James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
REVISED Marathon
Trying my best
not to fall to the ground.
With small and shaky legs
my first baby steps become sound.
My steps soon turn to strides.
Now I’m tall and strong.
With friends by my side,
The way ahead still is long.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
REVISED "Family" Poem Tag.
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
REVISED “Family” Poem
Tag.
Tag. You’re it.
Or is it I that is it?
Did you forgotten to count to five?
I guess that means I’m still alive.
Tag. you are it.
Or am I still it?
Mike says Matt was touching the tree,
yet I didn’t see.
Tag. Now you are it!
But it’s still me.
How can this be?
David wasn’t playing
At least that’s what Kara is saying.
Tag! I got you!
English 306
Steve Pett
REVISED “Family” Poem
Tag.
Tag. You’re it.
Or is it I that is it?
Did you forgotten to count to five?
I guess that means I’m still alive.
Tag. you are it.
Or am I still it?
Mike says Matt was touching the tree,
yet I didn’t see.
Tag. Now you are it!
But it’s still me.
How can this be?
David wasn’t playing
At least that’s what Kara is saying.
Tag! I got you!
Nothing Short of Anything
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Nothing Short of Anything
So now what.
I have my pen
and a piece of paper.
It seems that I should think
of something to write about.
I could write about anything.
Should start with a rhyme
or should I wait some other time.
All I know is
while I was trying to think of something
I just wrote absolutely nothing.
English 306
Steve Pett
Nothing Short of Anything
So now what.
I have my pen
and a piece of paper.
It seems that I should think
of something to write about.
I could write about anything.
Should start with a rhyme
or should I wait some other time.
All I know is
while I was trying to think of something
I just wrote absolutely nothing.
Critical Response: she had some horses by Joy Harjo
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical Response: she had some horses by Joy Harjo
She had some horses by Joy Harjo is an excellent example of a women trying to explain her identity through writing poetry. Harjo is a Native American and through the writings of her poetry it seems that she is trying to explain the struggles she is experiences for being a Native American in what is now the present culture of America. As Harjo writes her poems, she wanted to make it clear through the use of specifically chosen words that she was as close to her native identity as she possibly could. Harjo would choose words that can easily be identified with as Native American culture. Some of the words you will see through out most of Harjos poems include blood, dream, horses, moon, rain and anything that has to do with the earth and nature. In addition, story telling through Harjos poems seems to be a way she can keep her culture alive and remembered because this land was once owned by her heritage but can now easily be forgotten if not reminded by it in some way or another.
When looking at Harjos poems, all of them in some way can bring up thoughts of Native American culture and all her poems will give you the sense of how close she is with her Native American heritage. Harjos poems all seem to have a theme about memory and tradition and there are some poems of hers which can show this theme much more clear then any of her other writings.
One of these poems is the one titled “One Cedar Tree” (p. 16). In this poem, Harjo writes a lot about nature and there are a lot of lines which can clearly represent how she can be indentified more as a Native American who wants to be very close to her own past culture instead of the present day. These lines in this poem which can represent her identity are “to sacred blue sky / Only the prayers I send up on cedar smoke, _ on sage. / And I eat, breathe, and pray to some strange god _ who could be a cedar tree _ outside the window.”. Harjo also uses a lot of words that make it easier to bring up thoughts and memory of Native Americans such as prayers, sacred, moon, sun, sage and land. Also this poem has a story telling quality about praying to a cedar tree as if it were some sort of spirit which can be seen as something of Native American tradition.
Another poem which can show Harjo trying to identify with her heritage is the poem is “Remember” (p.35). This poem symbolically tries to make you think about the Native American culture and through repetition tries to unstill it into your memory so you will never forget. Some of these lines in this poem that clearly can make one think about Native American culture are “Remember the sky that you were born under, _ know each of the star’s stories. / Remember the moon, know who she is. / Remember the earth whose skin you are: red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth _ brown earth, we are earth. / Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the _ origin of this universe.”. In addition, this poem not only emphasizes on the fact that Native American culture should be remembered but it also wants you to remember how you got here and why you are here.
When looking at all of Harjos poems, one that can stand out in which she uses a lot of words that can be associated with Native American culture is the poem “She Had Some Horses” (p. 61). In this poem, Harjo constantly uses the word horse which is a very symbolic figure in Native American culture. Other words through out this poem that can be associated with the culture include blood, water, air, sky, clay, stars, moon, spirit and prayed. After reading these words one could easily group them together as something from nature which is what Native American culture and tradition is about.
As you can see, Harjo really shows that she has a strong identity with Native American culture through her writings. Through the use of Harjos imageries and similes, she really could connect herself and the reader to a more cultural perspective of Native American culture and it was the way she wrote, for example the use of repetition in the some of her poems such as “Cuchillo” (p. 22) and “She Had Some Horses” (p. 61) that could really instill in the memory not to forget about Native American culture.
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical Response: she had some horses by Joy Harjo
She had some horses by Joy Harjo is an excellent example of a women trying to explain her identity through writing poetry. Harjo is a Native American and through the writings of her poetry it seems that she is trying to explain the struggles she is experiences for being a Native American in what is now the present culture of America. As Harjo writes her poems, she wanted to make it clear through the use of specifically chosen words that she was as close to her native identity as she possibly could. Harjo would choose words that can easily be identified with as Native American culture. Some of the words you will see through out most of Harjos poems include blood, dream, horses, moon, rain and anything that has to do with the earth and nature. In addition, story telling through Harjos poems seems to be a way she can keep her culture alive and remembered because this land was once owned by her heritage but can now easily be forgotten if not reminded by it in some way or another.
When looking at Harjos poems, all of them in some way can bring up thoughts of Native American culture and all her poems will give you the sense of how close she is with her Native American heritage. Harjos poems all seem to have a theme about memory and tradition and there are some poems of hers which can show this theme much more clear then any of her other writings.
One of these poems is the one titled “One Cedar Tree” (p. 16). In this poem, Harjo writes a lot about nature and there are a lot of lines which can clearly represent how she can be indentified more as a Native American who wants to be very close to her own past culture instead of the present day. These lines in this poem which can represent her identity are “to sacred blue sky / Only the prayers I send up on cedar smoke, _ on sage. / And I eat, breathe, and pray to some strange god _ who could be a cedar tree _ outside the window.”. Harjo also uses a lot of words that make it easier to bring up thoughts and memory of Native Americans such as prayers, sacred, moon, sun, sage and land. Also this poem has a story telling quality about praying to a cedar tree as if it were some sort of spirit which can be seen as something of Native American tradition.
Another poem which can show Harjo trying to identify with her heritage is the poem is “Remember” (p.35). This poem symbolically tries to make you think about the Native American culture and through repetition tries to unstill it into your memory so you will never forget. Some of these lines in this poem that clearly can make one think about Native American culture are “Remember the sky that you were born under, _ know each of the star’s stories. / Remember the moon, know who she is. / Remember the earth whose skin you are: red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth _ brown earth, we are earth. / Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the _ origin of this universe.”. In addition, this poem not only emphasizes on the fact that Native American culture should be remembered but it also wants you to remember how you got here and why you are here.
