Monday, May 25, 2015

"Poems I Love..." This week's poem assignment. Due Friday.

Spend some time reading contemporary poems.  Choose four of your favorite poems. Post the links to these poems and tell why you appreciate each of them.  Comment on a classmate's choices.

Some helpful links:
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-list.html
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/poems
http://www.favoritepoem.org/


66 comments:

  1. The first of my four favorite poems (which are all in fact song lyrics) is called “Ize of the World” by The Strokes. Many of the lines in the song are somewhat mind-blowing, such as “how do you wake someone up from inside a dream?” The song is called “Ize of the World” because Julian Casablancas (lead singer and writer of this song) occasionally breaks to sing things like “a life to scrutinize, a child to criticize, a pulse to stabilize”. I love these lyrics because most of the lines are very eye-opening. Also, D.I.D.I.P.P. stands for Dead Idealistic Desperate Inventor Pioneer Philosophers.

    http://www.metrolyrics.com/ize-of-the-world-lyrics-strokes.html

    The second is called “Human Sadness”, by Julian Casablancas + The Voidz. My favorite line, which is repeated, is “beyond all ideas of right and wrong there is a field/I will be meeting you there”. This song is about ten minutes long, so the lyrics are also kind of long. The artistry that went into these lyrics is amazing. The last line of the song is “to be is not to be/to be is not the way to be”. The rest of the song is really amazingly put together and is basically a realization of many things that we like to leave in the back of our minds, not to be brought forward and said outright- such as the first line “put money in my hand/and I will do the things you want me to”

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/juliancasablancas/humansadness.html

    “Saint Simon” by The Shins is a cry for help. To me, they are expressing their dislike of how texts will never truly be deciphered, not every word to the exact meaning it was supposed to have when it was created. “So vexed to find evidently there’s just so much that hides… their sentiment is just as hard to pluck from the vine”. The rest of the song is about how love and happiness are immeasurable. I personally love how this song is analytical and shows exasperation at the same things that I find exhausting yet it manages to be quite happy, describing how happiness and love are immeasurable.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/shins/saintsimon.html

    My last favorite poem from a song is “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix. It is short and sweet, speaking on a woman and how her mind runs in all directions, “with a circus mind that’s running wild”. I love how he seems to be in awe of this woman, which is something that hits home for me, strong and beautifully independently minded women. If anyone knows “Yellow Ledbetter” by Pearl Jam, the guitar phrase at the beginning is sampled from this song.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jimihendrix/littlewing.html

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    1. I really like the music you chose, especially "Human Sadness" and "Little Wing." The lyrics to "Little Wing" gave me the same sort of feeling, and I definitely plan on adding them to my playlist!
      Shannon Halloran

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  2. My first poem is Percy Bysshe Shelly's poem Ozymandias, it is a short poem that tells the story of the once great king Ozymandis who was "King of kings" who has now been reduced to a slab in the sand and the message resonates with me that no one is safe from the passage of time.

    http://www.rc.umd.edu/sites/default/RCOldSite/www/rchs/reader/ozymandias.html

    My next choice would me The Cremation of Sam Mcgee by Robert W. Service
    One man has to follow through on his promise to cremate Sam Mcgee and he travels far to do this and i relate to the need to fullfil that promise to his freind.

    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174348

    Thirdly I choose Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep by Mary Frye
    I like this poems outlook on death in which she says no you shouldn't cry that im dead but that now i will always be there and how we never really die but instead we simply become part of nature.

    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/do-not-stand-at-my-grave-and-weep/

    Lastly i pick Invictus by William Henley and it really helps me understand that no matter what challenges i am put through in life i will always be the one that makes the choices for me and that i am "The master of my fate".

    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182194

    Tyler Rubino

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    1. Great choices Tyler! Powerful poems. Have you heard Bryan Cranston read Ozymandis?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3dpghfRBHE

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  3. The only one of my picks that is an actual poem is "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou. It is a great female pride poem and has always just given me great feelings. Angelou describes all of the things that make her special as a woman and ends each verse with "I’m a woman/Phenomenally./Phenomenal woman,/That’s me."
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178942

    Next is Iron & Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth." This song reads more like a poem, and it is about someone having to mature in order to save the one he loves. "Then when the cops closed the fair, I cut my long baby hair
    Stole me a dog-eared map and called for you everywhere."

    http://www.metrolyrics.com/flightless-bird-american-mouth-lyrics-iron-wine.html

    Ryan O'Neal has a band called Sleeping At Last, and he writes beautiful poetry and then records them as songs. The songs sound similar because of his distinctive voice, but the music they are set to is very cool and changes from song to song. He wrote a series called "Yearbook" with three-ish poems and beautiful album art for each month of the year. It is amazing if you listen to it all the way through or each month as it comes. One of my favorites is "Pacific Blues" from May: "everything i know is borrowed, broken or blind,
    and what i’ve seen of beautiful feels merely implied."

    http://sleepingatlast.com/yearbook-lyrics/#y_pacificblues

    Finally, "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash is an ages-old masterpiece. I saw them in concert last week and waited the whole three hours for them to play this as their last encore! It is a long song that goes through four distinct stages in terms of musical style and lyrics. It's like a story. Definitely listen to it if you never have. One of my favorite parts is in the second stage: "Tuesday morning
    Please be gone I'm tired of you
    What have you got to lose?"

    http://www.metrolyrics.com/suite-judy-blue-eyes-lyrics-crosby-stills-nash.html

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    1. Love the "girl power" in Phenomenal Woman---Maya Angelou is one of my favorites!

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    2. Love the "girl power" in Phenomenal Woman---Maya Angelou is one of my favorites!

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  4. The first poem that I chose is “Dreams” by Langston Hughes. I like to think of myself as someone who doesn’t always follow the beaten path. I would much rather follow my dreams and live my life doing what I enjoy rather than doing what is “easy” or what is expected of me. This poem really speaks to me because it spreads the idea of holding onto your dreams rather than letting them go. I feel like a lot of people think that it is childish to dream or that dreaming is a waste of time, but sometimes, dreaming is the only thing that keeps us going. This poem promotes dreaming, and really speaks to me because of this.
    http://allpoetry.com/poem/8495507-Dreams-by-Langston-Hughes

    Another poem that I really enjoy is “The Changing Light” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. I have been fortunate enough to travel to different destinations, but one of my all time favorite cities is San Francisco. There is just an infectious vibe. Every time that I read this poem I picture myself back in San Fran, and I my mood instantly improves. Even though this poem doesn’t really have a deep or symbolic message, it means a lot to me.
    http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index/index.php?date=2008/03/24

    One other poem that I enjoy is “From the Uses of the Body” by Deborah Landau. I understand the meaning of this poem to be that you have to live in the moment. So often, we live our lives as though we are going through a checklist. Graduate, get married, have kids, retire, and so on. Many times, we are so consumed in this “list” that we don’t even realize that we aren’t living our lives. This poem tries to get the reader to live and experience things while they can, which is an important way to live.
    http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/uses-body

    Instead of finding a fourth poem, I decided to write about the song “Portugal” by Walk the Moon. The song is based off of the idea that growing up and losing people is hard. Even when you lose someone, if you really love them, they will always be with you. The lead singer of this band wrote this song to remind himself and others that, “there are people who I really, really love who are gone now and it’s my reminder that they are still close, and that they’re still a part of me and a part of my life.”(Petricca) Even though it is a song, it is written in such a way that it could be read as a poem.
    http://www.metrolyrics.com/portugal-lyrics-walk-the-moon.html



