Poem #25: "Sabbaths, W.I." by Derek Walcott

This poem was pretty creative. Walcott used plenty of metaphors and similes to uniquely describe many things. I liked how unique the poem was and it was interesting to read. Walcott did a good job with this poem.

Poem #24: "Coral" by Derek Walcott

This poem was extremely confusing. I did not understand it all. The language Walcott used was pretty good and he described things well, but I couldn't make much sense of the poem. I did not like it so much.

Poem #23: "Dark August" by Derek Walcott

This poem was a very unique one. It was written in a very different style. Some verses were confusing, but I understood most of them and the concept of the poem was very creative. I liked this poem a lot.

Poem #22: "After the Storm" by Derek Walcott

This poem was interesting, however it was also very confusing. It seemed pretty random talking about islands, then planets, then other things. It did not really make any sense to me. However, I liked how Walcott was able to rhyme everything. I thought the poem was alright.

Poem #21: "Love After Love" by Derek Walcott

This poem was a pretty interesting one. It was pretty complex and could be interpreted many different ways. However, it was definitely about love. I liked the way it was written and I enjoyed reading it.

Poem #20: "Sweeney Among the Nightingales" by T.S. Eliot

This poem I thought was alright. T.S. Eliot does a nice job rhyming each line, but I did not really like the plot of the entire poem so much. Overall, it was just alright it did not really impress me.

Poem #19: "Rhapsody on a Windy Night" by T.S. Eliot

This was a great poem. It was extremely creative and can be interpreted in many different ways. The poem's style was very unique and I really enjoyed reading this poem by T.S. Eliot.

Poem #18: "Morning at the Window" by T.S. Eliot

I didn't really like this poem too much. It was very confusing and I really did not understand what was going on. The wording was weird and I just had no idea how to interpret the poem.

Poem #17: "Hysteria" by T.S. Eliot

This poem was very unique. The meaning of the poem is not exactly clear and can probably be interpreted in many different ways. I liked the style it T.S. Eliot wrote it in. It is very creative poem.

Poem #16: "The Hippopotamus" by T.S. Eliot

I enjoyed this poem by T.S. Eliot very much. I felt like he did a good job rhyming all of his lines. The concept of the poem was also interesting and was very creative. I enjoyed reading it.

Poem #15: "Wild Nights" by Emily Dickinson

I actually did not really like this poem at all. The second verse I do not get completely and I really have no idea how to interpret the poem. It used pretty advanced and outdated language. Anyway, I wasn't impressed by this poem.

Poem #14: "I am Nobody" by Emily Dickinson

This was a great poem. Emily Dickinson basically explains that in some cases it is almost better to be a nobody than to be somebody. It was an interesting segment and one of her rare poems that uses simple language.

Poem #13: "I Know a Place" by Emily Dickinson

This poem was pretty unique. Like most of Dickinson's poems the language was advance and the meaning of the poem is not exactly clear. However, the concept was very interesting and I definitely enjoyed reading it.

Poem #12: "A Long, Long Sleep" by Emily Dickinson

I thought this poem, "A Long, Long Sleep" by Emily Dickinson was pretty neat. The language was advanced and made it hard to interpret what she was trying to say. Overall though I enjoyed the language very much and the creativity she put into it.

Poem #11: "A Word is Dead" by Emily Dickinson

"A Word is Dead" by Emily Dickinson is a very simple poem. I enjoyed it because she almost implies that words are more powerful than they are given credit for. Even though the language was very simple the meaning of the poem could be interpreted in many different ways, which I also like.

Poem #10: "Hannibal" by Robert Frost

This poem was sort of interesting. However, to be honest I really have no idea what it is about. Robert Frost ends this poem, "Hannibal" in a question and I had never seen this before in a poem. Despite not knowing what this poem really means I still enjoyed reading it.

Poem #9: "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost

This poem, "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost is very creative. The whole poem is basically a debate of how the world will end in fire or ice. He uses very descriptive language and makes the poem very unique. It was a very interesting poem.

Poem #8: "Stars" by Robert Frost

"Stars" by Robert Frost is a very interesting poem. I enjoyed the language and the metaphors he was able to make in the poem. Robert Frost described stars in a very unique way. It was a very enjoyable poem.

Poem #7: "October" by Robert Frost

"October" by Robert Frost was a very interesting poem. I enjoyed the descriptive language very much. Robert Frost does a great job describing what October is like. He also uses imagery very well. The poem was very enjoyable to read.

Poem #6: "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

I feel like in the poem, "The Road Not Taken", Robert Frost shows how he is very unique and different from everyone else. He approaches a fork in the woods and decides to take the path less traveled by. I also believe he is telling others it is good to be different and unique because in the end of the poem he says that taking the road less traveled has made all the difference.

