"Hazel Tell LaVerne"-diction

"Swimmin aroun an tryin ta climb the sida the bowl..."  "Hazel Tells LaVerne" by Katharyn Howd Machan is a very cute poem.  It is almost a "remix" of "The Frog Prince."  However, the diction is very different, as shown in the quote of this blog.  The diction proves that the girl is not proper at all.  This adds humor to the poem because she is not meant to be a princess.  "Me a princess"  Even though this poem lacks punctuation, I can tell that the girl is asking herself and basically laughing at herself because she is thinking that there is no way she can ever become a princess.  This poem was one of my favorites!

"Dove Beach"

"Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold is a peaceful poem, but it has much contrasts.  Basically, the first two stanzas are very peaceful and are describing a very calming atmosphere.  Then, the last two stanzas are much different.  They are very pessimistic, and they talk much about the problems in the world.  "The Sea of Faith was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore."  I think this line means that everyone used to have faith and hope; however, people's hope has deteriorated throughout the years.  I feel that everyone has to always have faith and hope because if people don't, what else is there to hold onto.  God is always there for us!  The speaker also was saying that the beach brings back many memories, and they make him think.  Most of these thoughts bring him misery.

"The Apparition"

"When by thy scorn, O murderess..."  The poem "The Apparition" by John Donne is a confusing poem in my opinion.  The quote beginning this blog made me think that the poem must be about the killing of someone, or it is about something scary.  I feel that the speaker may have been kidnapped, and they are worried about being killed.  They are thinking of what will happen to them when they die.  Also, the speaker was talking about his loved one, and he mentioned "his ghost."  This made me think that the speaker was worried about his loved one, especially for her safety.  Another meaning of the poem could be that the speaker is afraid of dying, or they afraid of their loved on dying. 

"Crossing the Bar"-personification

"Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me."  This is an example of personification.  The author is stating that the star is calling the speaker, giving the star human characteristics.  "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a really cool poem, actually.  I feel that this poem could have a couple different means; I am not sure which one is more correct.  Either someone just passed away, and when the speaker looks at the stars, it reminds him of his loved one that passed away.  Also, he is remembering that they will see each other again, after he "crosses the bar," meaning the bar between Heaven and earth.  The other meaning could mean that the speaker will one day meet God.  "My pilot..."  This was a reference to someone in the poem.  I think "my pilot" stands for God.  However, it could mean both meanings.

"My mistress' eyes"- simile

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun."  This is an example of a simile.  This compares the mistress' eyes to the sun.  This line came from the poem "My mistress' eyes" by William Shakespeare.  This is a very interesting poem, but it was a little difficult for me to understand.  "Black wires grow on her head."  When the speaker says this, it makes it seem that he finds his mistress as unattractive.  It also proves that her hair is black.  "With false compare."  When I read this line, I felt that it meant that he did not truly love her.  He is just using her for sex, since she is a mistress.

"next course of God America i"

"Next course of God America i" by e.e. Cummings is a very confusing poem.  It seemed that it may just be self-explanatory, and someone is just talking about America.  However, of course like every other poem, there is more meaning behind it.  First, I feel that the speaker was a soldier for the U.S. army because of the way he talked about America.  I could tell that he had a very personal connection; not just one of being a citizen.  There was a line in the poem that said, "heroic happy dead..."  These were the soldiers who fought in the army to save our country.  "They did not stop to think they died..."  This meant that the soldiers kept all the citizens in mind, and they fought to protect our freedom.  I am very grateful for all the soldiers who fought for our country!

"Barbie Doll"

"Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy is a different poem.  It's actually a little strange!  However, there is some meaning behind it.  I feel this poem is about a girl who has growing up, she became ugly.  "Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs."  This describes the way people saw the girl.  So many people picked on her and made fun of her.  She wanted to be prettier, so she made herself that way.  "She cut off her nose and her legs."  This is compared to a doll in the way they can take off some of their body parts.  Now thinking of it, I have another interpretation, and I am not sure which one I think is more correct.  Possibly, the girl was a bully and was ugly on the inside.  Then, when she realized she did not have any friends and not many people liked her, she decided to be nice!

"APO 96225"- irony

"APO 96225" by Larry Rottmann is a weird poem.  I could not tell if it was an insulting poem or a depressing one.  "Please don't write such depressing letters.  You're upsetting your mother."  Frankly, this response was not what I expected at all!  I had to read it another time to just make sure I was reading it right.  I feel that the author was trying to lighten up the moment, or trying to be funny about a really touchy, depressing subject.  I feel that there was irony throughout this poem.  Some of it I felt was sarcastic; however, I think there was a little bit of meaning behind it.  I feel that the speaker is saying that parents always say they want to know everything that is going on in their child's life.  However, when the child tells the parents everything, the parents wish they had never known.