When looking at all of Harjos poems, one that can stand out in which she uses a lot of words that can be associated with Native American culture is the poem “She Had Some Horses” (p. 61). In this poem, Harjo constantly uses the word horse which is a very symbolic figure in Native American culture. Other words through out this poem that can be associated with the culture include blood, water, air, sky, clay, stars, moon, spirit and prayed. After reading these words one could easily group them together as something from nature which is what Native American culture and tradition is about.
As you can see, Harjo really shows that she has a strong identity with Native American culture through her writings. Through the use of Harjos imageries and similes, she really could connect herself and the reader to a more cultural perspective of Native American culture and it was the way she wrote, for example the use of repetition in the some of her poems such as “Cuchillo” (p. 22) and “She Had Some Horses” (p. 61) that could really instill in the memory not to forget about Native American culture.
Poetry of Place: My home away from home.
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Poetry of Place: My home away from home.
Living here as I do
It begins to feel more like home
But it isn’t.
Sure its getting warmer here
and of course its a lot greener
but it will never be as hot as home
and home will never be as green as this.
Is it because it rains so much here
That there’s none left to go back home.
Or perhaps its all the mountains
Which surround home
That prevent clouds from entering
It certainly would explain
Why you only see hills here.
Where home has sand.
Here has snow.
Where home has pools outside.
Here only in the summer time.
Sure you will see a lot of
Rabbits and chipmunks here
But you will get to see a lot of
Snakes and coyotes at home.
Living here as I do
It certainly does begin to feel
More like home.
I know if and when I do go back
Here, will always be my home away from home.
English 306
Steve Pett
Poetry of Place: My home away from home.
Living here as I do
It begins to feel more like home
But it isn’t.
Sure its getting warmer here
and of course its a lot greener
but it will never be as hot as home
and home will never be as green as this.
Is it because it rains so much here
That there’s none left to go back home.
Or perhaps its all the mountains
Which surround home
That prevent clouds from entering
It certainly would explain
Why you only see hills here.
Where home has sand.
Here has snow.
Where home has pools outside.
Here only in the summer time.
Sure you will see a lot of
Rabbits and chipmunks here
But you will get to see a lot of
Snakes and coyotes at home.
Living here as I do
It certainly does begin to feel
More like home.
I know if and when I do go back
Here, will always be my home away from home.
Witness: Once is an Accident, Twice is a coincidence, Three Times is a Habit.
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Witness: Once is an Accident, Twice is a coincidence, Three Times is a Habit.
It was just another day
at the beginning of the school year.
Nothing seemed too unusual
about this very morning
except that I only got one
piece of toast for breakfast
instead of the usual three.
I never look forward to this time of month
except for the occasional day off
from school that September
has to offer.
It was a block schedule
and that could only mean
my first hour class was twice as long.
This class so far has proven to be boring
so expecting anything different
would be like expecting world peace.
As I entered class
something was different.
The teacher wasn’t taking attendance
My classmates weren’t in their seats.
I didn’t know we were going to watch a video.
To my surprise we weren’t even going to do that.
Watching the television news
was today’s lecture.
Finally something to take the dullness
out of the day.
An accident and not just any accident.
This kind was one of those once in a blue moon ones
and that’s another reason why
alcoholics shouldn’t be pilots.
Certainly once is an accident
but when it is this drastic.
Twice can’t just be a coincidence.
Especially if an the second one
is a mirror image of the first.
English 306
Steve Pett
Witness: Once is an Accident, Twice is a coincidence, Three Times is a Habit.
It was just another day
at the beginning of the school year.
Nothing seemed too unusual
about this very morning
except that I only got one
piece of toast for breakfast
instead of the usual three.
I never look forward to this time of month
except for the occasional day off
from school that September
has to offer.
It was a block schedule
and that could only mean
my first hour class was twice as long.
This class so far has proven to be boring
so expecting anything different
would be like expecting world peace.
As I entered class
something was different.
The teacher wasn’t taking attendance
My classmates weren’t in their seats.
I didn’t know we were going to watch a video.
To my surprise we weren’t even going to do that.
Watching the television news
was today’s lecture.
Finally something to take the dullness
out of the day.
An accident and not just any accident.
This kind was one of those once in a blue moon ones
and that’s another reason why
alcoholics shouldn’t be pilots.
Certainly once is an accident
but when it is this drastic.
Twice can’t just be a coincidence.
Especially if an the second one
is a mirror image of the first.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Billy Collins: Insomnia
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Billy Collins: Insomnia
Once again I’m back
To this forever lasting night.
Only left with pictures and stories
all locked away in my mind.
As I stare at the 12:32 of my room
I begin to wonder.
How many miles it would take
to go around the world.
At 2:45 I set off
one mile at a time
Every mile there is something new to see.
3:16 I see a horse jumping over a fence.
4:28 A little kid is jumping rope.
5:41 the empire state building.
6:52 some lake where dragon flies hover.
7:39 a scene that doesn’t make any sense.
8:00 the most annoying sound in the world.
The morning alarm and all of a sudden
I had just traveled across the whole world
and was back in my own room.
English 306
Steve Pett
Billy Collins: Insomnia
Once again I’m back
To this forever lasting night.
Only left with pictures and stories
all locked away in my mind.
As I stare at the 12:32 of my room
I begin to wonder.
How many miles it would take
to go around the world.
At 2:45 I set off
one mile at a time
Every mile there is something new to see.
3:16 I see a horse jumping over a fence.
4:28 A little kid is jumping rope.
5:41 the empire state building.
6:52 some lake where dragon flies hover.
7:39 a scene that doesn’t make any sense.
8:00 the most annoying sound in the world.
The morning alarm and all of a sudden
I had just traveled across the whole world
and was back in my own room.
Harjo poem: Outside
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Harjo poem: Outside
The moon glows
on what is a maroon oval.
Inside, nothing more
then a field of grass
where no work is being done.
The sound of bugs coming from
what appears to be an empty cage.
If the lights were lit
I could see if anyone were
jumping in the sand pit.
Ten times I could go around.
However, I choose to only go four.
Its not that I couldn’t go
ten or twenty around, its just
a mile was enough for me
that night.
English 306
Steve Pett
Harjo poem: Outside
The moon glows
on what is a maroon oval.
Inside, nothing more
then a field of grass
where no work is being done.
The sound of bugs coming from
what appears to be an empty cage.
If the lights were lit
I could see if anyone were
jumping in the sand pit.
Ten times I could go around.
However, I choose to only go four.
Its not that I couldn’t go
ten or twenty around, its just
a mile was enough for me
that night.
Shadow poem
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Shadow poem
Something is always better.
No matter what it is.
No matter where it is.
Something is always better.
