You could compare her to a summer's day
But I'll compare her to a winter's night
Darkness and evil is her way
If my heart to see her, it would be in fright
Her beauty is endless but her soul is dark
And more often than not you'll play the fool
When she's done with you, she will have left her mark
Your heart been worked, more than a mule
You'll be a lone, no words to say
And realize tonight that you were wrong
And realize that she wasn't close to a summer's day
Your heart singing a lonely song
Now you know you played the fool
And that in this game, there are no rules.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Modern-Day Rewrite of James Joyce - Claire Dennis
"WE HEAR A TEACHER" by Claire Dennis
We hear a teacher walking down the hall,
Her thunderous steps echo across the floor.
Out of our desks we might fall,
as she approches nearer.
She brings with her a great, tall tower,
a tower of papers and plans.
Each of us fears her fearful power,
as she begins to pass them out.
The endless pages unfold,
and our wide eyes grow even wider.
“Attention, attention,” she scolds.
Why, oh why, must we take this exam?
In red is my use of end rhyme, which I used in the same structure of James Joyce's "I Hear an Army".
In green is my use of the sense of sound, which Joyce emphasizes greatly in "I Hear an Army".
Compared to...
"I HEAR AN ARMY" by James Joyce
I hear an army charging upon the land,
And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:
Arrogant, in black armor, behind them stand,
Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.
They cry unto the night their battle-name:
I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame.
Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.
They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:
They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?
We hear a teacher walking down the hall,
Her thunderous steps echo across the floor.
Out of our desks we might fall,
as she approches nearer.
She brings with her a great, tall tower,
a tower of papers and plans.
Each of us fears her fearful power,
as she begins to pass them out.
The endless pages unfold,
and our wide eyes grow even wider.
“Attention, attention,” she scolds.
Why, oh why, must we take this exam?
In red is my use of end rhyme, which I used in the same structure of James Joyce's "I Hear an Army".
In green is my use of the sense of sound, which Joyce emphasizes greatly in "I Hear an Army".
Compared to...
"I HEAR AN ARMY" by James Joyce
I hear an army charging upon the land,
And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:
Arrogant, in black armor, behind them stand,
Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.
They cry unto the night their battle-name:
I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame.
Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.
They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:
They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?
Poem Analysis of James Joyce - Claire Dennis
I HEAR AN ARMY by James Joyce
I hear an army charging upon the land,
And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:
Arrogant, in black armor, behind them stand,
Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.
They cry unto the night their battle-name:
I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame.
Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.
They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:
They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?
In red is the author’s use of end rhyme.
In orange is the author’s use of repetition.
In purple is the author’s use of personification.
In blue is the author’s use of similies.
Underlined is the author’s point of view. In this poem, he uses first-person.
In green is the author’s use of the sense of sound.
ANALYSIS
In the poem "I Hear An Army" by James Joyce, the poet describes a nightmare about charioteers clad in black armor and with long green hair, riding out of the sea and charging towards him. He uses intense, graphic imagery to portray the powerful image of an army of horses galloping in battle.
Joyce opens the poem with sound, writing “I hear an army charging upon the land”. He employs music in his poem, using his words as lyrics that accompany the underlying beat of his stanzas.
In the second stanza, he uses abrupt, short phrases that emphasize his descriptions of the horses and charioteers. Along with his violent imagery, this stocatta-like phrasing establishes a rhythm for the poem. Maybe it matches the rhythm of the horses’ hooves as they gallop across the shore. Maybe it’s the loud, fast beating of his own anxious heart.
Joyce uses repetition in the fourth stanza to emphasize the “clanging, clanging upon the heart”, which is the action of the charioteers as they “cleave the gloom of dreams”. Again the beat of the poem is detected and builds momentum in the reader’s mind.
The threatening force is portrayed in this poem through the charioteers. Joyce continually refers to the soldiers as “they”, using parallel sentence structure in the third stanza to describe what they do and why they are so fearful. He says the charioteers “come shaking in triumph”, making the charioteers seem powerful and frightening.
His fierce imagery and intricate rhythm in “I Hear an Army” allows Joyce to convince the reader of any emotion he wishes to portray. Although a relatively short poem, “I Hear an Army” certainly does not lack ambition.
I hear an army charging upon the land,
And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:
Arrogant, in black armor, behind them stand,
Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.
They cry unto the night their battle-name:
I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame.
Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.
They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:
They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?
In red is the author’s use of end rhyme.
In orange is the author’s use of repetition.
In purple is the author’s use of personification.
In blue is the author’s use of similies.
Underlined is the author’s point of view. In this poem, he uses first-person.
In green is the author’s use of the sense of sound.