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    1. I really like the poem you chose called "Dreams". I feel like it's trying to tell the reader that if you let go of your dreams, then you have nothing to work towards and you shut down. With hopes and dreams, you have always have a goal and passion to keep you going. I agree with you when you say you would rather work towards you dreams. I would much rather work towards my dreams instead of doing nothing that makes me happy. Alyssa S. Class 1

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  5. The first poem I really like is One Train May Hide Another, by Kenneth Koch. This is a fairly lengthy poem with no stanzas and long lines. Despite the length, this poem is definitely worth reading. Koch points out that sometimes things are concealed by other things that appear “greater” or “better” and we simply don’t acknowledge them. It discusses the different options we have in life and how frequently we overlook some of them. I think as teenagers it’s hard for us to slow down explore all of our options, but this poem is suggesting that we at least try.
    http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/kenneth_koch/poems/17885

    I also like the poem To Various Persons Talked To All At Once by Kenneth Koch. It’s actually a really annoying poem because it consists of mainly questions and realizations that are random and don’t relate to one another. However, aside from being slightly funny, it really exemplifies how we sometimes act with a lack of focus and attention. Whether it is from drinking coffee or eating too much sugar or whatever, we can get really hyper and unfocused. There are studies showing that human attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, so I think this poem has some scientific relevance as well.
    http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/kenneth_koch/poems/17889


    The next poem I chose was At The Door by David Wagoner. It describes an actor and how they can take a simple action like opening the door and really put a lot of thought into it and do it in a way that is just their own. The poem goes on to describe all of the different ways in which a door can be opened. I think in our own lives there are a lot of different ways we can go about doing things and it is important to think about every move we make and to make each our own. Its easy to just do things haphazardly and not really pay attention to our simple actions, but as Wagoner points out, it is very important.
    http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/david_wagoner/poems/17880



    The last poem I chose was Along With Youth by Ernest Hemingway. I really enjoy Hemingway’s works and this poem is one of my favorites. He uses animals and nature in the beginning of the poem to describe problems that teenagers face. At the end he describes the transition from being a teenager to an adult with objects such as a canoe and a hotel. It takes a few reads to understand the poem, but it is well worth the read.
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/along-with-youth/

    Katey Yale
    Period 5

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  6. The first poem i chose was "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" by Walt Whitman. I have liked this poem for a while and could always connect to it because the poem talks about how an Astronomer is explaining the science and physics of space to a poet fascinated by the stars. He soon grows sick of the lecture and goes to look at the stars once again, deciding no words could capture the wonder of space and no equation could explain the stars. I've always connected to this because it seems the more explanations I learn in school the less wonder there is in the world.
    http://www.bartleby.com/142/180.html

    the second poem I chose was "But You Didn't" by Merrill Glass. This poem always helps remind me to live in the moment and appreciate things with a sense of urgency because my life could change for the worse at any minute. When this poem ends with "there were so many things I wanted to tell you when you returned from Vietnam.. but you didn't" it really helps put into perspective how important seizing the moment is, especially when it comes to saying what needs to be said.
    http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/but-you-didnt

    The third poem I chose was "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe. Even though this poem is rather lengthy I have always loved the language in it and actually attempted to memorize the entire thing in middle school (if you read it you will probably get why this was difficult). In this poem Poe talks about 4 different kinds of bells: silver, tinkling bells, golden wedding bells, brass warning bells, and melancholy iron bells. I take this poem as a different look on the course of life, instead of the 4 seasons metaphor he uses 4 different bells.
    http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/bells

    The final poem I chose was actually not a poem but a song lyric from the Pixar film Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron. The song, "Here I Am" by Bryan Adams goes "Here I am, this is me/ There's nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be / It's a new world, it's a new start/ It's alive with the beating of young hearts/ It's a new day, it's a new plan / I've been waiting for you/ Here I am.” These lyrics are really empowering because they remind me that no matter how old I get new days can bring bigger and better things and also remind me that no matter how bad things get I will never be as terrible as I was when I went through my “obsessed with horses” phase in 6th grade.
    http://www.metrolyrics.com/here-i-am-lyrics-bryan-adams.html

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  7. The first poem I would say that I "love" would be "April Love" by Ernest Dowson. I love that the poem is so simple. It is very clear and direct in what it wants you to know, and to think and yet it is still very much up to your own interpretation. Each person who reads this, will be thinking of a different person. I find that fascinating.

    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/242548

    The second poem I would say that I love would be "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. This is so relevant to everyone and something going on in their life. We all struggle with conflict, and we all have tough choices we need to overcome. And in this poem, Frost captures the moment where we make the decision. Where we are pondering the options, and then we just go. I feel like I can connect to this poem.

    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/173536

    The third poem I chose would be "Queen-Anne's Lace" by William Carlos Williams. I love this poem. I find the similes and metaphors in the poem enchanting. Comparing her body to a flower or a field and the use of color is quite interesting as well. Choosing purple to symbolize the man's touch is interesting, since purple has always been a royal color. I thoroughly enjoy this poem.

    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/175784

    The fourth poem I chose is actually a song. It is a rock classic, that I feel if you know me, you will know how much I love this song. "The show must go on" by Queen is a fantastic song. Not only is it empowering, it is so well done musically. I find that most people don't really know the story behind this song, which makes the meaning of it ten times more impacting. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, was dying of disease, but he never gave up his career. He was fighting until the very end, and this was sort of his way to say goodbye. He was so passionate about music, that he knew, and wanted, the show to go on. I connect to the love of music and performing aspect behind this song, and I can easily say that it is one of my all time favorites.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/queen/theshowmustgoon.html

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  8. The first poem I discovered is The Piano Poem by Shelley Hornsby. Throughout the poem, the author talked about how sad she was that her father was burning the piano that her mother used to play when the poet was a child. I loved the symbolism in this poem, "To the field, and all I could hear was the deathly sound of a funeral march thumping out the pitiful silence in my ears." The silence that the author "heard" resembled her mother not being there anymore. Although this poem was very sad, it had a deeper meaning, which I love.
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-piano-12/

    The second poem that stood out to me was called This Kind of Adventure by Lawrence S. Pertillar. It uses rain to symbolize a person getting wet, or living life to the fullest. I really liked how the author used this to represent going on an adventure, and how many people choose to not leave their houses, or experience new and different things in life. It really was a refreshing poem in that it basically said that people should experience new things in life.
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/this-kind-of-adventure/

    One of my favorite songs “No Rain” by Blind Melon has lyrics that show just how sad the writer was. “And I don't understand why I sleep all day and I start to complain that there's no rain.” The writer of this song has gotten so used to feeling betrayed that he wants rain, a symbolic idea in nature that represents sadness. It is interesting to me how the writer chose to phrase that line, as well as the whole song, because it shows that the artist had been living in a rut for such a long time that he started to almost want sadness.
    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blindmelon/norain.html

    Another one of my favorite songs is called “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. The song talks about how he is destined to be with a certain person, and they live similar lives, but fail to ever get together. These people have developed their own lives, but aren’t content because they aren’t with each other. “How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.” The song is slow and mellow, so it could represent the feeling that is present in the poem.
    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pinkfloyd/wishyouwerehere.html

    The last of one of my favorite songs is called “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell. This song was created during a time period when an Earth Day revolution was beginning. However, it is ambiguous because it could also be about someone missing a person. “Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” This song is so important because it can have multiple meanings, allowing there to be different interpretations.
    http://jonimitchell.com/music/song.cfm?id=208

    Jillian McGuire, Period 1

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    1. I really like "This Kind of Adventure" too and thought about writing about it as one of my favorite poems! I enjoy how the author of the poem tried to promote living life and experiencing new things.
      Ellie B.

