M+Lapp


 * "Annabel Lee"

It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, media type="youtube" key="IiCb0yvODD8" height="344" width="425" align="right" That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of ANNABEL LEE; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea; But we loved with a love that was more than love- I and my Annabel Lee; With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsman came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven, Went envying her and me- Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we- Of many far wiser than we- And neither the angels in heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea, In her tomb by the sounding sea. **


 * Edgar Allan Poe [[image:Edgar_Allan_Poe_2.jpg width="323" height="404" align="right"]]

Poe lived from 1809-1849 but the reason for his death is unknown because all of his records have been lost including his death certificate. Often Considered the father of the detective genre, he is also thought to be part of the American Romantic movement. Many think he was more of a gothic writer especially through his imagery. Most of his poems were inspired by the deaths of the women in his life. Looking at this poem literally, it is obvious that Poe wrote “Annabel Lee” in memory of a women in his life that he loved. There are several poetic devices that show the literal meaning. The most obvious device is repetition. Poe writes “love” many times throughout the whole poem, but the most in the second stanza: “But we loved with a love that was more than love-I and my Annabel Lee; With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven Coveted her and me.” Poe’s use of “Annabel Lee” once in every stanza in the poem shows her emphasis and the impact she had on Poe. Another device in this poem is The internal rhyme; “For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee…” Poe uses this type of rhyme to make the meaning of the words stick into the readers’ head. Even though the meaning of the poem as a whole was pretty straight forward and easy to understand, there were some parts in “Annabel Lee” that could have had ambiguous meanings. One line in the poem that could seem to have an ambiguous meaning is; “A wind blew out of a cloud, chillingMy beautiful Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsman came And bore her away from me.” This part of “Annabel Lee” could be considered by the audience to mean different things. One interpretation is that Annabel Lee (his lover) died and was taken away from him causing this grief. Another interpretation could be that the “wind” chilling her is literally a metaphor for Annabel Lee becoming a cold person, not the woman he fell in love with. This may be another option for his grief. I see Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee” as an explanation of his sadness for the death his love. I think this poem is Poe’s way of mourning his young wife Virginia who died of tuberculosis. She was very young when they married and that could be the reason for the line “I was a child and she was a child.” I interpret this poem as Poe’s inability to accept her death and the separation between them. This is shown when he says “ all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea…” I think this portrays Poe’s gothic style and morbidity by saying that every night he goes to the tomb of his dead wife to mourn her. **


 * "Bury Me in a Free Land"

MAKE me a grave where'er you will, In a lowly plain, or a lofty hill; Make it among earth's humblest graves, But not in a land where men are slaves. I could not rest if around my grave I heard the steps of a trembling slave; His shadow above my silent tomb Would make it a place of fearful gloom. I could not rest if I heard the tread Of a coffle gang to the shambles led, And the mother's shriek of wild despair Rise like a curse on the trembling air. I could not sleep if I saw the lash Drinking her blood at each fearful gash, And I saw her babes torn from her breast, Like trembling doves from their parent nest. I'd shudder and start if I heard the bay Of bloodhounds seizing their human prey, And I heard the captive plead in vain As they bound afresh his galling chain. If I saw young girls from their mother's arms Bartered and sold for their youthful charms, My eye would flash with a mournful flame, My death-paled cheek grow red with shame. I would sleep, dear friends, where bloated might Can rob no man of his dearest right; My rest shall be calm in any grave Where none can call his brother a slave. I ask no monument, proud and high, To arrest the gaze of the passers-by; All that my yearning spirit craves, Is bury me not in a land of slaves. **

Harper lived from 1825 to 1911. She was an African American Abolitionist and poetas well as a strong supporter of prohibition and women’s suffrage and because of her activism she became the vice president of the National Association for Colored Women. She was called the mother of African American journalism. Because Harper was such a strong abolitionist that it is easy to see the literal meaning of the poem but there are some poetic devices that help to support the meaning and make it more clear. One of the main devices in this poem is imagery. One example of this is; “I could not sleep if I saw the lash, drinking her blood at each fearful gash.” This kind of graphic imagery shows how strongly she felt against slavery and how she felt the pain of the slaves as well. Another poetic device Harper uses in this poem is simile: “And I saw her babes torn from her breast, Like trembling doves from their parent nest.” “Bury me in a Free Land” is very obvious in its meaning, especially if the reader is familiar with Harper’s background. The only thing about the poem that could be ambiguous to the reader if they were unfamiliar would be whether or not the narrator was a slave or an African American who strongly supports the abolition of slavery. I interpret this poem probably how anyone who read it would interpret it. Harper is taking a stand against slavery and is claiming that she refuses to be buried anywhere that slavery occurs.” Harper was a passionate advocate of prohibition of slavery and in this poem I see her making a statement and going as far as to say she will not be buried in “the land of slaves.” She felt for those who were slaves and believed it was shameful and wrong to see her own race, her brothers and sisters, as slaves for the whites; “My death-paled cheek grow red with shame. I would sleep, dear friends, where bloated might Can rob no man of his dearest right; My rest shall be calm in any grave Where none can call his brother a slave.” **
 * Francis Ellen Watkins Harper

