My papa's waltz by Theodore Roethke

In this poem, it is about the fear of rough of father's love. Or I also can describe that it is about the author's childhood with having bad treatment from father. To father, it is easy to treat the young child and he can do whatever he wants to his child so he can move the child around with waltzing himself. However, the child cannot stop him and even the child is afraid of him, the child still need to hold the father.
The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy; such waltzing was not easybut I hung on like death: such waltzing was not eays, explained that the father was drunk and he drag his child and a small boy is dizzy but he just holds his father.
We romped until the pans slid fromt he kitchen shelf; my mother's countenance couldn ot unfrown itself, explained that his father is waltzing with his child too roughly, as much as the dishes can slid down and mother is worried about it.
The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knucle; at every step you missed my right ear scraped a buckle, explained that the father had rough life as his hand and when he missed his step, he can hurt his son but he does not stop and also his son, too.
You beat time on my head with a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me of fto bed still clinging to your shirt, explaiend that he had rough job because his hand is rough with dirt and to him, it is only his happy time so he waltzed his son around. However, his son is just holding father's shirt with fear.

"Song for a Dark Girl" by Langston Hughes

Way Down South in Dixie (a word that indicates the South: negative word)

(Break the heart of me)

They hung my black young lover

To a tree at the cross of the roads.

Way Down South in Dixie
(Bruised body in the air)

I asked the white Lord Jesus

What was the use of prayer.

Way Down South in Dixie

(Break the heart of me)

Love is a naked shadow

On a gnarled (deformed) and naked tree.


The speaker of this poem I think is a black man who has witnessed his love being beaten and hung by a white man/ white men. I think that the lines in the parenthesis indicate what he is really feeling but cannot express to other people because he is a black man. The last line means that his lover is a naked shadow, shadow describing her skin color, and hanging from a deformed and naked tree. The strongest line besides that one, to me is, “ I asked the white Lord Jesus…”. I felt like it was very strong because he says he asked but there is no question mark, therefore he made a statement. What is the use of prayer when all you pray for, you lose? I think that is the real question he was asking.

(by Sara Bell/posted by Ms. Winter)

"We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks

This poem is about seven kids who ditch school, stay out late, and do all kinds of bad things to mess up their future. The whole point of the poem is these kids think they are so cool, but they’ll die sooner because they are being stupid and taking life-threatening risks. When it says “we Jazz June”, I think it means they lie, a lot. They “lurk late”, stay out really late into the night. They “sing sin”, they live for being bad. But in the end, “We die soon”; their stupid decisions will get them killed.

I think this poem is narrated by one of the seven kids who finally realized how messed up they were getting. I think the rhythm of the poem is like a rap or song, very R&B/Hip Hop. This probably took place in a bad part of a city where it’s normal/cool for kids to skip school, but they end up just skipping out on their future. Also, this paints a very cliché picture of kids messing around in high school, or school in general, and then having to deal with the consequences, sometimes the consequences being death. This poem is a life lesson to all kids to don’t mess around with life because you only got one life to live.

“Rites of Passage” by Sharon Olds

Throughout the course of this poem, the narrator is describing the scene at her son’s party. From this mother’s perspective, she is specifically focusing on two boys that were attending. First she points out that they were short “men”, and that they had smooth jaws and chins. They have small conversations, consisting of simple questions about age, resulting in smart answers. After this had started to starts some controversy between the two because they start eyeing each other. Being the young children that they are, they cleared their throats, folded their arms, and frowned. Moving away a little from the topic of these two boys, she begins pointing out things that she notices about her son. She says that he sparkles like a nutmeg on his cheeks. His chest is narrow like a balsa keel, and his long hands are cool and thin, like the day she gave birth to him. Finally, she explains that hey finally end up playing war as if they were generals.

