End or New Beginning??

This will be my final blog for the semester!  I have enjoyed this class tremendously and will miss all the new friends I have made in class and at IvyTech.  I took all my prerequisites here and I am finishing my PTA concentration in Fort Wayne.  I’m looking forward to completion next fall as long as everything stays on schedule!!  With that being said, regardless of where I go, my love of books and a good story will surely follow.  I will leave you with a poem that I love.  I just reminds me of some of my favorite things like music, dancing, love, life and saying goodbye!   À bientôt……

The Gypsy Violin by Munda

The compelling violin lures With an irresistible yearn Dance, dance, please dance for me I can no longer adjourn! Ethereal notes float from its strings Caressing like a lover's hand Sensual music, Angel's touch Leading the way to wonderland Embracing with utter delight Craving, beckoning me Tempting my lonely heart Dance, dance on my melody! Faster, faster the music escapes Without compassion to body or soul Seducer of lonely hearts Until dancing is my only goal Faces gyrate while I dance on passion Flashes of fire in the corner of my eyes The violin plays like never before Until I become one and loneliness dies With a final cry and a final touch The violin stops, the music ends Leaving behind an emptiness We'll meet again, my violin friend

Summer Reading????

Well, I think it has finally happened.  During all my adventures of reading from the best seller list, some Janet Evanovich (which I learn nothing from but her books are laugh out loud funny) and my guilty pleasure of autobiographies (who knew that Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue could write, not for the faint at heart but highly entertaining), I am finally graduating to something with more substance.  LOL!  I am going to read some stories out of our Lit book that didn’t make the assignment list over the summer.  I enjoyed most of our readings during the semester, so I hate to let the other stories get away unread. (I do have a book on Marilyn Monroe and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo that I don’t want to go to waste also)  If anyone has any suggestions, I am open! 

I watched the 8 part series on the TV about the Kennedy’s and it raised my curiosity a bit and my craving for history.  We are headed to Boston and the Cape in two weeks so I think we will do some research on JFK and family, definitely go to the museum and see what else we can get into while we are in Hyannis.  I’m so excited about our trip, even the evening I am spending with the Red Sox!!

Meeting the Man

I truly believe that racists are not born, but rather racists' attitudes and behaviors are learned during childhood. I think that Going to Meet the Man is a perfect example of the capability to analyze the growth of an innocent child into a racist. Every child is born with innocence. During the flashback to Jesse's childhood, where he witnesses the mutilation and torture of a black man, Jesse's innocence is apparent and he has a black friend named Otis.  I don’t think one ever forgets the things they are taught, but as they grow academically as well as morally they have the opportunity to make their own choices as to in what direction they are going to steer their own life.  Clearly Jesse has made his choice, which could be based on a lack of education and an inability to see beyond the views of the south during that time period.  Either way, it is a shame.  Jesse doesn’t even recognize that these memories of the lynching and the violence are connected to his sexually arousal. As a result, he has become a violent man with a disturbed idea of love, sex and blacks.     

Desire…that of a Streetcar origin!

STELLLLLAAAAA!  STELLLLLAAAAA!  I thought this play was a fabulous read!

It really has me motivated to watch the movie.  Sometimes when you see what you have read put into a movie, you alter your opinions a little of the characters.  I suppose it is a result of the actor/actress impressing their personal trademark into their character which may alter how the character is now perceived.  Each one of these characters has some type of glitch in them, a flaw of some sort.  It makes them seem real, as we all have flaws ourselves.  It is an intricate web of complex themes and conflicted characters.  Now that I have had time to reflect on it, I think the sexual tension/desire that was going on and their ultimate coming together in this way was more a function of power relations than that of sexual attraction.  And poor Blanche,  she was so hung up on her looks and trying to maintain her youth!        

Blog...Blog...Blog....