**

"When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer"

When I heard the learn'd astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts, the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I sitting heard the learned astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars. **

media type="youtube" key="cYSME7PfjoY" height="335" width="413"
 * Walt Whitman [[image:walt_whitman.jpg width="215" height="247" align="right"]]

Whitman lived from 1819 to 1892 from the aftermath of a stroke. Many people saw him as part of both the transcendentalist movement and also the realism movement. Often called the father of free verse. Some of his poetry was controversial at the time it was written mostly because of his overtly sexual writing and his sexual orientation. Whitman was also very concerned with politics. “When I Heard the Learned Astronomer” is a poem that is commonly taken very literally as a stand somewhat against science and technology. Poetic devices in this poem are very important in the understanding of the meaning. The most important poetic device in this poem is Whitman’s use of free verse. His lines are in no apparent pattern and there is no rhyme in the poem. I think that there is also some irony in the poem. Just as the narrator in the poem goes against science and believes that he can figure the most important things without the help of astronomy, it also seems as though Whitman is going against the grain of society and tradition by using free verse especially in this particular poem. He does not have to use the accepted rhyme schemes of the poets that have come before him to create successful works. This poem seems to be lacking in an ambiguous meaning. Whitman does not come out and specifically say or write the meaning of the poem, but it is definitely implied by the reader. I think this is fully apparent when Whitman writes the line; “When I sitting heard the learned astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick.” I think that this poem basically is critical of science and technology and praising the ability for the individual self to be capable of understanding and figuring things out on their own through each persons’ own perspective and opinion. Our thoughts and ideas should not be based on everyone else’s or even on tradition or facts. Most of the time it is better to understand things on your own terms because in the end that is all that matters. I think that is what Whitman wanted to portray by writing “When I Heard the Learned Astronomer.” **

 “ Fire  and Ice ”

Some say the world will end in fire , Some say in ice . From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire . But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">ice <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Is also great And would suffice.


 * <span style="color: #fea31b; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Robert Frost [[image:robert.jpg width="328" height="463" align="right"]]

Frost lived 1874-1963 American poet, most famous for his depictions of rural life. Four Pulitzer prizes for poetry. Death is a common theme in his writings and has been called terrifying. It is controversial whether he is a modernist or post modernist. Most people consider him to be more of a modernist. This Poem “Fire and Ice,” by Robert Frost is literally differentiating between the two opposite extremes of hate and desire. The way he does this is through the poetic device of symbolism. Fire is a symbol for desire and ice is a symbol for hatred. “Fire and Ice” could seem to have a few different meanings to the reader. Whether or not Frost believes that fire or ice would be a better form of the destruction of the world does not seem to be as important of a fact compared to what the real meanings of the terms fire and ice actually represent in the poem. It could be interpreted straight out of the words of the poem as to say that fire is symbolic of “desire” and ice is symbolic of “hate.” But the poem could also have a deeper meaning and show fire and ice as different opposites. Some examples of different interpretations may also be that war symbolizes fire and peace symbolizes ice because of course they are opposites and war is definitely a form of destruction. But also perfect peace is an impossible way to live. Another possible interpretation of “Fire and Ice” could be the actuality of the fact that fire melts ice. Seemingly obvious, this meaning could explain a difference in finding a lesser in two evils that could destroy each other. Fire can melt ice and turn it into water, but just as well water can put out a fire. I think that the more literal interpretation is what is meant by this poem. I believe that Frost is definitely alluding to the impossibility of choosing a lesser of two evils. Desire and hatred are both so completely different from each other but in many situations they can also have the same outcome. The symbols of each represent different kinds of destruction. Just fire and Ice can be destroyers of the physical world, desire and hatred are emotional destroyers and can cause immense damage and destruction as well. **


 * <span style="color: #06069d; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">"Whatif"[[image:questions_in_brain.jpg width="399" height="449" align="right"]]

Last night, while I lay thinking here, some Whatifs crawled inside my ear and pranced and partied all night long and sang their same old Whatif song: Whatif I'm dumb in school? Whatif they've closed the swimming pool? Whatif I get beat up? Whatif there's poison in my cup? Whatif I start to cry? Whatif I get sick and die? Whatif I flunk that test? Whatif green hair grows on my chest? Whatif nobody likes me? Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me? Whatif I don't grow taller? Whatif my head starts getting smaller? Whatif the fish won't bite? Whatif the wind tears up my kite? Whatif they start a war? Whatif my parents get divorced? Whatif the bus is late? Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight? Whatif I tear my pants? Whatif I never learn to dance? Everything seems well, and then the nighttime Whatifs strike again! **