This poem first gives me the perception of a mother just explaining details about her son’s parties, and other things that she finds interesting at the time. As I continued to read, I saw that she was pointing out many details about each thing. As I thought more into it, I started to realize that this is written from a mother’s point of view. In this case, this must have been something special for the mother and the son, and so the mother took notice into a lot of the minute details. The way that the author not only goes into detail, but uses dialect within the poem, enables me to actually envision what it going on. In a way, this poem is a little humorous because it personally reminds me when I was in first grade, and how I used to see people behave. Finally, I understood what was happening at the party and so on, but the part that I was confused about was the last two lines of the poem. I am not sure what the author exactly means by the men relaxing and playing war, because I am getting the perception that they are little kids, even though they are “men”, which is another thing that confuses me.

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" By Robert Frost

This poem is talking about the auther talking about how he stops at the woods where someone clames thm and he stops by to remanince these woods. While he is at these woods, the person isnt there because he is in the village. The person who is in the woods won't see the author there and watch the woods fill up with snow. When he is talking about his horse and his horse being "queer", he means that he is unusually different with the surrounding becuase he is use to going to a farm house. Inside the lake, there is a frozen lake and this is the darkest evening of the year.
The deeper meaning of this poem is that there is a man who is going by the woods and he realizes no one has been there to take care of it. The owner is to busy in the village. i think they are comparing the woods to the country, and the village to the city. And with being in the village, you like is more hectic then being in the woods. With the guy, he is too busy to leave the village and spend sometime at the woods. With having the author there and having the woods fill up with snow, symbolizes that noone cares. This shows that the snow is kinda in a since like garbage. If you dont pick it up, or take care of the place the garbage will add up untill there is nothing you can do about it. With the part of the poem where he describes how there is a frozen lake in the middle of the woods and how it is the darkest season of the year, this is basically saying how if people took care of the place they will see the real beauty inside, but if noone does, it will freeze up and become ugly.

" I'm Nobody by Emily Dickson"

In the poem it talks about someone who is a nobody and they meet someone else who is a nobody. The first two line the authour is asking who the person is and they say they're a nobody too. Then in the next two lines she talks about how they're is a pair of them, but they can't tell anybody or else they'll get banished. It then goes on to talk about how bad it is to be somebody and being somebody and being public is like a frog.

I think the poem is about someone who tends to be in the background alot and likes to be a nobody. I think in the in line 3 and 4 it was intresting how she said:" there is a pair of us" making the infrece there is not alot of them. I think the theme of the poem is sociality and how sometimes being a somebody is like a "bog" which is wet, decayed piece of land. I think the tone of the poem is very upbeat and perk b/c in line 1 and 2 when the authour asks " Who are you" i got the infrence of it being very perky like someone surprised to meet someone new.

“The Eagle” By Alfred Lord Tennyson

In this poem the author describes what seems like maybe your typical eagle and how he is perched on to a crag, which is a steeply projecting mass of rock. Only Tennyson does not say he clenched the crag with his claws but instead he says with his hands. Then he describes how he then stands but he almost makes it seem as the subject of the poem is some sort of god because he writes that the subject is looking above the sky and ocean and is watching as they both pass. Also something I thought was interesting was the way he referred to the sea. He described the sea as crawling and I think it sort of still plays into the whole theme of the eagle because from an eagle’s perspective its prey could be crawling especially if it was looking above it. Also at the end it compares the subject falling like a lightning bolt. I’m not sure exactly how to interpret this last line since he could be talking a bout person or sort of like a god.

I believe this poem is some what talking about a person and an eagle but I guess he is using certain words to show maybe the similarities though because instead of using claws he is using hands so maybe he is sort of trying to show the similarities like strategy and precision. Also maybe the last line could possibly be expressing how he went in for the kill and grabbed his prey because when he compares him to a thunderbolt, to me thunderbolts are a quick flash a light you barely have time to truly process when you do see it. So in some ways he is being very figurative and sort of creatively being vague about his subject, but I am not too sure.