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  9. http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/descending-trousers
    I really like this poem because it made me laugh, and it’s really short and simple. It follows the thoughts of an embarrassed person and I think that we can all relate. That moment right after something embarrassing happens we check to see if anyone saw and, if not, we kind of just move on.

    http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/mime-rhyme
    This poem I thought was clever because mimes can’t talk, so it made me laugh. It also rhymes, so that’s another reason why I really liked it.

    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/warning/
    I enjoyed this poem because it talks about how when you get older, there is no point in stressing about all of the things that you’ve stressed about your whole life. You’re of old age, so why not just embrace it, let loose, and do all of those things that you “weren’t supposed to do”. Who cares what people think of you at that point in life.

    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/school-is-not-so-cool/
    I like this poem because I can relate to everything it’s saying. I think that school is not so cool too. I also really enjoyed how it rhymed and was easy to read.

    paige period 5

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    1. i forgot to say the authors and titles:
      1) Descending Trousers by Diana Laura
      2) Mime Rhyme by Shirley Smothers
      3) Warning by Jenny Joseph
      4) School Is Not Cool by Chantel Braatz

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  10. The first poem I chose was the theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I chose this song because I feel that its very reflective and meaningful. He talks about his childhood and growing up and the meaning it has to him. I can relate to this because where I grew up has a lot of meaning to me.
    -http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/djjazzyjeffthefreshprince/freshprinceofbelairthemesong.html

    The second poem I chose is called C'est La Vie. I chose this poem because I really like the message in this poem. It talks about making the best of what you have and always taking the optimistic view on situations. Not letting the hard times get to you.
    -http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/cest-la-vie

    The next poem I chose was called Skiing Means the World to Me. I chose this poem because skiing is my favorite thing to do and something I've been doing forever. I can really relate to this poem.
    - http://hellopoetry.com/poem/855259/skiing-means-the-world-to-me/

    The final poem I chose was called High School. I chose this poem because it is exactly what we are living right now. All of the struggles and challenges we have.
    - http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/highschool

    Lexie Period 5

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    1. I really enjoyed reading that high school poem you shared! Its so insane that we're gonna be seniors when it feels like high school just started.
      - Shradha S P1

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  11. The first poem I found that really speaks to me is, A Dream Within A Dream, by Edgar Allan Poe. This poem is not a very long poem but it can be interpreted in many different ways. In the poem Poe hints at how our life is a dream and what we see isn’t reality but fantasy. My favorite lines from the poem are, “In a night, or in a day, In a vision or in none, Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem, Is but a dream within a dream. I don’t really know the analytical side to the poem, except that reality may be a dream and a dream may be reality. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/edgar_allan_poe/poems/18847
    Another poem that I found really interesting and that I really liked is, Touched by An Angel by Maya Angelou. This poem is another poem that isn’t very lengthy but it is very enjoyable. This poem speaks to me because I really like the way it is written. The wording flows and meshes together very well. In the poem I believe Maya Angelou is talking about love, and how it sets some people free. I found this poem very interesting because it’s a little bit different than the rest of Maya Angelou’s poems. I also like a lot of Maya Angelou’s poems because they speak to me.
    http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/maya_angelou/poems/496
    The next poem that I found that really speaks to me is, Invictus by William Ernest Henley. I really liked this poem because it talked about not letting someone bring you down. What I believe he is saying is that under no circumstance should you ever let someone bring you down.My favorite line from the poem is, “I fell in the clutch of circumstance, I have not winced or cried aloud, under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody,but unbowed”.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182194
    The last poem that I really like and I find interesting is, Love and Friendship by Emily Bronte, I really like this poem because it speaks of love and friendship. The poet Emily Bronte speaks of love and friendship as two different things which would last longer love or friendship?
    I also like how in her poem she wrote it in a way that can have many different meanings and interpretations, so people can interpret it in the way they think it should be.
    http://100.best-poems.net/love-and-friendship.html
    Ariana D
    Period 1

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  12. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173536
    "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost has always been an important poem to me. I've always hoped that when the time comes, i'll take the road less traveled, which is the theme of this poem. Robert Frost, a praised American poet, is certainly a man to look up to, and I enjoy reading this poem to remind myself that taking the road less traveled can make all the difference.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171621
    This next poem, "Stopping by Woods On a Snow Evening", is also by Robert Frost. I enjoy this poem for several reasons. The first time I read it, what struck me was the illustration it put in my mind. I enjoy walks in the snow, and this poem gives me the same calm feeling those walks do. Also, this poem seems to symbolize life, at least in the last lines. "Miles to go before I sleep", to me, represents youth, and having much time left before we die. It's a comforting feeling.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174742
    "O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman has always been a poem I enjoy. This poem does well to illustrate loyalty, and passion for those who died for us and before us. A theme that is infinite in time, as we all lose someone who we see as our captain, and the feelings that come with this loss are shown in this poem.
    http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2125304-oh-the-places-you-ll-go
    This last one, "Oh, The Places You'll Go" is a childrens book by Dr.Seuss. I grew up reading this book, and it always filled me with excitement, for what the future holds. There's plenty of things that are in the book which hold true today. “You're off to Great Places!
    Today is your day!
    Your mountain is waiting,
    So... get on your way!”
    -Rome

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    1. i really like the choice of Dr.Seuss and the book as well. It seems like we outgrow these books when we pass a certain age but some things like this book just change in meaning. It seems like there are whole new elements which passes over me when I was younger.

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  13. The first poem I found is, When I Consider Everything That Grows by Shakespeare. It’s one of his sonnets and I love the way old english flows together. My favorite lines include, “And all in war with time for love of you, as he takes away from you, I engraft you knew.”It flows together beautifully.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174353

    Cutting the Sun by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is another poem I enjoyed. I interpreted it as a women questioning herself and the sun. She talks about cutting the sun and finding “flowers, flowers, flowers”. I love the easy going tone of the poem and its complicated secret meaning that can be interpreted in thousands of different ways.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/249318

    At the Beach by Elizabeth Alexander is my third poem. I found it interesting that before reading the poem and only looking at the title one would assume it’s about the beach. However it’s about almost everything but the beach. Elizabeth wrote about death compared to her life at that second, and the sun under your skin to “the gold Sula found beneath Ajax back”. Sula found passion and sex under Ajax’s back so I found it hard to draw a similarity between the two Elizabeth chose to compare.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/28077

    My fourth and final poem is, The Fourth of July by John Brehm talking about freedom. I enjoyed reading this a great deal because it talks about living in the moment. I interpreted it in a such a way that it seemed to be telling me America is great at this moment and it will always be great for that moment but no one can tell the future. We fought for our freedom but there is no saying how long it will last.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/243978
    Abby Atkinson
    period 5

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  14. My first poem I chose was by Charles Bukowski and is called So You Want To Be a Writer. In this poem, the author discourages people from becoming writers if they are not fully committed to it or don't have a passion for it or doing it for other reasons like money, fame, women etc. This speaks to me on the matter of making choices in life and on what career to pursue. I don't think this poem is just referring to becoming a writer but choosing any job and making any major decision in life. It is important to make choices and to pick a job you like and have a passion for.

    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/so-you-want-to-be-a-writer/

    The second poem I chose was Fire and Ice by Robert Frost. I like this poem because of the subject and how Robert Frost talks about it. He talks about the end of the world or death in a very unique way. Instead of using the emotion fear, He talks about total destruction in a somewhat distant and persist way saying ice would be a suffice way to end it as well as fire and how he favors fire. It gives a unique view and emotion on death and the end of the world.

    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/fire-and-ice/

    My third poem is by Emily Dickinson and is Dying (I Heard A Fly Buzz When I Died). I like this poem because of how she uses a fly to represent death. In most literature death is represented as this big thing like the grim reaper. But her subtle representation of death brings a new meaning to how we view death. I enjoy her writing style and her use of sight as well.

