Sunday, November 30, 2014
Poetry that Doesnt Suck
Postcards by Sarah Kay
I had already fallen in love with far too many postage stamps.
When you appeared on my doorstep wearing nothing but a postcard promise.
No, appear is the wrong word. Is there a word for sucker punching someone in the heart? Is there word for when you’re sitting at the bottom of a roller coaster and you realize that the climb is coming, that you know what the climb means, that you can already feel the flip in your stomach from the fall before you’ve even moved? Is there a word for that?
There should be.
You can only fit so many words in a postcard. Only so many in a phone call, only so many into space before you forget that words are sometimes used for things other than filling emptiness. It is hard to build a body out of words – I have tried.
We have both tried.
Instead of lying your head against my chest, I tell you about the boy who lives downstairs from me. Who stays up all night long practicing his drum set. The neighbors have complained. They have busy days tomorrow, but he keeps on thumping through the night convinced, I think, that practice makes perfect. Instead of holding my hand, you tell me about the sandwich you made for lunch today. How the pickles fit so perfectly against the lettuce. Practice does not make perfect.
Practice makes permanent.
Repeat the same mistakes over and over and you don’t get any closer to Carnage Hall, even I know that. Repeat the same mistakes over and over and you don’t get any closer! You never get any closer. Is there a word for the moment you win tug of war? When the weight gives and all that extra rope comes tumbling towards you. How even though you’ve won you still wind up with muddy knees and scratches on your hands.
Is there a word for that? I wish there was.
I would have said it. When we were finally alone together on your couch, neither one of us with anything left to say. Still now, I send letters into space. Hoping that some mailman somewhere will track you down and recognize you from the descriptions in my poems. That he will place the stack of them in your hands and tell you “There is a girl who still writes you. She doesn’t know how not to.”
This is honestly one of my all time favorite poems, for multiple reasons. One of the main ones being the simplicity of the words, the pureness of the tone; Sarah Kay, is a master at painting pictures for the broken hearted. She has this way with her words that caresses your brain stem and brings up memories and pulls, tugs at buried emotions. She puts words to the unspeakable and complex nature of relationships. The horribly confusing and frustrating quietness that can creep through homes, the silent killer of marriages and friendships. Sarah (in all of her poems) has a certain soft mood that envelopes the reader in a blurred, warm world only to violently crash reality on their heads with relatable metaphors and imagery.
This poet has a way with words, and most certainly doesn't suck.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Not With a Fizzle, But With a Bang
I love when books take you on a journey. I think the most amazing thing in the world is being taken away from your reality by a book that teaches lessons, takes breaths, has wild adventures, forbidden ideals and philosophy beyond comprehension. Fahrenheit 451, at least for me, has been a journey from the start. Although the whole of the book is utterly fascinating and could be analyzed endlessly, I would like for the moment to focus on the end of this piece of literature.
I wonder how it would feel, to be wrapped up in a drama, so plastic and unreal that an atomic blast is the only thing that would wake you up. I wonder what those people thought in their last fiery moments before the blaze obliterated their every sense of self. And for Montag to watch that paper thin society that he had known most of his life go up in such splendor and color; just enough to impress the culture underneath its heat. Montag must push through these ashes and create information, knowledge and history through the embers.
Montag and his band of brothers become the books, the soul surviving members of an unaccepting hateful society, with plans to rebuild and prosper the men head back to the city. All this for some books.
But no it's so much more than that. Its knowledge, its prevention of past mistakes and the evolution of humanity in a decent direction. Books bring so much more than a good story. They bring light to wrong doings, quiet serenity to hectic lives, information, data, material, instruction, enlightenment, propaganda, numbers, letters, change. Through flowery language and harsh words books have altered the world. And that is something worth fighting for.
"There was a silly damn bird called a Phoenix back before Christ: every few hundred years he built a pyre and burned himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the Phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we've done for a thousand years, and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, some day we'll stop making the goddam funeral pyres and jumping into the middle of them. We pick up a few more people that remember, every generation." (163)
Twiggy
I wonder how it would feel, to be wrapped up in a drama, so plastic and unreal that an atomic blast is the only thing that would wake you up. I wonder what those people thought in their last fiery moments before the blaze obliterated their every sense of self. And for Montag to watch that paper thin society that he had known most of his life go up in such splendor and color; just enough to impress the culture underneath its heat. Montag must push through these ashes and create information, knowledge and history through the embers.
Montag and his band of brothers become the books, the soul surviving members of an unaccepting hateful society, with plans to rebuild and prosper the men head back to the city. All this for some books.
But no it's so much more than that. Its knowledge, its prevention of past mistakes and the evolution of humanity in a decent direction. Books bring so much more than a good story. They bring light to wrong doings, quiet serenity to hectic lives, information, data, material, instruction, enlightenment, propaganda, numbers, letters, change. Through flowery language and harsh words books have altered the world. And that is something worth fighting for.