No matter how you look at it.
Someone is always better.
No matter what I do.
No matter how I do it.
Someone is always better.
No matter how hard I try.
I can always be better.
If I can put my mind into it.
If I can put the effort into it.
I can always be better.
All I have to do is try.
English 306
Steve Pett
Shadow poem
Something is always better.
No matter what it is.
No matter where it is.
Something is always better.
No matter how you look at it.
Someone is always better.
No matter what I do.
No matter how I do it.
Someone is always better.
No matter how hard I try.
I can always be better.
If I can put my mind into it.
If I can put the effort into it.
I can always be better.
All I have to do is try.
Brenda Jones-Happiness
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Brenda Jones-Happiness
Is it that you’re so unhappy
Because you forgot what happiness is.
Or perhaps you don’t know
What happiness looks like.
Why does everyone look miserable?
Why do they all have to look so sad?
Maybe it’s because you over clothed them
Or perhaps it’s because you didn’t clothe them at all.
Why use such unhappy words.
Hate, is that how you feel?
Pain, is that what you feel?
Rape, is that why you even feel at all?
But wait, why is this woman so content?
She seems to be all by herself.
All alone from everyone else
Without a care in the world
And she is the smallest painting of them all.
English 306
Steve Pett
Brenda Jones-Happiness
Is it that you’re so unhappy
Because you forgot what happiness is.
Or perhaps you don’t know
What happiness looks like.
Why does everyone look miserable?
Why do they all have to look so sad?
Maybe it’s because you over clothed them
Or perhaps it’s because you didn’t clothe them at all.
Why use such unhappy words.
Hate, is that how you feel?
Pain, is that what you feel?
Rape, is that why you even feel at all?
But wait, why is this woman so content?
She seems to be all by herself.
All alone from everyone else
Without a care in the world
And she is the smallest painting of them all.
Critical Response: Sandra Cisneros Loose Women
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical Response: Sandra Cisneros Loose Women
The book Loose Women by Sandra Cisneros is full of many poems in which are very unique to her. When she writes her poems she basically expresses all her emotions as she writes. In Cisneros writing, she also likes to bring a Latino perspective into most of her poems because of her Mexican roots. In addition, as you read Cisneros poem it would soon be obvious that they are very intimate in they way that she uses the similes and metaphors. Cisneros even uses the word “you” in most of her poem and addresses the word “you” generally as a lover.
When looking at Cisneros poems, there is one poem that clearly can be identified show most of the characteristics in her writing. The poem “You Bring Out the Mexican in Me” (p. 4) is a great example of this. When looking at this poem it is clear that Cisneros expresses a lot of emotions throughout it. Some of these expressions of emotions can be seen in lines such as “The fear of fascists in me. / The Pandora’s curiosity in me. / I want rattle and rent you in two. I want to defile you and raise hell. I want to pull out the kitchen knives, dull and sharp, and whisk the air with crosses.” These lines clearly show the fear, curiosity and anger Cisneros was feeling when she wrote the poem. This poem is also a great example of how Cisneros likes to bring up her Mexican roots. The title and basically every other line in the poem has to do with how Cisneros likes to write about her roots. Some of these lines in which this can be seen are “The Mexican spitfire in me. / The Mexico City ’85 earthquake in me. / Love the way a Mexican women loves.” In addition, this poem even has her addressing the word “you” as a lover. This can be seen in the lines “You are the one I’d let go the other loves for / I claim you all mine / I could kill in the name of you and think it worth it. / Love the way a Mexican women loves. Let me show you.”
Sandra Cisneros poems will always be something very unique. Cisneros expresses what would be considered someone’s most private emotions about love and sex through her writings. Not only is it expressed through what Cisneros feels but she also writes her poems through two different cultural views which will always make the book Loose Women something very unique to all other poetry books.
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical Response: Sandra Cisneros Loose Women
The book Loose Women by Sandra Cisneros is full of many poems in which are very unique to her. When she writes her poems she basically expresses all her emotions as she writes. In Cisneros writing, she also likes to bring a Latino perspective into most of her poems because of her Mexican roots. In addition, as you read Cisneros poem it would soon be obvious that they are very intimate in they way that she uses the similes and metaphors. Cisneros even uses the word “you” in most of her poem and addresses the word “you” generally as a lover.
When looking at Cisneros poems, there is one poem that clearly can be identified show most of the characteristics in her writing. The poem “You Bring Out the Mexican in Me” (p. 4) is a great example of this. When looking at this poem it is clear that Cisneros expresses a lot of emotions throughout it. Some of these expressions of emotions can be seen in lines such as “The fear of fascists in me. / The Pandora’s curiosity in me. / I want rattle and rent you in two. I want to defile you and raise hell. I want to pull out the kitchen knives, dull and sharp, and whisk the air with crosses.” These lines clearly show the fear, curiosity and anger Cisneros was feeling when she wrote the poem. This poem is also a great example of how Cisneros likes to bring up her Mexican roots. The title and basically every other line in the poem has to do with how Cisneros likes to write about her roots. Some of these lines in which this can be seen are “The Mexican spitfire in me. / The Mexico City ’85 earthquake in me. / Love the way a Mexican women loves.” In addition, this poem even has her addressing the word “you” as a lover. This can be seen in the lines “You are the one I’d let go the other loves for / I claim you all mine / I could kill in the name of you and think it worth it. / Love the way a Mexican women loves. Let me show you.”
Sandra Cisneros poems will always be something very unique. Cisneros expresses what would be considered someone’s most private emotions about love and sex through her writings. Not only is it expressed through what Cisneros feels but she also writes her poems through two different cultural views which will always make the book Loose Women something very unique to all other poetry books.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
If only it were that easy
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Slam Poetry Poem
If only it were that easy
If getting from point A to point B
were that easy
then getting a degree
would be of no use to me.
The fact is
nothing in life comes easy
and it really should be
going from point A to point Z.
Sure if life looks at you with a smile
you will be around for awhile
and if lady lucks on your side
you won’t have such a bumpy ride.
The path you choose
cant be missing one letter
because the sentences you write
would be incomplete forever.
It must be in alphabetical order
or you will just wind up taking someone’s order.
English 306
Steve Pett
Slam Poetry Poem
If only it were that easy
If getting from point A to point B
were that easy
then getting a degree
would be of no use to me.
The fact is
nothing in life comes easy
and it really should be
going from point A to point Z.
Sure if life looks at you with a smile
you will be around for awhile
and if lady lucks on your side
you won’t have such a bumpy ride.
The path you choose
cant be missing one letter
because the sentences you write
would be incomplete forever.
It must be in alphabetical order
or you will just wind up taking someone’s order.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Billy Collins Poem Insperation: Where I Live
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Billy Collins Poem Insperation: Where I Live
Where My House Is
This House sits on top of a small hill
no taller then how high you stand.
What once was a small lawn
with a stair way of only
several steps high,
now is covered by winters
cold message that it was here.
