I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,
This made me think of how people often do bad things to people who exceed their talents, so they feel the need to hurt them to get even. It's sad, because it still happens today.
Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way Of poverty, dishonor and disgrace, Has pushed the timid little feet of clay, The sacred brown feet of my fallen race! Ah, heart of me, the weary, weary feet In Harlem wandering from street to street.
although Harlem had bad reputation, there is a sense of comfort displayed in this verse. It will always be a reminder of where they came from, but also also refusal of accepting it.
Darkly I gaze into the days ahead, And see her might and granite wonders there, Beneath the touch of Time’s unerring hand, Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. Archives
Opportunites come and go, that's what I thought of when I was reading this line. Since treasures are sinking in the sand, and time passes quickly. You have to be quick to make things happens for you, that's how I interpreted it.
I SHALL return again; I shall return To laugh and love and watch with wonder-eyes At golden noon the forest fires burn, Wafting their blue-black smoke to sapphire skies.
This one verse seems more hopeful about the future, instead of focusing on the negative aspects of their life they're looking forward. The imagery of people laughing and sapphire skies shows an optimistic side.
That I sing the heart of race While sadness whispers That I am the cry of a soul … A-shoutin’ in de ole camp-meeting-place, A-strummin’ o’ de ole banjo. Singin’ in de moonlight, Sobbin’ in de dark. Singin’, sobbin’, strummin’ slow … Singin’ slow, sobbin’ low. Strummin’, strummin’, strummin’ slow … Words are bright bugles That make the shining for my song, And mothers hold down babies
Singing for change, and crying for change but only letting time slip by our hands. In other poems it promotes the idea of staying still, but in this poem there is no stillness. There is a cry for change.
And so we stand like ginger jars Like ginger jars bound round With dust and age; Like jars of ginger we are sealed
this made me think how sometimes a part of us never really changes, despite time passing. Some things always stay the same.
Let us be still As ginger jars are still Upon a Chinese shelf. And let us be contained By entities of Self …
Remaining still but not letting emotions get the best of us. For a country that promotes freedom of speech, not everyone can voice their opinion freely without the free of being attacked. This is why progressive ideas take a while to be acceptable.
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
sometimes making dreams happen for minority groups can seem impossible, especially when people will sometimes tell them that their dreams are too ambitious. This also happens to be the title of a play.
I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.
Darker Brother refers to the whole black community, and how they were segregated from joining the white community in the public. Despite the excluding them, they're still able to enjoy the fruits of life.
I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
The rivers can serve as a symbol for roots. As in the roots of a family tree, how their family has shaped their present. I also think about the imagery of this context, how veins can look like canals of a rivers. It's quite beautiful.
The fiction is that the life of the races is separate and increasingly so. The fact is that they have touched too closely at the unfavorable and too lightly at the favorable levels.
While I reading this I couldn't help but think about whether this still applies to today, in the sense that if people still feel divided to each other. I like to think that people have become more mindful of each others differences.
The migrant masses, shifting from countryside to city, hurdle several generations of experience at a leap, but more important, the same thing happens spiritually in the life-attitudes and self-expression of the Young Negro, in his poetry, his art, his education and his new outlook, with the additional advantage, of course, of the poise and greater certainty of knowing what it is all about.
Urban area to give people more opportunities to reinvent our morals. Self-expression can sometimes be looked down upon when you're living in a rural area.
The Old Negro, we must remember, was a creature of moral debate and historical controversy. His has been a stock figure perpetuated as an historical fiction partly in innocent sentimentalism, partly in deliberate reactionism. The Negro himself has contributed his share to this through a sort of protective social mimicry forced upon him by the adverse circumstances of dependence. So for generations in the mind of America, the Negro has been more of a formula than a human being –a something to be argued about, condemned or defended, to be “kept down,” or “in his place,” or “helped up,” to be worried with or worried over, harassed or patronized, a social bogey or a social burden.
Locke is clearly stating that the older generation had trouble establishing their independence, because they were still being treated as slaves. The biggest difference between the older and new generation, is that the newer generation have the freedom to establish their independence.