"There was a silly damn bird called a Phoenix back before Christ: every few hundred years he built a pyre and burned himself up. He must have been first cousin to Man. But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we're doing the same thing, over and over, but we've got one damn thing the Phoenix never had. We know the damn silly thing we just did. We know all the damn silly things we've done for a thousand years, and as long as we know that and always have it around where we can see it, some day we'll stop making the goddam funeral pyres and jumping into the middle of them. We pick up a few more people that remember, every generation." (163)
Twiggy
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Fahreheit 451 vocab
pratfall-a humiliating fall, or blunder.
Upon entering the room she had a rather embarassing pratfall.
bewilderedly-confused or puzzeled
i looked bewilderdly across the feild looking for her.
titillation-to excite or arouse
To be in his arms is an unspeakable titillation.
theremin-a musical instrument
The band was doomed until Irving brought his thermin.
tabloids-sensational in a vulgar way, newspaper
The Tabloids provoke feelings of anger in the people.
centrifuge-machine that separates two fluids based on density
A man was taken in and the centrifuge sparated his stomach acids
haltingly- to do something in a jerking, halting manner
She haltingly described the morbid situation.
probing-to explore something
Dr. Mullay began to prob the infected area.
stagnat-having no current flow
He moved with a sickly stagnat limp.
Upon entering the room she had a rather embarassing pratfall.
bewilderedly-confused or puzzeled
i looked bewilderdly across the feild looking for her.
titillation-to excite or arouse
To be in his arms is an unspeakable titillation.
theremin-a musical instrument
The band was doomed until Irving brought his thermin.
tabloids-sensational in a vulgar way, newspaper
The Tabloids provoke feelings of anger in the people.
centrifuge-machine that separates two fluids based on density
A man was taken in and the centrifuge sparated his stomach acids
haltingly- to do something in a jerking, halting manner
She haltingly described the morbid situation.
probing-to explore something
Dr. Mullay began to prob the infected area.
stagnat-having no current flow
He moved with a sickly stagnat limp.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
What are people talking about?
People on this campus are talking about 5 things, sex, drugs, sports, media and each other. Honestly its a little sad; part of me thinks that it's just how teens work, how humans in general work, and the other part wonders if the lack of novel reading and expectations have dropped all of our I.Qs to 55. I believe, from experience and just day to day observations, that a huge reason for this is people wanting to fit in. Everyone just wants to say the things that will get them the most likes, the view that will be most agreed with and less questioned. If society challenged us to take stands on hard issues that have plagued humans for all time, as individauls we would be attacked and have to stand up for what we believe in. And for a lot of people that is really hard, having to stay strong through the doubt and fear, to not cave in and lower themselves to the weakest link.
The best way to slove this problem; Get a hobby, a passion, find people to interact with that you actually care about and get along with. Stop trying to impress everyone and make everyone happy 'cause its impossible anyways. Fall in love with your morals and values, escape the confining box of normality and get out there.
Just do you,
Twiggy
The best way to slove this problem; Get a hobby, a passion, find people to interact with that you actually care about and get along with. Stop trying to impress everyone and make everyone happy 'cause its impossible anyways. Fall in love with your morals and values, escape the confining box of normality and get out there.
Just do you,
Twiggy
Fahrenheit 451 Vocab
tatters-irregularly torn pieces of cloth, paper, or other material.
The poor girls clothes were in tatters.
merely-just, only
He merely brushed my hand, and my heart went fluttering.
parlor-a sitting room in a private house
We sat in the parlor and enjoyed an afternoon brunch
abrupt(ly)-sudden and unexpected
The mouse abruptly turned the corner and stared into the eyes of the viscous cat.
refracted-make (a ray of light) change direction when it enters at an angle.
The tiny diamond seemed to refract, reflect and all the absorbed light in the room
immense-extremely large
I have an immense debt to Tony that i still don't know how to pay.
imperceptibly-impossible to perceive
It is an imperceptibly, irregular possibility that there is a lion in the upstairs wardrobe.
ventilator-an appliance for ventilating a room
She had to move her sick sister due to the damage done to the 4 ventilators
olfactory-relating to the sense of smell
The onion reduced my olfactory system to mush.
The poor girls clothes were in tatters.
merely-just, only
He merely brushed my hand, and my heart went fluttering.
parlor-a sitting room in a private house
We sat in the parlor and enjoyed an afternoon brunch
abrupt(ly)-sudden and unexpected
The mouse abruptly turned the corner and stared into the eyes of the viscous cat.
refracted-make (a ray of light) change direction when it enters at an angle.