At the bottom of the steps,
a trail, that follows a particular path
from the drive way to the front door
comes across two windows which
are about as high as you stand.
A Christmas tree stands in the first window
which should have been taken care of
just like the paint
falling off the wood of the house.
As it begins to snow
I decide to stay home.
sitting on one of four couches
watching the television which is about
as high as I stand.
I look out the second window
watching the snow fall
only to know that tomorrow
I will have to shovel a trail
from the drive way to the front door.
English 306
Steve Pett
Billy Collins Poem Insperation: Where I Live
Where My House Is
This House sits on top of a small hill
no taller then how high you stand.
What once was a small lawn
with a stair way of only
several steps high,
now is covered by winters
cold message that it was here.
At the bottom of the steps,
a trail, that follows a particular path
from the drive way to the front door
comes across two windows which
are about as high as you stand.
A Christmas tree stands in the first window
which should have been taken care of
just like the paint
falling off the wood of the house.
As it begins to snow
I decide to stay home.
sitting on one of four couches
watching the television which is about
as high as I stand.
I look out the second window
watching the snow fall
only to know that tomorrow
I will have to shovel a trail
from the drive way to the front door.
A day in the life of everyone I live with
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
A day in the life of everyone I live with
Matt is the first to wake in the house
where David is brushing his teeth,
across from Kara who is eating her breakfast,
while I take a shower
before mike has to go to work
as dad reads the news paper.
Dad goes to work when he’s done reading
only after he drops matt off at school.
Mike heads of to work
After dropping David off at school
While I head out for a run
Before Kara feeds the animals.
After Kara feeds the animals
Dad starts his shift
At the same time I get back
While Matt learns math
And David learns Spanish.
Mike gets to work only to find out
That it’s Monday. Mike starts work
at the beginning of Tuesday just like Kara.
As David plays in P.E.
Dad drives a truck around delivering boxes
While Matt studies English.
I must now clean the house
Because I promised
Just as mike did.
While matt was at school
Kara helped with the dishes
Before Dad would get home
For David’s birthday party.
David would unknowingly come home.
I would yell surprise,
Dad would hold the cake,
Mike would bring the presents,
Kara would throw the confetti
And Matt would celebrate.
Matt would hug David
Along with kara, and I
Would ask mike what was in the present from Dad.
English 306
Steve Pett
A day in the life of everyone I live with
Matt is the first to wake in the house
where David is brushing his teeth,
across from Kara who is eating her breakfast,
while I take a shower
before mike has to go to work
as dad reads the news paper.
Dad goes to work when he’s done reading
only after he drops matt off at school.
Mike heads of to work
After dropping David off at school
While I head out for a run
Before Kara feeds the animals.
After Kara feeds the animals
Dad starts his shift
At the same time I get back
While Matt learns math
And David learns Spanish.
Mike gets to work only to find out
That it’s Monday. Mike starts work
at the beginning of Tuesday just like Kara.
As David plays in P.E.
Dad drives a truck around delivering boxes
While Matt studies English.
I must now clean the house
Because I promised
Just as mike did.
While matt was at school
Kara helped with the dishes
Before Dad would get home
For David’s birthday party.
David would unknowingly come home.
I would yell surprise,
Dad would hold the cake,
Mike would bring the presents,
Kara would throw the confetti
And Matt would celebrate.
Matt would hug David
Along with kara, and I
Would ask mike what was in the present from Dad.
From the smallest to the Tallest
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
From the smallest to the Tallest
She says that I
took forever
to start walking.
Was the latest
to start talking.
She had noticed
that I was the smallest
and she would need to
Work on me the longest.
That was then
this is now.
I am the strongest
and now the tallest.
I can not just walk
but run faster then any.
This is because
I had worked the hardest.
English 306
Steve Pett
From the smallest to the Tallest
She says that I
took forever
to start walking.
Was the latest
to start talking.
She had noticed
that I was the smallest
and she would need to
Work on me the longest.
That was then
this is now.
I am the strongest
and now the tallest.
I can not just walk
but run faster then any.
This is because
I had worked the hardest.
How did I get here
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
How did I get here
Waking up
only to get ready
for another day of school.
On my way to Curtis
I stop
and begin to wonder
how did it all start.
How did I get here.
She moved to Tempe
and eventually meant him.
She had seen him
day in and day out.
She said I do
and asked for three.
He gave her five.
I was the second.
English 306
Steve Pett
How did I get here
Waking up
only to get ready
for another day of school.
On my way to Curtis
I stop
and begin to wonder
how did it all start.
How did I get here.
She moved to Tempe
and eventually meant him.
She had seen him
day in and day out.
She said I do
and asked for three.
He gave her five.
I was the second.
If only for a moment
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
If only for a moment
She asked for a moment
I decided to give her three.
The first moment
We begin to kiss.
Beginning to touch her
all over like an Octopus.
Not so grabby she says.
Realizing she doesn’t like
creatures of the sea.
The second moment
I start to reach up her shirt
Suddenly ripping off all her clothes
Like a kid opening a Christmas present.
Slower she yells
As if the tortoise could actually beat the hare.
The third moment
I can taste the salty rain
As it soaks
both our bodies.
Out of no where
like a race horse
I come to the finish line first.
Uhhg she growns.
Leaving me only to think
That she doesn’t prefer thoroughbreds.
As she showed disappointment
For those moments we shared
I began to wonder
If a minute per moment
was enough.
English 306
Steve Pett
If only for a moment
She asked for a moment
I decided to give her three.
The first moment
We begin to kiss.
Beginning to touch her
all over like an Octopus.
Not so grabby she says.
Realizing she doesn’t like
creatures of the sea.
The second moment
I start to reach up her shirt
Suddenly ripping off all her clothes
Like a kid opening a Christmas present.
Slower she yells
As if the tortoise could actually beat the hare.
The third moment
I can taste the salty rain
As it soaks
both our bodies.
Out of no where
like a race horse
I come to the finish line first.
Uhhg she growns.
Leaving me only to think
That she doesn’t prefer thoroughbreds.
As she showed disappointment
For those moments we shared
I began to wonder
If a minute per moment
was enough.
Critical response: New and Selected Poems, Soto "Its a Small World After All" revised
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical response: New and Selected Poems, Soto
The book New and Selected Poems by Gary Soto contains many poems that are full of unique qualities and characteristics that only can be seen in Soto’s writings. Soto seemed to write his poems in order to find meaning in what he was viewing or experiencing in his life. Throughout Soto’s book there are many qualities which can be seen in his poems such as clever uses of imagery and similes, his subjects for writing can also be identifies after reading a few of his poems, and his style of writing can be noticed with similarities in most all of his poems.
