R+Farmer

     = = Wiki Poetry Project = = By: Patterson Farmer



 **"I, Too"**
 * By: Langston Hughes**

 I, too, sing America.  I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.  Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then.  Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">I, too, am America. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri, and it was in Cleveland, Ohio where he began writing poetry when he was only in the eighth grade. His father discouraged him from pursuing a career of writing. However, this did not stop Hughes from weaving his many magical words into the wonderful pieces of literature we have the ability to enjoy today. His first book was published in 1926 and he continued writing and publishing his work until his death from cancer in 1967. His life was dedicated to writing and lecturing and his work has left a clear impression on the development of society from his day to the present.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">Explication **

From reading the poem, the literal meaning that can be seen is Hughes describing himself at dinner where he is sent into the kitchen to eat when friends are over. On the next day, he will be allowed to eat at the table with everyone because nobody will have the guts to tell him to go in the kitchen. In the fourth stanza, he writes about how his beauty will have improved over the course of time, and how he will be more beautiful than everybody else. The poetic device that is clearly seen is the use of the metaphor. Hughes writes of himself as being America. He compares himself, a person, to a country full of pride and patriotism.

The ambiguous meaning seen throughout the poem is how Hughes is describing himself as the minority. He calls himself “the darker brother” and describes how he is mistreated by not being seen as an equal. However, when he talks of him being able to sit and eat with everyone when company comes, he is describing himself and the rest of the black community throughout the nation being seen as equal with the white majority. The beauty that Hughes writes about is in connection with people viewing what is beneath his skin, rather than judging him as a person solely based on his skin color.





<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">**Adieu to a Soldier. By: Walt Whitman** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">ADIEU, O soldier! You of the rude campaigning, (which we shared,) The rapid march, the life of the camp, The hot contention of opposing fronts—the long manoeuvre, Red battles with their slaughter, —the stimulus—the strong, terrific game, Spell of all brave and manly hearts—the trains of Time through you, and like of you, all fill’d, With war, and war’s expression. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> Adieu, dear comrade! Your mission is fulfill’d—but I, more warlike, Myself, and this contentious soul of mine, Still on our own campaigning bound, Through untried roads, with ambushes, opponents lined, Through many a sharp defeat and many a crisis—often baffled, Here marching, ever marching on, a war fight out—aye here, To fiercer, weightier battles give expression. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> **<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">Explication

** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Walt Whitman was born in 1819 in Long Island, New York. During the era of the Civil War, Whitman spent much of his time in the hospitals. His volume titled “Leaves of Grass” was published in 1856; a collection of many pieces of works that share deep meaning and brilliant creativity. His poetry did not follow any predesigned style. Rather, he created his own unique style that strayed away from the standard poetic measure. He lived until 1892 where he passed away in Camden, New Jersey. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> When we analyze this poem, it is very clear that the literal meaning that comes out of these words has its basis around war and the soldier experiencing the many aspects of war. These aspects include the march, the camp, the battlefront, and the red blood that is spilled countless times during war. Also, the upfront meaning of this poem is that Whitman is congratulating a fallen soldier on a job well done. The soldier gave it all he could and put forth his best effort to defend his homeland. However, Whitman compares the soldier to himself by stating himself as being the better soldier. The one poetical device that is very evident in the first stanza is the imagery used. With only a little bit of imagination and effort, the reader is put on the frontline of the battlefield.

Due to the straightforwardness of this poem, a deeper ambiguous meaning, as compared to the literal meaning, is difficult to discover. I see it as selfish and disrespectful for Whitman to be comparing himself to a fallen soldier. First, the fallen soldier does not have the ability to defend himself in regards to Whitman’s claims. Second, Whitman has no right to be the judge in comparing himself to anybody else, especially a fellow soldier who gave his life in defending their country. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 800; line-height: 32px; text-align: left;"> media type="custom" key="4771047" width="300" height="300" align="center" <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">**<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">The Dance ** **<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">By: William Carlos Williams ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">In Breughel's great picture, The Kermess, the dancers go round, they go round and around, the squeal and the blare and the tweedle of bagpipes, a bugle and fiddles tipping their bellies, (round as the thick- sided glasses whose wash they impound) their hips and their bellies off balance to turn them. Kicking and rolling about the Fair Grounds, swinging their butts, those shanks must be sound to bear up under such rollicking measures, prance as they dance in Breughel's great picture, The Kermess <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">

**<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">Explication <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;"> ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> William Carlos Williams was born in 1883 in Rutherford, New Jersey. After studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Williams went on to practice as a Pediatrician, and continued his career of writing, which he had begun during high school. He had a major influence on the Imagist Movement as a poet, and he had a great influence on the Modernist Movement. The style of many of Williams’ poems included terza rima and free verse. After experiencing a heart attack and a series of strokes, he had no choice but to quit his practice as a Pediatrician. However, he was able to continue writing until his death in 1963.