    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dying-i-heard-a-fly-buzz-when-i-died/

    My fourth poem is Bad Day by Kay Ryan. I like this poem because of the comparison between a bad day and the mind of a tailor. I think this poem is very relate able and certainly is to me. Everyone has bad days and showing how a bad day in the eyes of a tailor like not having the material or the idea for a piece of clothing gives an example that we can then apply to our lives.

    http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/017.html

    Owen Boyle P:5

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    1. I loved the Bukowski poem you chose and I relate to it on a lot of levels. I think it's so inspiring to have that reminder every once in a while that our lives aren't meant for simple existence, but for living, passionately and excitedly. This poem implores us to not waste our time on things that don't bring us fulfillment or sincerity. On the other hand, it's important to know which tasks that are monotonous or boring are paving the way for us to be able to live a life of passion. If you want to save lives and be a doctor, studying for a biology test isn't going to make your soul happy, but doing well in science is a prerequisite for getting into medical school and getting your MD. We do have to suffer through some boring things in order to have the option of following our passion. Still, it's important to tell the difference between a long and bumpy path to a wonderful destination, and the wrong path altogether.

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  15. I find it easier to connect to music rather than poems so my four favorites poems will be mostly song lyrics and one poem. My first song is "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas. This is a song about feeling like nothing. It is a song more on the pessimistic song when nothing seems important and when you're down in the dumps. It is a song about someone putting all their feelings on the line about their troubles.

    http://www.metrolyrics.com/dust-in-the-wind-lyrics-kansas.html

    My second poem is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It is a song about a person prepared for a storm that is soon to come but they are ready for what comes after which is glorious. This is a song that is more optimistic.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/creedenceclearwaterrevival/haveyoueverseentherain.html

    My third poem is "Imagine" by John Lennon is a beautiful song. It is a song about world peace. It is a song about deep thinking about how the world would be without violence. I like listening to this song because it puts me in a good mood.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnlennon/imagine.html

    My fourth and final poem that is an actual poem by Walt Whitman. The poem is "Pioneers! O Pioneers!". In my eyes this is a very motivational poem and it motivates me to be advents and do what others would not do. It encourages people to be adventurous and tells them its okay to stand out and be different and they should embrace that.

    Pioneers!http://www.columbia.edu/itc/history/baker/w3630/edit/pioneers.html

    Mike A. period: 1

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    1. I agree with Mike in that Whitman's poem "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" had a very uplifting and motivational tone to it. The message of the poem tells us to embrace our differences and to be comfortable and proud of who we all are. I also really love the song "Imagine" by John Lennon because I have similar feelings in that it is a beautiful song. It always puts me in a good mood while listening to it.

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  16. A little late to the show this time-

    -Square Root of a Three by David Feinberg

    I'm not a big fan of the deep meaning of this poem and really am not fond of the last line but overall it has been one of my favorite poems for a while. This is just because it's so catchy and simple. There are parts that make your mind reach and still it remains simple in essence. Similarly, it's very mathematical, which is not something you see very often in poetry.
    https://graphicist.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/%E2%80%9Cthe-square-root-of-three%E2%80%9D-by-david-feinberg/


    -O Me! O Life! by Walt Whitman

    This poem I first heard in the movie Dead Poet's Society, one of my favorite movies, and has a single line that particularly resonates with me. "The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse" The choice of the word 'may' is what catches my mind every time. Sometimes I see versions where that 'may' is omitted but I like to imagine it there either way. To think that we always will leave something behind is not as motivating as to think that it's an option. If you have the chutzpah to reach further and work harder you can leave your line in the book of life. another line I've liked is the "myself forever reproaching myself, for who more foolish than I and who more faithless?"
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182088


    -If Only We Had Taller Been by Ray Bradbury

    I found this poem when my brother posted it to Facebook and I've always been a big fan of Bradbury. Once again this poem has a bit of a sciency twist to it but it draws me in. Maybe I'm a sucker for weird syntax but even the title get's stuck in my head. It just seems so large. If I were to choose a favorite line it would be the last paragraph when he writes, "Hoping an inch of Good is worth a pound of years." This is again similar to the Whitman line where it expresses our human desire to make use of our time and more importantly make our time useful
    Audio where I first found:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD4Q3n3_5X4
    http://timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog/2012/06/ray-bradburys-short-poem-about-man-and-space.html


    -Untitled? by Dr. Dog

    This poem is actually worked into the end of a song which almost sounds mumbled and is easy to skip past. It's weird they put it like this and didn't work it into the song but either way it is a strong poem. It speaks on the modern era and shows how in a way it's not so 'modern' in many ways. Our mindset of the "grass is always greener, the past is always cleaner" seems to transcend generations. While this poem can be seen as pessimistic and doesn't give the best view of the world it gives me hope. It shows that maybe it's not really all that bad in the world we live, it's just a different bad which has always and will always exist.
    Skip to "spoken" section: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/drdog/livinadream.html
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrCe-mA_m14


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    1. I'm also a big fan of the dead poets society and I think that particular poem is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
      Jake J 1st

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    2. I really enjoy this collection of poems because of the mixed media that was involved in getting them. From Dead Poet's Society to classic authors, these poems represent a great aspect of the art itself.

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  17. The first poem that I want to share is Some Clouds by Steve Kowit. I find this poem very relatable to real life because sometimes you just want to get away from everything, turn off your cell phone, and just relax for a day and daze at the sky until you go into a daydream.
    http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/101.html
    The second poem I want to share is Break by Dorianne Laux. I love the imagery in this poem, it really allows you to picture a person and their feelings while doing a puzzle. Also the author does a great job at describing the events that take place while doing a puzzle which allows the reader to connect to the poem a lot more than normal.
    http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/180.html
    The third poem I want to share is Thanksgiving by Mac Hammond. I wanted to share this poem because who doesn’t love turkey especially on thanksgiving! Also this poem just gives me a lot of flashbacks of good memories on Thanksgiving that I hope it will to you too.
    http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/119.html

    The last poem I wanted to share was Numbers by Mary Cornish. I wanted to share this poem because I like the positive vibe/tone that the author creates, especially since it’s not everyday you can find positive things to say about math.

    http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/008.html

    Jake J 1st

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    1. I also really like that poem about math that you posted. I like how the author said how numbers are "generous" and "willing to count anything or anyone" because I've never really thought about them in that kind of way. Usually when you think of math you just think of formulas or how boring math class is, but this makes you think about it in a new and good way.

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  18. The first poem is one that i would read a lot when i was younger. It’s by Shel Silverstein and it's called Listen to the Mustn’ts. Its talking about people telling you all the time what you need to do and what you should do and shouldn’t do, but at the end it says that anything is possible. I think that when you’re young it’s nice to hear that anything is possible and it’s nice to believe that so i would read that one all of the time when i was younger.

    www.poetrysociety.org/psa/poetry/poetry_in_motion/atlas/portland/listen_to_the_mustn/

    The next are song lyrics from Ed Sheeran’s song Afire Love, This song is written with a lot of meaning and emotion it’s talking about Ed's grandfather slowly dying from what i think is Alzheimer's and his point of view of it all. The chorus is what his grandmother remembers him always saying to him. The way he describes how he was starting to loose it was very poetic. It starts with him singing, “Things were all good yesterday, and then the devil took your memory.” That is already such a meaningful line because it makes me think of just the illness being portrayed as the devil and that is making me understand just how bad it is. It also makes me feel how bad things were by comparing to the devil.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/edsheeran/afirelove.html

