The bottled sand, to me, represents the taking of something wild and keeping it captive--similar to what we have done to. wild animals for centuries now. I also see this applied to race relations through the centuries as American has had a gruesome past of colonizing societies and almost keeping them captive.

Perhaps bridges are representative of relationships and acquaintance, rather than actual physical bridges. I say this due to the fact that this poem is entitled "Interracial" and is about race relations. This may have come as a result of the racial climates of the time and the activism to get black folks afforded their due rights. I think that this poem also represents a hopeful future and an idealized outlook on life for this time.

There are so many references to colors in this poem and their meaning/symbolism are unknown to me. Does anyone have any thoughts on what they mean individually or their meaning as a collective? My only thoughts are that white represents purity and innocence, purple representing ambition, red representing health or anger, and orange representing joy--but even then, I have no idea how those symbols relate to this poem.

What I had interpreted this to mean, was something that many of us are taught, and so few of us are ever really able to accomplish. So be "quiet with the pushing of our growth" , to me, means that we should not only strive for greatness and excellence, but in doing so, stay humble and kind. This line is highlighting the importance and universal moral of staying humble. I also believe that it is through staying humble and kind, that we see our most important and substantial growth.

The form of this poem really standout to me because of what it reveals about the speaker. Every other line in the poem ends with a question mark, and even at the end does not end with a statement, rather a question. The way that I had interpreted this is that the punctuation reflects the uncertainty that not o only the speaker but so many black folks felt during this time, in regards to things such as their livelihoods, rights, and future in this country.

The tomorrow that the speaker is referring to is the future. The thing that stood out to me as very powerful and beautiful is that this poem was written before black folks attained rights such as suffrage, owing of property, and higher education. Meaning that what the speaker is saying here is coming from a place of hope and is highlighting his strength to persevere through such oppressive times. This line really embodies the whole poem as it is a poem of hope rather than a poem of despair.

The way that I had interpreted this line was that the rivers that the speaker is referring to is symbolic of struggle. Being that rivers are rough and unpredictable, these are the same characteristics of the racial and civil struggles that many black folks experienced during this time. And when the speakers says "I've known rivers ancient as the world ", I took this to mean that the struggles that he faces are the same struggles that black folks have experienced for centuries.

I am not sure what the word "barnstorm" means in the context of this paragraph, does anyone have any thoughts? I'd love to hear what you all think of this.

The use of the word chrysalis really stands out to me here. When we hear the word chrysalis we think of a beautiful insect like a butterfly that is emerging into the world and showing off all of it beauty. By using such a word the author is able to attribute the same emotions, and visions into the rise of the new negro movement. It is hard to see the word chrysalis in the context of this reading and not realize the beauty and the impact of such a movement, similar to that of a new butterfly.

This sentence really works to showcase the impact and the triumph of the new negro movement through the use of bright diction. Words such as "vibrant", "spirit", "masses", and "awake" all work to display the impact that this movement had on the world. The use of such words work to transport the reader into this place in time and gives them all the emotions that the text talks about. Although some may think that this sentence cokes across as dramatic, it is a drama that is completely accurate, powerful, and beautiful.

The phrase "racial art" has been brought up a few times throughout this reading and it actually has stood out to me a a common motif. Being that this piece of writing came out of the "new negro movement", the phrase "racial art" does in fact fit in and capture the writing and the experiences of the time. The new negro movement intertwined both race and art and therefore this theme of racial art was very prominent in "new negro" pieces, as it is shown in this reading. The idea of racial art really means to me that so many amazing black artists were able to take their race (something that had caused them lost of disparities at this time) and turn it into a beautiful and empowering thing. The idea of racial art as it is used in this reading really stands out to me as a source of inspiration.

This metaphor really stood out to me in this paragraph. I love how the author uses the analogy of climbing up a mountain as a means to describe the hellish struggle that many black folks had to live through. One of the most strenuous tasks would be to climb up a mountain, and even more-so, so many people never get to accomplish that. Therefore I really thought that this specific metaphor did a great job a showcasing what life was like at this time. A very powerful piece of prose.

Being that the promising poet had said that he didn't wanted to be a negro but instead a white poet reflected a sense of longing. Also, taking into account the time frame in which this piece was written it really showcases the dire want to be treated and looked at as equal that many black folks experienced at the time and still experience in some ways today. Our self image is one of the most important aspects of life and to be embarrassed or shameful of who we are and subsequently want to be someone else, does in fact reflect a self loathing mindset that the promising poet is experiencing. as a result of the treatment of black folks.

