Thanksgiving Poem

Thanksgiving is about family and friends and giving thanks
and about being a little bit sloppy.
We stuff our faces
with green bean casserole and cranberry sauce,
with delicious rolls and stuffing,
with pumpkin pie an ice cream,
and, of course, with turkey.
But we must remember the thanks,
we must remember family and friends,
and, above all, we must remember the giving.
To give thanks for family,
to give patients with family,
to give time to be with family.
So this Thanksgiving,
visit your parents, your grandparents, your family,
and sit, and eat, and give.

The Possibility -- Poetry Response #12

"The Possibility," by James Fenton sounds depressing. It made me think of someone with a writer's block of sorts; Fenton can't seem to do anything that he should be able to. When Fenton talks about the flower that was beautiful yesterday, he is referring the worth in life. He can't see the beauty and worth that he could see before. Throughout the poem, Fenton talks about what used to be. I get the feeling that Fenton feels stuck; he knows that he should be able to see the good in his work, that he should be able to see the beauty, but he can't. I think the possibility that Fenton refers to is a dream. When a person starts out, there is always the possibility of making a difference in the world or becoming famous, but after a while, a person can become depressed and discouraged. I think the possibility of doing something good seems to be fading for Fenton, which is why nothing seems beautiful or worthwhile anymore.

A Work of Artifice -- Poetry Response #11

"A Work of Artifice" by Margret Piercy is a very interesting piece. It is feminist. It is set in Chinese imagery; the bonsai tree, the bound feet. The bonsai tree is used to represent a woman. The gardener is society. Society dictates that a girl fit a certain mold. The mold is small and refined, delicate and gentle. This is image is almost universal. It seems like men would rather watch women than listen to them. I think that this has been changing though. Women are becoming more equal to men, and in some ways are considered superior. For example, a woman in engineering is automatically seen as smart and strong. It is assumed that this is needed to make it in engineering. Piercy's poem is a little outdated, but nonetheless, a comment on society and women.

Acquainted with the Night -- Poetry Response #10

I loved "Acquainted with the Night" by Robert Frost. It is dark and gloomy. When I picture this poem, I see is as a impressionistic painting of a person with his hands in his pockets and his head bowed, dragging his feet along a barely lit street. I think Frost was describing isolation. I know that when I feel alone, I feel as if  I could leave and no one would even notice my absence. Frost uses the background of London because London can be perceived as a dark and dangerous place. We know that Frost is talking about London because he refers to the "luminary clock" which is Big Ben. London can also be seen as full of life. When I think about London, I usually think about busy streets and crowds in the day time. I think that Frost, by emphasizing the night, is talking about what's under the surface, emotionally. I think the fact that Frost is talking about isolation in London shows that he can be surrounded by people, but underneath it all, he still feels like it's fake, like he's isolated.