Poem #5: "As I Grew Older" by Langston Hughes

In this poem, "As I Grew Older", Langston Hughes discusses his dream for black equality. I feel like he is really showing his frustration on the whole matter because in the beginning of the poem he talks about how he had almost forgot his dream. Hughes also does a good job showing how significant it would be if his dream were accomplished.

Poem #4: "Theme for English B" by Langston Hughes

The poem "Theme for English B" was an assignment Langston Hughes had to do for a college english class he was taking. He wrote about how being American is both being white and black. As Americans blacks are a part of whites and whites are apart of blacks, whether you want this to be true or not. I feel Langston Hughes is once again pleading for equal rights for blacks. He feels we shouldn't be looked at as black or white, but as Americans.

Poem #3: "My People" by Langston Hughes

"My People" by Langston Hughes is a very interesting poem. By my people Langston Hughes is referring to all black people. I feel that in the poem he is letting the world know that black people are beautiful. At the time period many people discriminated against blacks and considered them inferior. I feel Langston Hughes is showing that they are no different than whites, except for the color of their skin, and that all blacks are beautiful.

Poem #2: "Children's Rhymes" by Langston Hughes

In the poem "Children's Rhymes", I feel Langston Hughes is trying to show how angry he is with the fact that black men are truly not equal to whites. He questions the idea of liberty and justice for all saying, "we know everybody ain't free." This poem is really a push for more equal rights for blacks, as were many poems that Langston Hughes wrote.

Poem #1: "Dream"s by Langston Hughes

I believe the the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes is trying to show the importance of holding on to one's dreams. He is probably referring to the dream he has that one day all blacks will be equal to whites. The poem really tells people to never give up on their dreams and visions, no matter how hard it may be to accomplish.

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference


I really like this poem. This poem can easily be related to anyone life and is very insightful.

"It is difficult to get the news from poetry, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there." ~~William Carlos Williams

This is quite an interesting quote from William Carlos Williams. I have to disagree with what he is saying. Men do not die miserably for the lack of reading poetry. Poetry is not as vital as William Carlos Williams makes it out to be. It certainly won't make men die miserably both literally or figuratively if they have not read much poetry.

What is Success?

The year is 2049 and I am 57 years old. I am retired with all the money one could desire. I hit it big in the banking industry, made millions, then walked away. As a young and naive 32 year old, at the time, I thought this was success. However, looking back money was the least important to the many aspects of my successful life. My children, wife, parents, brother, relatives, and friends all mean more to me than money ever did. One of my children is away at college, while the other is trying to achieve the same financial success I did years ago. We have great relationships and talk many times a week. As for my friends, I have tons. Most of them I see very often. It is great to know you will always have someone you can turn to and ask for help in times of need. My great health also contributes to my successful life. With this being said, I can't help but smile when looking back at all I have accomplished.

Describe This

I look up at the round object, suspended above my creamy white door. Admiring all three of its hands. One short but significant, another longer and black like the first, and the last seems as if it is running in circles around the other two. I listen for its subtle sounds that only the sharpest of ears can hear. "Tick, tick, tick," I watch as one of the hands is continuously in motion, seeming to never run out of energy. The other decides to chase the moving hand, but abruptly stops after the shortest of moments. The other moves so slowly, so slightly, so steadily, that its displacement becomes unnoticeable almost like that of a turtle or slug. I analyze the three hands again, but this time they whisper something to me, "it's time to leave or else you'll be late".

What is Heritage?

What is heritage? In the shirt story, “Everyday Use”, heritage is presented in two different ways. First, there is Dee. Dee tries to Africanize herself very much. She wears her hair tall, lavish jewelry, and loud clothing, as if she was an African princess. However, one must question, is she trying too hard to keep in touch with her roots? The answer is probably yes. Dee is faking a personality for the sole reason of trying to keep in touch with her roots. You should just be who you are and not have to fake anything about yourself.

Then, there is Maggie. Maggie does not fake anything about her. She is very much in touch with her heritage by simply being herself. She has assimilated into American culture, rather than put on a facade and act African like her sister has. Towards the end of the story there is a debate of who deserves these old hand-stitched quilts. Dee argues that Maggie will not appreciate them and will use them everyday. However, Maggie does not have to fake her image to appear close with her roots. So, who deserves the quilt? One can make an argument for both. I believe heritage is a combination of one’s traditional roots (Dee) and one’s new roots from the current country in which one lives (Maggie). Overall, this short story was pretty interesting and I hope we read more like this one.

Obama's Inauguration

Barack Obama is the 44th president to be sworn into office. What makes this inauguration different from all others? Barack Obama is the first biracial (not black) president in United States history. president Obama has plenty to worry about, as America is in a recession. The stock market is not doing well, many are homeless and unemployed, and others are starting to spend money more carefully. Everyone knows president Obama can speak, but can he really carry out his promises. As an observer of the crisis that currently looms in America I question the readiness of president Obama. Unlike president Obama's speeches, the world is not scripted. There are things we can not expect and president Obama has a very difficult task ahead of him. Overall, it still was one of the most historical events in U.S. history. I am looking forward to how president Obama will improve our country. 

