Looking to your “pointing” notes from today’s class, what observations can you make about what tends to resonate with you in poetry? Extra credit for writing a "found poem" out of your notes...
Looking at my pointing notes, the two common themes of the different portions of the poems I wrote down were rhythmic devices and personification. I think that my musical side predisposes me to be more attracted to word choice that has rhythm in mind. I think the poems that used personification stuck out to me because they appeal to the imagination. It's more fun to think about "tired streets" than overused or worn streets. It's pretty hard to put into words why certain aspects of poetry stick out more than others.
I wish I had the opportunity to hear all of the poems, but of the ones I heard, I noticed three areas where I tended to point. The first is that I picked out verses that I could relate to such as "southern manners" and "barbie car." They spark the remembrance of my own memories. I also pointed towards phrases that used a unique word or just simply popped out. Those words enabled me to see a clear image such as "graffiti ridden dead end" and "myriad of colors". The final area is the last line or words. Often times, a great poem ends with a strong line or word that makes you think. When pointing around the table, many of us repeated phrases, which tended to be that final punch of the poem.
After hearing the poems I have found that there is not just one to which I am bound
Deep dish pizza is an image I can create for it seems the lines I most enjoy are the ones to which I can relate Poetry is not easy to define because there is so much diversity stanza to stanza and line to line
A poem about Sarah B's house a place very familiar to me causes personal memories to arouse but through her eyes I can see
Poetry is never predictable Poetry is always free but it will always say something memorable that will effect either you or me
As I looked back through my the lines that I chose, I see a pattern in the role each like plays for me. The lines aren't necessarily "centers of gravity" in the poems, but they offer points to which I can relate. For example, in Sarah's poem the line "Mary Poppins in flight with an umbrella" creates a nostalgic image that adds some depth to the poem. While a Disney reference can sometimes appear frivolous--especially in poetry--this line resonates with my childhood as I'm sure it does with many other readers. The use of such lines to evoke memories of the past is definitely a technique that will lead to many people "pointing" to a line. While Carolyn's line that reads, "Enter pound, four numbers," may not resonate with other people, I felt a connection because I pass by this keypad on my way home every day. Ultimately, the line that stuck out to me most were those that offered a point to which I could relate.
Like Alex, most of the lines that I pointed to were connected to the flow of the poem or words that conjured images. The change in pace of short, blunt sentences, especially after long flowing sentences, appeal to me as a reader, emphasizing a description or an action like Carolyn's "No, Reverse" or Nathan's "You are home". The use of transition verbs like "but" in Jack's "but there is green on my hill" also help me zone in as a listener. Descriptions that give a moving image, like Emily's hair curling in the humidity, or Katie's worries drowning in the pool in her backyard resonate with me in giving life to the poem.
Well... I don't have any notes from class but I will still try to answer the question. The two things that resonate with me most when reading poetry are the structure of the poem and powerful, descriptive imagery. Whenever I have written poetry in the past, I always make it rhyme. I find it enjoyable scrummaging for words that rhyme with the sentence before and sometimes I'll even put the poem to music, turning it into a song. I also love it when the poet is able to paint in my head exactly what they are describing. I enjoy poems that describe certain places or certain memorable times in people's lives; poems that can easily be imagined in one's head. This is not to say that I hate a poem if it doesn't rhyme or have good imagery. For me though, it simply makes it more enjoyable in both reading and writing poetry when these two things occur.
After looking through my notes, I noticed that I pointed to a lot of alliterations. The use of the same letter is meant to draw the reader's attention, and for me, that it did. Sarah B's "ruby red" and Alex's "railroad roaring" are very striking images, and with their repeated "r" sounds they become even more so. I also found that I wrote down a lot of descriptions. Being able to visualizing a poem is very important, so descriptive details stuck out to me. I especially liked the abstract descriptions, like Morgan's "living inside the giant eye". It helped me picture something I otherwise wouldn't have been able to.
Based on my points, I noticed that I just wrote down what ever sounded nice like " dark pools where worries drown" and what ever stuck out like "Budapest Sucks" or "Deep dish pizzas". When someone came across a certain sentence or word in their poem, I just felt an impulse or urge to jot it down; It was truly quite random.