    The next poem that I really like is called When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats. This poem i think is very cute. It’s this man speaking to his beloved and saying that when she is old there is a book that she should read that will remind her of when she was young and reminding her that he still loved her and loved her the same even though they are older now, he loved her soul. “But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face.” this is my favorite line because he loved when she was young and loved to travel around but he loves her the same now with her “changing face”. This poem is really just something cute and very sweet that I think a lot of people want for love in their life.

    http://www.favoritepoem.org/poem_WhenYouAreOld.html

    My last one is a Song by Mumford and Sons called Ghosts That We Knew. This song is very poetic talking about someone loving him through all of his flaws. “But you saw no fault, no cracks in my heart. And you knelt beside, My hope torn apart. But the ghosts that we knew will flicker from view and we’ll live a long life.” This entry of the song is talking about how this girl loves him regardless and then together they wont have any “ghosts” they will be able to work through it. I really like how she sticks with him even though he is “broken” and that she will help him.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mumfordsons/ghoststhatweknew.html

    Shannon Finn P. 5

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    1. I like that you chose Afire Love by Ed Sheeran. He writes his songs with a lot of passion. Even though they aren't poems, he writes in a very poetic format and this song displays that. We often overlook song lyrics but when you analyze them you are able to see the emotions that the artist is portraying. I agree that he could have Alzheimer's because of the way he describes the condition.
      Emma D

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  19. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/kelli_russell_agodon/poems/20985

    The first Poem i would like to share is Of a Forgetful Sea by Kelli Russell. Agadon. I like how Kelli compares broad aspects of nature to objects that her daughter holds in her hand. To me it shows how easy it is for the world to seem so small when compared to things in your life that mean the most to you, such as a family member.


    http://www.inspirationalstories.com/poems/clarity-anna-piutti-poems/

    Another poem i would like to share is Clarity by Anna Piutti. I like this poem because it reveals the “absurd” randomness that occurs in our minds when we think. I especially like how she admits to laughing at her own thoughts.


    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/249192

    The third poem i would like to share is one that everyone probably already knows. Poem by Donald Justice is one of my favorites because it’s sarcastic, while also putting things into perspective. At first it seems offensive, but it becomes realistic when he states that “the poem will go on without you.” Basically the message is that the poem is more valuable than the reader.


    http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/yahia_lababidi/poems/23480

    The final poem i would like to share is Words by Yahia Lababidi. In this poem, i like how Yahia describes that words must be earned. You can’t begin using a word right after it has been taught to you. You must understand it fully first in order to avoid misusing it. I think the message of this poem is that we often use words carelessly and in the wrong context.

    Erika M. P 5

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    1. I really liked the poem "Words." In it, Lababidi says
      "But, words must not carry
      more than they can
      it’s not good for their backs
      or their reputations."
      In a way this is almost a jab at poets and writers who put too much meaning into words that really are just there to allow us to communicate, or it could be directed at anyone who has read too much into what was said to them. Lababidi says that "every word is a cosmos/dissolving the inarticulate," and I know what she means. It can change everything about a sentence if you can find a word that articulates exactly what you're trying to say. And, in the end, that's all good words are supposed to do.

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  20. My first poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson, was the one of the first poems that I read that contained a very non-conventional ending. I liked liked the poem because of the twist that occurs at the end of the poem, a short simple twist that turns the entire poem upside down.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174248
    The second poem, "Ozymandias" by Percy Byssh Shelley is an amazing poem that describes power, fame, and wealth. It also describes the decayed, dilapidated, and barren landscape that once was the product of the fortune. It puts into perspective the way we see "everlasting" fame that some boast to possess.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/guide/238972
    The third poem "Demain dès l'aube" by Victor Hugo is simply an amazing poem that describes beauty, grace, and loss. The emotion and power that the poem elicits is immense and powerful. My only other recommendation is to listen to the poem spoken in French.
    http://www.frenchtoday.com/french-poetry-reading/poem-demain-des-l-aube-hugo
    My fourth and final poem is "Winter" by Sudeep Sen, a great poem that brings imagery into a new level. The number of times one can read the poem with different styles is infinite. A truly amazing poem that brings an immense readability.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/249080

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    1. I really really liked Victor Hugo's poem. It was haunting, grave, and beautiful. I didn't know Hugo wrote poems, but now I'll have to look up if he wrote very many other poems. I was able to take in the clear and vivid imagery in his poem, but I wasn't sure if he was speaking about Death or an actual person. Maybe that's up to the reader's interpretation.

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  21. A poetic song I love is "Women (Reading)" by the band La Dispute. The lyrics of this song are beautiful and to me this song is all about lost love and trying to move on and get over someone. The songwriter takes the women in the begin and turns her into a poem, " I write AB, AB and try to find your rhyme scheme." And at the end of this song is about how the writer misses this women and everything around him including his house reminds him of her.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ladispute/womanreading.html




    I also really like the poem "Inglenook" by Mary Ruefle. I enjoy this poem because of how strange it is. The author is talking about trying to find a thimble, which to me sounds like a symbol for love because of a thimble meaning love in Peter Pan. However there are also strange things I can't figure out about it like why the guest how enter are required to "face-wash" and then "tooth-clean before leaving." This poem is just very interesting and intriguing.

    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/01/inglenook-ruefle

    ANother of my all time favorite poems is "OCD" by Neil Hilburn. This a beautiful ad powerful poem that, to me, is about how love can conquer mental disorders. The poet of this wrote about how a women he was dating dump him because caring about his was a mistake and his OCD was wasting her time. One of my favorite lines of this poem is, "How can it be a mistake if I don't have to wash my hands after I touch her?" This line is very powerful and shows just how strong love can be over disorders and fears.
    http://genius.com/Neil-hilborn-ocd-annotated
    Lastly, the poem "14 lines from Love Letters or Suicide Notes" by Doc Luben is also very powerful. It is up to whoever is viewing this poem to decide whether the lines of this poem are about love or death. If you view each line as a love note then this poem is a beautiful, but if you view it as a suicide note, it is very dark and solemn.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy4cEW15SdE\
    Becca G P1

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  22. Zacuanpapalotls 
    By Brenda Cárdenas
    I love this poem. It makes me realize that there is more to life then just me. The first line, "We are space between", shows that we are here for but a moment. I think this is important to remember because we have to seize the moment we get and make the most of it. I think that's the picture Brenda Cárdenas paints throughout the poem. "We are— one life passing through the prism of all others, gathering color and song" is my favorite part of the poem. It reminds be to take in as much as I can while here. She uses beautiful imagery like this all throughout the poem. I know this might sound sad thinking about our lives ending but I think it forces us to stay in the present and to take whatever opportunities we can.
    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/241764

    Abandoned Farmhouse
    By Ted Kooser
    I originally heard this poem at the Poetry Out Loud competition this year. This poem reminds me of a similar thing as Zacuanpapalotls. We are going to be making a mark on the world. The things we leave behind will inspire others or maybe worn others. This poem uses clear imagery to show a house left in a hurry. "Something went wrong" that's what I'm going to take away from this poem. I don't want people to look back at my life and say, "something went wrong" I want my life to have meaning and purpose.
    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/237648

    Sea Fever
    By John Masefield
    this poem unlike the others doesn't teach me a lesson, it just makes me happy. This reminds me so much of where I live. We all have spots that we go to to calm us and make us happy, mine is the small beach that's behind my house. Not a lot of people go there so I'm able to just sit and watch the waves and birds. I feel like what I see when I'm at my beach is depicted in this poem. When I read it I can see the ocean that I know so well and it to calms me.
    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/242552

    Invictus
    By William Ernest Henley
    This is my all time favorite poem. I did this poem for Poetry Out Loud. I first read it when I was in fourth grade. My at the time english teacher gave it to me. She told me Henley wrote this when he was 12 and had to get one of his legs removed. He wrote it to show how this would not define his life. She should this to me because I was having a really hard time reading. The year before I had been diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability. I had given up on reading or learning at all since finding out about my disability. I let it define me. This poem changed that. It changes my life. To this day I keep this poem in a pocket of my backpack at all times to always remind me that we can't let things control us.
    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/182194

    Marissa S
    Period 5

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    1. ✔ I agree that these poems are amazing. ツ ❤ ♛ Keep up the good work! ☂☼

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  23. The poem “Travel” by Edna St. Vincent Millay really stands out to me. The poem talks about traveling and moving on to someplace new. I find this poem really interesting because the speaker talks about how they can hear and imagine the train no matter what they are doing. To me, this represents having to stay somewhere because of everything around you but desperately wanting to adventure out. I really like this poem because I can relate to the feeling of wanting and thinking about traveling some place new, but feeling stuck because of everyone around me.

