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