This poem is either about a wrecked ship (defiant edifice?) and the water crashes into and out of it. It is abandoned and its purpose or its use and how it use to function is no longer. Although this abused structure remains in the sea, life continues, and the sea grows old in it. She describes all of the sea life and their role in the ocean. I liked the imagery of the muscle shells opening and closing as the silt rises from the ocean bottom. I also could picture the waves crashing onto the barnacles which cling to the surface. I think that she means by saying, “Evidence has proved that it can live on what can not revive its youth,” that this ship will no longer be what it used to be but it can move on, and survive by making meaning for itself, like providing shelter and a home for the life that continues. As humans we all must face death at some point in our lives. The only thing that matters is that we make the time we do have meaningful as well as our purpose in life. We cannot escape age, time and live for our youth, but we can accept it and find ways to make our lives meaningful and worthwhile.
A smile to remember- by Charles Bukowski December 21, 2007
The mother lives her life as she is the fish in the fishbowl and cannot get out. Her husband continues to be a mental case and beats her, but she is stuck and cannot avoid this repeated disaster. She puts on a fake smile for her son, who in reality knows the truth.
The Writer-by Richard Wilbur December 21, 2007
This is about a girl in her room typing away and her parent hears her pattern of thought and type. She types diligently and pauses for thought. Hoping that she completes here next thought her parent remembers the day when a small bird fought the same battle she did trying to get out of the window, and in her case writing a passage. As she types away, this moment parallels the effort the bird gave even when he was crashing into the window. The pause is similar to her pause, trying to catch its breath, or regain some thought. I just dont understand the last few lines about life and death and the wish.
A storm in April November 7, 2007
Our New England weather is very similar to this poem. Sometimes it takes a while to get rid of winter, and we end up getting the last blast of snow in April. Before the winter weather ends its time, it destroys the first sign of spring. When the author says, ” It is a way of leaving so as to stay, ” he means that winter is not ready to leave or be forgotten. This poem describes the light powdery snow that sifts through the branches of the trees, and fall on to the glistening white blanket. This is also describing how the breeze lifts the powdery snow which glitters in the sunlight and travels through the air. Near the end, the author tells us that winter is not over untill all is green, clovers are on the grass, and the milkweed floats in the air.
XCIII- Shakespearean Sonnet November 7, 2007
The husband in this story realizes that his wife is not faithful to him. She looks at him with her eyes, but without her heart. He knows what she is doing but he still loves her and so he cannot allow himself to hate her. Although he knows this affair is taking place, he will not confront her because it would be to devastating to reveal the truth…
The Remains November 7, 2007
This is a creepy poem about a disturbed man that is approaching death. The first couple lines read, ” I empty myself of the names of others. I empty my pockets. I empty my shoes and leave them beside the road…” This man is leaving everything behind and his remains. I think that he is reviewing his past, and then he realizes what is the point of looking back at his youth, ” The hours have done their job.I say my own name. I say goodbye.” He believes at this point why look back when age and his appearance tells him who he is, he cannot change that. Maybe he was incurably ill and he is giving up. Clearly this man is disengaging himself from his past, and while in the process he looks back at his whole life, and his parents and says goodbye. ” How can I sing? Time tells me what I am. I change and I am the same. I empty myself of my life and my life remains.” He tells himself ,how can I be happy? Time has taken its course and therefore he chooses to end his life, but leave his remains behind.
When I have fears that I may cease to be November 7, 2007
I believe that the man in this poem is expressing his love to a women and he is afraid that she will never respond. Therefore he is trying to write a letter but he is not getting anywhere because of his fear. He has a fear that he can dream to be with the woman of his fantasy but then reality sets in. “When I behold, upon the night’s starr’d face, Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, And I think that I may never live to trace Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance..” At this moment the man looks up into the sky of clouds, stars, etc and sees an image of something he can never behold. He knows it is just a vision. This fantasy that he dreams of appears in a vision in the sky which reveals to him that this is unreflecting love, and her love does not respond to him. I think that he fears that he will die before she ever knows how he feels. ” .. Of unreflecting love;– then on the shore of the wide world I stand alone, and think Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.” He realizes that he will never have this one true love. Like the tides coming up to and away from the shore, he cannot hold onto this love in his dreams, he can only surmise what it would be like to be with her. Therefore he remains alone carrying this undying love inside of him, and he will never have a response.
Introduction to Poetry November 7, 2007
Out of all the poems this one is my favorite. I was able to immediately connect with what he was saying about approaching poems and the process of finding out not just what a poem means but how a poem means. In my mind, for some reason, reading a poem is like solving a mystery. To solve it you need to look at what you have, then find evidence and search through all different ways possible until you can make your final solution. In this poem, I liked how he says, “hold the poem up to the light like a color slide.” When you hold a color slide up to the light it reveals its meaning. As readers we need to somewhat act like that mouse that is put into a poem, and we must take each line and connect its meaning. Although it seems so easy to do, it takes practice, and in the end like he says, “we just want to tie the poem to a chair with a rope and torture the meaning out of it. I think the fun part of reading poetry is when you finally come to the answer/ meaning you have been searching for, then the rest begins to fall into place. Collins definitely makes this poem interesting to read and think about.
#1052 November 7, 2007
This poem is about faith, and believing in something. More specifically she says that she believes in God and in Heaven even though she has never seen him, she is certain that he exists, as well as heaven. She doesn’t have to see it, she goes by what she feels and believes. That is what faith is, believing something exists with your heart and soul, without necessarily observing it.
