Clifton is noted for saying much with few words. In a Christian Century review of Clifton's work, Peggy Rosenthal commented, "The first thing that strikes us about Lucille Clifton's poetry is what is missing: capitalization, punctuation, long and plentiful lines. We see a poetry so pared down that its spaces take on substance, become a shaping presence as much as the words themselves" In an American Poetry Review article about Clifton's work, Robin Becker commented on Clifton's lean style: "Clifton's poetics of understatement—no capitalization, few strong stresses per line, many poems totaling fewer than twenty lines, the sharp rhetorical question—includes the essential only."
Clifton's first volume of poetry, Good Times (1969), was cited by the New York Times as one of the ten best books of the
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The poems, inspired by Clifton’s family of six young children, show the beginnings of Clifton’s spare, unadorned style and center around the facts of African-American urban life. Clifton's second volume of poetry, Good News about the Earth: New Poems (1972), was written in the midst of the political and social upheavals of the late 1960s and 70s, and its poems reflect those changes, including a middle sequence that pays homage to black political leaders. Writing in Poetry, Ralph J. Mills, Jr., said that Clifton's poetic scope transcends the black experience "to embrace the entire world, human and non-human, in the deep affirmation she makes in the teeth of negative evidence." However, An Ordinary Woman (1974), Clifton's third collection of poems, largely abandoned the examination of racial issues that had marked her previous books, looking instead at the writer's roles as woman and poet. Helen Vendler declared in the New York Times Book
Review that Clifton "recalls for us those bare places we have all waited as 'ordinary women,' with no choices but yes or no, no art, no grace, no words, no reprieve." Generations: A Memoir (1976) is an "eloquent eulogy of [Clifton's] parents," Reynolds Price wrote in the New York Times Book Review, adding that, "as with most elegists, her purpose is perpetuation and celebration, not judgment…There is no sustained chronological narrative. Instead, clusters of brief anecdotes gather round two poles, the deaths of father and mother." The book was later collected in Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir: 1969-1980, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize along with Next: New Poems (1987).
Rituals, teachings, ceremonies and identities of the Aboriginal people were lost and neglected in the past. Even today, those of the culture continue to heal and strengthen from the consequences. In Louise Halfe’s poem “My Ledders,” a native woman addresses the Pope expressing her passionate feelings towards the traditions that were robbed of her culture, while pleading him to change the teachings back to the original way. In the letter the speaker writes as if she was speaking, using phonetic spelling and broken English, asking the Pope if he could use his power to retain the native culture, as the government may listen to him. Directly linking the losses of native traditions, customs and languages to the residential school system, the speaker uses orature combining a native dialect along with satire to express how the losses in one generation continue to affect the aboriginal identity in future generations.
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.
Women of the nineteenth century had very set expectations. There were only two types of women: upper class bourgeoisie and lower class farmer’s wives or daughters. Women were considered physically weaker to men, which meant that they were best suited to the domestic sphere while the men workers and made the money. The mill girls defied all of this, and created their own class of women: wage earning middle class women. These women were not like farmers’ wives that were typically uneducated, nor like the bourgeoisie women that were educated, by mostly in domestic and “womanly” skills. The mill girls went to college if they so desired, most of the time doing that in the stead of getting married and becoming a housewife. The mill girls were a
Influenced by the style of “plainspoken English” utilized by Phillip Larkin (“Deborah Garrison”), Deborah Garrison writes what she knows, with seemingly simple language, and incorporating aspects of her life into her poetry. As a working mother, the narrator of Garrison’s, “Sestina for the Working Mother” provides insight for the readers regarding inner thoughts and emotions she experiences in her everyday life. Performing the daily circus act of balancing work and motherhood, she, daydreams of how life might be and struggles with guilt, before ultimately realizing her chosen path is what it right for her and her family.
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.