Soto would write his life experiences in poems using brilliant imagery and using similes and metaphors to help detail how he felt about certain objects or themes. For example, in the last stanza at the bottom or page eleven “From the smashed bus window, I saw the leaves of cotton plants Like small hands waving good-bye” Soto cleverly uses imagery and similes to explain in detail what he had seen when he was riding on a bus. Some other poems where similes and metaphors can be seen are “The Creature” were he writes “Perched like a bird On my left Shoulder” which can be seen as a simile and the poem “Black Hair” when he writes “My black torch of hair, about to go out?” which can be seen as a metaphor. Another example in which I found that Soto cleverly used imagery and similes was in his poem “The Journey” on page thirty four. Soto writes “Until it stopped Where stones climbed Like a stairway These terrible Hills.” Not only did Soto write this part of the poem from what he had seen but he also used the states “These terrible Hills” that clearly shows emotion in his writing on how he felt about them. In the poem “Chuy” in the seventh stanza you can get a sense of emotion from the lines “The doctor glinting With a needle, Chuy backed off, Particularly frightened Of the cotton ball”,
Soto’s subjects for writing seem to be based of what he is witnessing and the places he is in. A great amount of Soto’s poems seem to be based on things from nature. This is possibly because the majority of what Soto witnessed through life that had an impact on him was when he was outside and he could use his writing to express how he felt about what he had seen. Most of Soto’s poem can show that he has witnessed things from nature for example the poem “In December” on page fourteen Soto writes “to find nothing But vinegar And an unstrung necklace Of dead flies.” Which can easily be seen as nature at work with his own imagery added in. The place Soto appears to be writing about a lot is in California.
When looking at Soto’s poems, it seems that most of his poems have no repetition in the words that are being used except in a few such as “Telephoning God”. Soto seems to prefer to have his poems always changing from one view to another and never looking back at what previously just happened. Soto writes most of his poems as if they are always on the move from viewing one thing to another. A great example of this can be seen in his poem “Summer” on page ten.
Soto’s style of writing seems to be his use of using a lot of imagery with his writing. Soto also appears to just go with the flow off things that pass him by and them finds how they can relate to a deeper meaning. For example if it happened to rain out side Soto might start talking about how the “rain flatten sycamore leaves” and then “Ants raised around their holes I should be out of work” like in is poem “Rain” on page eight. Another style that can be noticed in Soto’s poems is his use of have small objects in a lot of his writings. In his writings you will see Soto write about flies, ants, midgets, insects, and even use imagery about other small objects. Examples of these can be seen in lots of poems such as “In December” when he writes “Like small red globes” for imagery, the poem “The Evening of Ants” the poem “A Few Coins” he writes “To form a circus: Nude dancers, a midget With minute genitals” the poem “ The Tale of Sunlight” he writes “Through a small hole” and “When a Fly settled” and the poem “The Street” he writes “A hive of gnats.” “Into a jar of flies, wingless” and “For the ants, A small cargo”. In addition, you will notice that Soto’s poems have to do with poverty in most cases. Lastly, Soto doesn’t seem to use rhymes in his style of writing poems.
As with any other poet, unique characteristics can be seen in Soto’s poems such as his uses of imageries and similes, his subjects for writing which display nature and poverty, and his style of writing which shows that he likes to have small things in his poems such as insects, midgets, and even other small objects like tomatoes. All poets will always have their own ways for writing poetry but no one will every write with such brilliance and clever usage of commanding words like Gary Soto.
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical response: New and Selected Poems, Soto
The book New and Selected Poems by Gary Soto contains many poems that are full of unique qualities and characteristics that only can be seen in Soto’s writings. Soto seemed to write his poems in order to find meaning in what he was viewing or experiencing in his life. Throughout Soto’s book there are many qualities which can be seen in his poems such as clever uses of imagery and similes, his subjects for writing can also be identifies after reading a few of his poems, and his style of writing can be noticed with similarities in most all of his poems.
Soto would write his life experiences in poems using brilliant imagery and using similes and metaphors to help detail how he felt about certain objects or themes. For example, in the last stanza at the bottom or page eleven “From the smashed bus window, I saw the leaves of cotton plants Like small hands waving good-bye” Soto cleverly uses imagery and similes to explain in detail what he had seen when he was riding on a bus. Some other poems where similes and metaphors can be seen are “The Creature” were he writes “Perched like a bird On my left Shoulder” which can be seen as a simile and the poem “Black Hair” when he writes “My black torch of hair, about to go out?” which can be seen as a metaphor. Another example in which I found that Soto cleverly used imagery and similes was in his poem “The Journey” on page thirty four. Soto writes “Until it stopped Where stones climbed Like a stairway These terrible Hills.” Not only did Soto write this part of the poem from what he had seen but he also used the states “These terrible Hills” that clearly shows emotion in his writing on how he felt about them. In the poem “Chuy” in the seventh stanza you can get a sense of emotion from the lines “The doctor glinting With a needle, Chuy backed off, Particularly frightened Of the cotton ball”,
Soto’s subjects for writing seem to be based of what he is witnessing and the places he is in. A great amount of Soto’s poems seem to be based on things from nature. This is possibly because the majority of what Soto witnessed through life that had an impact on him was when he was outside and he could use his writing to express how he felt about what he had seen. Most of Soto’s poem can show that he has witnessed things from nature for example the poem “In December” on page fourteen Soto writes “to find nothing But vinegar And an unstrung necklace Of dead flies.” Which can easily be seen as nature at work with his own imagery added in. The place Soto appears to be writing about a lot is in California.
When looking at Soto’s poems, it seems that most of his poems have no repetition in the words that are being used except in a few such as “Telephoning God”. Soto seems to prefer to have his poems always changing from one view to another and never looking back at what previously just happened. Soto writes most of his poems as if they are always on the move from viewing one thing to another. A great example of this can be seen in his poem “Summer” on page ten.
Soto’s style of writing seems to be his use of using a lot of imagery with his writing. Soto also appears to just go with the flow off things that pass him by and them finds how they can relate to a deeper meaning. For example if it happened to rain out side Soto might start talking about how the “rain flatten sycamore leaves” and then “Ants raised around their holes I should be out of work” like in is poem “Rain” on page eight. Another style that can be noticed in Soto’s poems is his use of have small objects in a lot of his writings. In his writings you will see Soto write about flies, ants, midgets, insects, and even use imagery about other small objects. Examples of these can be seen in lots of poems such as “In December” when he writes “Like small red globes” for imagery, the poem “The Evening of Ants” the poem “A Few Coins” he writes “To form a circus: Nude dancers, a midget With minute genitals” the poem “ The Tale of Sunlight” he writes “Through a small hole” and “When a Fly settled” and the poem “The Street” he writes “A hive of gnats.” “Into a jar of flies, wingless” and “For the ants, A small cargo”. In addition, you will notice that Soto’s poems have to do with poverty in most cases. Lastly, Soto doesn’t seem to use rhymes in his style of writing poems.