     Well, I just finished assignments for Pod #8!  WOO HOO!! I am pretty excited because I am ready for a little break (and a trip to Boston J), but I will admit that I will miss this class.  I’m pretty sure it was my favorite class.  I need to get a move on the blogging though to make the deadline next week but I seem to be suffering from some type of brain overload :)  I just can’t force myself to blog every day.  I thought that if I did, it would make me a better blogger, but it didn’t.  I struggle with it and don’t update it for weeks.  I looked at it as another chore, like laundry, that accumulates in a pile of homework and housework that need to be done.  I think that the times I sat down to blog I just felt lacking in the creative area.  Everything over the last few days has been feeling strained and not really representative of who I am.  So, with that being said, I am going to post a few of my favorite quotes today and try again tomorrow…..hopefully with a little better luck!

Just living is not enough.  One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.  ~Hans Christian Anderson

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."  ~Erma Bombeck

Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.  ~Arthur Miller

Life is like a coin.  You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.  ~Lillian Dickson

Can Women Be Immortal?

I ran across this poem and it reminded me of the woman that Fitzgerald portrays in his work, “Winter Dreams”.  When I read it, it made me visualize Judy and her encounters with Dexter.  How she mesmerizes him and holds him captive.  I thought I would share it.  I think it is beautiful!

Immortal

by Daniel James Burt

She is forever standing at our secret pond beneath our loving tree. Welcome late-spring breeze lifting summer dress and hat ever so slightly. She is dropping a rose frozen forever in time it cascades from her hand. Around her, the pond, the cat-tails, the bird song, all captured deliciously. She is smiling playfully as rose follows petals to rest amidst lily-pads. A buzz of bumblebee, breeze dancing leaves above, mid-morning sun seems to kiss her. She laughs hearing her name turns with anticipation burned forever is the sight. Even as life continues - for that split second her beauty is immortalized.

Gatsby Jazz Era!

The Roaring 20’s! The Jazz Era! Prohibition! This is the grand setting for The Great Gatsby and an era where social and moral values begin to decay.  It was a time of decadent parties and wild jazz music.  Gatsby and his lavish parties reek of cynicism, greed, and empty pursuit of pleasure.  This type of lifestyle resulted ultimately in the corruption of the American dream, as the unrestrained desire for money and pleasure surpassed more noble goals.

Jazz was originally a mixture of Blues and marching band music and was played by African-Americans on old U.S Army instruments.  It was mostly improvisation, because most of the jazz musicians weren’t able to read music. Soon the white man started to play and blended together with the African music culture and a new style of jazz was born. Jazz bands started the musical revolution.  The music provoked close and intimate dancing which many believed led to rebellion and other socially questionable activities.  Parties like Gatsby’s which featured this music were typical for this time period. The extravagant festivities required charm, notoriety and good manners as a social asset.

Powerful Poetry

I have to admit that I was less than thrilled when we were assigned the poetry pod.  Once I started to get into the assignments, I began to change my mind.  If you step away from thinking that there is only one possible interpretation for a poem and open your thoughts and mind to explore different possible meanings for you personally, then I think it becomes much easier to read.  I think everyone has a different interpretation of each poem, and no one has the "correct" answer.  I found a poem by Robert Frost that wasn't in our reading assignment, but to me, it was thought provoking so I wanted to share it with everyone.

Bond and Free
Robert Frost (1920)

Love has earth to which she clings
With hills and circling arms about—
Wall within wall to shut fear out.
But Thought has need of no such things,
For Thought has a pair of dauntless wings.

On snow and sand and turf, I see
Where Love has left a printed trace
With straining in the world’s embrace.
And such is Love and glad to be.
But Thought has shaken his ankles free.

Thought cleaves the interstellar gloom
And sits in Sirius’ disc all night,
Till day makes him retrace his flight,
With smell of burning on every plume,
Back past the sun to an earthly room.

His gains in heaven are what they are.
Yet some say Love by being thrall
And simply staying possesses all
In several beauty that Thought fares far
To find fused in another star.

Blogging 'Bout the Red Badge

I wasn't excited about reading The Red Badge of Courage, but only because I just assumed it was a book about war and I didn't think that it would hold my attention.  I love to read, but I love to read things that I find interesting.  Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I realized that even though it was a story about war, it wasn't really "about" war.  I know....makes not sense so I'm gonna try to explain.  First of all, there isn't any emphasis placed on what war it is or what battle Henry is engaged in.  We basically are given a approximate time frame so we draw our own conclusions.  This doesn't seem to  be the a major point of focus, instead we are thrust inside Henry's mind.  It is an impressionistic approach which emphasizes the drama of thought more so than action.

