POETRY RESPONSE

XimenaEnglish G

I have studied many timesThe marble which was chiseled for me --A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.In truth it pictures not my destinationBut my life.For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.And now I know that we must lift the sailAnd catch the winds of destinyWherever they drive the boat.To put meaning in one's life may end in madness,But life without meaning is the tortureOf restlessness and vague desire --It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid

George Gray By: Edgar Lee Masters

Some people feel lost through their own lives. They are always thinking about the negative side of stuff and let the one time opportunities fly away. Not having clear or understood what the meaning of your life is isn’t the biggest issue. Instead you have to keep up living your daily life; cause through experiences and knowledge is that you find out the purpose of your existence and the goals you’re suppose to accomplish. As describe in the poem fear has to be put aside, and you have to let go off you whenever and to any destination the boat takes you. This poem brings up the moments in my life were I have let opportunities pass away , because I am afraid I am not going to succeed, and then I regret those precious moments and I wish I had taken the chance. For example I had the chance on competing nationals in gymnastic but I just quit because I thought I was going to fail. Nowadays I wonder were my career would be standing.

The bride By: Bella Akhmadulina  

Soon my white gownIs stained with wine like blood;I feel both lucky and poorAs I sit, listening, at the table. Terror and desireLoom in the forward hours.My mother, the darling, weeps-Mama is like the weather. …My rich, royal attire I lay aside on the bed.I find I am afraidTo look at you, to kiss you. Loudly the chairs are setAgainst the wall, eternity…My love, what more can happenTo you and to me?

Every woman, married at least once, has experienced the anxiety and fear that flowed through veins on the day they were all dress up in white. Doubts surely started to fill their minds, and they started thinking about the future they’ll have with their husbands. Some may have felt afraid and maybe wanted to step back. Others may have felt miserable for some inconvenient that may have ruin the criteria of a perfect wedding. Marriage is a big step of life, there is nothing wrong to be nervous when facing such a gigantic remarkable episode which unifies completely two soul and bodies.As i read this poem i felt like if i wen back to that day were sitting by my bed my moether told me the story of the day she left her first boyfriend standinig at the church altar, because as she watched herself at mirror with her long big white dress she had seconds thoughts. 

On aging By: Maya Angelou

When you see me sitting quietly,Like a sack left on the shelf,Don’t think I need you chattering.I’m listening to myself.Hold! Stop! Don’t pity me!Hold! Stop your sympathy!Understanding if you got it,Otherwise I’ll do with out it! When my bones are stiff and achingAnd my feet won’t climb the stair, I will only ask one favor:Don’t bring me no rocking chair.  When you see me walking, stumbling,Don’t study and get it wrong.Cause tired don’t mean lazy And every goodbye ain’t gone.I’m the same person I was back then, A little less hair, a little less chin,A lot less lungs and much less wind.But ain’t I lucky I can still breathe in. 

We are all going to get old and grouchy. Our relatives are going to treat us like babies, and will try to do everything to make our life easier. This poem can be related to all grandparents that have bad temper, but at the same time are grateful to still be on earth.Even if you are old you should always think as yourself strong and always looking at the positive side of things. Is vital to always thank for what you have, also that you might be healthier or happier than others.My grandmother Libia can be a real pain since she is so negative, and is always depressed and complaining. On the other hand my grandfather Nestor, is so joyful he seems 10 years younger. He is always smiling and trying to get the best out of each moment. I hope when I grow old I wont be such a heavy load to carry around and that I irradiate happiness and harmony.

ORIGINAL POEMS

By: Ximena Duque

Left Me Aside

(my choice) There’s no way you could know just how I feel I’m devastated, empty, dead inside.Static fly, no symphony that can healYou strolled away, just pushing me aside. I try to halt my tears but they burst out,My heart is shattering when you are by and while you idly stroll and walk about when thinking of me you may heave a sigh My once placated soul is tormented.Your love, my pain, my disease and my curseTo hold you more, so again I’m temptedbut I bury my dark grief waiting hearse. And now my heart is empty, barren and stark.Sadly, to you I was only a lark.

The day she became a woman

Beautiful as a summer sunset over the savannah

With ruby lips that blossom from her face

And as you watched her speak

Her mahogany hair flowed in waves

Glowing her peach cream skin and emerald-green eyes

 

Like a fly all over the room up and down,

With owls eyes staring at the door

Behind her future is suspended on the air

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK

The clock rumble in her ears

Only two more minutes until it hits reality

Would it car crushed like

Or it would gently slide like a dry old leave in the fall

 

Her flamingo still body faces the wall

Her rattle snake hands lead the symphony

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK

Dances the clock

 

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK BOOM, erupts the door There it is, Mr. Pasty envelope the judgeShe hops to it fiercely as a hyenaTears it open with her teeth Streams of ocean dripping down her Turtle skin Eyes grew dull and cloudy And her castoff lips dry and swollenHer hair like the fluff on a dandelionFrail as fall leaves blowing in the October breeze,Her back stooped over She carries the BIG BLACK WORDS“POSITIVE”

Dexter (from another point of view)

Four walls, the floor is all BLOOD“It’s about vengeance, not retaliation”“It’s about something deep inside”There is this inner voice againBuzzing inside my headIt urges my needs, it craves my pleasures I brought my tools with me,Rubber sheets are ready Plastic tarp to leave no evidenceBlack plastic trash bags to dispose my secretsBlack leather gloves to go on anonymous Duct tape to imprison And my knives and mini-saw to do the Art

Fragile as his victimsNow laying on my tableCut open Cherry sauce dripping down the cheeksTaste of Ecstasy  One more for my collection

Sarah gray (inspired by another poem: Gorge Gray by Edgar Lee Masters)

I have meditated many timesThe path of my lifeHandcuff to my mother´s armStepping on her feetIt’s all I acknowledge That is my lifeBut I hope to conceive my destination. Liberty was offered to me, but my wings Were cut off as my mother disapproved

Second chances knocked at my door, but I was afraidI would be reprimanded again Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances But still I was eager to discover the meaning of my lifeI decided to find new wings And set them freeAnd catch the wind of destiny Free to rule my life Free to step in my own feetFree to make my own mistakesAnd yet not afraid to be judge by my own mother

Bibliography

• Dunbar, Paul Laurence. “George Gray” Poetry section, Literature Gold Thompson Eileen, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1994. 552.

• Marcus, Leonard S. Lifelines. New York: Dutt on Children, 1994. 27

• Marcus, Leonard S. Lifelines. New York: Dutt on Children, 1994. 15