curiosity to the second like "with an electric fan and waving hello to God."
Having no punctuation in this poem is interesting, because it forces the reader to insert pauses or breaks where they feel is appropriate. I feel that my favorite line is "God is love but" and I choose to insert a sizeable pause after "but" because this poem feels so much like a comedic musing, it seems very humorous to question the statement "God is love" as few of those who believe in God would believe anything different. So placing that pause seems to fit with the emotion behind the poem.
This poem reminds me of the joke of the man who's city was flooding and he sat on his roof waiting for "god to save him" as a boat, raft, and helicopter all stopped and offered assistance and he refused them all saying "god will save me." Then he drowns and asks God why he didn't save him, and God replies "I sent a raft, a boat, and a helicopter, what more do you want?"
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Poetry Journal #5 - In the Desert
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter – bitter", he answered,
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."
-Stephen Crane
This poem seems to be a musing to me, with no intended audience or clear speaker. Additionally, there does not appear to be a clear entry point, you are just dropped "In the desert" and left with speech from the beast.
What I find really interesting about this poem is the excess of punctuation. It is a fairly short poem at only 10 lines, and yet when read alound it seems longer when given the appropriate pauses at all the commas, periods, and dashes. I feel like this is the poet's attempt at creating a disjointed, and somewhat broken world in the poem. He is living this odd experience of a beast eating its own heart, whether literal or metaphorical and in either sense it must be somewhat surreal.
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter – bitter", he answered,
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."
-Stephen Crane
This poem seems to be a musing to me, with no intended audience or clear speaker. Additionally, there does not appear to be a clear entry point, you are just dropped "In the desert" and left with speech from the beast.
What I find really interesting about this poem is the excess of punctuation. It is a fairly short poem at only 10 lines, and yet when read alound it seems longer when given the appropriate pauses at all the commas, periods, and dashes. I feel like this is the poet's attempt at creating a disjointed, and somewhat broken world in the poem. He is living this odd experience of a beast eating its own heart, whether literal or metaphorical and in either sense it must be somewhat surreal.
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