In the first read of the lines I chose, I could not find any pattern--they seemed to be random. When I looked closer, I found that most of them relate to either an observational action or they are about an aged and traditional object or monument. For the former I had the following quotes: "golden glimpse of the past", "from her post in the garden she sees it all", "they don't hear; they are too far away", and "indistinct faces behind tinted windows". For the latter I had the following quotes: "antebellum upbringing", "tired streets", "old, tattered, pew filled venue", and "four white columns". It seems to me that these quotes show that I value perception and the way a person looks at something. From the omniscient statue to the hidden faces, I am intrigued by the eyes that the story is seen through and how they think others see them. I also value history and the traditions that influence, positively or negatively, the way we behave.
Golden Glimpse of The Past
From her post in the garden she sees it all-- four white columns, tired streets, old and tattered.
A family of brothers and sisters play. They don't hear--they are too far away. Their antebellum upbringing provides amnesty.
Rain on one side, sunshine on the other-- NO slipping out or the chime will sound, bringing the masters whip.
Indistinct faces behind tinted screens, hiding in the shadows casted from the trees.
This is the dark water pool, where all equality is drowned.
I didn't get to hear all of the poems today, but I do know what catches my eye when I read a poem is the vivid imagery it will employ. From what I heard of everyone else before I left, everyone was using imagery to paint a picture. Also, being able to relate to everyone was helpful as well. Understanding where everyone comes from and how that may relate to the imagery captured in their poem helps to understand the writer. The line "you'll get used it it" from Andrews poem was just one specific line that helped me get an understanding of the viewpoint of the writer.
I noticed that the lines that I wrote down were very descriptive and allowed me to picture a scene in my head, but didn't give too many details. This reminded me of what the reading said for tonight about how poetry should inspire feeling and engage your senses, without telling you everything point blank. When everyone was describing their homes or neighborhoods, the best lines were the ones that used interesting words and details to help you imagine their "place." In Lane's poem he repeated the word "chaos" which worked really well to provide an image and feeling to his poem. I also really liked the way Emily described the different houses and hills in Horseshoe Bend. Everyone had so many great lines and all the poems were really amazing!
What I took from today is the way each student writes. Although most people wrote a poem about where they lived or their neighborhood, each had their own creativity behind it. As each person read around the table today, the way each person expressed their "home" through a poem was in a sense magical. I could see houses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as Sarah B described her cul-de-sac; I could see Morgan tapping her mailbox seeing her dad's silhouette; I could see Emily's hair start to curl. The images painted through my mind were almost tangible. Each person wrote about a picture of their life and tried to share the same passion with the rest of us listening to every word they read.
All united in your arms Once 4, now 3... sometimes empty but never alone It's no wonder everyone gets along
Graffiti ridden dead end Connecting my town to my city Behind closed gates
Golden glimpse of the past Four white columns Fluctuate and stay constant
An Urban Lifestyle is one of chaos It's almost as if someone is trying to hide Her suburban making impossible time
While I struggle to push forward A mix of dental floss, gum, and aquaphor Green and White Stripes
Instant motivation My house, my home, my sanctuary I guess they're new to the neighborhood
Downtown on Broadway, only country music Inglewood, East Nashville my home Two stone pillars, no gate in between
After looking through the lines that stuck out to me, I notice that I am drawn to lines with good word choice. Using verbs that are interesting makes a line really stand out. For example, “resonating through my veins” is a lot more interesting then if Ben had said flowing through my veins. The things I pointed to are all really descriptive. They throw me into a picture of whats happening in the poem. Such as “the woman is mad, her strait blond hair is fake”.
glimpses of a broken past resonating through my veins
The woman is mad hard and unforgiving as if it is the last time
my neighborhood old and tattered I’ll never see you again
fathers mothers and children sits and awaits our return. taste the home cooked meals.
on my hill worries are drowned. you are home. home sweet home. welcome to the american dream.
Like Ben, I do not have any point notes, but I read all of the poems that have been posted. What sticks out to me are the images that they form in my mind. When something is described really well, it is harder to forget. I also agree with Lane that good word choice sticks out me as do clever metaphors. When two things are compared that I had never put together, I tend to remember that line.
After reading through all of my notes, I'd say that the most common theme that i picked up on and noticed were the large imageries that were used. For example, I noted in Sarah B's that at night she is "defending the walls of the castle". And when Jack said that "three steeples guard [his] centurial brick work". Also, the themes that stuck out was the crafty word play that was used. I liked what Rachel said talking about the "canary on her perch".