During the early part of the 20th century, White-America fed and thrived off the established institution of racism. Although the physical bondage of slavery had ended years before, social chains still confined the African American public to a lower level of society, making it hard for them to climb to the peak that is equality. From areas where the most oppressed lie, however, some of the most beautiful art emerges. Movements in black culture such as the Harlem Renaissance provided an outlet for the struggles faced by those who were stepped on by society, and Lucille Clifton’s poem “in the inner city” exemplifies artist’s ability to analyze their situation and transfer thought and emotion gracefully into word. Clifton’s use of free verse to
“Never Ever” is a poem written by Brenda Shaughnessy about employees working at a restaurant. Born japanese but raised in California, Brenda Shaughnessy is a 46 year old lady and author. Brenda attended the University of California, where she got her Bachelor’s Degree of the Arts in women’s studies and literature. No biographies about her that have been published to this day include information about her childhood, however after that, she has won many an award for her publishings. From watching an interview or two with her, she seems to be very passionate about what she does and does not do it solely for money.
To me it feels Lucy Larcom feelings are kinda Typical. She did mention how she was a country girl and it was un usual for country girls to work out in bigger places because there used to being so independent. I think that she liked it because being a country girl they liked being put to work or were always working hard because working in the country isn't easy. And now they only have to work a few hours a day. And they in joyed only having to work a few hours. In the quote they said that “The preferred it to going out as “hired help.”” Then Lucy went on saying how it was like a mans pleasure in entering upon a business. I do think what he thought was pretty typical and she did In joy it because it was something she has never done before so
Discuss how intertextuality allows Dobson’s poetry to resonate across time and place. In a society determined to identify and correct every one of the never ending inequalities and injustices of life, Rosemary Dobson provides an alternate perspective. Dobson’s poetry creates the concept of equal opportunity. This is the idea that in fact, everyone on Earth that has ever existed has been born into their lives with an equal and proportionate chance at achieving success and happiness, within their given circumstances.
As Lucille wrote many children’s books,” Clifton wrote more than twenty children’s books centered on the African American experience.” (Obituaries 1). Although Lucille cared about people seeing viewpoints on African Americans, she also believed in seeing the viewpoints of whites during the slavery times as well. She wanted to understand history throughout all viewpoints of all Americans. “Many children’s books were written expressly for an African American audience in mind.” (Beckles 2). Lucille’s children’s books would be based on how African Americans lived throughout slavery and how women would be treated. She would write poems that described the everyday life of an at home wife that only cooks or cleans for a master that does not care for them. After writing many poems base on slavery and viewpoints, Lucille won many, many titles and received many awards for her
In this Bibliography written by Susanne Woods, the author analyzes the life of Amelia Lanyer and how her life story contributes to the many poems she wrote. Lanyer is considered to be the first women to ever publish collection
Finally the coal mine war ended in 1933, many dead bodies were buried of innocent people, with many untold stories. The emotions Diane fisher used in her lyrical poetry can be relate to any of the culture, not only to the people of West Virginia. It’s a responsibility of the poet to give his readers entertainment, but at the same time the information about what they are talking. She did a great job in this. She not only told us the situation of miserable people, but also helped us to heard the untold stories.
HI my name is savannah what I’m about to tell you is a very sad story, and if you dislike animals I suggest you leave now!Okay it all started after 3rd grade going into 4th grade during the middle of summer,break and my dad my sister,zoe and Zoe’s x-boyfriend. I was watching wreck-it-ralph when we were in the middle of the movie when someone called ,my dad so we paused the movie.” It’s your mom savannah” said my dad. I took the phone, I could tell something was wrong “Hi mom!” I said. Not knowing this call would change my life forever,”Hi sweety how are you?” “good.” I said but soon I would not be anymore, and I could tell something was off.”I have some bad news sweetie”… mom said sadly.
“I don’t like supposing that somebody like Jesus was alive now and pretending and imagining what he’d do. But if he was Jesus and he held that he was the real Jesus that had the same views as before – well, Eleanor Rigby wouldn’t mean that much to him.” (John Lennin) Eleanor Rigby Is justifiably known as one of the Beetles most timeless compositions to this date. This song marked a shift in the optimism of the Beatles “happy go lucky” tune in their previous works, and in its place it presented an almost dark cynical feel. Written by Paul McCartney and produced by George Lennin; Eleanor Rigby was composed in the basement of John Asher’s family home on Wimpole Street, London. Initially this song was alleged to be a love ballad, but that quickly translated into a melodic tune about the loneliness that takes place in the lives of two people.
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.