ANALYSIS
In the poem "I Hear An Army" by James Joyce, the poet describes a nightmare about charioteers clad in black armor and with long green hair, riding out of the sea and charging towards him. He uses intense, graphic imagery to portray the powerful image of an army of horses galloping in battle.
Joyce opens the poem with sound, writing “I hear an army charging upon the land”. He employs music in his poem, using his words as lyrics that accompany the underlying beat of his stanzas.
In the second stanza, he uses abrupt, short phrases that emphasize his descriptions of the horses and charioteers. Along with his violent imagery, this stocatta-like phrasing establishes a rhythm for the poem. Maybe it matches the rhythm of the horses’ hooves as they gallop across the shore. Maybe it’s the loud, fast beating of his own anxious heart.
Joyce uses repetition in the fourth stanza to emphasize the “clanging, clanging upon the heart”, which is the action of the charioteers as they “cleave the gloom of dreams”. Again the beat of the poem is detected and builds momentum in the reader’s mind.
The threatening force is portrayed in this poem through the charioteers. Joyce continually refers to the soldiers as “they”, using parallel sentence structure in the third stanza to describe what they do and why they are so fearful. He says the charioteers “come shaking in triumph”, making the charioteers seem powerful and frightening.
His fierce imagery and intricate rhythm in “I Hear an Army” allows Joyce to convince the reader of any emotion he wishes to portray. Although a relatively short poem, “I Hear an Army” certainly does not lack ambition.
As I Walked Out One Evening Response
I walked out one night
Strolling down
The people on the sidewalk
Looked like clumps of meat
And outside of the IHOP
I heard a hooker shout
Sitting in the parking lot
My love has no doubt
I’ll love you, pimp, I’ll love you
Til weed doesn’t get me high
And your drugs won’t make me crazy
And your punches don’t make me cry
I’ll love you til the Chick fil a
Is open seven days a week
And the seven old cars I have
Won’t continue to leak
The years will pass like quarterbacks
For in my purse I carry
All of your money and drugs
In hope that we will marry
But then the cops in the city
Pull up with their sirens a blow
There is no love here
You are just a ho
From the darkness of the alley
Where our surveillance team stood
They watched you do your business
With people from the hood
Willfully or forcefully
We will have our way
We will finally arrest you
Tomorrow or today
Into many cars we have seen
Women enter with dirty men
But the police shut them down
And we throw them in the den
So cry into your hands
Cry til you can’t see
And think about what you’ve done
And how many men you’ve pleased
The shotgun bangs in the kitchen
The pot screams on the stove
And the duck in the bathtub
Sails to a secret cove
Where the mom’s raffle coupons
And the Bloods are friends with Crips
And every student graduates
And the fat kids can do flips
Take a look in the mirror
Just take a look at what you are
Life can still take you places
Although you can’t go far
Stand by the window
As you start to cry
You can still love your pimp
Even if it’s a lie
It was late, late that night
The ho and pimp were gone
The police turned off their sirens
The IHOP lights were still on
-BOOMTOWN
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Response to Truth
Flee from the press, and dwell in truthfulness, (Assonance)
Let your fortunes suffice, though they be small;
For hoarding breeds hate, and status ambiguousness.
The mob’s filled with envy and blinded by wealth overall.
Desire only things which meet needs most crucial.
Control yourself well, if you’d be others’ gauge;
And the Truth shall you deliver, of that be not afraid.
Haste not to redress all crookedness
Placing trust in her who turns like a ball.
Great good comes from spurning busy-;
Beware then, not to kick against an awl;
Don’t strive like a crock against a wall.
To subdue others' deeds, you must yourself first tame,
And the Truth shall you deliver, of that be not afraid.
That which you’re sent, receive in humbleness;
Wrestling after this World is just begging for a fall.
This is no Home. It’s naught but Wilderness.
Forth, Pilgrim, forth! Forth, beast, out of your stall! (Repetition)
Know your true country! Look up! Thank God for all!
Let your spirit lead, and hold to the High Way,
And the Truth shall you deliver, of that be not afraid.
Essentially what Chaucer is saying in this poem is that if you live life as the universe gives it to you and don’t try and live beyond your means than you will live a good life. It was loved because in this time period people loved poems that had wise meanings or advice. And this one could be no wiser or more advice giving.
Let your fortunes suffice, though they be small;
For hoarding breeds hate, and status ambiguousness.
The mob’s filled with envy and blinded by wealth overall.
Desire only things which meet needs most crucial.
Control yourself well, if you’d be others’ gauge;
And the Truth shall you deliver, of that be not afraid.
Haste not to redress all crookedness
Placing trust in her who turns like a ball.
Great good comes from spurning busy-;
Beware then, not to kick against an awl;
Don’t strive like a crock against a wall.