So I am ashamed for the black poet who says, “I want to be a poet, not a Negro poet,” as though his own racial world were not as interesting as any other world. I am ashamed, too, for the colored artist who runs from the painting of Negro faces to the painting of sunsets after the manner of the academicians because he fears the strange unwhiteness of his own features. An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he must choose.
This comes full-circle,I like that! I think that artist should only see the beauty in their art, but they also have to know how to make it appeal to others.
And the mother often says “Don’t be like niggers” when the children are bad. A frequent phrase from the father is, “Look how well a white man does things.” And so the word white comes to be unconsciously a symbol of all virtues.
Sadly, this is still a recurring problem these days. White is still known for being a symbol of class and purity. The white man is still seen to be an example of success, or the majority of class.No wonder our government is crap, lack of diversity.
One of the most promising of the young Negro poets said to me once, “I want to be a poet–not a Negro poet,” meaning, I believe, “I want to write like a white poet”; meaning subconsciously, “I would like to be a white poet”; meaning behind that, “I would like to be white.” And I was sorry the young man said that, for no great poet has ever been afraid of being himself.
While I was reading this, I couldn't help but think of myself. I think this still a worry for most colored writers, in the sense that they are afraid that it won't be appreciated by society. Worrying if their voice is lost, while also trying to appeal to the crowd.
What is that sound high in the air Murmur of maternal lamentation Who are those hooded hordes swarming Over endless plains, stumbling in cracked earth Ringed by the flat horizon only What is the city over the mountains Cracks and reforms and bursts in the violet air Falling towers Jerusalem Athens Alexandria Vienna London Unreal
In this excerpt, Elliot uses three motifs. The three motifs being unnatural time, dryness, and remixing of text. While reading this excerpt, readers notice that the Elliot creates image of nature but then lists cities in the last few lines. This serves an example of unnatural time for me, because the naming of cities sets a shift. This shift alludes to the motif of remixing text, in the sense that Elliot connects this imagery to the bible context. The way it is written too also gives this piece a religious tone. The last motif of dryness is depicted as mountains cracking and reforming. By using these three, readers are able to make inference that something major is going to happen. Usually weather is used a symbol of sudden change or chaos is about to come.
The change of Philomel, by the barbarous king So rudely forced; yet there the nightingale Filled all the desert with inviolable voice And still she cried, and still the world pursues, “Jug Jug” to dirty ears.
In this excerpt, Elliot uses two motifs. Woman/ Men and voices. In the first two lines, Elliot presents the image of a man and woman. "The change of Philomel, by the barbarous king, So rudely forced; yet there the nightingale"(Elliot). The image of the man in these two lines display a sense of power and cruelty. By stating the words "rudely forced", Elliots depict the king to be thoughtless and careless of his actions. And in the two last lines, Elliot presents the image of a woman crying. "And still she cried, and still the world pursues,“Jug Jug” to dirty ears"(Elliot). The image of the woman begging displays a sense of desire and desperation of being captive. For the second motif, voices, Elliot presents readers with the image of "Inviolable voices". By describing the voices to be inviolable, Elliot hints that these voices in the desert are helpless and unmotivated. The use of these two motifs play a factor into the tone of this section, the tone of yearning and loss of control.
I was neither Living nor dead, and I knew nothing,
Sine their senses aren't functional, are they possibly in a coma or just unconscious at that moment ?
What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man, You cannot say, or guess, for you know only A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief, And the dry stone no sound of water. Only There is shadow under this red rock, (Come in under the shadow of this red rock), And I will show you something different from either Your shadow at morning striding behind you Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you; I will show you fear in a handful of dust.
Is this what she's reading at night or is this her train of thought ?
Hofgarten,
I'm assuming that this this a city in Germany, but why is April considered the cruellest month ?
The Slot was the metaphor that expressed the class cleavage of Society, and no man crossed this metaphor, back and forth, more successfully than Freddie Drummond.
The Slot almost like a metaphor on distance.
They enter the new world naked, cold, uncertain of all save that they enter.
A metaphor to child, in that sense thats's comparing it to not knowing what the world will throw at them. The stage of innocence.
By constantly tormenting them with reminders of the lice in their children’s hair, the School Physician first brought their hatred down on him.