"Sorting Laundry"-metaphor

"Sorting Laundry" by Elisavietta Ritchie is a bit of a sad poem.  "Folding clothes, I think of folding you into my life."  This is an example of a metaphor.  The speaker is missing someone, and she wants this person back in her life.  In this poem, the speaker is looking back on her life with a previous loved one.  The laundry symbolizes all the memories they had together.  "A mountain of unsorted wash could not fill the empty side of the bed."  The "unsorted wash" stands for all the things they missed out on.  This also shows that her lover either left her or passed away.

"Batter my heart, three personed God"/ similie

"Batter my heart, three personed God" by John Donne is a very interesting poem!  I am not exactly sure what it is about, but like always I have an idea.  I am taking this poem literally, and I think it is really about God.  "As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend."  This is saying that God always knocks, and wants to be a part of our life.  However do we always listen?  "That I may rise and stand."  This means that when God calls, we should rise and stand before Him.  "I, like an usurped town, to another due."  Truthfully, I just know this is an example of a simile, and I am not sure what it is about.  I took from this poem that the speaker is saying that we are all sinners.  He is asking God to cleans us and accept us even though we have done wrong.  I know that God always forgives us. 

"The Joy of Cooking"

"The Joy of Cooking" by Elaine Magarrell is a bit of a weird poem actually!  However, I think I can make sense of it!  "I have prepared my sister's tongue."  This was one of the lines the speaker said; however, people cannot take this literal in poetry (at least I don't think).  Possibly, the speaker is implying that her sister says dumb or mean things.  Possibly, she is a gossiper or something of the sort.  I think the speaker has just had enough of the stuff her sister says, and she is expressing how she feels.  With brother, I think the speaker is trying to express that her brother is mean.  She describes dipping the heart in sour sauce, so maybe the brother has a sour personality.

"Dream Deferred"- Similie

"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes is a confusing poem with many similes throughout.  One examples would be when the speaker says, "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?"  This line is comparing a dream that did not come true to a raisin drying up in the sun.  I think the speaker is asking, "Does the dream just vanish when it first does not come true?"  "Should one give up on their dream when this happens?"  One other thing I noticed throughout the poem was that the author compared the dream to food much of the time.  In my opinion, one should never give up on their dreams.  People need to always persevere!

"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning"

"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne is a poem that took much thinking.  However, once I read it twice, I feel I understood more of it.  It is a little bit of a depressing poem.  "The breath goes now, and some say no."  This means that some people are dying.  Their physical bodies, along with God are saying now is the time for them to go to Heaven.  However, others are not ready for them to leave earth.  Also, there is another significant line throughout the poem.  "No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move."  I feel that the speaker is saying do not cry for me because we will one day be together again!  One of the most important meanings of the poem that stuck out to me the most was that when someone dies, love is what keep them and people on Earth together.

"Toads"-Symbolism

"Toads" by Philip Larkin is a very interesting poem, and shows much symbolism.  I feel that the "toad" is meant to symbolize something that is a burden or a hardship.  As the speaker states, "Why should I let the toad work, squat on my life?"  I think this means that the speaker is trying to conquer their obstacle or challenge they are being faced with.  They are determined to not allow the "toad" affect their life.  In my opinion, the speaker is insecure about himself because he talks much about what other people have, and what he does not.  For example, he says, "Their unspeakable wives are skinny as whippets."  This is the speaker talking about other people's wives.  As I said, he seems jealous of all the riches others have, and he regrets what he does not.

"The Pink Dog"- Imagery

"The Pink Dog" is a very interesting poem where one has to dig deep to really understand what it means.  There is also much imagery in this poem.  "Never have I seen a dog so bare."  The speaker is speaking of his sight; however, I do not feel the author is talking about a dog, but the speaker is talking about a poor person.  The speaker keeps referring to people who beg, or possibly prostitutes.  I think when the speaker says, "Naked and Pink," she is referring to naked as being someone who does not really have anything.  They are without their basic necessities in life.  I thought that pink may have meant burnt because they were talking about a beach at the beginning of the poem.  However, I do not know how being burnt from the sun would relate to a beggar.  This is where I am a little confused.

"London"

"London," written by William Blake, is very interesting, however a little confusing.  In the second stanza, the author says basically that everyone is in misery.  "In every cry of every man..."  This obviously suggests that something awful is happening around the city.  Also, "black'ning Church" implies that the Church is not helping anyone during this time; they are basically shunning everyone.  Another example of destruction is when the author writes, "Runs in blood down Palace walls."  This is said to show that the monarchy is corrupt.  In addition, in the last stanza, the author says "Harlot's curse."  I feel that this suggests that the author feels sorry for the prostitute, which is a Harlot, because of the kind of life they have.  I feel the author is trying to imply that sometimes people cannot control the kind of life they have.