Emily Dickinson "My Life had Stood- a Loaded Gunb"

alright!

my last moments life was still a loaded gun aimed at me
i was in a corner in a box waited to be adopted then one day
my furtur owner passed by he had pride
he took me and carried me away

and now i follow him in the woods
and we hunt deer
and when i bark at him
we will reply with pride (like moutains?)

i do smile with a harm light
at the vally and its life
its very enjoable to be in the vally

and at night after a good day
i sleep at the head of my owners bed to protect him
its better then eders-dusk (i am guessing the prevouse owner?)
we share a pillow tother me and the owner

to my owners foe i am deadly to them
i kill em
when i look at them
reach with my claws

even though i may live longer
my owner must live longer then me for himself to be happy
i have the power to kill
and i cant die as easly as i would like


so yeah about a dog, i really cant see this being read. i dont know the name stuck out so i chose it but i dont like how she broke it up.
so its a dog who is adopted by a hunter. at first it seems he is happy with his home, it is better but the man is proud and soon the dog to old to hunt, even though he enjoys hunting
the owner goes to kill the dog becouse he is old and get a better one but the dog gets scared and lashes out. and kills him or does he? the ending is not quit sure she gets some intresting stories from her poems XD

JiWoen's Aunt Jennifer's Tigers by Adrienne Rich

The poem is about the difference between the woman's limited life and liberal tiger.
"Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen, bright topaz denizens of a world of green." The tigers are running with bright sunshine in the nature really freely. "They do not fear the men
beneath the tree;They pace in sleek chivalric certainty." They do nto fear of men and they show their dignity when they are walking. They looks really huge.
"Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering through her wool find even the ivory needle hard to pull. the massive weight of Uncle's weddingband sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand." It is Jennifer's wedding and the limited life is starting with this marriage.
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie still ringed with ordeals she was masterd by." Even she is dead, she is owned by her husband and she need to keep her ordeal for her life and her husband and her marriage.
"The tigers in the panel that she made will go on prancing, proud and unafraid." However, the tiger is not going to live limited life, keep doing what she need to do and keep her dignity. The tiger is different from Aunt Jennifer's real life. I believe that the tiger is the animal that she wants to be.

Sara's "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks

In this poem, it is literally translated as follows:

The Pool players. There are seven at the Golden Shovel (bar). We are real cool. We dropped out of school. We stay out late. We strike straight (pool term). We sing sin. We thin gin (buy or drink). We dance in June (or maybe, having lots of sex). We will die soon.

This poem is about school dropouts who spend their time in a bar playing pool. They stay in a bar drinking while they sin. In the end, they will die soon because they grew up too fast and their actions conclude in a consequence of death.

In this poem, the speakers are the teenagers that are committing these drastic actions. The tone speak these in is that they do not care about what they are doing and they know exactly what the consequences are.

(written by Sara/ posted by Ms. Winter)

Emily Dickinson "I Like to see it Lap for Miles"

there are two ways i view this peom: one about a train and the other about a horse.
at first i did not see the train maby becouse i dont see them the way she does, she speaks of them as things that move on and on and our not grace full but very close to it and that are load as well but in a nice way. i dont view them this way, not really. i saw it as a horse as well!

Train: (translated)
i liek to see the train go
it moves up vallies
and stopes to refill on fuel
and then it keeps going in an way that makes it seem busnness

around moutains
and looks on
at roads in gruops with other trains
and stop to at cross roads

it fits well its shape is liek ribs
and craws between vallies
making loud noises all the while
it makes wisles noises
and then goes down a hill fast

it blows out steem thats really loud
its on time just like the night is always after day
then it stops no more at a crazy rush with powerfull movement its now docile
then its at the station


Horse: (translated)

i love to see them move
they hide in vallyes
and drink from streams or barrles
they have a very busnness atitude

the move up moutains
and look at cars on the road
in gruops
and then they move around quarrys wiht humans in them

they run between tress
and run in canyones
they call otu to one another like for they have less room to travil
they neah loudly
they also chase one anouther when they have time for fun! they are so free

they grow louder
and are in time cought liek stars
they are stoped there run and turned to docile pets
then they are brought to a stable to be sold


so the train i think if its that she is just describing it
and the horse she is saying that they are once free and run around wild
having fun but then we trap them in and cetch them!


alright bye!