A vivid image that is clearly commenting on how the prejudice on the poor, in this case it's the child with lice. Who unfortunately doesn't have the materials to get rid of them at home.
and which you were probably saving for breakfast
This poem is clearly emphasizing the fact that this person doesn't much to eat, and neither does the speaker. Despite the fact the plums are small, they were able to satisfy their hunger (momentarily).
and we degraded prisoners destined to hunger until we eat filth
This a comment on hunger. When you come from a low-class family, you don't usually have the choice to be picky with your diet. If you're hungry, you will eat whatever is offered to you.
sent out at fifteen to work in some hard-pressed house in the suburbs—
Williams is clearly highlighting the fact that families will send their children out work, just so they can be able to ends meet. In the case of colored girls, they are expected to care after their families or clean after others.
Don’t think any intelligent person is going to be deceived when you try to shirk all the difficulties of the unspeakably difficult art of good prose by chopping your composition into line lengths.
I feel like writers even myself tend to do this. We forget to remember that it's complexity that creates new ideas and interpretations of this world. Simplicity within art is nice, but not challenging.
metronome.
Metronome is device often used by musicians to mark time of the regular tick. If I am correct.
Direct treatmen
Is "the thing"being referred to being a poem, or the topic of the poe. I'm only assuming this because he's talking about a new wave of poetry.
The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough.
I think he's talking about diversity he encounter in the metro station, and how each face has a different story. Some stories are more grim than others.
All will be easier when the mind To meet the brutal age has grown
Is Millay implying that life will get easier in the time of death?
delphinium
a type of flower, from the buttercup family.
I might be driven to sell your love for peace, Or trade the memory of this night for food.
The use of trade in this context implies that love can easily be lost or changed, not matter what the circumstance is in the situation.
Love can not fill the thickened lung with breath, Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone; Yet many a man is making friends with death Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.
By stating that you can't fill lungs with love, Millay is implying that love is not an action. It is not used a form of healing, but it is simply just a feeling that cannot be forced.
Better to go down dignified With boughten friendship at your side Than none at all. Provide, provide! Archives
I think that provide in this piece, signifies that that if you don't offer a service to society you are useless. People will not consider you valuable, until you provide them with skills and services. We are selfish to the end.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep
The woods in this stanza symbolize death, by stating that speaker wants to sleep but has promises to fulfill it shows that they are still determined.
Assorted characters of death and blight Mixed ready to begin the morning right, Like the ingredients of a witches’ broth —
I noticed that all the actions are capitalized, and the both lines have end rhyme. I like how the action's of the spider is compared to the making of a witches' broth, both images of spiders and witches usually are associated to be negative.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
The poem ends in a full-circle. The image of two roads comes back, but the speaker recognizes the differences that decision has given them.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;
The mention of the "roads" in this poem signifies the task of decision making. Frost is talking about how each decision we make creates a different outcome in the future. Some people will choose one road, to face less complications. And if I am correct, this poem is written as a reflection on decision-making.
He says again, “Good fences make good neighbors.
In other words, a good distance is necessary to live in peace. This made me think of most neighborhoods today, and how we considered a "good neighbor" to keep their distance and mind their business.
He says again, “Good fences make good neighbors.
In other words, a good distance is necessary to live in peace. This made me think of most neighborhoods today, and how we considered a "good neighbor" to keep their distance and mind their business.
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offense.
The metaphor of the wall is quite powerful, in the sense that keeps us and others apart from each other. Instead of confronting an issue or creating a union, we choose to be divided.
Tiering the same dull webs of discontent, Clipping the same sad alnage of the years.
Although time continues to pass us, we understand that our fears that lay in out society stay consistent throughout time. And The actions of Poets and Kings, continue to remind us constantly.
What comes of all your visions and your fears?
A real powerful question. The way I interpreted it was, how does our perception of the world around us shape our values and fears?
He raised again the jug regretfully And shook his head, and was again alone.
Imagery of this line is very vivid. Despite the fact he doesn't have much strength, he still pushes himself through the loneliness. He has embraced it towards the end.
A valiant armor of scarred hopes outworn. He stood there in the middle of the road
Despite the fact that he lacks energy and well, he still continues to fight. He presents a true image of a patriotic solider.