Crane uses visual imagery, especially colors, and symbols to draw us into Henry's world.  Henry is the only character that we get to know from the inside and his perceptions are colored by emotions.  There are times that his descriptions are distorted, but portray an elaborate picture of his personal reality and the psychological effects of war.  Crane also uses irony regarding Henry's views about courage and his perceptions of himself.  I think so many people of that era tended to romanicize war as a stage for glorious acts of heroism.  When Henry was retreating and became convinced that they were being led into slaughter, it made me think of "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Lord Alfred Tennyson (not an American, I know).  It just happens to be the first thing that came to mind when I was reading Red Badge and I couldn't quite shake the thoughts.....
  
......"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred........

Wonderful World of Powerful Women

Nineteenth and 20^th Century American women have, through the years, evolved from being simple mothers, wives, and daughters to becoming women of true substance.  Women who gained autonomy despite the stereotypes and stigmas placed on them by society.  It was an era primarily dominated by men and many historians have left out the importance of the roles women played in early American literature.  These early women writers are advocates for women empowerment.  They take into account the value and importance of family and social interaction of women in society and opened the doors for women.  They are true pioneers in literature, as well as, in history.

A little ‘Women in American Literature’ trivia…..

The first American woman writer, and the first American woman poet to have her work published was Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672).

To my Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Nature's Way

To tribulations of mankind
Dame Nature is indifferent;
To human sorrow she is blind,
And deaf to human discontent.
Mid fear and fratricidalfray,
Mid woe and tyranny of toil,
She goes her unregarding way
Of sky and sun and soil.

In leaf and blade, in bud and bloom
Exultantly her gladness glows,
And careless of Man's dreary doom
Around the palm she wreathes the rose;
Creating beauty everywhere,
With happy bird in holy song...
Please God, let us be unaware
Like her of wrath and wrong.

Let us too be indifferent,
And in her hands our fate resign;
Aye, though the world with rage is rent
Let us be placid as the pine.
For if we turn from greed and guile
Maybe Dame Nature will relent,
And bless us with her lovely smile
Of comfort and content.

Robert William Service

Man and Nature

     When we were reading the assignments in the men’s pod, there is one particular story that continues to hold a special place for me.  “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce was phenomenal in my opinion and I would love to read more of his work.  He depicts Peyton’s surrounding and thoughts so vividly. Bierce magnifies certain aspects of nature that go unnoticed to the human eye such as “the leaves and the veining of each leaf-saw the very insects upon them” and “prismatic colors in all the dewdrops upon a million blades of grass”.  His colorful words make nature so fresh, beautiful and alive. Later when Peyton’s journey is nearing its end and the realization that death is just around the corner, he yet again uses such alluring words such as, “overhead…shone great golden stars looking unfamiliar and grouped in strange constellations.”, and “he distinctly heard whispers in an unknown tongue” to guide Peyton gently home.  I came across the following poem and it reminded me a little of this story on how it combines the beauty of nature and prayer.

A Speckle of Twisted Whimsy....

Well I guess this is the moment when I begin to discover the wonderful world of creative blogging only I’m not sure exactly how creative I am.  It raises my excitement just about the same way as the anticipation of “Show and Tell” use to when I was in the 1^st grade.  The prospect of learning and being inspired by what others have to share in the wonderful world of American Literature leads me to jump right in.

  The beauty of photography, music, reading and art is a meaningful and significant part of my life.  As an avid reader, I have always appreciated the importance of the written word.  It’s a powerful tool that can be used to inspire creative thinking and excite one’s imagination.  Sometimes it’s the smallest of details that paint the most distinctive pictures or provide the most inspiration to readers…..floral bouquets from the garden arranged in sparkling glass votives, a newly planted herb garden glittering with morning dew, or homemade treats wrapped in the palest blue cellophane and tied with vintage ribbon.  The selections we have read so far have become the start of a love affair with literature and poetry.  As we continue to “read” our way through the semester, I will leave you with these three words: create, learn, and inspire……… 

"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."

Leonardo da Vinci