The tiny diamond seemed to refract, reflect and all the absorbed light in the room
immense-extremely large
I have an immense debt to Tony that i still don't know how to pay.
imperceptibly-impossible to perceive
It is an imperceptibly, irregular possibility that there is a lion in the upstairs wardrobe.
ventilator-an appliance for ventilating a room
She had to move her sick sister due to the damage done to the 4 ventilators
olfactory-relating to the sense of smell
The onion reduced my olfactory system to mush.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Fahrenheit 451 questions
What is the significance of the salamander symbol in Fahrenheit 451?
I believe that the salamander is the firemen themselves. I did a little outside research and when placed in fire this animals' body starts foaming enabling it to with stand the heat of the flame. Futher long ago, in medieval times people believed that salamanders were born of fire and could survive through any type of destruction. In relation to the book, the firemen can go in and out of flame and heat without any damage, but as the book progresses it is easy to see the destruction that fire can bring to the characters not physically but mentally. However there is survival through all this destruction, just like the salamander's ability to survive fire
What is the inciting incident of the story? If you're not sure, choose an event and explain why you think it qualifies.
The incident that sets off this book is when the old women is burnt alive. After this tragedy we see a drastic change in Montag, our main character. He is shaken and deeply influenced by the unnecessary burning of this women and all the knowledge she possesses. He suddenly feel compelled to take advantage of the knowledge he has access to and to make a change in his life.
Describe Montag at the beginning of the novel. Do you think he's a hero? Why/not?
Montag is a ignorant, working grunt. He is just trying to get by. Trying to love his wife, working hard to keep her happy and working hard to ignore the morbid purpose of his job. Guy Montag is no hero. He is not courageous, or brave. In fact he does everything he can to just "skate by" in life. Not until Clarisse does he grow up and out.
Describe Bradbury's tone. What is his attitude toward the characters, the topics, and the audience? How can you tell?
He speaks as if he is talking to every single man woman and child there has ever been. He speaks in simple terms that anyone could interpret and understand, yet the words themselves have weight, and the feeling of grand and great importance.
Describe Bradbury's diction and syntax. Does he use formal, sophisticated terms or does his prose sound like he's in the room talking to you? Do his sentences vary in length or are they all about the same? How do Bradbury's choices create description, characters, action, and meaning? (Note: There is no hidden "right" answer to that last part, it's open to your interpretation.)
He uses both formal and regular terms with such ease, that although it is descriptive and challenging literally it isn't beyond grasp or understanding. The sentences vary from lengthy to short but who honestly can tell, most are too busy reading to pay attention to such things. This new way of writing should be called Bradbury speak because I've never seen anyone else do it. The way the author writes makes the characters, symbols, and the setting (both the physical world and the culture or society) jump off the page and seem almost too real.
Twiggy
I believe that the salamander is the firemen themselves. I did a little outside research and when placed in fire this animals' body starts foaming enabling it to with stand the heat of the flame. Futher long ago, in medieval times people believed that salamanders were born of fire and could survive through any type of destruction. In relation to the book, the firemen can go in and out of flame and heat without any damage, but as the book progresses it is easy to see the destruction that fire can bring to the characters not physically but mentally. However there is survival through all this destruction, just like the salamander's ability to survive fire
What is the inciting incident of the story? If you're not sure, choose an event and explain why you think it qualifies.
The incident that sets off this book is when the old women is burnt alive. After this tragedy we see a drastic change in Montag, our main character. He is shaken and deeply influenced by the unnecessary burning of this women and all the knowledge she possesses. He suddenly feel compelled to take advantage of the knowledge he has access to and to make a change in his life.
Describe Montag at the beginning of the novel. Do you think he's a hero? Why/not?
Montag is a ignorant, working grunt. He is just trying to get by. Trying to love his wife, working hard to keep her happy and working hard to ignore the morbid purpose of his job. Guy Montag is no hero. He is not courageous, or brave. In fact he does everything he can to just "skate by" in life. Not until Clarisse does he grow up and out.
Describe Bradbury's tone. What is his attitude toward the characters, the topics, and the audience? How can you tell?
He speaks as if he is talking to every single man woman and child there has ever been. He speaks in simple terms that anyone could interpret and understand, yet the words themselves have weight, and the feeling of grand and great importance.
Describe Bradbury's diction and syntax. Does he use formal, sophisticated terms or does his prose sound like he's in the room talking to you? Do his sentences vary in length or are they all about the same? How do Bradbury's choices create description, characters, action, and meaning? (Note: There is no hidden "right" answer to that last part, it's open to your interpretation.)
He uses both formal and regular terms with such ease, that although it is descriptive and challenging literally it isn't beyond grasp or understanding. The sentences vary from lengthy to short but who honestly can tell, most are too busy reading to pay attention to such things. This new way of writing should be called Bradbury speak because I've never seen anyone else do it. The way the author writes makes the characters, symbols, and the setting (both the physical world and the culture or society) jump off the page and seem almost too real.
Twiggy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)