Here we can see Pound again personifying nature and strengthening the motif that nature plays in this poem. Pound shows that in this wasteland, while humans may be scarce, nature does in fact make up for the humanistic traits the are missing. Through phrases like the jungle crouching, the silence humming, and the the thunder speaking. We can really see nature masking its existence known and making up for human traits.

Once again, Pound is playing into the motif of nature. Here we can see Pound giving nature traits that almost make it human and thus making nature seem so much more real than ever. Pound highlights the pain that nature is enduring through his personifications. As Pound writes about the shouting and crying of prison and palace while coupling it with the agony of the stony places, we really start to see that nature does in fact feel things.

This particular line is following the motif of nature within this poem. However something that stood out to me is the personification of nature that is taking place. This makes me think that nature has gotten so out of hand, or so wild in this wasteland that it is taking on the traits of people. My mind also goes to thinking that because humans have done so much tampering with nature that nature is starting to turn into a living thing--possibly nature is growing more powerful and now seeking revenge.

This first line caught my attention due to the almost paradoxical descriptions of the seasons. Usually we hear authors and poet, as well as our selves from personal. experiences, describe winter as brutal. However, Pound describes winter as the opposite, almost making winter sound like a saving grace and instead presenting the spring as the opposite. Winter is known to kill plants and other living things, but in this poem, Pound explains that winter was the season that saved them. I am not sure why this switch happened but I am very interested to see what you all come up with!

This stamens drew my attention due to its paradoxical nature. For the beginnings of our lives we are taught that physicians and doctors are the good guys and that we should trust them--to a degree they are out heroes. However it is so interesting to hear that the doctors in this poem contrast starkly to those we have grown up to love. These doctors hate and torment. This is making a statement that doctors are only heroes to those that are from a certain class and that have the money to benefit them.

It is very interesting that "peasant" traditions are used to give character. Usually peasants are seen as classless and people that are not to be acknowledged by the world. Therefore, to have "peasant" traditions with the purpose of giving something character is quite the paradox. I think that this detail is trying to make a statement on the treatment and outlook on peasants at this given moment in America.

This is a very interesting line, being that Sunday is left out. The fact that Sunday is left out implies that they do not bathe in filth on Sundays. Therefore, all the other days of the week they can lust and sin, however--Sundays are reserved for good morals. This reflects the double sidedness of character and how farce people can be. This also shows how people often put on a certain face for certain people and how easily people are swayed.

Here is see symbols of love and loss. Roses are often seen as symbols of love and romance and thus carry very positive connotations. However the author chose to create an alliteration here that worked to develop juxtaposition. The "rose regret" brings in negative a connotation and translates that someone regrets love. I think that the author chose to incorporate this alliteration to show how inconsistent love can be at times.

Although the speaker portrays love as an almost useless thing in the first lines of the poem, there is a stark contrast in the latter lines. Although the speaker knows that love can do little for someone physically, spiritually and emotionally, love can gain you peace. This is an important turning point because we see someone who seems firm in their beliefs, turn around and acknowledge what love can get you. This seems to reflect someone who dislikes love but understands its purpose.

Through the first few lines of the poem, the author is presenting love in an unconventional way. Many see love as the end all be all of life, however in the first lines, we are shown all the things that love cannot do. This is a very interesting take on love, as it is taken off the pedestal and shown in a realistic light. This take on love definitely reflects someone who has much experience in love, but also implies that this person has been hurt time and time again.

This part of the poem stands out to me as being a moment of a struggle for identity. The person being talked about "will not go behind his father's saying" but also "moves darkness." What this is saying is that the person cares much about what his father thinks of him and as a result does everything he is told in order to make his father proud. However this same person moves darkness. Why does this person move in darkness? Because he does not want to upset his father, but also wants to do things that his father would not approve.

This particular piece of the poem stands out as extremely ironic. The author explains that the hunters have done a great deal of destruction, while also disturbing the. wild animals to please their dogs. Throughout the poem, the author speaks of the hunters actions with much conviction, however then follows up by saying that "no one has seen them made or heard them made." This is extremely ironic because although the author is sure that the hunters are to blame, they have never seen them do the things that they are being accused of.

The form of this poem stands. out to me for the mere fact that there's a very distinct pattern. The first stanza talks about growing old and ugly, while the latter talks about fun things like Hollywood, pride, and stardom. This continuous transition from upbeat things, to sad and sombre things is a pattern that is followed through the entirety of the poem. I think that the author did this on purpose. I think that the transitions are put in place in order to signify the constant struggle for peace and happiness in life.

Throughout this poem there are a lot of different references to the concepts of light, night, and. the moon. I think that this. is done on purpose as a theme of the poem may be to bring things to light--such as the truth. The moon may represent the light in the dark, and furthermore the truth coming in a time of the unknown.

