If I should have a daughter- Sarah Kay

The poem, if I should have a daughter, by Sarah Kay is a poem that I find really meaningful. Although she doesn't have a daughter, this poem shows just how much she would care for her if she was to have one. I feel that Sarah Kay wrote this as a guide for her future daughter. That the poem is almost a gift to her future daughter. Taking all she learned, and turning all the life lessons into advice. Though these teachings are meant for her daughter if she was to have one, her advice can really be given to anyone.

" And always apologize when you've done something wrong, but don't you ever apologize for the way your eyes refuse to stop shining. Your voice is small, but don't ever stop singing.""
This line really stood out to me because, it shows how much love she has or this person who doesn't exist yet. This excerpt is words of encouragement. Telling her daughter to always know who she truly is and to never apologize for being just that. You can tell that Sarah Kay has already learned these things but is giving them to her daughter with love.

"When you open your hands to catch and wind up with only blisters and bruises; when you step out of the phone booth and try to fly and the very people you want to save are the ones standing on your cape; when your boots will fill with rain, and you'll be up to your knees in disappointment. And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say thank you."
I really liked that line because I believe what Sarah is saying to be true. With the emotion she puts into her writing, you can tell that each little piece of advice has a story of her own behind it. And that is why I find the poem to be special.

The whole poem means a lot because there is a lot to take away from it. Reading it can teach you important lessons. Even If the lessons are not ones that you have learned on your own yet, they are ones that she has learned. And the lessons are pieces of advice to teach not just her, already loved future daughter, but whomever decides to read the poem.

Sonnet

The days were easy as they passed him by
A worry or thought never crossed his mind
When all the love that He fel was a high
And not a hope or dream was left behind
Now The days don't end, so new ones can't start
He can't stop worries from pacing his head
The love is gone that was once in his heart
And all his dreams have run away instead

The person He was is not to be found
He picks himself up and starts from before
Pieces are shattered some still on the ground
He try's to live life again, love even more

He still feels the empty deep in his heart
Without the love a new life could not start

Poem on "fire at evening"- Paul Klee.

In the darkness
The fire lights up the night,
In the calm dark mountains
A burst that's so bright,
The sound is piercing
but there's no noise at all,
Only the beauty of the still nightfall,
Just the flames shooting high
Into the never ending sky,
No stars shining bright,
Just the burning orange light.
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Poem on -What is poetry?

What is poetry?

Is it a work of art,
Or is it simply words?

Is it where a new idea can start,
Or is it where old ideas make a home?

Is it emotions pouring out,
Or is it feelings trapped on paper, even worse then before?

Is it inspiration to clear your doubt,
Or is it just writing for yourself,
and nothing more?
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Poem on - what happens to a _____?

What happens to an old song?
Does it still play-
Even though no one is listening?
Does it fade away-
Or keep on glistening?
Does it know that it's old-
And remember it's youth?
Or does the song live on-
Never knowing the truth?
Maybe it got tired of playing it's tune-
Or does it hope that it will be played again, sometime really soon?

Paul Klee

Fire At Evening- Paul Klee

Paul Klee was born in Switzerland in 1879. He was very artistic from a young age. He always drew, but he also played the violin. His family was very "musical". With his dad being a music teacher, and his mom a professional singer, he was always pressured to pursue music. But instead of music, When he grew older, he decided to study art in Munich Germany. When in school, he learned to use many colors in his drawings. He was one of the first artists to draw abstract art. He also was one of the first artists to realize that when you paint, it doesn't have to look like a photograph. His drawing was different than many others in his time.

Fire At Evening was drawn in 1929. "Klee's trip to Egypt in the winter of 1928–29 inspired a number of striated compositions, a response in part to the stratified cliffs of the Nile Valley and the long strips of tilled fields he saw there. " -(http://www.moma.org/) There are many straight lines in the paintings. There are no un-even edges, or curves. They are all crossing eachother, connecting each line and color. The painting has many dark colors. The Bright orange square mixed in with the dark shades of brown, dark purple, and blue, stands out. When I look at the painting my eye is immediately drawn to that one burst of a glowing color. The bright orange really illuminates the whole painting.

