Response Journal #7

At first, I thought poetry was extremely boring; especially counting syllables and annotating poems. I did not like strict guidelines to poems, either. Then, we studied free verse poetry and I finally had a better feel for poetry, what it meant, and why it was important. However, the topic that really gave me a true appreciation for it was slam poetry. The creative flow and energetic rhythms caught my attention. I can honestly say that not only has my knowledge of poetry increased during this class, but also my interest and appreciation.

Slam Poetry

Response Journal #5

Dr. Seuss has a very distinct writing style. Although his books may have different form or flow, all of the Seuss books I have read rhyme in some way. The most common rhyme scheme I have seen is AABBCC (and so on, depending on the length of each page). Also, not only do the syllables often match, but the stressed and unstressed pattern of the syllables generally matches, too. This makes his books easier to read and more fun to hear. By nature, kids are interested in patterns and things that have a simple rhythm to them. Seuss' style puts easy words together in a creative way, yet makes a very original story out of them. If I can't tell by the rhyme scheme and beat of his books, I can usually tell by the character names and crazy action going on in the stories. Part of poetry is coming up with new images to put in people's heads, and Seuss was a master at creating ideas which nobody had thought of before.

Response Journal #4

1. Sara Teasdale
2.
"I Am Not Yours"

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.

You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love -- put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.

3. The poem is about the author (Sara Teasdale) wishing to be in love. She has an admirer who loves her, but she cannot seem to fall in love as well. She does, however, admit to thinking the person is "A spirit beautiful and bright" but she does not love the person. It is very emotional and very deep, which is obvious in the way she describes love and how it can overpower nearly everything.
4. I like this poem because of the raw emotion and passion that the reader feels after finishing it. Teasdale writes it in such a way that people can not only relate mentally, but also emotionally.