Something that stood out to me while reading this poem is the narration and how it changes throughout. In. the. first half of the poem, the speaker uses the words "they" and "their" to address the subjects, however as we venture down to the second half, the speaker addresses the subjects. as "you". I think that this change is notable because the speaker changes the message from being very broad as "they" speaks to a group of people, however the speaker then adresses the reader specifically by using the words "you". Anyone know why might the speaker change?

Does the idea of "silver loneliness" saying something about the type of loneliness the speaker is feeling? Possibly, silver loneliness is referring to how unpleasant the loneliness is. Many of us understand silver to be a metal, therefore, hard, cold, and uncomfortable. I think that the. author uses silver to describe his loneliness because it is a loneliness that is hard and cold, and uncomfortable to deal with.

The fact "the paint and paper look as if a boys' school had used it" the trying to describe the broken appearance and state of the paper is very telling. When trying to find the perfect words to describe a wretched pice of paper, the author used boys to do that. This paragraph h reflects the careless and rough nature of masculinity. Just as they boys left patches in the paper, toxic masculinity has left patches in society.

This sentence is a HUGE reflection of the times. The fact that women expect to be laughed at show that during this time period they didn't expect anything more from their husbands, let alone men. Unfortunately, this sentence highlights the fact that respect wasn't something that women were accustomed to and accurately reflects the times.

In this first line we are. able to get a good idea of the type of time that this piece was written in. The author uses the word seldom to describe their opportunities that summer. Wha this reflects is the socio-economic environment of that time. This opening sentence paints the picture of a world where. ecumenic mobility was a very rare thing to attain. I shows that they middle and lower classes were almost stuck, while the rich thrived. Without looking at the year that this piece was written, the reader can quickly gather that information by reading the first sentence.

Once again. we see. the use of "shadows" and the idea of lightened dark make an appearance. A common theme throughout this writing is the use of sun, shadows, and darkness to reflect the state of African Americans. In times of progress, sun is used. In times of despair, darkness and shadows are used. Du Bois used these words to symbolize the plight of the African American man, in a socially, politically, and racially disparaging time.

In this passage we see Du Bois make powerful statement, not only about the state of the nation, but also on the lives of African Americans. A common motif that is further strengthened by this piece is the idea that although slavery has ended, the "freedman has not yet found in freedom his promised land." What Du Bois is saying is that the "ignorance of a lowly people" has not been emancipated, although slavery has. What we are offered is the cold truth of social slavery. Even though slavery has been done away with, many of the mindsets and morals still persist.

Throughout the poem we see Du Bois talk about his self worth. However in doing so, he seems to constantly grapple between his self worth as he views it, and his self worth as others view it. It seems as if a common theme in this excerpt is an inner battle that Du Bois is facing in which he must decide--"do I really care about what I think of myself, or do I care about what other think about me?"

This quote stood out to me because of how telling its is in consideration to Langley's character. What I. gathered from this excerpt was two different interpretations of Langley. One is someone who is responsible and very prepared, and. the other is someone lacking confidence and thus consumed with worry. This passage explains that Langley had been living. in a "supersensual world" and could only measure things outside of his senses. While this can be seen as a gift, and give Langley the ability to prepare for ANYTHING, it also reveals that Langley was extremely worried about failure--so much that he lived in a state that would only allow him to prepare for the worst.

I think that this passage, although very descriptive and informative about the dynamo itself, speaks more on the topic of perspective more than anything else. To Langley the dynamo is a complex and intricate piece of work that he has taken time to study and understand. This can bee seen in the verbose description that Langley gives of the dynamo. However, Adam's perspective of the dynamo is very different. As opposed to seeing the dynamo as overly complex, he sees it as a symbol of the sun--something simpler. This variation in perspective, I think works to highlight the difference in character between Langley and Adams.

Although this piece was written in 1900, much of the first paragraph alludes to the Enlightenment Era. There is much being said in reference to science and space (Milky Way) as there is also lots of talk about formulas, forces, and history. Therefore it really adds to the "logic" aspect and thus strengthens the Enlightenment feel of the paragraph.

Possibly the “gray hills” refers to the industrial revolution as they could be coved in soot/smoke of factories which gives them a gray appearance? And the “industrial barns” refer to the factories themselves?

Does the burning oil that stained the earth possibly refer to bloodshed of some sorts? Maybe oil is a symbol of blood and the stained earth is a symbol of a corrupt and violent society?

Does the hardening of mothers like “pounded stumps, out of stumps” refer to the idea that mothers have grown cold due to the hardships of life? And therefore they are referred to as “stumps” (a hard/rough object)?

A year that was 49 years ago