POETRY JOURNAL #3 (B)

TITLE: it may not always be so; and i say
AUTHOR: e. e. cummings
STYLE: Personal response

Speaker: someone who is truly in love however is unsure whether or not his/her lover loves him/her just as much as he/she does for them
Occasion: conversation
Audience: his/her significant other
Purpose: to make sure they are happy being with one another
Subject: trust and honesty
TONE: demanding, informative

Cummings in it may not always be so; and i say express a side that is familiar to relationships nowadays. When love grows so should trust; however, relationships currently seem to be headed the opposite direction to how they were 30 years ago. Back then it seemed as though there not only was true love and trust but also honesty. Currently, the age at which relationships are being formed are getting younger and younger; everyone is falling in love whether they know the meaning of it or not. Overtime, love has lost its meaning. The word itself has been overused, underused, and used incorrectly as a whole. Cummings’ poems reflect that “back-in-the-day” real love.
Cummings’ poems are written in lower case letters, from the beginning to the end. In some of his poems, as the ideas vary from poem to poem, there is speculation that the speaker of that specific poem is a child being that children are unfamiliar with the correct writing criteria. However, this poem would have fallen in that category because the content of the poem is too mature for it to being a child, hence why I said the speaker was someone who truly understands the meaning of love and in what ways to use the word and show its meaning. Cummings does a great job of being consistent in his writing style, specifically writing in all lower cased letters, but also vary his techniques enough to be able to convey several different messages in his poems.

FINAL POETRY JOURNAL!

TITLE: The Computation
AUTHOR: John Donne
STYLE: Comparative poet

Speaker: an immortal person
Occasion: past life (after life)
Audience: either those living (mortal) or in the case of this poem those who are dead (immortal)
Purpose: to explore the possibilities of life after death and the effects left on those who continue to live
Subject: life after death
TONE: reflective, curious

In the Computation by John Donne, he uses age to explore whether or not life exists after death. He begins at the age of twenty and proceeds to evaluate both his mortal and immortal life only later to question whether or not even after living after death, can one die. He uses end rhyme which helps the poem flow smoothly; throughout not only this poem but his other two poems given he uses semicolons and commas quite often. Semicolons serve to inform that the thought continues even after a thought; it helps connect two similar ideas or sentences. When reading the poem, it comes off a bit sarcastic but that adds to the meaning of the poem especially when it may be a serious matter that the author may want to be taken seriously but lightly at the same time.
I compared this poem to XXVII written by Emily Dickinson; from the first I read Donne’s poem I made the connection based on a “on the surface” type of connection. Both poets begin their poems with the first word of the poem completely capitalized. I further analyzed the context of the poems and found that they are contradictory in some aspects and coherent in others. Donne’s poem explores whether or not life exists after death while Dickinson clearly states that though she is human and a “somebody”, she would rather view herself as a “nobody”. Both poets ask rhetorical questions that help direct the readers’ attention, emphasizing more what they are trying to say.

POETRY JOURNAL #3 (A)

TITLE: since feeling is first
AUTHOR: e. e. cummings
STYLE: Literary critic

Speaker: someone in love
Occasion: looking back on their past and how it has helped their future
Audience: speaking to his/her lover
Purpose: to reinstate his/ her love for one another
Subject: they are in love despite their differences and their flaws
TONE: reflective, purposeful, glad

In since feeling is first Cummings reveals the love two persons have for one another despite their differences and/or their flaws. He begins by addressing the different stages in building a relationship, “since feeling is first” to after a few dates, “kisses are a far better fate than wisdom”. Cummings conveys the idea that true love is looking past one another’s flaws and bringing together each others’ differences, uniting as one. Cummings does a great job through choosing his words precisely and concisely; his structure and style just reemphasizes his message.
Cummings writes his poems in lower cases; he is known for writing with a unique style of syntax. Also, he is known for writing sonnets. Cummings use of syntax and lowercase words helps paint the picture; oddly enough, he is able to write a poem with errors and still be able to convey the necessary message. For instance, “for life’s not a paragraph” and “death I think is no parenthesis” are both incomplete thoughts yet as a reader, it is obvious that Cummings understands that love is not an everlasting thing or does not last long as a paragraph would however even after death love is limitless and has no boundaries. Cummings use of both syntax and lowercase words is idiosyncratic and therefore distinguishes his poems from any other poets.

POETRY JOURNAL #2 (B)

Coming Up by Ani Difranco
Literary Critic
S: someone who wants change and is fed up with his/ her society
O: an occasional speech and/or discussion between to concerned citizens
A: other people who want change just as much as the speaker themselves
P: to bring about change and evoke awareness
S: wanting change
TONE: determined, optimistic, diligent

In Coming up by Ani Difranco, she conveys her emotions through not only through her choice of words but also her style of presentation. With the help of you tube and Devin, I was able to see how Difranco meant to convey her message; her presentation and voice emphasized how she was feeling. After reading the poem three times, I took from a determine person who longs for change and would stop and no where to getting it. Of course my perspective of the poem was preformed due to seeing Difranco’s performance; on the other hand it was just emphasis in my mind. That being said, if I had not seen the performance on you tube, I do not think I would understand the poem the way Difranco would have wanted me to.
Similar to Lucille Clifton’s writing style, Difranco wrote her poem in all lower cases even the beginning of the verse. She does not use any punctuation however she her use of line breaks reveals where she would want emphasis and/or attention. Difranco’ word choice subtly but greatly conveys the message she wants to get across. While in some cases she uses inappropriate language, this poem here does a great job in criticizing those in charge or the society she lives in. Difranco allows being subtly mean as the way to go because it is classy and it gets the job done.

