We Wear the Mask

We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a poem that really stuck out to me because of finding myself in it as well as the poignancy of the poem. Throughout the semester, as a class, we have discussed the idea of people wearing masks. We said that everyone has a different persona they were at different times. People act differently in the workplace than they would at the bar. It is just one of those things in life that we all must accept. The poem is saying that we all have masks. We could be unhappy and wanting to burst into tears but we fight them back. We put on our happy mask. Even though our masks may be deceitful it is something that we all do.

Incident

Incident by Countee Cullen is a poem that to me is very poignant. The poem starts off very innocently talking about a little girl seeing a smiling little boy. The feeling of innocent lust is one that everyone can relate to and keeps the poem with a relatively easy going mood. However, it takes a change when the speaker says "And so I smiled, but he poked out His tongue, and called me, 'Nigger.' To me this was a rather shocking turn in the poem but one that makes the poem very poignant. To people of my generation it seems so wrong that you would just go up to someone and call them senseless term like that. But, it was not too long ago when that was commonplace. It just goes to remind me that not all is still perfect about our country and probably never will be.

I Am

I Am by John Clare is a poem that I really found myself in. I think a lot of other people feel that same way. This poem is talking about being alone. Everyone feels lonely at one point or another. The feeling of looking to reach out to some one but coming to the realization that there is no one reaching back. That is something all of us go through at one time or another. I relate with the feeling of just wanting to disappear into a world by yourself where you can just sleep without worry. This poem deals with all of these emotions and does so in a very poignant way.

When We Two Parted

When We Two Parted by Lord Byron is a poem that stood out to me and one that I really related to. It is a poem about two lovers who love has grown cold over time. From the things in the poem it seems as if the people of the poem are committing adultry. The people in the poem really do love each other but there is a wedge between them. The love and passion that they once had is no longer there. They must go their seperate ways and let each other live their own life.

A Marriage

The poem A Marriage by Michael Blumenthal is a poem that many of us can relate to. Blumenthal talks of holding up a 'ceiling' by yourself and how hard that might be. The ceiling Blumenthal is getting at here is that this ceiling is life and everyone struggles holding back the hardships of life. It is when you have a lover/spouse to help you hold up that ceiling then life begins to have more of a meaning for you.

To My Father

To My Father by Frank Bidart was poem that really jumped out at me. It somewhat reminded me of my relationship with my own father. My father and I don't have the deepest of relationships. This poem is saying that sometimes the possession and things people leave behind speak more about them then their actual words. However, in the end of the day if you don't have a connection with the person you can't fake one.

Variations on the Word Love

Margaret Atwood's poem Variations on the Word Love was another poem that effected me and stood out to me. The use of persona is pretty strong in this poem because there is a central voice throughout but she also takes the voice of a few different people. She talks about how love can be many different things and can make you feel a million different ways. She talks about the young lovers and the love they feel, the love the mother has for her children when she is cooking a meal. Love can be many different things for many different people. The fear of love is something that affects us all as well.

Reservation Love Song

Sherman Alexie's Reservaton Love Song is a poem that struck a chord with me. In my interpretation of this poem it seems as if the author is talking about the 'motions' of love. What is meant by that is that you may do the things that seem as if you love some one such as cooking dinner, gong to the store for them, paying for things, etc. The speaker is trying to say that is not what love really is. Love cannot be defined by actions but rather the feeling between two people.