Keeping Secrets

When I was little I used to keep many secrets. For instance, I once broke an expensive lamp in my basement, but never told my parents. I felt very guilty for what I had done. At night, it was very difficult to sleep, since I was always thinking of what I had done. Even when I slept, I could not escape what I had done. I would dream about terrible things and had many nightmares. For days I felt pretty paranoid about it. When my mom or dad would speak to me I would always feel nervous, even when the conversation was just about how my day was or what my plans were for the weekend. At times I avoided my parents in case they had found out about the instance. When my parents finally did find out about this days later they were surprisingly not too mad. They were more upset that I didn't tell them than the actual lamp. Next time I broke something I immediately told my parents and all worked out well. In conclusion, guilt may take a bigger tole on one's body than the actual punishment he will receive for his sin. 

My New Year's Revolution

This New Year, like all past New Years, I have made a resolution. This year I have decided to focus on a very big problem that I will need to improve, especially for down the road in college and in the real world. My problem is that I do not spend my time well and procrastinate way too much. In my near future good time management skills will be key to my success. I feel like I can fix this problem many ways. First, I am going to do all my homework first and do other thins afterwards. This way I can focus on projects and test many days before it is due, rather than the day before. If I can learn to focus more and with just a tad more of determination my problem with procrastination will disappear. 

Favorite Winter Poem

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost

Good Authors

What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers." - Logan Pearsall Smith

What I think Smith is saying here is that good authors will not blatantly write a straight forward piece. Instead, a good author will make it so the piece has many meanings. A good way of doing this is by using symbols, themes, and foreshadowing events throughout a novel. Sometimes the underlying meaning of a certain text can tell more about a certain book than the obvious. Also, more obscure novels leave readers with different opinions on what they feel the text is actually trying to reveal. This leads to a more interesting novel along with a good discussion about the text.

My Favorite Short Story

One short story I remember during middle school was The Lottery. It was a story about a perfectly normal neighborhood except for one thing. Each year they had a lottery. I know what you are thinking, what is wrong with a lottery? Well, this lottery was not an ordinary one. The winner of this lottery did not get money, but got stones thrown at them until they died. This story attached to me for a couple of years. It was really interesting. Questions like why this strange town would hold such a cruel lottery still stick in my mind. Overall, I felt this was a very interesting short story, unlike any other I had read. 

Do you think young people today value their education as much as Sara Smolinsky does? Why or why not?

Personally, I believe people today do not value education as much as Sara Smolinsky did in The Bread Givers. First, today many people did education for granted. In fact, I can't even imagine a world in which a formal education was rare among women. In the Bread Givers Sara willingly gave up her home and family to pursue her dream to become educated, allowing her to later become a teacher. Today, most people are educated no matter what. We don't have to fight for it, or give up our family and home for it, education today is just taken for granted by many students, including myself. All of Sara Smolinsky efforts went towards her dream of one day being educated and becoming a teacher. I feel there is no comparison between the way she valued education and the way students today value education. Sara Smolinsky was willing to sacrifice anything for an education. 

First Bread Givers Class Discussion

The Bread Givers, by Anzia Yezierska, is a novel which mostly describes the hardships and struggles of an immigrant Jewish family in America. During this discussion, our class mainly discussed the role of the father in this novel. I have made two observations of this infamous character. First, he is very irrational. Throughout the novel he clearly favors his religious studies over his family. He sacrafices his family's well-being for a so called place in heaven, which may not even exist. Next, the father is very irresponsible. After picking two unsuccesful suitors for her daughters the father becomes very enraged. However, instead of stepping to the plate and taking responisbility for his mistakes, he blames everything on his daughters. The father needs to seriously adjust his character, but until he does so, I consider him to be pure evil.

How Difficult is Writing?

"There's nothing hard about writing. All you have to do is sit down and open up a vein."

- Walter "Red" Smith

I agree with Walter "Red" Smith; writing is very difficult and almost
impossible. Anyone can put together sentences, but can we really
consider that writing? Being a writer does not mean you get to sit
in your pajamas, with the television on in the background and write
whatever you want. It is quite the opposite. Being a writer consists of
many stressful nights trying to compose a well-written masterpiece,
that you are proud of. Writing has also contributed to some authors
and poets going mad. In fact, I believe being a writer is one of the most
difficult professions.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

My Top 10 Thanksgiving Foods

1. Pumpkin Pie

2. Sweet Potatoes

3. Cranberry Sauce

4. Apple Pie

5. Mashed Potatoes

6. Stuffing

7. Gravy

8. Roast Beef

9. Yams

10. Green Beans