When looking at all I wrote down, I don't see many similarities between them. I have ones that provoke strong images like, "manicured crepe myrtles", "Mrs. Higgins slows and waves", and "like a heap of peacocks". But Then I take a turn and target the more philosophical lines, so to speak. Ones like "the wind that inspires your name", "St. Therese sees it all", "an urban lifestyle is one of chaos", and "as if it is the last time". I just chose things that I could relate to and stood out to be personally.
When I looked back at all of the lines I wrote, I could not find any similarities between them, so I'm not going to try and make some generalization. I just chose lines that stood out to me. Sometimes that was because they were repeated, they were worded nicely, or they were clever, but there was not one main theme in the lines that I copied. Two examples are, "there's still green on my hill, untouched," and "the streets feel endless." One of the ones that I liked was, "an urban lifestyle is one of chaos." It is obviously true to him, but it is true to the world as a whole. Most of the lines I chose, were just ones that I liked. Some were worded well, and some were funny, but none of them fit a general category.
There was a pretty good mix of different types of lines. It was made up of powerful lines due to content and imagery. Imagery: "Manicured crape myrtles" "20,000 screaming fans" Most of my lines really had to do with powerful lines, lines that were integral to the central meaning. I liked the lines that also played to the idea of the "human experience". "Stepping stones in the journey" "sits and awaits our return" "connecting my town to my city" There were tons of great lines throughout the poems because there were tons of great poems. This was a great assignment and the quotes pulled from the poems indicate that.
Welcome to the American Dream. Course of hardships and recovery, A push from my father Southern manners, Antebellum upbringing, Ya'll is spoken here. It's a hard journey, but a beautiful one.
Welcome to Music City, There is all kinds of music. Where family arrives; One of chaos. Old and new friends mix Whiskey on the rocks And one very thirsty girl.
The days of young age, All stepping-stones in the journey. With no escape, As if it is magic, You are home.
Looking at my pointing notes, the two common themes of the different portions of the poems I wrote down were rhythmic devices and personification. I think that my musical side predisposes me to be more attracted to word choice that has rhythm in mind. I think the poems that used personification stuck out to me because they appeal to the imagination. It's more fun to think about "tired streets" than overused or worn streets. It's pretty hard to put into words why certain aspects of poetry stick out more than others.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the opportunity to hear all of the poems, but of the ones I heard, I noticed three areas where I tended to point. The first is that I picked out verses that I could relate to such as "southern manners" and "barbie car." They spark the remembrance of my own memories. I also pointed towards phrases that used a unique word or just simply popped out. Those words enabled me to see a clear image such as "graffiti ridden dead end" and "myriad of colors". The final area is the last line or words. Often times, a great poem ends with a strong line or word that makes you think. When pointing around the table, many of us repeated phrases, which tended to be that final punch of the poem.
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing the poems I have found
ReplyDeletethat there is not just one
to which I am bound
Deep dish pizza is an image I can create
for it seems the lines I most enjoy
are the ones to which I can relate
Poetry is not easy to define
because there is so much diversity
stanza to stanza and line to line
A poem about Sarah B's house
a place very familiar to me
causes personal memories to arouse
but through her eyes I can see
Poetry is never predictable
Poetry is always free
but it will always say something memorable
that will effect either you or me
As I looked back through my the lines that I chose, I see a pattern in the role each like plays for me. The lines aren't necessarily "centers of gravity" in the poems, but they offer points to which I can relate. For example, in Sarah's poem the line "Mary Poppins in flight with an umbrella" creates a nostalgic image that adds some depth to the poem. While a Disney reference can sometimes appear frivolous--especially in poetry--this line resonates with my childhood as I'm sure it does with many other readers. The use of such lines to evoke memories of the past is definitely a technique that will lead to many people "pointing" to a line. While Carolyn's line that reads, "Enter pound, four numbers," may not resonate with other people, I felt a connection because I pass by this keypad on my way home every day. Ultimately, the line that stuck out to me most were those that offered a point to which I could relate.
ReplyDeleteLike Alex, most of the lines that I pointed to were connected to the flow of the poem or words that conjured images. The change in pace of short, blunt sentences, especially after long flowing sentences, appeal to me as a reader, emphasizing a description or an action like Carolyn's "No, Reverse" or Nathan's "You are home". The use of transition verbs like "but" in Jack's "but there is green on my hill" also help me zone in as a listener. Descriptions that give a moving image, like Emily's hair curling in the humidity, or Katie's worries drowning in the pool in her backyard resonate with me in giving life to the poem.