POETRY JOURNAL #2 (A)

Forgetfulness by Billy Collins
Contemporary Poet
S: someone who is aware of the consequences of “forgetting” something
O: a reflection and/or posing scenarios after another
A: those who are also aware of what is going on and the near consequences
P: reflecting and or bringing awareness to the possibilities of not having knowledge
S: a symbol for someone who begins to forget their past, present and possible future
TONE: pessimistic, gloomy, curious

“i am accused of tending to the past” by Lucille Clifton
i am accused of tending to the past
as if i made it,
as if i sculpted it
with my own hands, i did not.
this past was waiting for me
when i came,
a monstrous unnamed baby,
and i with my mother’s itch
took it to breast
and named it
History.
she is more human now,
learning languages everyday,
remembering faces, names and dates.
when she is strong enough to travel
on her own, beware, she will.

In Billy Collins’ Forgetfulness, Collins talks about the consequences and how when one begins to forget or lose recollections of why things are the way they are. He begins little by little nit picking the small things which will eventually lead to the bigger ones; forgetting such a small thing such as “the author” of a book to forgetting why things are the way they are. Collins’ nonchalantly reflects upon the possible consequences of becoming forgetful however he evokes awareness. Collins does not use any end rhymes let alone rhymes however that just reemphasizes the importance of stating rather than symbolically speaking or saying something subtly. This poem is straightforward.
I chose Lucille Clifton’s poem “i am accused of tending to the past” because I felt that it was a great contrast of talking about being forgetful to knowing and remembering in Clifton’s poem. While Clifton’s style of writing in all lowercase may not play a role in what is being compared, it adds complexity to interpreting the poem and its message. Some may say that it could be written from a child’s point of view and others say it may be written from an elderly; I say it compares extremely well with the contrasting ideas of Collin’s poem/message.

POETRY JOURNAL #1 (B)

TITLE: Minstrel Man
AUTHOR: Langston Hughes
STYLE: Comparative critic

Speaker: someone who confesses their true inner and outer feelings


Occasion: a confession to a peer or to one self (some sort of reflection as well)


Audience: anyone who can relate to feeling held back or who is misunderstood


Purpose: to confess and reveal the truth about how one’s feeling


Subject: having a façade and living life hidden and unrealistically


TONE: hopeful, dry, sorrowful


While this poem is extremely short and simple, it carries great significance. The use of questions followed by an answer with simple language reiterates the emotions behind the confession. Like the poem, “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, both authors talk about feeling hidden behind how they truly feel. Dunbar uses hiding behind a mask to convey feeling one way however reacting oppositely, while Hughes reveal by stating the obvious and posing questions while answering with the truth. Both authors discuss the struggle behind showing their true feelings in public and how they hide behind a façade of artificiality only to later be overwhelmed with uncontrollable emotions. However, one uses a symbol of a “mask” while the other use compares his self to a “minstrel man”. These two poems touch on similar issues which when read back to back you would think they were confessing to one another or at least they could join in a conversation of some sort.

POETRY JOURNAL #1 (A)

TITLE: We Wear the Mask
AUTHOR: Paul Lawrence Dunbar
STYLE: Personal response


Speaker: someone who longs for acceptance

Occasion: reflection about one’s day to day lifestyle

Audience: anyone who can relate to feeling sheltered or hidden behind the truth or the “mask”.

Purpose: to reveal how some people may feel living in a world where they are different or hidden behind the truth.

Subject: wearing the “mask” to hide how one truly feels or what one may want to do.

TONE: revealing, optimistic, hopeful, truthful


Recently, I have been wearing “the mask”. After living in America for 18 years, my family has been faced with a life changing decision; whether or not we can continue to reside legally in the United States. My family immigrated to the United States when I was six months old and this has always been my home. Now, there is a possibility that I will be packing my belongings and relocating to a place I unfamiliar with. While all of this may be happening during my last year of high school, I try not to let it phase me. I wake up every morning, get dressed for school, and treat every day as if it were my last and in most cases as if I am not in this situation to begin with. I try to laugh off the pain and uncertainty and especially the stress. I “wear a mask” to hide how I truly feel because the normal Evelyn is loud and happy all of the time despite all odds. I would not say I wear the mask that “grins and lies” rather I wear the mask to contain and control the wild emotions ready to disperse and inflate.

PHENOMENAL WOMAN
By Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a roomJust as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,It's the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,the palm of my hand,
The need of my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Poetic language is the language that is understood by all whether knowledgeable or not. Similar to Spaniards speaking Spanish and Tongans speaking Tongan, it is a form of communication. On the other hand, poetic language carries more value and emotions rather than just learning a language just to be able to communicate. Instead it is learning a language so that one can communicate and express and convey meanings and messages that may or may not be subtle. When I think about poetic language, i think about medievil times or Shakespearean times as the language yet poetry is the universal term for a collectiong of words or tone in speaking the poetic language. Poetry is anything that conveys a message or expression. Poetry is the overarching theme while poetic language is a sub of that overarching theme.