As with any other poet, unique characteristics can be seen in Soto’s poems such as his uses of imageries and similes, his subjects for writing which display nature and poverty, and his style of writing which shows that he likes to have small things in his poems such as insects, midgets, and even other small objects like tomatoes. All poets will always have their own ways for writing poetry but no one will every write with such brilliance and clever usage of commanding words like Gary Soto.
Critical response: New and Selected Poems, Soto "Its a Small World After All"
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical response: New and Selected Poems, Soto
The book New and Selected Poems by Gary Soto contains many poems that are full of imagery. Soto seemed to write his poems in order to find meaning in what he was viewing or experiencing in his life. Soto would write his life experiences in poems using brilliant imagery and using similes and metaphors to help detail how he felt about certain objects or themes. For example, in the last stanza at the bottom or page eleven “From the smashed bus window, I saw the leaves of cotton plants Like small hands waving good-bye” Soto cleverly uses imagery and similes to explain in detail what he had seen when he was riding on a bus. Some other poems where similes and metaphors can be seen are “The Creature” were he writes “Perched like a bird On my left Shoulder” which can be seen as a simile and the poem “Black Hair” when he writes “My black torch of hair, about to go out?” which can be seen as a metaphor. Another example in which I found that Soto cleverly used imagery and similes was in his poem “The Journey” on page thirty four. Soto writes “Until it stopped Where stones climbed Like a stairway These terrible Hills.” Not only did Soto write this part of the poem from what he had seen but he also used the states “These terrible Hills” that clearly shows emotion in his writing on how he felt about them. In the poem “Chuy” in the seventh stanza you can get a sense of emotion from the lines “The doctor glinting With a needle, Chuy backed off, Particularly frightened Of the cotton ball”,
Soto’s subjects for writing seem to be based of what he is witnessing and the places he is in. A great amount of Soto’s poems seem to be based on things from nature. This is possibly because the majority of what Soto witnessed through life that had an impact on him was when he was outside and he could use his writing to express how he felt about what he had seen. Most of Soto’s poem can show that he has witnessed things from nature for example the poem “In December” on page fourteen Soto writes “to find nothing But vinegar And an unstrung necklace Of dead flies.” Which can easily be seen as nature at work with his own imagery added in. The place Soto appears to be writing about a lot is in California.
When looking at Soto’s poems, it seems that most of his poems have no repetition in the words that are being used except in a few such as “Telephoning God”. Soto seems to prefer to have his poems always changing from one view to another and never looking back a what previously just happened. Soto writes most of his poems as if they are always on the move from viewing one thing to another. A great example of this can be seen in his poem “Summer” on page ten.
Soto’s style of writing seems to be his use of using a lot of imagery with his writing. Soto also appears to just go with the flow off things that pass him by and them finds how they can relate to a deeper meaning. For example if it happened to rain out side Soto might start talking about how the “rain flatten sycamore leaves” and then “Ants raised around their holes I should be out of work” like in is poem “Rain” on page eight. Another style that can be noticed in Soto’s poems is his use of have small objects in a lot of his writings. In his writings you will see Soto write about flies, ants, midgets, insects and even use imagery about other small objects. Examples of these can be seen in lots of poems such as “In December” when he writes “Like small red globes” for imagery, the poem “The Evening of Ants” the poem “A Few Coins” he writes “To form a circus: Nude dancers, a midget With minute genitals” the poem “ The Tale of Sunlight” he writes “Through a small hole” and “When a Fly settled” and the poem “The Street” he writes “A hive of gnats.” “Into a jar of flies, wingless” and “For the ants, A small cargo”. In addition, you will notice that Soto’s poems have to do with poverty in most cases. Lastly, Soto doesn’t seem to use rhymes in his style of writing poems.
English 306
Steve Pett
Critical response: New and Selected Poems, Soto
The book New and Selected Poems by Gary Soto contains many poems that are full of imagery. Soto seemed to write his poems in order to find meaning in what he was viewing or experiencing in his life. Soto would write his life experiences in poems using brilliant imagery and using similes and metaphors to help detail how he felt about certain objects or themes. For example, in the last stanza at the bottom or page eleven “From the smashed bus window, I saw the leaves of cotton plants Like small hands waving good-bye” Soto cleverly uses imagery and similes to explain in detail what he had seen when he was riding on a bus. Some other poems where similes and metaphors can be seen are “The Creature” were he writes “Perched like a bird On my left Shoulder” which can be seen as a simile and the poem “Black Hair” when he writes “My black torch of hair, about to go out?” which can be seen as a metaphor. Another example in which I found that Soto cleverly used imagery and similes was in his poem “The Journey” on page thirty four. Soto writes “Until it stopped Where stones climbed Like a stairway These terrible Hills.” Not only did Soto write this part of the poem from what he had seen but he also used the states “These terrible Hills” that clearly shows emotion in his writing on how he felt about them. In the poem “Chuy” in the seventh stanza you can get a sense of emotion from the lines “The doctor glinting With a needle, Chuy backed off, Particularly frightened Of the cotton ball”,
Soto’s subjects for writing seem to be based of what he is witnessing and the places he is in. A great amount of Soto’s poems seem to be based on things from nature. This is possibly because the majority of what Soto witnessed through life that had an impact on him was when he was outside and he could use his writing to express how he felt about what he had seen. Most of Soto’s poem can show that he has witnessed things from nature for example the poem “In December” on page fourteen Soto writes “to find nothing But vinegar And an unstrung necklace Of dead flies.” Which can easily be seen as nature at work with his own imagery added in. The place Soto appears to be writing about a lot is in California.
When looking at Soto’s poems, it seems that most of his poems have no repetition in the words that are being used except in a few such as “Telephoning God”. Soto seems to prefer to have his poems always changing from one view to another and never looking back a what previously just happened. Soto writes most of his poems as if they are always on the move from viewing one thing to another. A great example of this can be seen in his poem “Summer” on page ten.
Soto’s style of writing seems to be his use of using a lot of imagery with his writing. Soto also appears to just go with the flow off things that pass him by and them finds how they can relate to a deeper meaning. For example if it happened to rain out side Soto might start talking about how the “rain flatten sycamore leaves” and then “Ants raised around their holes I should be out of work” like in is poem “Rain” on page eight. Another style that can be noticed in Soto’s poems is his use of have small objects in a lot of his writings. In his writings you will see Soto write about flies, ants, midgets, insects and even use imagery about other small objects. Examples of these can be seen in lots of poems such as “In December” when he writes “Like small red globes” for imagery, the poem “The Evening of Ants” the poem “A Few Coins” he writes “To form a circus: Nude dancers, a midget With minute genitals” the poem “ The Tale of Sunlight” he writes “Through a small hole” and “When a Fly settled” and the poem “The Street” he writes “A hive of gnats.” “Into a jar of flies, wingless” and “For the ants, A small cargo”. In addition, you will notice that Soto’s poems have to do with poverty in most cases. Lastly, Soto doesn’t seem to use rhymes in his style of writing poems.
Write: Soto poem
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Write: Soto poem
In February
The snow is falling,
coming down like powdered sugar.