ReplyDeleteWell... I don't have any notes from class but I will still try to answer the question. The two things that resonate with me most when reading poetry are the structure of the poem and powerful, descriptive imagery. Whenever I have written poetry in the past, I always make it rhyme. I find it enjoyable scrummaging for words that rhyme with the sentence before and sometimes I'll even put the poem to music, turning it into a song. I also love it when the poet is able to paint in my head exactly what they are describing. I enjoy poems that describe certain places or certain memorable times in people's lives; poems that can easily be imagined in one's head. This is not to say that I hate a poem if it doesn't rhyme or have good imagery. For me though, it simply makes it more enjoyable in both reading and writing poetry when these two things occur.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking through my notes, I noticed that I pointed to a lot of alliterations. The use of the same letter is meant to draw the reader's attention, and for me, that it did. Sarah B's "ruby red" and Alex's "railroad roaring" are very striking images, and with their repeated "r" sounds they become even more so. I also found that I wrote down a lot of descriptions. Being able to visualizing a poem is very important, so descriptive details stuck out to me. I especially liked the abstract descriptions, like Morgan's "living inside the giant eye". It helped me picture something I otherwise wouldn't have been able to.
ReplyDeleteBased on my points, I noticed that I just wrote down what ever sounded nice like " dark pools where worries drown" and what ever stuck out like "Budapest Sucks" or "Deep dish pizzas". When someone came across a certain sentence or word in their poem, I just felt an impulse or urge to jot it down; It was truly quite random.
ReplyDeleteIn the first read of the lines I chose, I could not find any pattern--they seemed to be random. When I looked closer, I found that most of them relate to either an observational action or they are about an aged and traditional object or monument. For the former I had the following quotes: "golden glimpse of the past", "from her post in the garden she sees it all", "they don't hear; they are too far away", and "indistinct faces behind tinted windows". For the latter I had the following quotes: "antebellum upbringing", "tired streets", "old, tattered, pew filled venue", and "four white columns". It seems to me that these quotes show that I value perception and the way a person looks at something. From the omniscient statue to the hidden faces, I am intrigued by the eyes that the story is seen through and how they think others see them. I also value history and the traditions that influence, positively or negatively, the way we behave.
ReplyDeleteGolden Glimpse of The Past
From her post in the garden she sees it all--
four white columns,
tired streets, old and tattered.
A family of brothers and sisters play.
They don't hear--they are too far away.
Their antebellum upbringing provides amnesty.
Rain on one side, sunshine on the other--
NO slipping out or the chime will sound,
bringing the masters whip.
Indistinct faces behind tinted screens,
hiding in the shadows casted from the trees.
This is the dark water pool,
where all equality is drowned.
I didn't get to hear all of the poems today, but I do know what catches my eye when I read a poem is the vivid imagery it will employ. From what I heard of everyone else before I left, everyone was using imagery to paint a picture. Also, being able to relate to everyone was helpful as well. Understanding where everyone comes from and how that may relate to the imagery captured in their poem helps to understand the writer. The line "you'll get used it it" from Andrews poem was just one specific line that helped me get an understanding of the viewpoint of the writer.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that the lines that I wrote down were very descriptive and allowed me to picture a scene in my head, but didn't give too many details. This reminded me of what the reading said for tonight about how poetry should inspire feeling and engage your senses, without telling you everything point blank. When everyone was describing their homes or neighborhoods, the best lines were the ones that used interesting words and details to help you imagine their "place." In Lane's poem he repeated the word "chaos" which worked really well to provide an image and feeling to his poem. I also really liked the way Emily described the different houses and hills in Horseshoe Bend. Everyone had so many great lines and all the poems were really amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat I took from today is the way each student writes. Although most people wrote a poem about where they lived or their neighborhood, each had their own creativity behind it. As each person read around the table today, the way each person expressed their "home" through a poem was in a sense magical. I could see houses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as Sarah B described her cul-de-sac; I could see Morgan tapping her mailbox seeing her dad's silhouette; I could see Emily's hair start to curl. The images painted through my mind were almost tangible. Each person wrote about a picture of their life and tried to share the same passion with the rest of us listening to every word they read.
