Reaction 2: Poetry

For the next few weeks I will be doing these "reaction" poems that are, in essence, replies for my school to various poems I am reading. In week two, [this post] I will be focusing on Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Fable" poem. 

Ah, Fable's... a delicious adventure for a cup of tea and a kitty spree. All the while marching together in the wind while... speaking? 

I enjoy Fable's and find them quite wonderful merely for the fact that I am a huge animal lover anyways and to think of an animal speaking would be awesome. Surely most of you have heard of the famous Fable "Animal Farm" and its gritty world, but Ralph Emerson's "Fable" is not nearly as gritty. 

While the squirrel and mountain had a quarrel... it was not exactly a complete war, as was seen in "Animal Farm". 

Now then, in reaction to this weeks poem I will attempt to do a 'reply' to the poem, utilizing the same style of rhythm and rhyme. In essence, this is a living reply to "Fable". Please enjoy.

A Fable Story: Mountains Reply to the Squirrel 

While the squirrel and the mountain
Were having their discussion
And the latter called the former 'Little Prig.'
Cliff laughed,

'You endure my skin little pig;
Yet spout to me about weather
When it is only us together
That emphasizes quite clear

I am linear.
And I think it quite disgrace
That you occupy my space.
Not as large as me you are
Little bug beneath the stars.
I'll deny you all you take
Your pretty squirrel track;
Wisely put; your talent differs;
If you cannot lift a mountain back,
Nor can you understand my ciphers.'

My idea came with the mountain, being sturdy and strong as it is, resisting the squirrels claims and 'fighting' back with words to hopefully shoo the squirrel away.

 

Poem: Reaction

I decided to write a poem, titled Reaction, in reaction to reading the poems this week for my Introduction to American Poetry class. Something caused me to have a subtle yet curious reaction to a common denominator between the poems, that ‘something’ being religion. In each of the readings this week there is some religious / spiritual idea supporting the writer / character and either references it by ‘god’ or ‘goddess’… So in reaction I would like to write my thoughts on this particular finding.

Reaction


If a poem were to allow,

Nothing in it but a crowd,

Of people who do dream,

Something without a team.

Cannot be strong without
A gods will throughout.


What then is the idea thought?

To cause such worry and doubt?

Because without Him or Her

I am truly undoubtedly unsure.

Cannot be strong without
A gods will throughout.


Yet when I look in the sky,

All I see is you and Eye,

But when the chaos ensues

Nothing ever right I choose.

Cannot be strong without
A gods will throughout.


This is my reaction
This is my action
Take a step back and see
All that is there before me.


Because I can be strong without
A gods will throughout.

How to Read a Poem

How to Read a Poem

“Reading poetry well is part attitude and part technique” writes Edward Hirsch, emphasizing the idea that having an emotion to back up some form of skill that is further enforced by a set of ‘ground rules’ for literacy and writing is what poetry’s about. But nothing denotes further from the truth than grounding one’s idea that a poem is exactly the way an individual wants it to be. On the contrary, poetry is not theory or philosophy, but rather the poet’s rendition of a sense of attitude and technique, not the interpretation of it. The struggle is finding that answer: What does the poem mean overall?

Some poets themselves answer the question to finding that answer, as William Carlos Williams entails that a reader must “’complete’ what the poet has begun’”. Again, the answer does not come from within, but through the text of the poem itself.

To do this, many steps may be involved but to simplify how to read a poem I will break it down into three simple steps, enforced by research of others [such as Edward Hirsch].

Besides obviously reading the poem, and for some reading aloud is appropriate as well, I would suggest going through each line and answering the ‘who, what, where, when, why’ questions. Who is the reader? Is it the author of it is the lover, friend, doctor, enemy, priest, etc.? What is the poem talking about? War, hunger, feelings, etc.? Where is the poem taking place [and more so] when is the poem taking place [year, age, etc.]… And finally, why is the poet crafting his or her art into a literary form?

As Edward Hirsch mentions, “Talking Back to [the] Poem” by asking questions such as who the speaker is, what circumstances gave rise to the poem, what kind of figurative language, if any, does the poem use, etc. will help understand the answers.

The next key step is to hone in on specific words that shine, adverbs, people, places, etc. Not to answer the metaphysical questions, but to simple observe them and let it sink in, which will lead naturally into the last phase: connecting.

Finally, try to connect to something within the poem in order to make it feel real for you. While poetry is something we cannot interpret individually and be correct without proper investigation, we can, however, make it a part of our lives.

Overall reading poetry is about figuring out what the poetry is from a metaphysical standpoint and not allowing your own opinion to interfere with the sole purpose of its [the poems] objective.