The temperature drops,
layers of clothes is the only option.
The snow is falling,
making every street and walkway one.
The wind picks up,
staying inside never seemed so justified.
The snow is falling
As if the sky was celebrating with colorless confetti.
Everywhere closed for the unexpected holiday.
The snow is falling
English 306
Steve Pett
Write: Soto poem
In February
The snow is falling,
coming down like powdered sugar.
The temperature drops,
layers of clothes is the only option.
The snow is falling,
making every street and walkway one.
The wind picks up,
staying inside never seemed so justified.
The snow is falling
As if the sky was celebrating with colorless confetti.
Everywhere closed for the unexpected holiday.
The snow is falling
“Family” Poem
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
“Family” Poem
Tag!
Tag! You are it!!
Or is it I who is it.
Have you forgotten to count to five?
I guess that means I’m still alive.
Tag!! Your it!!!
Or am I still it…
Mike says Matt was touching the tree
Yet I didn’t see.
TAG! Now You Are it!!!!
But it’s still me.
How can this be.
David wasn’t playing
At least that’s what Kara is saying.
TAG!!!! I GOT YOU!!!!
English 306
Steve Pett
“Family” Poem
Tag!
Tag! You are it!!
Or is it I who is it.
Have you forgotten to count to five?
I guess that means I’m still alive.
Tag!! Your it!!!
Or am I still it…
Mike says Matt was touching the tree
Yet I didn’t see.
TAG! Now You Are it!!!!
But it’s still me.
How can this be.
David wasn’t playing
At least that’s what Kara is saying.
TAG!!!! I GOT YOU!!!!
250 response to Symposium: Patricia Smith reading
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
250 response to Symposium: Patricia Smith reading
The event I went to was the readings from Patricia Smith. Patricia didn’t start of by reading her book the Blood Dazzler. Instead she said she would start of with a poem that she has been began with in each of her public readings for the last ten to eleven years. After this she had began to read poems from her book. Patricia had explained that the book the Blood Dazzler was about a personified version of Katrina and you would get to hear how she thinks and feels. Patricia read random poems from here book such as “Won’t be for a minute” which was about a dog named Luther B. As with all her poems she explained she wrote them from things she had read, heard and felt about Katrina. She wrote “Won’t be for a minute” because she knew people considered dogs as part of their families and she had also seen a graphic picture of a dead dog hanging from a telephone pull from the after math of Katrina. This is what inspired her to write not only “Won’t be for a minute” but other poems about dogs left behind in Katrina.
As I had listened to her readings she seamed to have a very passionate way of reading her poems. I had read many of her poems from Blood Dazzler getting a certain feeling from them and Patricia read the same poems with a different tone in her voice changing my feeling of the poem completely. When she read her poems I felt that I could get an accurate feeling of emotions that the poems were suppose to convey. Just by listening to Patricia read her own poems it gave me a new perspective from how I had viewed her poems before
English 306
Steve Pett
250 response to Symposium: Patricia Smith reading
The event I went to was the readings from Patricia Smith. Patricia didn’t start of by reading her book the Blood Dazzler. Instead she said she would start of with a poem that she has been began with in each of her public readings for the last ten to eleven years. After this she had began to read poems from her book. Patricia had explained that the book the Blood Dazzler was about a personified version of Katrina and you would get to hear how she thinks and feels. Patricia read random poems from here book such as “Won’t be for a minute” which was about a dog named Luther B. As with all her poems she explained she wrote them from things she had read, heard and felt about Katrina. She wrote “Won’t be for a minute” because she knew people considered dogs as part of their families and she had also seen a graphic picture of a dead dog hanging from a telephone pull from the after math of Katrina. This is what inspired her to write not only “Won’t be for a minute” but other poems about dogs left behind in Katrina.
As I had listened to her readings she seamed to have a very passionate way of reading her poems. I had read many of her poems from Blood Dazzler getting a certain feeling from them and Patricia read the same poems with a different tone in her voice changing my feeling of the poem completely. When she read her poems I felt that I could get an accurate feeling of emotions that the poems were suppose to convey. Just by listening to Patricia read her own poems it gave me a new perspective from how I had viewed her poems before
Write: Smith Poem Inconvenient p.13
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Write: Smith Poem Inconvenient p.13
Inconvenience
Once again this burden is upon me.
Is it my foot, my calf, or possibly my knee.
Of course this happens, why wouldn’t it.
I can’t help but try to be the best
What I really need is to rest.
I just don’t know when to quit
Once again im on my quest
This time I know when to sit.
For every new aching sensation
becomes a past irritation.
I know now how to become the best.
English 306
Steve Pett
Write: Smith Poem Inconvenient p.13
Inconvenience
Once again this burden is upon me.
Is it my foot, my calf, or possibly my knee.
Of course this happens, why wouldn’t it.
I can’t help but try to be the best
What I really need is to rest.
I just don’t know when to quit
Once again im on my quest
This time I know when to sit.
For every new aching sensation
becomes a past irritation.
I know now how to become the best.
Read: Poet’s Companion: ‘Voice and Style,” p. 115 [RR]
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: ‘Voice and Style,” p. 115 [RR]
1. When we listen to a person speaking, we hear a particular music unlike any other.
2. We read contemporary writers and imitate their line breaks, or their similes, and worry that we shouldn’t, that we’ll only create bad reproductions instead of original works.
3. We want a presence that convinces, one that engages and seduces a reader onto the world of our poems, a voice a reader will want to listen to.
4. In actual speech, we don’t choose our voice.
5. If you haven’t done much reading or writing of poetry, you’re going to make your choices based on a narrow sampling of what you know, which might range from the sappy clichés of greeting cards to some fuzzily-remembered poets from earlier centuries crammed down your throat in high school, to popular song lyrics.
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: ‘Voice and Style,” p. 115 [RR]
1. When we listen to a person speaking, we hear a particular music unlike any other.
2. We read contemporary writers and imitate their line breaks, or their similes, and worry that we shouldn’t, that we’ll only create bad reproductions instead of original works.
3. We want a presence that convinces, one that engages and seduces a reader onto the world of our poems, a voice a reader will want to listen to.
4. In actual speech, we don’t choose our voice.
5. If you haven’t done much reading or writing of poetry, you’re going to make your choices based on a narrow sampling of what you know, which might range from the sappy clichés of greeting cards to some fuzzily-remembered poets from earlier centuries crammed down your throat in high school, to popular song lyrics.
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Smile and Metaphor,” p. 94 [RR]
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Smile and Metaphor,” p. 94 [RR]
1. One difference between good and not-so-good poets is that the good
ones recognize when they’ve written stuff that deserves to be dumped, and load
up the truck.
2. Once, perhaps, to say “she sticks to him like glue” was fresh and
interesting, but now it’s a smile that, if it turns up in your poem, should be
sent to the Toxic Language Dump – a place we’ve invented for all those
expressions that are deadly for the art.
