Growing up with an alcoholic father and suffering through death after death of loved ones, including the loss of her brother to AIDS and her husband’s suicide, Cathy Smith Bowers turns to poetry in order to numb the excruciating pain in her life. Although victims of painful, life altering events tend to turn towards alcohol, drugs, or other substances in order to numb their psychologic pain, Bowers embraces her writing talents to make sense of her chaotic life in a healthy way. Bowers states, “I write to bring order out of chaos. I feel the subject I write about are very painful when I’m working on a poem” (Cathy Smith Bowers). Alongside serving as a medication for her pain, the majority of Bowers poems tell her life story by reminiscing …show more content…
Her mom was the one person she went to for anything. Just as she does regarding her father, Bowers’ uses her poetry to describe her mothers’ impact on her life. Although her father’s impact was very negative of that compared to the impact from her protective mother, the two parental figures in her life serve as a contrast throughout her poetry. For example, in the “Mother Land”, from her book Traveling in Time of Danger, Bowers compares her mother to the mothers of other children. She reminisces of when she used to hide and rest on her mother’s bosom and how she felt bad for the other children because they were unable to do so because their mothers were so thin. Through Bowers continual use of figurative language, that the weight of the mothers actually symbolize their amount protectiveness and shows how Bowers places her mother above all other mothers. Alongside the protectiveness of her mother, Bowers also appreciates the social influences her mother had on her. In the poem “My Mother’s Lexicon”, from her book A Book of Minutes, Bowers describes her mother as being “the first poet” and that no one, not even her father, could compete with her mother’s beautiful use of language. “My Mother’s Lexicon” not only describes her mother’s creative use of words but also depicts her father's drunkenness again by stating, “Not once did he come home, he straggled in” (Bowers). By including a description of her father’s alcoholism through her mother’s words, Bowers strengthens the contrast between her parents due to the positive descriptors used towards her mother against the drunkenness of her father. Throughout her childhood, Bowers’ mother not only served to protect her against her father but also greatly influenced the poet she is
Night Waitress by Lynda Hull is a poem that describes the feelings of a waitress that works the night shift of a diner Reflection of “Night Waitress” “Night Waitress” by Lynda Hull is a poem that describes the feelings of a waitress that works the night shift of a diner. The speaker obviously belongs to a lower social class, in the way of income and her occupation. Much like the character in this poem, the speaker in “The Chimney Sweeper” by William Blake works long, hard hours as a chimneysweeper. These two characters are both related in their ways of life and their classes in our society.
In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier is a selfish character. She wishes to live her life the way she wants without anyone interfering. She did not start selfish, but grew selfish as her hidden desires were awakened. Her selfishness comes from her complete disregard for anyone’s happiness besides her own. Edna refuses to attend her sister’s wedding, describing the event as lamentable. Even if Edna did not want to attend, a wedding is for the bride and groom’s happiness. She is unable to compromise any of her own desires for the happiness of others. Edna’s own marriage was an act of rebellion for marrying outside of what was expected, and came with the titles of wife and mother. Edna abandoned her relationship without trying to resolve any difficulties with her husband before satisfying her needs. She does not discuss with him her unhappiness or seek his approval before moving to the pigeon house. She develops her relationship with Arobin only to fulfill her own physical needs.
Dubbed as “The Greatest Country in the World” by god knows who, America is not as awesome and free as some may see. In doing a close reading of Heather Christle’s “Five Poems for America”, we can see how the author uses metaphors to portray a flawed American, specifically within its political system, religion, obsession with technology and basic human rights. Americans have been living with the oppression of these everyday issues, completely oblivious thus creating the America we infamously know today.
He focuses on that in both poems. Strength is an important aspect in anyone’s life, because without strength one cannot succeed in life. Since the dawn of time African-Americans have been blazing through pain to survive. Strength is extremely noticeable in Mother to Son. The whole poem is based on her strength and courage to endure all her trials and tribulations with grace.