"London"

"London," written by William Blake, is very interesting, however a little confusing.  In the second stanza, the author says basically that everyone is in misery.  "In every cry of every man..."  This obviously suggests that something awful is happening around the city.  Also, "black'ning Church" implies that the Church is not helping anyone during this time; they are basically shunning everyone.  Another example of destruction is when the author writes, "Runs in blood down Palace walls."  This is said to show that the monarchy is corrupt.  In addition, in the last stanza, the author says "Harlot's curse."  I feel that this suggests that the author feels sorry for the prostitute, which is a Harlot, because of the kind of life they have.  I feel the author is trying to imply that sometimes people cannot control the kind of life they have.

"The Convergence of the Twain"-Personification

Thomas Hardy's, "The Convergence of the Twain," is a poem about the Titanic.  This was a very depressing day in our history.  There is also an example of personification throughout the poem.  "Dims moon-eyed fishes near gaze at the gilded gear."  In this example of personification, the fish are asking a question: What happened to the ship?  "And as the smart ship grew in stature, grace, and hue, in shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too."  Titanic was said to be the largest ship made during that time.  I feel that is why the author calls it the "smart ship."  When the author says,"...as the ship grew in stature and grace, so did the iceberg."  This is said because the ship ran into an Iceberg, and that is how it sank.

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain"- Imagery

Dickinson's, "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain," is a little bit of a confusing poem that can have many different interpretations.  At first, I thought this poem was trying to describe someone having a nightmare.  However, after analyzing more closely, I came up with a better conclusion!  "Funeral, in my brain," is explaining that her head is going to go basically die.  The woman become mental at this point.  One of the most important lines throughout the poem was,"Plake in reason, broke."  This is saying that at that very second the woman became very crazy and lost her mind.  Also, there is much imagery throughout this poem, as well as many other poems!  "Like a drum."  This line describes imagery because it is saying that the service, or possibly the woman's mind "kept beating-beating."  At this point, I feel the woman thought her mind was going to explode.  Finally, one of the senses not described throughout this poem was the sense of sight; however, every other sense was mentioned.  The use of senses is used to show much imagery throughout the poem.

"The Widow's Lament in Springtime"

William's poem, "The Widow's Lament in Springtime," is a very sorrowful poem discussing a widow's grief due to her husband's passing.  In the first line, sorrow is compared to her yard.  The widow looks out at her yard and all the beauty, but it just makes her think about her husband.  "With the cold fire that closes around me this year."  The cold fire describes the sadness that is surrounding the women this springtime.  "...but the grief in my heart is stronger that they."  In this line, the lady is saying that the grief in her heart is stronger than the beauty outside.  All the flowers and bushes remind her of her husband, and it just brings her grief.  "I feel that I would like to go there and fall into those flowers and sink into the marsh near them."  I think that this line means that the widow just wants to go peacefully to Heaven and be with her husband.  This poem was beautifully written, however it was very sorrowful and gloomy. :(

"Spring"- Similie

Hopkin's poem, "Spring," is a beautiful poem with much symbolism and comparisons.  There is also the use of similie throughout the poem.  "The ear, it strikes like lightening to hear him sing."  This is a comparison between the man's voice compared to lightening.  Spring time is the glorious time where most people celebrate Easter, rejoicing over Jesus' Resurrection.  "Thrush's eggs look little low heavens."  This line mentions eggs, which is a significant symbol used to describe Easter.  Also, the eggs are compared to Heaven, reminding people of what Easter truly stands for, which is Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead.  "A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning in Eden garden."  This line refers to the garden of Eden as the beginning of time.  However, it also references that Jesus' Resurrection is the new beginning because it opened the gates to Heaven.  One more significant line throughout the poem was, "Nothing is so beautiful as spring."  This line is implying that there is no more beautiful time than spring because it reminds everyone of the loving and courageous thing Jesus did for us!

"The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry"

     In Perrine's, "The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry," he states many important facts and views on how to look at poetry.  He suggests many methods and statements on how to go about analyzing poetry; most I agreed with, a few I took a different stance.  I agreed with the statement that said, "There are no correct or incorrect readings: there are only readings which differ more or less widely from a statistical norm.  However, Perrine contradicts himself throughout the writing.  He gives reasons some opinions for why some interpretations would be incorrect.  This confused me a little bit because he is saying two different things.  Perrine also says many interesting things that I agreed with.  "No poet, however, likes to be caught in the predicament of having to explain his own poems."  He is stating that poets do not want to explain their poems.  The write their poems in a certain way, so others would analyze and have their own interpretations of the poem.
     I also found it very interesting that all the poems Perrine addressed, we read in class.  By reading his interpretations, I understood more about what the poem is really about.  I agreed and understood the analyzations made by Perrine referring to these poems.  Referring to the untitled poem by Emily Dickinson, I felt that the ships and seas were being referred to as flowers, so Dickinson was describing a garden.  However, Perrine suggests many good reasons for why it is describing a sunset.  He says, "Daffodil' would normally be plural if it referred to flowers rather than to color: why would not the poet say "On a sea if daffodils?"  For some reason, this statement convinced me the most that the poem was being compared to a sunset.  This reading was very helpful and interesting!