3. But using figurative language in poetry is more than finding a star-
tling simile or metaphor that grabs your reader.
4. Another thing about the figurative: it gives you access to words and
images that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Take the above example: in the first
case you might use words like highway, headlights, metal, screech, crush.
5. A poem may consist entirely of literal images, but they may well
resonate with metaphorical meaning.
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Smile and Metaphor,” p. 94 [RR]
1. One difference between good and not-so-good poets is that the good
ones recognize when they’ve written stuff that deserves to be dumped, and load
up the truck.
2. Once, perhaps, to say “she sticks to him like glue” was fresh and
interesting, but now it’s a smile that, if it turns up in your poem, should be
sent to the Toxic Language Dump – a place we’ve invented for all those
expressions that are deadly for the art.
3. But using figurative language in poetry is more than finding a star-
tling simile or metaphor that grabs your reader.
4. Another thing about the figurative: it gives you access to words and
images that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Take the above example: in the first
case you might use words like highway, headlights, metal, screech, crush.
5. A poem may consist entirely of literal images, but they may well
resonate with metaphorical meaning.
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Images,” p. 85 [RR]
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Images,” p. 85 [RR]
1. What, exactly is an image? For most people, “image” carries the
meaning of a visual picture, and it’s true that many images are visual. Put
simply, though, an image in poetry is language that calls up a physical
sensation, appealing to us at the level of any of our five senses.
2. Poets need to keep all five senses – and possibly a few more – on
continual alert, ready to translate the world through their bodies, to
reinvent it in language.
3. Images are seductive in themselves, but they’re not merely scenery, or
shouldn’t be.
4. The poet enlivens his images with the use of color: “gold
whirlpool,” “gold sea,” “full of the gold that took him.”
5. Artists have used this trick: adding a bit of red to green to make the
green appear brighter.
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Images,” p. 85 [RR]
1. What, exactly is an image? For most people, “image” carries the
meaning of a visual picture, and it’s true that many images are visual. Put
simply, though, an image in poetry is language that calls up a physical
sensation, appealing to us at the level of any of our five senses.
2. Poets need to keep all five senses – and possibly a few more – on
continual alert, ready to translate the world through their bodies, to
reinvent it in language.
3. Images are seductive in themselves, but they’re not merely scenery, or
shouldn’t be.
4. The poet enlivens his images with the use of color: “gold
whirlpool,” “gold sea,” “full of the gold that took him.”
5. Artists have used this trick: adding a bit of red to green to make the
green appear brighter.
Poet’s Companion: “Writing and Knowing,” p. 19 [RR]
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Poet’s Companion: “Writing and Knowing,” p. 19 [RR]
1. “We’ve been told again to write about what we know, but we don’t trust
that advice.”
2. “The trick is to find out what we know, challenge what we know, own
what we know, and then give it away in language”
3. “Poetry is an intimate act.”
4. Few of us begin to write a poem about “death” or “desire.”
5. “I listen to myself” this kind of listening is both tedious and
courageous”
English 306
Steve Pett
Poet’s Companion: “Writing and Knowing,” p. 19 [RR]
1. “We’ve been told again to write about what we know, but we don’t trust
that advice.”
2. “The trick is to find out what we know, challenge what we know, own
what we know, and then give it away in language”
3. “Poetry is an intimate act.”
4. Few of us begin to write a poem about “death” or “desire.”
5. “I listen to myself” this kind of listening is both tedious and
courageous”
Thursday, January 21, 2010
"Images" [RR]
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Images,” p. 85 [RR]
1. What, exactly is an image? For most people, “image” carries the
meaning of a visual picture, and it’s true that many images are visual. Put
simply, though, an image in poetry is language that calls up a physical
sensation, appealing to us at the level of any of our five senses.
2. Poets need to keep all five senses – and possibly a few more – on
continual alert, ready to translate the world through their bodies, to
reinvent it in language.
3. Images are seductive in themselves, but they’re not merely scenery, or
shouldn’t be.
4. The poet enlivens his images with the use of color: “gold
whirlpool,” “gold sea,” “full of the gold that took him.”
5. Artists have used this trick: adding a bit of red to green to make the
green appear brighter.
English 306
Steve Pett
Read: Poet’s Companion: “Images,” p. 85 [RR]
1. What, exactly is an image? For most people, “image” carries the
meaning of a visual picture, and it’s true that many images are visual. Put
simply, though, an image in poetry is language that calls up a physical
sensation, appealing to us at the level of any of our five senses.
2. Poets need to keep all five senses – and possibly a few more – on
continual alert, ready to translate the world through their bodies, to
reinvent it in language.
3. Images are seductive in themselves, but they’re not merely scenery, or
shouldn’t be.
4. The poet enlivens his images with the use of color: “gold
whirlpool,” “gold sea,” “full of the gold that took him.”
5. Artists have used this trick: adding a bit of red to green to make the
green appear brighter.
Marathon
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Poem two: Something that changed about your body since you were born
Trying my best
Not to fall to the ground
With small and shaky legs
First steps become sound
My steps turned to strides
Now tall and strong
With friends on my sides
The way ahead still is long.
English 306
Steve Pett
Poem two: Something that changed about your body since you were born
Trying my best
Not to fall to the ground
With small and shaky legs
First steps become sound
My steps turned to strides
Now tall and strong
With friends on my sides
The way ahead still is long.
Love Poem
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Poem one: love poem without the word love
You have a lot of curves
Yet you get on my nerves.
You look like a rose
Though you have a crooked nose.
You remind me if a pleasant breeze
But when I see you I begin to sneeze.
You move like a gazelle which is swell
Until you just recently fell down the well
English 306
Steve Pett
Poem one: love poem without the word love
You have a lot of curves
Yet you get on my nerves.
You look like a rose
Though you have a crooked nose.
You remind me if a pleasant breeze
But when I see you I begin to sneeze.
You move like a gazelle which is swell
Until you just recently fell down the well
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
James Galvan
English 306
Steve Pett
Poet’s Companion “Writing and Knowing” [RR]
1. There are no real rules for line breaks.
2. Denise Levertov says that the pause at the end of a line is equal to a
half-comma.
3. Say the word “lily.” You should hear it as a stressed syllable,
followed by an unstressed one.
4. “Do you break your poems into lines, or compose be the line?”
5. At some point, if you want to make memorable poems, you’ll need to get
a feel for the line, for what it does when it is very short, very long, and
every place inbetween
English 306
Steve Pett
Poet’s Companion “Writing and Knowing” [RR]
1. There are no real rules for line breaks.
2. Denise Levertov says that the pause at the end of a line is equal to a
half-comma.
3. Say the word “lily.” You should hear it as a stressed syllable,
followed by an unstressed one.
4. “Do you break your poems into lines, or compose be the line?”
5. At some point, if you want to make memorable poems, you’ll need to get
a feel for the line, for what it does when it is very short, very long, and
every place inbetween
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