"I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" By Emily Dickenson

In this poem, the author is talking about how she is nobody. She clearly states how she is nobody and she asked other people if they are someone. Im guessing that being nobody is a good thing and that being someone is bad. In the second paragraph of the poem; she says, " How dreary-to be-Someboby! How public- like a frog-". By this she is telling us that being someone is not a good thing . The part about being public like a frog means that you stand out of the crowd like a frog.

The message of this poem is that you should be your self. Don't try to hide who you are; being you is perfectly fine and you shouldn't try to be anyone else. When she says that she is a nobody, she doesnt mean that she is invisible, but she is who she is and she doesn't stand out or grab any attention towards her. In the world, there are so many people who try to be like celebrities and be famous, that they forget who the really are and it corrupts our society.
"I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" By Emily Dickenson

"Home Is So Sad" by Philip Larkin

In the poem “Home Is So Sad”, the narrator describes his home when as he left it and how it didn’t change by the time he came back. In the first stanza, the narrator talks about the lack of change his home has describing the same form of comfort it still gives, but in a “withered” way. He also says a home is fit to the last person who leaves it, so it remains in that form hoping to draw that person back to it. By as time goes by, and no one returns, the house begins to wither and empty. The next stanza describes a home before it became so withered, a joyous home, the way things were meant to be. The narrator can still see how it used to be set up on the inside describing where furniture used to be.

This poem sounds like a middle-aged person coming back to the old house they grew up in as a child. The way the narrator compares the house to a “joyous” time, makes it sound like the house used to be full of life, kids, and adventures caught in all the photos described at the end. I picture the house being worn out and dusty now in comparison to a brand new house with new paint, furniture and spirits. I think revisiting his home was difficult for the narrator because he sees all the good times had in this house and can no longer go back to them, travel back to his familiar past, his familiar home. This poem may seem sad and desperate at first glance, but I think there is a slither of joy when the memories of such a joyful past are renewed in the narrator’s mind. Although the memories may make the narrator miss those times, the fact that he had them is a gift to treasure. Thus giving this poem a gentle, heartening tone to it, that warms the narrator and reader simultaneously.

“My Papa’s Waltz” By Theodore Roethke

In this poem the author is describing his father’s every move and action in detail because his father is drunk. The author is explains how he could smell the distinct scent of whiskey on his father’s breath, and how the smell was making him dizzy. Also he tells you that even though the smell was nauseating he still held on as his father continued staggering around. Then as they stagger around they slowly make their way into the kitchen were they bump into pots and pans knocking them off the walls. Mean while his mother expression was a continuing frown because she was worried. The author then begins to describe the father’s hands, how they were battered on one knuckle. Then he tells the readers that the father hits him upside his head and sends to him to bed as he staggers off.

I believe the poem is the personal experience of the author because in the first stanza he says that the smell of whiskey from the father’s breath could have made a young boy dizzy. Also I think the kid is sort of use to his father being drunk this way because typically when people see drunk people especially someone significant in their lives they usually don’t try to approach them but in stead retreat to somewhere they feel is safer. This though I believe is sort of a usual routine they go through, and though the mother was a bit upset that the son was sort of hanging on the father’s back I guess she figured she knows that him well enough in this state that he wouldn’t do anything to harm them. Also it seems as though that the father is a worker the way that the son describes his hand because he tells you the father’s knuckle is battered and that the palm of his hand is caked with dirt. I think this poem is basically talking about a young boy’s memories of his father drinking. Also he might have did this because he might have had the stress of work on his shoulders.

“Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” by Adrienne Rich

In this poem, Aunt Jennifer is describing the hardships that she has gone through, during her lifetime. Also, she is using her wedding band, and comparing it to a hold that her ordeals has had on her. In the first stanza, she talks of tigers that move along on their way, fearless, but selfless. They are certain of their honor, and abide by it. In the second stanza, she talks about her wedding band, and how even that was heavy on her hand. Finally, in the third stanza, she talks about even when she has died, the ring on her finger will keep her hardships with her, but she will still have her tigers to prance proud and unafraid.