    Travel - Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poems/travel/page-/159185/



    I really enjoyed “Running Away” by Hayley Oxborough. The poem talks about running away and leaving all of your problems behind. I feel like everyone can relate to this poem. Everyone feels stressed and angry at some point in their life and they feel like they want to run away and leave it all behind. The poem talks about how when you consider running away, you start to realize all you have to lose, which causes you to stay. If you do end up running, you will look back and miss all that you left. I really like this poem because it is a simple reminder that the good things in life are bigger than the bad things.

    Running Away - Poem by Hayley Oxborough
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poems/running/page-/1446426/


    I really enjoyed reading “Reflections” by David Taylor. I have never read a poem written in this type of format. I found it very interesting that when you read the poem, the beginning of the line means something different than end of the line. Each line starts with some type of question, and by the end of the line it is somewhat of a confirmation. I really like this poem because it represents uncertainty which can eventually turn into certainty.

    Reflections - Poem by David Taylor
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poems/mirror/page-/10671841/


    The last poem I found that I really enjoyed is “Sky Seasoning” by Shel Silverstein. This poem talks about how powerful the sky and the world is. To me, the sky in this poem represents the outdoors and the world around us. The poem talks about how different everything can feel with a little “sky”. I believe that being outside and being open to the world around you can make everything see better!

    Sky Seasoning - Poem by Shel Silverstein
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poems/sky/page-/22320881/


    Alyssa Sachs P. 1

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    1. I really liked the poem Running Away! i think you're very right about a lot of people being able to relate because as high schoolers we are under so much stress and we just want to leave. When it is saying that she is going to run away and then doesn't because of fear I think we can all relate to this too because we can just get so worked up and say that we will do something when we back down because of fear. This was a really cool poem! :)
      Shannon Finn

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  24. The first poem or song in this case that I chose is “ Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane. It’s a very depressing song which I like to listen to once in a while when my mood is down and I’m alone. The song can be interpreted in many different ways. Some people may think it is about a certain place two people meet at. It may be physical place or an emotional place. I also think it is a lot about having something to hold on to and relying on.As a junior in highschool, I’m just realizing how soon things are coming. It scares me that I will be a senior next year yet I’m so excited to take on this new adventure. It scares me that I’m gonna meet new people and I may no longer be friends with the old ones. Sometimes, I want to go back to being 10 years old and having this huge canvas of my teenage years that I still have yet to complete. It can also apply during relationships which we all have dealt with, will deal with and are dealing with now.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KHJKj9GgsI


    The second poem I would like to share is OCD by Neil Hilborn. He performs in a lot of poetry slams and this poem has gone viral over the past few years. When you hear it for the first time, you might not really understand because you’re so focused on the way he is performing and his tone. However, the poem is basically about a man who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This is not something I struggle with although I have a very minor ocd about some things. However, he talks about how OCD impacted his love life and his love life impacted his OCD.He wrote this poem at a point in his life where he felt was one of his lowest point so writing was his getaway. I can relate to him in that part. Although there isn’t something like OCD that is affecting me, we all have our own personal things and our hobbies. I got to perform this poem during Acting Workshop class last year and it was so interesting to put myself in his character and feel what he is going through.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKZ4pdSU-s
    http://genius.com/Neil-hilborn-ocd-annotated - lyrics

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    1. The third poem I discovered is Snow In Your Shoes by Ana Ristovic. The poem talks about how a home is not a home because of the materialistic things. This can be interpreted into anything. For example, a home is not a home because of the location and the size. It is home because home is where the family is or home is where the heart is. This poem can also talk about friendships/relationships. For example, a relationship is not defined by the amount of materialistic things you get for each other or the affection shown online/to the public. It is deeper than that. Everything is created from a strong foundation. It’s created from memories.
      http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/27/snow-shoes


      The last song I would like to share is Love Yourz by J.Cole. I couldn’t find a clean version lyrics link but I’m pretty sure there are youtube videos of the clean version.I absolutely love this song which is rather a rap song. Every word has a deep meaning. For example, he says , “Its beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success.” I believe it means that whatever you’re going through will teach you a lesson. Your dark days will soon be over and there will always be a beauty in it because you will learn. However, even when we achieve something, it may not be what we want. For example, making it big in hollywood is every actors dream but there can be a lot of negativity that comes with the fame. He also starts the song with “No such thing as life that’s better than yours.” It’s just one of those thoughts to keep you motivated in life. Yes it may be bad right now but there will always be someone who may have it worse so we should be grateful with what we have. There’s another part where he says, “ For what’s money without happiness? or hard times without the people you love.” He’s saying what is all this money you have if it doesn’t make you happy and what is success if you don’t have the people you love by your side. The whole song keeps me very humble and just gives off this intelligent, positive energy.

      http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jcole/loveyourz.html - lyrics
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifBJumarrDM
      - Shradha S P1


      Sorry it wouldn't accept all this in one comment because I had too many words!

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  25. "Such Great Heights" The Postal Service
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCYWymG9fSs
    This Postal Service song has always seemed to me to be one of the sweetest love songs I've ever heard. The lyrics are extremely poetic and I think they capture how wonderful it is to find someone who seems to be made for you. Ben Gibbard sings: "I am thinking it's a sign/ that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images/ and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned/ and I have to speculate/ that God himself did make us into corresponding shapes/ like puzzle pieces from the clay." I've included the link to a cover of this song by a band called Iron and Wine because their slow and peaceful style translates of the song more clearly.


    "I do not love you…" Pablo Neruda
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs1rv0ld5rI
    Pablo Neruda is the author of another of my favorite love poems, which is called "I do not love you…" This Cuban poet has always been one of my favorites since I bought one of his books in middle school and discovered his descriptive and flowing voice. Although the title seems negative, the poem goes: "I do not love you as though you are salt-rose or topaz/ or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off/ I love you as certain dark things are to be loved/ in secret, between the shadow and the soul." Neruda is telling his beloved that he doesn't love her in the way he loves ordinary things, but in a way even more special.


    "The Aeroplane Over the Sea" Neutral Milk Hotel
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6H8WcTPnWM
    This has always been a song that brings up many memories for me, and I don't know many others that can capture the fleetingness of youth in the same way. Jeff Magnum sings: "And one day we will die, and our ashes will fly from the aeroplane over the sea/ but for now we are young, let us live in the sun, and count all of the beautiful things we can see/ love to be in the arms of all I'm keeping here with me." This lyric simultaneously accepts the inevitability of death while rejoicing in the wonder of the here and now. The song ends with a classic lyric that's always seemed to me to be a marvel at the mystery of life: "How strange it is to be anything at all."