I am out of your way now, Spoon River,
By stating he's out of their way, it shows that he doesn't care about their decisions. After all, no one really controls how we live our life, but can influence it to some degree.
“Seth Compton”
I just realized that all these are told from their ghost, written like a reflection on how they spent their life. This one starts from how he died and then reflect on his life.
At ninety–six I had lived enough, that is all, And passed to a sweet repose.
That's kind of sad, She spent her life caring after others and cleaning up after them. No wonder she refers it to sweet sleep. no will bother her anymore.
I spun, I wove, I kept the house, I nursed the sick, I made the garden, and for holiday
The repetition of the "I" shows how much responsibility women had during those times, It almost sounds like a complain here. Or even a brag, now that I think about it.
“What is the matter?” he cried. “For God’s sake, what are you doing!” I kept on creeping just the same, but I looked at him over my shoulder. “I’ve got out at last,” said I, “in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” Now why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time!
I remember reading this in high school, and being so struck. And I still continue to be struck, it remains one of my favorite short stories because of the vivid images it creates on the mental health stigma.
The front pattern DOES move—and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it!
The woman she sees is her.
I never thought of it before, but it is lucky that John kept me here after all, I can stand it so much easier than a baby, you see.
Instead of giving her therapy, she is locked in the room. Solitude is clearly make her feel worse and more alone.
John says if I don’t pick up faster he shall send me to Weir Mitchell in the fall.
Going back to what I said earlier! If you're not functioning, you're put into an asylum!!!! Weir Mitchel= asylum.
He knows there is no REASON to suffer, and that satisfies him.
John doesn't sympathize with her suffering. To him there is not point to wallow, if you have no "valid" reason to suffer. Unfortunately, this is still being told to people who suffer from depression.
If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression—a slight hysterical tendency—what is one to do?
Mental Health was a very touchy subject matter for people during these times. It's quite sad, and most individuals who expressed their troubles were usually sent to asylums. If you're not "functional", you are shunned away from society.
It is very seldom that mere ordinary people like John and myself secure ancestral halls for the summer.
Right from the start of the story, the speakers establishes the grounds of their relationship. By stating that it's "seldom", we gain the understanding that this couple rarely gets to travel. The trip has broken her usual routine.
Why did God make me an outcast and a stranger in mine own house?
This line really appealed to me, especially now with our democracy being endangered.
He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face.
It's frustrating to not be seen for our skills, and judged by our race. If a colored person wishes to do the same things a white man does, they're seen to be unrealistic or less of their race. This still applies to our society now, yet these individuals will be considered "white-washed".
Historians undertake to arrange sequences,–called stories, or histories–assuming in silence a relation of cause and effect.
I find it funny but also sad, that we learn all about the causes and effects but still continue to make the same errors from the past.
the dynamo became a symbol of infinity
Nothing really lasts forever. However, I could see why it could symbolize infinity. Dynamos have made a great impact, and are constantly evolving through out the decades. The dynamo plays a factor into the "modern world".
Langley, with the ease of a great master of experiment, threw out of the field every exhibit that did not reveal a new application of force, and naturally threw out, to begin with, almost the whole art exhibit
Adam is clearly more interested of the development of society, but still manages to keep an open-mind to new ideas. Unlike Adam, Langley is driven by the materialistic side of society. Could Langley fall under the influence of Capitalism ?
They Lion grow.
This could also be seen as a sound device, establishing the fact that "lion" could really mean lie. However, the lion can also symbolize rage. After re-reading this poem, this poem is clearly establishing the differences between two different groups. While one experiences change and more opportunities, meanwhile the others stay the same.
From all my white sins forgiven, they feed,
"All my white sins Forgiven," could possibly signify that the speaker has recognized their privilege in society. Despite the social conflicts and resentment, the speaker is clearly determined to set a better example for the future of humanity.
Earth is eating trees, fence posts, Gutted cars, earth is calling in her little ones,
By giving the "Earth"an action, it represents how the environment is constantly changing. The relationship between the earth and humanity is present, similar to a mother and child's relationship. The consumption of society's adaptations just to make life "easier" for humanity. These two lines got me thinking about our problems now with climate change.