ReplyDeleteAll united in your arms
Once 4, now 3... sometimes empty but never alone
It's no wonder everyone gets along
Graffiti ridden dead end
Connecting my town to my city
Behind closed gates
Golden glimpse of the past
Four white columns
Fluctuate and stay constant
An Urban Lifestyle is one of chaos
It's almost as if someone is trying to hide
Her suburban making impossible time
While I struggle to push forward
A mix of dental floss, gum, and aquaphor
Green and White Stripes
Instant motivation
My house, my home, my sanctuary
I guess they're new to the neighborhood
Downtown on Broadway, only country music
Inglewood, East Nashville my home
Two stone pillars, no gate in between
After looking through the lines that stuck out to me, I notice that I am drawn to lines with good word choice. Using verbs that are interesting makes a line really stand out. For example, “resonating through my veins” is a lot more interesting then if Ben had said flowing through my veins. The things I pointed to are all really descriptive. They throw me into a picture of whats happening in the poem. Such as “the woman is mad, her strait blond hair is fake”.
ReplyDeleteglimpses of a broken past
resonating through my veins
The woman is mad
hard and unforgiving
as if it is the last time
my neighborhood
old and tattered
I’ll never see you again
fathers mothers and children
sits and awaits our return.
taste the home cooked meals.
on my hill worries are drowned.
you are home.
home sweet home.
welcome to the american dream.
Like Ben, I do not have any point notes, but I read all of the poems that have been posted. What sticks out to me are the images that they form in my mind. When something is described really well, it is harder to forget. I also agree with Lane that good word choice sticks out me as do clever metaphors. When two things are compared that I had never put together, I tend to remember that line.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading through all of my notes, I'd say that the most common theme that i picked up on and noticed were the large imageries that were used. For example, I noted in Sarah B's that at night she is "defending the walls of the castle". And when Jack said that "three steeples guard [his] centurial brick work". Also, the themes that stuck out was the crafty word play that was used. I liked what Rachel said talking about the "canary on her perch".
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at all I wrote down, I don't see many similarities between them. I have ones that provoke strong images like, "manicured crepe myrtles", "Mrs. Higgins slows and waves", and "like a heap of peacocks". But Then I take a turn and target the more philosophical lines, so to speak. Ones like "the wind that inspires your name", "St. Therese sees it all", "an urban lifestyle is one of chaos", and "as if it is the last time". I just chose things that I could relate to and stood out to be personally.
ReplyDeleteWhen I looked back at all of the lines I wrote, I could not find any similarities between them, so I'm not going to try and make some generalization. I just chose lines that stood out to me. Sometimes that was because they were repeated, they were worded nicely, or they were clever, but there was not one main theme in the lines that I copied. Two examples are, "there's still green on my hill, untouched," and "the streets feel endless." One of the ones that I liked was, "an urban lifestyle is one of chaos." It is obviously true to him, but it is true to the world as a whole. Most of the lines I chose, were just ones that I liked. Some were worded well, and some were funny, but none of them fit a general category.
ReplyDeleteThere was a pretty good mix of different types of lines. It was made up of powerful lines due to content and imagery. Imagery: "Manicured crape myrtles" "20,000 screaming fans" Most of my lines really had to do with powerful lines, lines that were integral to the central meaning. I liked the lines that also played to the idea of the "human experience". "Stepping stones in the journey" "sits and awaits our return" "connecting my town to my city" There were tons of great lines throughout the poems because there were tons of great poems. This was a great assignment and the quotes pulled from the poems indicate that.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteCourse of hardships and recovery,
A push from my father
Southern manners,
Antebellum upbringing,
Ya'll is spoken here.
It's a hard journey, but a beautiful one.
Welcome to Music City,
There is all kinds of music.
Where family arrives;
One of chaos.
Old and new friends mix
Whiskey on the rocks
And one very thirsty girl.
The days of young age,
All stepping-stones in the journey.
With no escape,
As if it is magic,
You are home.
Everyday I walk
ReplyDeleteto a dark water pool
where all worries are drowned.
Overrun by Fathers, Mothers, and Children,
It's almost as if someone is trying to hide,
behind closed gates,
sometimes empty, but never alone.
Day to day,
Year to year,
I'm out of breath.
It is a hard journey.
No matter where I go,
No matter where I stay.
Win or lose.
I look up.
The setting sun stares at me.