To subdue others' deeds, you must yourself first tame,
And the Truth shall you deliver, of that be not afraid.
That which you’re sent, receive in humbleness;
Wrestling after this World is just begging for a fall.
This is no Home. It’s naught but Wilderness.
Forth, Pilgrim, forth! Forth, beast, out of your stall! (Repetition)
Know your true country! Look up! Thank God for all!
Let your spirit lead, and hold to the High Way,
And the Truth shall you deliver, of that be not afraid.
Essentially what Chaucer is saying in this poem is that if you live life as the universe gives it to you and don’t try and live beyond your means than you will live a good life. It was loved because in this time period people loved poems that had wise meanings or advice. And this one could be no wiser or more advice giving.
Response
It’s easy to dream of a world
A world with no pain
Where everyone can live together
With nothing to lose and everything to gain
It’s easy to dream of everyone
Living as one
It’s easy to dream of a world
Without the hurtful things that make us dream
War, greed, and even religion
Without them, this world would undoubtedly gleam
It’s easy to dream of everyone
Living in peace
It’s easy to dream that this could be a real dream (oxymoron)
I’m sure there are many just alike
If we find a way to all work together
Our world could find the light
It’s easy to dream of a world
Where money isn’t the goal
Heartless fools try to fill their pockets
When they should be trying to fill their souls (synesthesia)
It’s easy to dream of everyone
Living simply to live
It’s easy to dream that this could be a real dream (oxymoron)
I’m sure there are many just alike
If we find a way to all work together
Our world could find the light
A world with no pain
Where everyone can live together
With nothing to lose and everything to gain
It’s easy to dream of everyone
Living as one
It’s easy to dream of a world
Without the hurtful things that make us dream
War, greed, and even religion
Without them, this world would undoubtedly gleam
It’s easy to dream of everyone
Living in peace
It’s easy to dream that this could be a real dream (oxymoron)
I’m sure there are many just alike
If we find a way to all work together
Our world could find the light
It’s easy to dream of a world
Where money isn’t the goal
Heartless fools try to fill their pockets
When they should be trying to fill their souls (synesthesia)
It’s easy to dream of everyone
Living simply to live
It’s easy to dream that this could be a real dream (oxymoron)
I’m sure there are many just alike
If we find a way to all work together
Our world could find the light
Analysis of Truth
Fle fro the {pres}, and {dwelle} with {sothefastnesse,}
Suffise thin owen thing, thei it be smal;
For hord hath hate, and clymbyng tykelnesse,
Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal.
{Savour} no {more} thanne the {byhove} schal;
Reule weel thiself, that other folk canst reede;
And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
Tempest the nought al croked to redresse,
In trust of hire that tourneth as a bal.
Myche wele stant in litel besynesse;
Bywar therfore to spurne ayeyns an al;
Stryve not as doth the crokke with the wal.
Suffise thin owen thing, thei it be smal;
For hord hath hate, and clymbyng tykelnesse,
Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal.
{Savour} no {more} thanne the {byhove} schal;
Reule weel thiself, that other folk canst reede;
And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
Tempest the nought al croked to redresse,
In trust of hire that tourneth as a bal.
Myche wele stant in litel besynesse;
Bywar therfore to spurne ayeyns an al;
Stryve not as doth the crokke with the wal.
[Daunte] thiself, that [dauntest] otheres dede;
And trouthe shal delyvere, it is no drede.
That the is sent, receyve in buxumnesse;
The [[wrestlyng]] for the worlde [[axeth]] a fal.
Here is non home, here [[nys]] but [[wyldernesse]].
Forth, pylgryme, forth! forth, beste, out of thi stal!
Know thi contré! loke up! thonk God of al!
Hold the heye weye, and lat thi gost the lede;
And trouthe shal delyvere, it is no drede.
Essentially what Chaucer is saying in this poem is that if you live life as the universe gives it to you and don’t try and live beyond your means than you will live a good life. It was loved because in this time period people loved poems that had wise meanings or advice. And this one could be no wiser or more advice giving.
And trouthe shal delyvere, it is no drede.
That the is sent, receyve in buxumnesse;
The [[wrestlyng]] for the worlde [[axeth]] a fal.
Here is non home, here [[nys]] but [[wyldernesse]].
Forth, pylgryme, forth! forth, beste, out of thi stal!
Know thi contré! loke up! thonk God of al!
Hold the heye weye, and lat thi gost the lede;
And trouthe shal delyvere, it is no drede.
Essentially what Chaucer is saying in this poem is that if you live life as the universe gives it to you and don’t try and live beyond your means than you will live a good life. It was loved because in this time period people loved poems that had wise meanings or advice. And this one could be no wiser or more advice giving.
{Assonance}
[Repetition]
[[Internal Rhyme]]
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