The literal meaning that can be taken from this poem is the dancers are having a merry time celebrating. There are bagpipes, a bugle, and fiddles playing in the background that give the people the rhythm to dance in celebration. Due to the fact that this poem was based upon a painting by Brueghel the Elder, there is not much depth within the words that Whitman has placed on paper for us. This poem is simply a description of what Whitman sees in the painting, along with everyone else who looks at it. The only deeper meaning and purpose behind this poem that I can possibly see is a feeling of jealousy by Whitman. Due to the fact that he describes their hips, bellies, and butts as the forces that spin them around, it sounds as if he is making a stab at the people in the painting for simply having a good time; Whitman feels left out. If this is the case, it is pretty stupid for Whitman to get himself worked up over a painting, an inanimate object. Rather, the painting should make Whitman feel a sense of hope to have fun during his life rather than be jealous of those who are enjoying their life and celebrating with friends. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;"> By: Shel Silverstein**
 * Where the Sidewalk Ends

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">There is a place where the sidewalk ends And before the street begins, And there the grass grows soft and white, And there the sun burns crimson bright, And there the moon-bird rests from his flight To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black And the dark street winds and bends. Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And watch where the chalk-white arrows go To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go, For the children, they mark, and the children, they know

The place where the sidewalk ends. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Born in 1930 in Chicago, Shel Silverstein’s work has had the privilege of fascinating many children’s lives for about the past forty years. While his life did not always include writing poetry, he toyed around with drawing, writing stories, and song writing, which made its way to the guitars of the famous Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. In first collection of poems titled Where the Sidewalk Ends was published in 1974 and was shortly followed by A Light in the Attic and Falling Up within the next twenty years. Many of us have experienced the works of Silverstein during our early years of education and we still enjoy them today.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">Explication **

The literal meaning that can be seen in these lines of poetry is everyone is walking along the sidewalk in the direction of where it ends. It is only the children who know where the sidewalk ends, and the adults have to follow and discover by the leadership of the children. The first poetic device that is easily recognizable is the rhyme scheme, which is AABBBA CADDDA DDD A. Another device used is the repeat of “walk with a walk that is measured and slow” and “where the chalk-white arrows go.” The description of the walk that is slow is to tell that it will be a long and enduring journey to get to the better place. The chalk-white arrows is to tell how the people will follow a path already made for them; this being a belief in predestination.

The ambiguous meaning throughout the poem is there is something better on the other side; the grass is always greener on the other side. In the first stanza, the end of the sidewalk is described as green, bright, and a cool breeze. However, in the second stanza, the present place they are in is dark, smoky, and covered in pavement. Only the children know of where the sidewalk ends because the future of the community, or the world lies in the children’s hands. It will take such a long period of time to solve our current problems that they will be in repair for many generations.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;"> **On a Tree Fallen Across the Road By: Robert Frost** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> (To hear us talk) The tree the tempest with a crash of wood <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,-webkit-fantasy;">Throws down in front of us is not bar Our passage to our journey's end for good, But just to ask us who we think we are<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,fantasy;">

Insisting always on our own way so. She likes to halt us in our runner tracks, And make us get down in a foot of snow Debating what to do without an ax.

And yet she knows obstruction is in vain: We will not be put off the final goal We have it hidden in us to attain, Not though we have to seize earth by the pole

And, tired of aimless circling in one place, Steer straight off after something into space.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left;">**Explication** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Robert Frost was born in 1874 in San Francisco, California. He experienced many different careers, which included farmer, teacher, and writer just to name a few. However, it was in 1894 when the New York Independent published his very first poem, which was titled “My Butterfly.” Much of Frost’s poetry was influenced by his depression and distraught life. He lost his wife, along with four of his children due to mental breakdowns and suicide. Frost had the privilege to travel the world and be a part of John F. Kennedy’s inauguration where he recited a couple of his poems. Frost passed away in 1963 after a much-acclaimed career as a poet that included many accomplishments that only a handful can compare with. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,fantasy;"> The literal meaning that can easily be seen by many is a tree is blocking the path of the narrator and a friend that are walking along a path. The tree is described as a woman due to the fact that Frost calls it a “she.” In the third stanza, Frost describes how they are bound and determined to accomplish their goal, however it is in the final two lines that Frost states how they take a new path away from their original goal in mind. The first poetical device used can be seen as the rhyme scheme, which is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Another poetical device used is personification; when Frost personifies the tree as a she by stating how the tree questions them in the first stanza and how “she knows obstruction is in vain” in the third stanza. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,-webkit-fantasy;"> The ambiguous meaning that this poem is centered upon is to teach a lesson to the reader. The lesson is do not stray from your original goals in life. In the case of this poem, a fallen tree obstructs Frost and his companion’s path. After an amount of time, Frost and his companion give up and take a different path after losing all thought of what they were originally seeking. With deeper thought, the meaning can be seen as do not start something you are not going to finish. If a goal is in mind, take steps in doing all that can be done to accomplish the objective at hand.