Most readers of Dudley Randall’s “Ballad Of Birmingham” have said or heard the “But mom…” before and so this use of voice brings life to the daughter and mother. By using a relatable spoken phrase, Dudley Randall creates an atmosphere where the reader feels connected with the daughter.
The author of “Mother to Son”, Langston Hughes, displays the attitude of hopefulness in the poem to show that life will not be easy for the son, but he should never give up because the mother did not. The author uses literary devices like figurative language, imagery, and diction. By using these literary devices, Hughes creates a sympathetic mood in the poem in order to emotionally draw in the reader.
Poverty is often taxing to one’s life in multiple ways, some of which include mind taxation, stress taxation, emotional taxation and of course money taxation. Mother Theresa once said “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty”. How would you find time to look for the one that would make you feel special and wanted, while having to live in situation which doesn’t forgive free time? “Night Waitress” by Linda Hull is poem that looks at daily life of a waitress who struggles to answer just that question.
“Silence is a sounding thing, to one who listens hungrily.” Gwendolyn B. Bennett was an author, journalist, educator, and artists. She was a woman of the Harlem Renaissance. But despite all the struggles of being an African American woman, Gwendolyn B. Bennett made herself into the woman she was in the 1900s. Therefore, the strong woman she became is shown through her work.
In Francis Ellen Watkins Harper's poem "The Slave Mother, A Tale of Ohio," she uses a shifting tone as well as other specific literary techniques to convey the heartbreaking story of a slave woman being separated from her child. This story specifically draws light to the horrific reality that many slaves faced: families were torn apart. Because this poem tells the story of a mother and her son, it also draws light to the love that mothers have for their children and the despair that they would go through if anything were to ever happen to them. Harper's poem addresses both race and gender, and it effectively conveys the heartbreak of the mother to the audience.
When sorting through the Poems of Dorothy Parker you will seldom find a poem tha¬t you could describe as uplifting or cheerful. She speaks with a voice that doesn’t romanticize reality and some may even call her as pessimistic. Though she doesn’t have a buoyant writing style, I can empathize with her views on the challenges of life and love. We have all had experiences where a first bad impression can change how we view an opportunity to do the same thing again. Parker mostly writes in a satirical or sarcastic tone, which can be very entertaining to read and analyze.
To fulfill ones full capability he or she needs to cross boundaries such as emotional,
In the world of teenagers everything seems to come and pass by so quickly. For instance the beginning of senior year. In Spite of being happy and excited were also generally nervous and anxious to see what our future holds. As senior year comes to an end, It then becomes as temporary as the summer sun but also the boundary of our life before we enter adulthood. Even then our future is still undefined.
Liscio, Lorraine. “Beloved’s Narrative: Writing Mother’s Milk.” Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature, Vol.11, No.1 (Spring, 1992): 31-46. JSTOR. Web. 27. Oct. 2015.
Phillis Wheatley is recognized as the first African American female poet published in America, among many other titles. When she was only seven years old she was brought to America and sold into slavery. Fortunately, her masters did not abuse her; instead they actually cared for her and educated her. Although much of her work is forever lost, some of her published pieces still remain, among them “On Being Brought from Africa to America” and “To the University of Cambridge, in New England”. The former work is a short poem that describes two of her most life-altering experiences: being sold into slavery and becoming redeemed by God. Wheatley, however, views them as one great transformation. The latter work is a poem written to the students of Cambridge University, urging them to learn everything they are capable of. She also cautions them, however, to be wary not to forget their Creator. In these two works, Wheatley portrays three key elements of her identity: her social position, racial identity, and religious affiliation.
Judith Wright is a respected Australian poet is also known as a conservationist and protester. Her poetry has captured the most amazing imagery of Australian Culture. For Australian students to understand their own culture and history it is necessary to study the best poetry and Judith Wright’s poetry is definitely some of the best.