The first thing I saw when looking at the picture was the orange square. I feel like I know what Paul Klee was looking at and invisioning when he drew this painting. In the feild of darkness there was on thing that stood out. That night when he was looking at the cliffs and mountains, one burst of color cought his eye. I believe that the whole drawing wasn't a blur of a fire but, that the one box of color was the flames. Everytime I look at the painting, I try to think about what he could have been feeling when drawing this. It might not have been my initial thought, that the scene really was a fire. The orange might not be fire, but a light. It could symbolize something dark in his life, or the darkness around him, and that one Bright light helps him see where he's going. The light could be a symbol of hope or guidance.

No matter what Paul Klee was thinking when painting this piece of art, I think that everyone can inturpret it differently. The painting doesn't have many boundries, you can't see where it starts or ends. The painting can be anything.

The Help

I have been reading The Help. I just finished it. It takes place in the early 60's, and is about life in Jackson Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. The Help is about a woman named Skeeter Phelan. Skeeter is an aspiring journalist, who gets a job at the Jackson Journal writing an advice column about housekeeping. She decides to gather information from a local (African American) maid, Abiline, that will help her write the column. While getting to know Abilene, Skeeter decides that she wants to write a book about the lives of maids (maids were referred to as "the help"). The book would be made up of a bunch of different stories, written by different maids. Skeeter took many risks writing the book. Since skeeter was white, she wasn't supposed to be conversing or meeting with the help. Skeeter was a brave admirable character because she stood up for her rights, and doesn't care what people think. She believed that everyone is equal, even though society thought differently. And she also was hardworking and strong willed.

Skeeter stands up for her rights and doesn't care what people think. Although she is put down and criticized for not being married, she doesn't care what people think of her. When her friend Hilly, told her to put an article in the news letter about how, your "help" shouldn't be using the same toilet as you because they spread disease, Skeeter refused. She would not put an article in the news letter about something that she believed was unfair and not true. Even though this refusing to put in the letter lead her into some trouble later on, and sacrificed her friendship with Hilly, she didn't care. Skeeter stands up for her rights and doesn't care what people think.

Skeeter believed that everyone should be treated equally. Skeeter never treated her "help" with disrespect. She didn't mind being seen talking to the "help", even if she would get stared at, and talked about. She didn't care if the "help" was using her toilet, or anything that she owned. She treated them like the human beings that they were, although society thought otherwise. She even went to Abilene's house to talk to her about what it is like to be a maid. Even though it was not allowed for her to go to Abilene's house, she went anyway. Skeeter believed that everyone should be treated equally.

Skeeter is a hardworking and strong willed character. Skeeter had many things to do all at once. She needed to manage a job, while taking care of her mother who has cancer. And while taking care of both those things, she was also secretly writing a book about life as the "help". No matter what happened, Skeeter always found a way to get to Abilene's house, and listen to her stories, so that she could use them for her book. Although going to Abilene's house was dangerous she went anyway. If Skeeter got caught in Abilene's house there would be serious consequences for both of them. Skeeter is a hardworking and strong willed character.

Skeeter always stands up for what she believes in. Even if it means loosing her long time best friend. She believes that everyone is equal although others didn't agree. She was hardworking, and got through every situation, no matter what the consequence. Because of all of these things Skeeter is a very admirable character. And this boom is awesome, I recommend it!

I know why the caged bird sings

Maya is faced with many obstacles that she has to overcome. Although her life was hard she managed to get by with a positive attitude.
"I know why the caged bird sings" by Maya Angelou, is about a young girl who gets sent (by her mother) down south with her little brother, to live with their grandma. They were raised by their grandmother, until unexpectedly their parents decide to visit them(which they had never done before). They left with their dad to go live with their mom in LA. Throughout her childhood Maya has many obstacles she has to overcome.