Shel Silverstein lived from 1930 to 1999 and died from a heart attack. He was a modern American poet and writer of children’s books. Silverstein also was a singer, song writer, musician, cartoonist, and screenwriter. He claimed to have not studied poets before him and came up with his own “conversational” and laid-back type of writing. The poem “Whatif” by Shel Silverstein does not really seem to have an important message or meaning at first glance. But in actuality, this poem has a deeper meaning. The Poetic devices help the reader to understand that “Whatif” is more than just a silly children’s poem. The rhyme scheme is very simple. The poem has a rhyme of A-A-B B-C-C and so on. None of the rhyming words or ends repeat themselves. This makes it easier to read the poem. Another obvious poetic device is repetition of the word “Whatif.” Every line starts with Whatif to put the emphasis on the title and the meaning of the poem. This poem does not exactly have ambiguous meanings but many who read it may think that it does not have a meaning at all. Some may think that just because it is a poem in a book that mostly children read it does not have a deeper meaning. I believe, however, that “Whatif” is actually a deeper meaning to people of all ages hidden in a children’s poem. Not everything that a person has to think about and understand has to be serious. Shel’s type of writing is targeted towards younger people because of its comedic manner and nonchalant writing style but I find important life lessons and meaning in many of his poems, especially this one. I think that “Whatif” is a representation of what goes through people’s minds everyday. We all have our certain things that we worry about and everyone goes through their own whatifs in their heads. The last line in the poem says “Everything seems well, and then the nighttime Whatifs strike again!” This is more true than many would imagine. People always think about how their lives could be better and different and whenever things get calm in my life, I know I have all of these questions and whatifs racing and racking around in my brain. I think that is how most people would feel after reading and finding a deeper meaning in “Whatif.” **
 * <span style="color: #15bed5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Shel (Sheldon Alan) Silverstein

To some the fall appears a beginning To some it embodies a unforeseen end media type="youtube" key="RrriCri1Amk" height="290" width="353" align="right" A leaf left ‘lone that lacks its being Not forgotten, but not soon to mend
 * "The End"

So tall and strong of the tree it grows By which the leaf begins its fall A curse that sees what no one knows A sorrowful woe is felt by all

Too young the victim of dismay The fault of whom was not a foe The tattered wings took him away To soon be covered by the snow ** To ponder what you now could be A question to wonder but never know A soul not yet its talents seen To soon be covered by the snow **


 * <span style="color: #f2c80d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">

Michelle Lapp media type="youtube" key="0fnSawe9IkI" height="344" width="425" align="right"

Michelle was born on March 13, 1990 and continues to live presently. She is not a poet but enjoys writing and has written a few poems in her lifetime so far. She does not have a specific style of writing but just writes however she feels on a certain day. She is currently nineteen years old and is a sophomore at Clemson University. This poem may be somewhat difficult to understand without background information or knowledge on the subject of the poem. Some poetic devices that help this poem to be successful are symbolism and personification. The symbolism in “The End” refers to the leaf. The leaf represents a person that the narrator cares about that was taken. The death of this person is symbolized by the line; “By which the leaf begins its fall.” The personification also includes the leaf. When “a leaf left ‘lone that lacks its being” is written, it is giving the leaf a quality of “being” that is commonly a quality of a human being. Also the “tattered wings took him away” shows the wings, a nonliving thing, as a real living thing or person meant to allude to an angel. “The End” is not a completely straight forward poem but it does contain a sense of seriousness and sadness that should be quite obvious to the reader. Some may not understand the meaning of the leaf and its role in the poem besides just a physical leaf. It is easy to share my own interpretation of the poem, “The End” because I wrote it myself. This poem signifies the loss of someone important to me and to those I care about. He leaf represents my brother’s best friend and a great family friend Marc who died at the age of twenty-three in a drunk driving accident. “Too young the victim of dismay” shows that Marc’s death was not natural and he was taken away at way too young an age from his friends and family and all who cared about him. The line, “the fault of whom was not a foe” explains that the boy who was the cause of his death, the drunk driver of the car, was a close friend of Marc’s, which makes the impact of the poem and the emotional attachment even greater to the reader. The last line of the poem “to soon be covered by the snow,” was written as a connection between the leaf falling on the fall ground being covered by the cold winter and the fact that Marc’s burial occurred in the late fall and was soon after covered by the winter snow that fell. **