Ginsberg - "America"

This poem personifies those Americans who are not apathetic, who aren’t willing to be walked over and spoon fed information from the media’s agenda. I find myself in this poem because I often wonder why things are the way they are. I have lived and worked for this country, but what is given in return? I am not asking for riches but I’d like to see the homeless sheltered, the hungry fed and the hurting help, I’d like to see war ended and peace spread across the nation. The wisdom of this poem is shown through the wide knowledge of different cultures and historic events. By personifying so many ethnicities, religions and views there is a level of understanding and the variety of people found here in America. By understanding the workings of the people, of the government, there can be an understanding of America, but that will never happen if we keep being apathetic.

Dunbar - "We Wear the Mask"

People always try to be something that they’re not at some point in time. Some may want to pretend to be happy when they’re not, some may pretend to like someone they can’t stand, but everyone wears a mask. At times, it’s difficult to remember who you really are underneath all the masks that we wear. In class we spoke about personas and how everyone has another side of them they may not necessarily be, but act like in order to portray something different. However, sometimes masks are necessary, or at least feel that way. “With torn and bleeding hearts, we smile …” is a line that describes a period of my life perfectly. Throughout middle and high school I was extremely depressed, but I never wanted anyone to know. The best way I thought to deal with it was to wear a mask, telling everyone else that I was happy, when in fact I felt dead inside. Since then, things have changed and that is no longer the mask that I wear, but sometimes that mask is necessary to pull out and use time to time.

Cullen - "Incident"

“Incident” is a poem that I read many years ago and have never forgotten, much like the message the child received while in Baltimore. Every time I read this poem it brings tears to my eyes. One action is powerful enough to burn into a child’s memory forever. The hate that can stem from one word, from one simple action proves the capabilities that one individual can have on another. Imagine now, if this child received a wave and a smile in return, how the trip would be different. Simple gestures send out strong messages, but do positive signals send out the same strength in their messages? It’s unfortunate to think that negative messages send out more strength, they hold more hearth and are more memorable. If only positive signals could carry the same weight, and every person gave another person at least on smile a day, what the world would be like.

Cole - "Kayaks"

The visual of this poem speaks volumes. I have kayaked for many years and the free feeling it gives you is irreplaceable. Kayaking is something I use to escape my own feelings to be free of thought or worry. As watching the kayaks and the sun soaking the lake, there is still the feeling of emptiness. Sometimes it hurts to be at one with your feelings when they’re bitter and hurtful. Escape is needed; and when you have been deceived then the harsher the feelings and the harder they are to escape. This escape comes as detachment from all that is real at the time. The emptiness is all that is comforting, but reality must come back at some point. Reality is one of the most painful things to encounter.

Cervantes - "Poem for the Young White Men Who Asked Me Howe I, an Intelligent, Well-Read person Could Believe in the War Between Races”

The idea of a land without war, without racism or hate is a world one dreams of. Sadly, even after the civil rights movement, there are still race crimes, after the rights of gay marriage, there are still hate crimes. We live in a world we think we are advanced and liberal; but today we live in a world of oppressed racism, anger and hatred. However, the idea that such a world can live inside an individual is a blessing. If one person at a time “lives” in this ideal world without war, that will project onto others. If one by one this continues on, more and more people will be living in a world where there will be no war. All it takes to live in such a world is to live with an open mind and the ability to share that with others.

Bidart - "Ellen West"

Women today have so many misconceptions of beauty and what is beautiful. This all starts with themselves; not having much self-esteem, self-confidence and self-assurance is a norm of today’s society. Every woman can relate to this poem somehow, even if they do not suffer from an eating disorder. I find that being a woman, and also studying the media, there are such warped views about women and how they “must” be skinny, short and tan in order to be considered beautiful. There is so much more to a person than their outside appearance, but of course this is not the value of today’s society. The hardest part of this poem to read was the ending, and throughout all the hardships, the disgust, the anguish, she still saw in her the eyes of her husband (and within herself) disappointment. The point I took away from this is that until you can accept yourself for who you are, there is no way that you can be capable of accepting others.

Atwood - "This Is a Photograph of Me"

“This Is a Photograph of Me” was nostalgic, reminiscent of fun times and fond memories and then hits you in the gut making you think of your own life. What will happen when I die? “… but if you look hard enough, / eventually / you will be able to see me” makes me wonder if anyone will remember me when I’m gone, and what will happen if no one does remember. The author is looking for someone to recognize, someone to remember at least the memories they once had on this lake. This poem was most poignant because it also made me think of how I might react to this poem if I were to re-read it in ten years. Now, I do not believe in an after life, but maybe in ten years I will, and see this poem not as someone wanting to be remembered, but as a figure who wants to share the memories that they were lucky enough to have.

Alvarez - "Dusting"

Anonymity becoming the institution of being has been a struggle for many people. No one wants to be anonymous, and no one ever should be. “Dusting” represents the cleaning away of someone’s name, someone’s self. However, this child refuses to become like their mother, anonymous. My mother has always encouraged me to be who I want to be, but this has not been the case for many friends of mine. I have refused to become anonymous while some of my friends find themselves in a constant battle to find who they want to be, or who they want to be at that time. The cleaning references in this poem also represent the idea of leaving behind your mark but having it erased makes for a chance to make a new mark. The ever changing self needs to make itself known, and by cleaning away the old self gives a chance to make way for the new self.

Blumenthal - "A Marriage"

“A Marriage” is one of those simple poems that pluck at the heart strings. All one wants in life is someone to help them hold up the ceiling. That is, everyone wants someone to love, someone to lean on, and someone to count on. This poem spoke to me as someone who was relieved; the author had found their other half. When you’re alone, it can feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. There are obstacles you must face without the support of someone who loves you. However, when you find that someone that will help you along way, life seems that much easier. The simplicity of just knowing someone is there, even when you don’t need them, is a comforting feeling that one is privileged to have and must never take for granted. When you have someone to hold up a ceiling with; you’re pretty lucky. That's all I want from life.