    "Bluebird" Charles Bukowski
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppjTXRx-gGE
    This poem makes me cry, especially when I listen to the recited version (link provided). It talks about how the author has a "bluebird in [his] heart that wants to get out," but the author is "too tough for him," asking the bird, "Do you want to mess me up? Do you want to screw up my book sales in Europe?" The author constantly pushes down the bluebird and drowns him in whiskey. By the end of the poem, Bukowski lets us know that he does let the bluebird out every once in a while, only in private, but hastily covers it up- "but I don't weep, do you?" This poem seems to me to be a metaphor for all the things that we keep bottled up inside of ourselves that we feel we can't share with people, choosing instead to wear a mask of our gruffest and best selves. The "bluebird" is Bukowski's sincerity.

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    1. Translates the meaning* of the song more clearly

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  26. My favorite poem is entitled, "If" and is written by E.E Cummings. When I was in middle school, I had read Cummings' "In Just." I did some research and found this poem, and fell in love with it. This poem displayed, E.E. Cummings' ability to handle profound topics with a light-hearted tone. "If" explains that life isn't fair, and things may not always work out how they originally were planned. However, this precisely makes our world, "Our World;" us, ourselves; you, yourself, and me, myself.

    Next, I very much enjoy the poem, "Kindness" by Sylvia Plath. The poem has an almost ecstatic tone, as Plath seems to be pleased by the pleasures she has met in life. However, it difficult for me to not speculate its true meaning. "Kindness" was written just days before Plath's suicide. I wonder if Plath was being sarcastic, or had found this quality in others. When I first read the poem, I was enthralled by the multiple meanings that could be derived from it.
    http://hellopoetry.com/sylvia-plath/

    Another poem I adore is called "Long-Leg Lou and Short-Leg Sue." Like any young child, I loved Shel Silverstein. In this poem, not only is the rhyming very enticing, but so is the message. Silverstein wants children to understand that we shouldn't judge others who aren't similar to ourselves or share our advantages in life. If we do, he warns us that we might, "be careful what we wished for."
    http://poemsbyshelsilverstein.blogspot.com/2009/01/poem-by-shel-silverstein-pg-35.html

    Finally, scrolling through the New Yorker poetry page, I found the poem, "Star System" by Clive James. This poem stars by describing our solar system and stars. But, then it talks about the issues of time in space and how our universe will continue. This poem also has much textual ambiguity.
    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/16/star-system

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  27. Before I start, my poems are all song lyrics, since these songs connect to me most.

    My first 'poem' is "By The Way" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The song is about one of their shows, but the singer waits for his love. It's a very catchy song, but very touching. "By the way I tried to say, I'd be there waiting for... Dani the girl is Singing songs to me, Beneath the marquee, Overload"

    The second 'poem' is "Breaking The Habit" by Linkin Park. The song is about controlling issues. I can relate as I had some anger issues in the past, and the lyrics are very similar to the issues that consumed me."I don't know what's worth fighting for, Or why I have to scream. I don't know why I instigate, And say what I don't mean. I don't know how I got this way. I know it's not alright. So I'm breaking the habit.."

    My third ‘poem’ is “Can’t Stop” by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. These lyrics relate to giving it all to someone. You do whatever you can to make them happy. It’s very similar to my personality. I care for everyone's well-being. “The world I love. The tears I drop. To be part of. The wave can't stop. Ever wonder if it's all for you”

    My fourth ‘poem’ is “Buffalo Soldier” by Bob Marley. It means a lot to me as its one of my dad’s favorite songs. Though the lyrics are meaningful, it means more to me as a sentimental thing. My dad and I use to enjoy listening to this constantly.
    Scott K P1

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    1. Wow scott all such great choices and I agree with you for your reasons for can't stop-tyler

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  28. The first song I chose is from The Virgin Suicides score, it's called Playground Love by Air. The songs very short but it reads very poetically. After each line the phrase "You're my playground love" is repeated.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/air/playgroundlove.html

    A poem that I like it Ariel by Silvia Plath. I like it because it reminds me of The Little Mermaid, but I'm not sure if she based it off her. The song has a beachy feel and talks about the ocean a lot. It reminds me of going to the beach in the winter.

    Home Burial by Robert Frost is a classic in my eyes. The poem to me is about two people. The poem itself has dialog in it and it reminds me of a story. The poem is very beautifully written as are all of his poems. This poem is pretty long but it's worth reading and it will probably be one of my favorites forever.

    My last poem is called "How To Draw A Perfect Circle" by Terrance Hayes.
    This poem is very beautiful and compares and contrasts objects in a very artistic way. My favorite lines are
    "As there are jewels of matrimony, as many whirls as there are teeth
    In the mouth of the future: the mute pearls a bride wears to her 
wedding,
    The sleeping ovaries like the heads of riders bunched in a tunnel."
    I found this poem while looking for poems to recite in class, though this is sort of lengthy it's totally worth the read along with Terrance's other poems.

    Katherine S period 1

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  29. http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/242246

    My first poem is Across the Bay by Donald Davie and it is about his memory of a bay he used to go to. I like this poem because it reminds me of my childhood in florida and how I also reminisce about certain things. It doesn’t seem like he is very fond of the bay however but it is still a memory to him, and I also think about places that I used to go when at the time I didn’t like them very much.

    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/172131

    My second poem is The Secret Garden by Rita Dove. This poem is about someone who is lost and is able to find love. I like this poem because it is very uplifting and puts me into a good mood. I also enjoy the metaphors that the poet used because they are simple yet beautiful.

    http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/242156

    I chose American Smooth, also by Rita Dove, for my third poem because it is very well written. I like how she describes the experience she had and is able to make it seem like she is living the moment as she is writing it. The experience itself, being so caught up in something and you become lost in the moment and don’t let other things cloud the moment, is relatable as well.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mariahcarey/whenyoubelieve.html

    My last poem is actually a song but it is one of my favorites. The song “When You Believe” by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston is very inspiring and motivational. The lyrics are very beautiful and are able to bring people's spirits back up. My mother showed me this song because she has always been in love with Whitney and I fell in love with the song the first time I heard it as well.
    -Shelby Olivieri period 1

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    1. Nice poem selections Shelby! All three of those poems are heart warming and touching. each of those poems has a deep meaning. Good job connecting them to your life. The last poem/song is a very gracious song and Whitney and Mariah do a great job preforming it.
      Mike A period 1

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  30. http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/books/harpercollins-ems/lightintheattic-presents-large.jpg
    This first poem that I like is ‘Presents, Presents, Presents’ by Shel Silverstein. I specifically enjoy the simplicity of his writing as he typically writes for children; in this piece he uses a rhyming scheme which, for me, makes it easier to read as a whole. However, I do feel that there is an underlying message about wealth and success in the poem. For example, in the last few lines it says, “And its painfully surprising To find life’s not that pleasant When you become a prisoner of Too many presents.” I feel that the theme or essential meaning of this poem is that material possessions do not guarantee contentment; being happy lies within your actions, attitude and character.
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/will-there-really-be-a-morning/
    This next poem is titled ‘Will There Really Be a Morning?’ by Emily Dickinson. Again, this poem has a rhyme pattern. Although this piece is rather short comparative to some of her other work, I love how she is constantly questioning the reader; it truly makes you think about what she is asking and attempt to discover the answer. For example, she writes, “Will there really be a "Morning"?
    Is there such a thing as "Day"? Could I see it from the mountains If I were as tall as they?” I feel that in this poem Dickinson was writing in hopes to broaden the perspective of the average individual. For instance, she writes about the bigger picture in life, and one might not think about the ambiguity of how the nature surrounding us came to be on a day to day basis.
    http://mypoeticside.com/wp-content/uploads/textimage/bb8c80f857fa6e9d84a33db369fb68b3.png
    This next poem is called ‘The Beauty of it All’ by Celia Berrell. This poem also has a consistant rhyme scheme. But, the overall message is important because it makes the reader aware of our natural environment. She mentions the start of the universe altogether and describes how elaborate life here on earth is as it varies from different species throughout. But mainly, she writes about how our planet is beautiful yet mysterious. For example, she says, “ Our tiny earth holds precious gifts as through the universe it drifts With organisms varied, rife. Are we alone in having life? This special form of energy enduring in its frailty, bestows such beauty, all admired.”
    http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/our-mother-earth
    This last poem is ‘Our Mother Earth’ by Joshua Isham. This poem, like the other three, rhymes as well. But the reason why I like this piece is the theme displayed of environmental sustainability and conservation. I like how it mentions that some people on earth do in fact take nature and the systems for granted without ever giving much thought as to what disrupts ecosystems or habitats. In reality, much of our human activity and thought of increased wealth and consumerism harm greatly the planet as a whole and it is important to realize the changes we need to make in order to preserve life for generations to come. Isham writes, “This mother Earth,Who gives us life; This mother Earth, Heart filled with strife, We love her not, Though love we should ;Her death we plot, For life's "own good" I like how mentions that mother earth grants us endless “love” yet we are unable to appreciate her beauty.
    Carolyn C. Period 5