Poetry: Fantasy Fighter

Fantasy Fighter was something I came up with while listening to Pandora and some action music. I had just finished writing a paper from my Wizardry class on how Magick is applied in real life and took concepts from it to craft this paper. The poem is meant to reflect an author who write fantasy fiction and how an ordinary person can relate to the fantasy as a way of dealing with their own personal problems as reflected by characters. It Part I because Part II, III, and IV are in progress. I developed an alphabetical theme to it and wrote in rhythmic meter to vary the sentences while adding some methodical flow. The mood I wrote this in was very energetic… Afterall, two cups of Turkish coffee is bound to get the blood flowing. Nothing can really beat a good cup of coffee, good music, a good mood, and writing!

Fantasy Fighter Part I

Fantasies will always save us,
Fantasies will always be thus,
The Magic that carries us,
Through despair and stress.

Awaken the senses within,
Become the senses throughout,
Challenge the senses of sin,
Defeat the senses of doubt.

Fantasy fighters are forever might,
Moving through valleys of shadow and death,
Tallying enemies left and right,
Ripping apart conflicts of breath.

Evoke the senses chance,
Follow the senses power,
Gather the senses stance.
Harrow the senses tower.

Fantasies come and go,
Ne’er bother till you stow,
Your life without a blow.
From your hearts final show.

Poetry: Thy Hath Not a Title in Thou

Thy Hath not a Title in Thou was written by me in 10^th grade for a Shakespeare poetry class in which I ‘on the spot’ came up with the poem.  I came up with this and throughout the years have crafted it, though I edited a few spots, it was for the most part done. Its purpose is to invoke a sense of never giving up on oneself or the thing/person you love, and the time old saying of “to thine own self be true.” When I wrote this poem I was in a very focused mood and remember the day as if it was yesterday. The teacher gave us the assignment and within ten minutes I had it completed. She was so impressed by it she had me read it in front of the class. In fact, reflecting on that moment I would like to share that it is one of the primary inspirations for me wanting to become a writer in the first place. 

Thy Hath Not a Title in Thou

Alas tis true for thou art lonesome in this bitter world,
Yet to thee true self that thou art live,
Lonesome is but a swept moment dream,
Wither into my artless veins to which I live,
Oh cruel world why leave thou?
For where am I to stand in this bitter lonesome heap?
For that thou art so true,
Yet thy love burns strong within thou flesh!
Wilt I know not thy thought of love?
Or does thy thought I live within...
Murderous thoughts inside me thick skull,
That I ponder without my own satisfaction,
Will surely thou not know?
I only wish upon thy words,
To love and care for thee till me days end,
Oh cruel world fate it leaves me too,
Or does the light from the forbidden Ra gleam in me eyes,
The light from thine sun god must forbid me vision from thou love,
If tis true shall I fight?
Aye, thy fight is within thy self and to thyself I shall stand strong,
For to give in now is to be worsened by thy death,
Never more my love, never more will I cease to pain...
Promise this is to me,
That I shall never leave thou heart and stand true...

Poetry: El Poem De La La La

El Poem De La La La is a satire poem on language and how it is a connecting factor between worlds… Not to mention its importance on the human brain (which I did not get into). I wrote it in one sitting, did not edit anything because it came straight from my heart and felt it was a one-done piece. I was quite happy to write this piece because it was an outlet of my subtle anger that built up over the years for those who are close minded to understanding language as a bridge between worlds (literally).

El Poem De La La La

So many times I hear you complain,

Making the same mistakes over and over again,

About what I am saying it isn’t for shame,

But now here I am speaking for gain.

My language makes your mouth so sour,

Because I know so many words per hour,

That you hesitate to think straight coward,

So bring it on and let’s take this a step louder!

La La La, the poem I can speak,

La La La, c’est French to me but junk to you,

La La La, you dun say ‘Merika

La La La, I say Hysterical.

So take a step back and think,

Before your world dies out in a blink,

All you know and all you are,

Can’t possibly get you very far.

For with lack of respect,

For brothers all around the world,

Causes all this damn disrespect,

Will follow you to the underworld.

La La La, the words that I speak,

La La La, follow me and my path to l33t,

La La La, or get crushed by Russkii Rhythm

La La La, and feel the world as a cataclysm.

Open your mind my friend,

Seek that which has always been within,

Knowledge, language, love and compassion,

Has always been about the human nation.

Je ne sais pas the world is so round,

But entiendo that life is bound,

Za La La La en route,

So just let it all go and shout, shout, shout! 

Critical Update

Hey everyone, how's it going!

So recent events have created a slight stall in my posts, but no worries! I will be picking up the pace quite soon. Recently I started two more new classes towards my B.A. in English at American Military University, and a few weeks ago we came up to Michigan to visit some family.

During our time here I have collected a few beautiful businesses to add to my repertoire of Business Reviews, in addition to three upcoming articles I hope to sell, and a few blogs including another t.v. series review!

Stay tuned for all the greatest information in a positive, straight forward, and honest review!

Goku "Silver Dragon" Cloud