I think that the basis of this poem is trying to explain how much Aunt Jennifer had to deal with, mainly the pain and problems in her life, but symbolically her tigers will help her overcome them, and be strong. This poem revolves around a dream and fantasy world. In this, the problems that she has faced in life are bound in something, and to help with the attachments, pain and suffering, there is a strong representation of courage, that guides her all the way. In real life this isn’t always the case because for one thing, problems gradually come, and there isn’t always some form of a shield to help face it, you have to use the courage inside of you to deal and defeat it. Finally, this poem gives a sense of passion bravery but honor at the same time. It shows bravery for her and her tigers to go up against her problems, and the honor to overcome them, and move on with her life.

Atwood, Margaret."You fit into me"

This poem is about love. The author loves someone so the author cannot stop looking at lover.
The author always looking for lover and keeping on eye on lover, so the author said "You fit into me like a hook in to an eye". The author cannot stop following lover with his/her own eye. "a fish hook an open eye" means that the lover is like a fish hook so the lover always make author to follow his/her move. And the author's eye is always opened to see his/her lover every second.

"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats

In this poem, the author is describing at trip to Innisfree. When he reached, there would be a number of peaceful things. First there would be a cabin that is made of clay and wattles. He also says that he will have nine bean-rows and also a hive for the honey-bees. He then explains that it would be serene, in which, the sounds that he will hear in the morning consist of crickets. He also describes what each aspect of the different times will bring. For instance, the midnight will be a glimmer, the noon a purple glow, and the evening will be full of the linnet’s wings. Finally, another one of the sounds that he described was the water from a lake “lapping” with low sounds by the shore.

I think he is trying to explore a world with all of the different characteristics that he talked about. Describing them as peaceful makes me think that he is trying to get away from something that either bothersome, or it just isn’t the typical place that he wants to interact with at the time. Finally, I think he must have been there a lot because with all of the description, he must have taken time out to take notice into them. This place may not only be a peaceful place, but it might be a somewhat of a sanctuary for him to go, when he is in need of something to calm himself. The author using the serene words that he did, not only portrayed what he was seeing, but it gave a sense like I was there. It sets a soothing tone for the reader, which helped me to fully get a sense of what was going on.

"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats

In this poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”, the narrator describes a dream cabin on the beach in Innisfree. The narrator describes the cabin as being made of clay and wattles, or tree branches and twigs. At the cottage there will be bean crops growing and a beehive for bees to make honey, and the narrator will live alone with only the bees as company. The narrator describes the peacefulness of the cottage in comparison to snowing falling, which is silent and beautiful. Night will be lit up by stars, the afternoon probably purple from flowers of some kind. The evening will be so colorful because of the sunset-purples, blues, yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, etc. By the end, the narrator has decided to go pursue his dream because he is already living through it in his mind.

I believe the narrator of this poem is probably a male in his late 60s. The way the words are organized, it seem like a wiser person would say them with grace and a soft voice. While the words are elegantly put, the simplicity of them makes it seem like a male figure would say them unlike a female who would probably go on about the sunset and less about the cabin. This poem has an Irish-English country sound to it, almost sing-song like. Also, the images drawn up from the poem are very “countryside beauty” and “green”. The tone set is very dreamy, almost drowsy and lazy. I picture a person sitting on a swinging bench on his porch. The reason for creating this poem is probably to portray the dream of someday living in a peaceful place that is perfect in every way possible.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

The poem is really calm and peaceful. The author describe the clear environment.
He explained that
"I will arise adn go now, and go to Innisfree, and a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made. " It seems really calm and it shows that he is describing the place that is really different with our society.
"And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping lsow, dropping from the veils of the morning to hwere the criekt sings" part maeks me think that the author wants us to stop being greedy and see the nature. He tried to explain that we need to find the small peace and happiness really slowely.