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  31. http://www.metrolyrics.com/dust-in-the-wind-lyrics-kansas.html
    “Dust In The Wind” by Kansas at first seems sad, but I feel like it reminds people of how fast life goes by. “I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment’s gone.” Life goes by quickly and constantly changes faster than we realize. Especially at this time of year, when I’m only just starting to realize I only have one more year of highschool before I’m off to college and thrown into the world when it seems like just yesterday I was in elementary school. To me the song is about living life to the fullest, live in the moment, and to not worry too much.

    http://www.metrolyrics.com/dont-panic-lyrics-coldplay.html
    The second song that speaks to me is “Don’t Panic” by Coldplay. The words “We live in a beautiful world” is repeated multiple times throughout the song. It’s a reassuring song, telling us “There's nothing here to run from. Cause here, everybody here's got somebody to lean on.” It’s a beautiful world, there’s no need to run from any problems, and you have friends to lean on. With it’s calming words and soft melodic background, the song makes me feel at peace.

    http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/a/aliceinwonderland23618/inaworldofmyown784313.html
    “In A World Of My Own” from Alice in Wonderland really speaks to me, because because “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.” I often go off into a world of my own, daydreaming about whatever comes to mind. The lines “I could listen to a babbling brook and hear a song that I could understand. I keep wishing it could be that way, because my world would be a wonderland,” sounds especially familiar when I think of my most recent thoughts.

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/strokes/fearofsleep.html
    "Fear of Sleep" by The Strokes is from the album First Impressions of The Earth. I like the song especially because of the way Casablancas seems to want to be away from other people and be on his own, finding himself to be better company. My favorite lines are "I know you hate to be impressed with someone else, other than yourself
    But you know trying to hold back on being an asshole helps."
    Shannon Halloran Period 5

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  32. My first poem that I have chosen is called Alone by Edgar Allan Poe. While the majority of E.A.P’s poetry was rather dark, a lot of it really spoke out to me. As I began to read I find myself being able to dissect and find lines that really stick out to me. It is not really poetry that I can necessarily relate to but I find most of his poetry especially these intriguing and with each line I read I am excited as to what the next will bring. It’s almost as his words are hypnotic and extremely endearing.
    http://www.123helpme.com/analysis-of-poes-alone-view.asp?id=160877

    My next poem that I have chosen is another Edgar Allen Poe poem called “A dream within a dream.” I really liked this poem because while many people look very deeply into what each line may mean I think the attraction to the poem is its simplicity. It is able to get the message across to the reader without putting in long stanzas or using the biggest words but instead it is sweet and concise which makes it much easier for someone like me who doesn't exuberant amounts of poetry.
    http://100.best-poems.net/dream-within-dream.html

    The next poem I choose to write about was “ A blank letter” by Sudeep Sen. I really like this poem because I find it in a way somewhat comical. It made me smile and I was able to detect the irony written in the poem. I really liked the lines…
    “And the lines perfect in their presentation of absence.
    Only a bold logo on top
    revealed its origin, but absolutely nothing else.
    I examined the sheets,
    peered through their grains —
    heavy cotton-laid striations —
    concealing text, in white ink, postmarked India.
    Even the watermark's translucence”
    … As these were some of the more ironic writings in the poem that I thought in a way were interesting and intriguing to read about.
    http://100.best-poems.net/blank-letter.html

    The last letter I choose to write about was “School is not cool” by Chantel Braatz. I really enjoyed this poem because even though I value the education that I have sometimes school seems as though it is consuming you and the majority of your time and at times an it can be extremely overwhelming. This poem is extremely relatable which is why I enjoyed reading it so much.
    http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/school-is-not-so-cool/

    Jessie O P5

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  33. This poem is called “O California” by Sarah Holland-Batt. I like this poem because it is very relatable to me. She talks about wanting to be in California and all the beauties it has to offer. I would like to live in California and she explains some of the reasons that it is desirable to me. The poem is very descriptive and although it doesn’t rhyme, it flows very nicely.
    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/23/o-california
    My second poem is “Where Words Fail Music Speaks” by Lucy Rudman. I like this poem because it can pertain to many teens lives. It talks about how music is able to put people's emotions into songs, and then others can listen to the music and feel the same way. Everyone listens to music and this poem gives a more artistic reasoning of why we may listen to certain emotional music.
    http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/where-words-fail-music-speaks
    My third poem is “Carpe Diem” by Robert Frost. I really enjoy this poem because often we don’t make the best of each day and what is happening. He uses age as a character and age is telling the children to, "Be happy, happy, happy, And seize the day of pleasure.” As a younger child I didn’t appreciate little things and now that I am a little older, I look back and wish I had. When we are young children we all want to be teenagers and as teenagers we sometimes want to be young children. This poem made me realize this and now I will begin to “seize the day” more often.
    http://allpoetry.com/poem/8469247-Carpe-Diem-by-Robert-Frost
    My final poem is “Seas Fever” by John Masefield. I enjoy this poem because I spend most of my time at the beach, and when I am not there I wish I was. He talks about why he wants to go to the sea and many of the things are what makes the sea also enjoyable to me. This poem rhymes which makes it very catchy.
    http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/242552
    Emma D p1

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    1. I also really enjoyed the poem "Carpe Diem" by Robert Frost. Too often in life, we experience days that we wish hadn't happened; whether it be because school was more difficult than usual or because work was monotonous and boring. Although the saying of "seize the day" has been used over and over so much so that it has turned into a cliché, Frost phrases the lines of his poem so well, that it has a lasting impact on the reader. By creating an image through his use of words, the reader is able to make perfect sense of the message that Frost is giving through his poems: live life to the fullest, take advantage of every opportunity you are given, and put little trust in tomorrow.
      Jillian McGuire, Period 1

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  34. I like how you chose many of Shel Silverstein's poems. I think many people feel that his poems are for young children, but as you have pointed out, they have messages hidden within the seemingly simple lines. It's impressive that you really thought about the symbolism and were able to relate the poems to your own life.

    Katey Yale
    Period 5

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  35. http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/mime-rhyme

    Thank you for giving my poem the thumbs up. It's a silly little poem but I loved writing it. Believe it or not this has been copied or out right plagiarized by a lot of people. But thank you so much for giving it a nice review.
    Shirley Smothers

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  36. Very nice post.really I apperciate your blog.Thanks for sharing.keep sharing more blogs.

    ดูหนังออนไลน์

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