Maya had to live through many tough situations. As a kid she was bullied by her peers. They made fun of her appearance.
"My head was up and my eyes were open, but I didn't see anything. Halfway down the aisle, the church exploded with "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" and I tripped over a foot stuck out from the children's pew. I stumbled and started to say something, or maybe to scream..."
In this excerpt the kids in her church were tripping her. She got so embarrassed that she peed her pants, and they all made fun of her. Although this had happened to her she didn't take it out on anyone. She didn't think about it after she was over. She was embarrassed, but she stayed strong and didn't let it affect her life. Maya is faced with many obstacles that she has to overcome. Although her life was hard she managed to get by with a positive attitude.

Maya was also forced to deal with racial discrimination. She was working in her grandma's (momma's) shop and many people went in and out of the store all day. The people from one side of town started to abuse her grandmother one day.
"Before the girls got to the porch, I heard your laughter crackling and popping like pine logs in a cooking stove. I suppose my lifelong paranoia was born he knows cold molasses-slow minutes. they came later to stand on the ground in front of momma. At first they pretended seriousness. Then one of them wrapped her right arm in the crook of her left, pushed out her mouth and started to hum. I realized she was imitating my grandmother... One Crossed her eyes, stuck her to thumbs in both sides of her mouth and said look here Annie... I wanted to throw a handful of black pepper in their faces, to throw lye on them, to scream that they were dirty, scummy Peckerwoods, but I knew I was clearly imprisoned behind-the-scenes as the actors outside were confined to their roles. One of the smaller girls did a kind of puppet dance while her fellow clowns laughed at her."
Maya watched her grandma (momma) get tormented by a group of white children that lived in town. Racism was a big problem in the south. Maya is faced with many obstacles that she has to overcome. Although her life was hard she managed to get by with a positive attitude.

Maya also had her elders making fun of her appearance. She never let it bother her although their words were harsh.
"When our elders said unkind things about my features, Bailey would wink at me from across the room, and I knew it was a matter of time before he takes revenge. He would allow the old ladies on the couch to finish wondering how on earth I came about..."
Maya never let the people talking about her bother her. Her brother Bailey would always help her, but the incidents with people saying rude things were coming up very often. Maya is faced with many obstacles that she has to overcome. Although her life was hard she managed to get by with a positive attitude.

Maya is a very strong and admirable person. Through all the difficulties in her life she would always have a smile on her face. She would always be able to get through the rough times. Maya is always able to get herself through tough times. Maya is faced with many obstacles that she has to overcome. Although her life was hard she managed to get by with a positive attitude.

"Respond to a Poem about a Social Issue"

No Christmas for my children,
No husband for my bed,
No money for tomorrow,
No place to lay my head, No tree with mounds of presents,
No ornaments or lights,
No smiles on Christmas morning,
No feast on Christmas night,
No toys to ease the boredom
Of hours before closed doors,
No family celebrations,
No trips to crowded stores,
No fireplace, no Santa,
No games aglow with friends,
No fire but feeble fury
As Christmas slowly ends.
For me I have no pity,
My sorrow stronger proves,
Because for my sweet children
I've nothing but my love.
-By Dimitri Shostakovich. Sequenced by J. Marques.
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This song is about a family faced with poverty. It's telling the story in the perspective of a mother who feels bad that she doesn't have enough money to celebrate Christmas with and for her children.
I think that although sad, there are a lot of people who can relate to this song. Homelessness and poverty are big problems that many people have to deal with. These 2 issues are always affecting many people, especially now due to the current economic crisis.

The way the song is written makes you feel bad for the mother. Although the song is about her feeling bad for her kids, you pity her because you see that the only reason she wants to be able to get these things are for her kids. The song shows you that she loves her children and wants to give them everything she can't. Through the poem, she is talking about how she feels bad that her kids won't get what they want, her kids won't be able to rest their heads, or have food. She is focusing on wanting everything for her kids. The poem shows that this mother could have nothing for herself, but as long as her loved ones are okay she will be fine.

This song is written to be sad but does have a really thoughtful meaning from the mother to her children.