" The Lake Isle of Innisfree" By William Butler Yeats

In the poem the authour talks about a small cabin where he would like to go. He says it is a small cabin made from clay and wattles. He says he will grow nine rows of beans and have a hive for the honey bees. He also talks about how much peace he would have, where crikets would sing every morning. I think that in the poem he is talking about how he wants to escape probably the real world and go somewhere he can have peace. I made this infrence from line four where he says how he would like to live alone in a bee loud glade, which I think in that line says how the most noise which isn't too loud

"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats

In this poem a man talks about his journey to Innisfree where it as though he will settle down atrating a new life. He describes the cabin in which he will live in and he describes some of the things he will be surrounded by. For example he decribes the look of the cabin and how it is constructed of clay and wattles. Also how he will have a garden and a hive where the bees will produce honey. He also decribes the sounds of the lake that he will see when he arrives there.
I believe the person in this poem is trying to leave the city life and sort of settled down in the peaceful country. I guess he feels as though in the country there is peace and just an overall balance. Also you notice he take great detail and descriptive words to describe Innisfree but when he refers back to the city he does nto go into detail about the pavement or the roadway that he waiting on. I feel that he has been planning to settle down in Innisfree for a long also that he might have possibly live there as a child because he seems to know a lot about the place.

I think Curley’s wife was trying to impress Lennie and to give him the impression that she was unhappy with Curley and wanted more out of life and marriage. Therefore she was leading Lennie on in a way that wasn’t flirting.
I think George had to kill Lennie because if I was George I wouldn’t want some guy to shoot him who hates him…I would want my best friend to shoot me and put me to peace. And yes I feel like there is a connection between Lennie and Candy’s old dog because they both had to shoot there best friend.

Chapter's 5 & 6

* Chapter 5- In chapter what do you think Lennie would have changed about the situation? Why do you think Curley's wife really allowed Lennie to touch her do you think her intentions were bad?Explain?


*Chapter 6- In Chapter 6 how do you think the scenery and wat was going through Lennie's mind play into what happens next? Do you think that George had a very justified reason to why he did what he did? Explain?

Of Men and Mice Ch. 5 and 6: Curley's wife and Candy's dog

• In chapter 5, Curley's wife talks to Lennie about the business she could have been in. Why do you think she was trying to impress Lennie? Do you think she was trying to do anything else? Why or why not?

• In chapter 6, Slim says, "You hadda, George. I swear you hadda." Why do you think George had to kill Lennie? Do you think there is a connection between Candy's old dog and Lennie? Why or why not?
  

Of Mice and Men- Chapter 4

When Crook tells Lennie that since he isn't invited into "white quaters", if Lennie was able to comprehend exactly what Crook was saying to him, what do you think his reaction would have been? How might he have handled the situation?

On page 71 in Mice Of Men, why do you think Crook was trying to scare Lennie when he said, "S'pose George don't come back no more. S'pose he took a powder and ust ain't coming back. What'll you do then?" What point is Lennie trying to get across to Lennie when he says this to him and how does Lennie react? Do you think Crooks point really got across to Lennie and do you think Lennie will become more independent after hearing all of this?

chapter 3 of micew adn men

Why did Curley keep looking for his wife everywhere? and why did he start to attack Lennie even he did not do anything to Curley?

Of Mice & Men : Ch.3 (Part Two)

What do you believe is the signifigance of Carlso shooting the dog and do you believe that the detail of shooting him in the back of the head a significant detail that might come up again?

quetions for chpt. 3

hey!
1. when Slim and Geoge where chatting, and Slim said "it was nothing i had to drown them any way" and Geogre started talking about Lennie wanting to sleep with the pupys becouse the drowning of them ment smthing to him, what do you think happend? did Slim drown more? did Lennie just over hear them talking? or somthing else?
2. do you think Goerge still keeps Lenie around just becose of the antie asking him or becouse he feels giuty for almost dorwning Lennie?

Of Mice and Men Chapter 3

Why is it so easy for George to open up to Slim and tell him so much about Lennie? And why does Slim like them so much?

Characters

So far in the book, which character is your favorite? Why? It seems like Curley is a trouble maker and doesnt take anything from no one. Why is that? Why doesnt anybody stand up to him? Will he give trouble to Lennie?

Of Mice and Men Ch.2:Arriving at Ranch

Why is Lennie getting in a fight with Curly a huge deal in Georges’ eyes? If you were Lennie’s companion, would you bring him to a place where there’s a risk of him running into trouble? Why or why not?