Found Poetry- I know, exactly.

I know, exactly.

Everything swirls

the vapors suck you in

There is no clarity,

which makes you want to cry

I had a sinking sensation

maybe four times all together

it had an unmusical sound

chaotic, without rhythm

like the moise of nature,

stepped out of the shadows

Things swirl

I'm on fire

almost

I'm burning away into nothing

you can't tell where or why

Found out I almost died of shock

i remember

the place went dark

Humiliation shouldn't be a part of it

but,

pride isn't the right word

But it doesn't matter

know why?

Because I know exactly who I am



Harlem Renaissance Poetry

The poem I chose to analyze was A Prayer by Claude McKay.

'Mid the discordant noises of the day I hear thee calling;
I stumble as I fare along Earth's way; keep me from falling.

Mine eyes are open but they cannot see for gloom of night:
I can no more than lift my heart to thee for inward light.

The wild and fiery passion of my youth consumes my soul;
In agony I turn to thee for truth and self-control.

For Passion and all the pleasures it can give will die the death;
But this of me eternally must live, thy borrowed breath.

'Mid the discordant noises of the day I hear thee calling;
I stumble as I fare along Earth's way; keep me from falling. 

Imagery is major element in this piece of poetry. There is no clear visual image to be pictured, yet it touches our senses. With the line "I stumble as I fare along Earth's way; keep me from falling." Although there is a visualization of physical stumbling across the Earth, it remains a cloudy image with little details. Another example of this is, "I can more than lift my heart to thee for inward light." This line gives a visual image of a person lifting their head, yet the image is still unclear. The author through out this poem uses imagery in this way. Not being clear enough to the reader to mentally imagine, yet I believe that's the point he's trying to make. Since this is a Harlem Renaissance poem, we assume it has to do with racism or hardships of being black. I believe he uses the imagery the way he does to keep the reader in the dark or to not have the full understanding. In fact, there is no full understanding to it. Many things were unclear to the black people themselves as to why they were treated so differently. No one will ever completely understand what they went through, and in that case the poem keeps most of our senses still in the dark to emphasize our ignorant knowledge.

The author also uses sound devices of rhyming in the poem. For example at the end of each line the words rhyme with one another, "night" "light", "calling" "falling". I think the significance of rhyming in this way is to create a sense of with every line there is a response to follow up just like the end words have a certain response to the next end word. For example, "The wild and fiery passion of my youth consumes my soul; In agony I turn to thee for truth and self-control." The first line the author is describing problem, then in the next line he is still referring to the problem yet now is turning to a higher being for a strength or solution. The author continues to use this sort of style through out the poem, and the words that rhyme together help keep the focuse on how those specific lines have to do with one another.

The word "passion" has an effect every time it is read. It gives off the understanding that there is an extreme caring about someone or something depending on what it is being referenced to. In the ninth line of this poem, McKay capitalizes the word "passion". He uses personification to give this specific word a human quality, he made the word become personal. "For Passion and all the pleasures it can give will die the death;", by using this figure of speech for this specific word, the author is giving it a major meaning. He is referring to the American Dream here, there for he is also using symbolism. When people have a passion or dream, while it can give many pleasures if successful, it can also kill. For the amount of work and effort some people put into their dream or passion, it is almost as if it becomes their higher being. Where they pour their prayers into, in hopes of creating what they've set out to do or become. Yet, with every life or moment, there is a or ending, like death is an ending. This dream or passion will bring an end, an end which no prayer can stop.

Modern Transcendentalist: Johnny Depp

Although actors and people who are in that business may not be seen as transcendentalists, I believe Johnny Depp fitts the modern day transcendentalist description coincidentally. One of the traits of being considered a transcendentalist is having an appreciation for nature that delves into the spiritual. I believe Depp has this deeper appreciation for nature, that goes as far as becoming spiritual. He said,
"May the wind always be on your back and the sun upon your face and may the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars." This quote is showing that he must believe nature as something more spiritual if he appears to be blessing this person with traits of nature. As a monotheistic person would say "may God be with you", Depp is claiming the same passing of belief through nature.

The valuing of imagination and intuition over reason and logic is also a transcendentalist belief. Depp portrays this belief when he says, "If someone were to harm my family or a friend or somebody i love, i would eat them. i might end up in jail for 500 years, but i would eat them." This quote speaks for itself when saying this would not be a logical solution to harm of Depp's loved ones, yet it is an extremely imaginative approach. He values the idea of this "harm" doer to be eaten instead of logically receiving the justice coming to him from the governmental system. It's his intuition to decide on the consequence for these specific actions done unto his loved ones.

The belief in strong individualism/ non-conformity is a very accurate description for the style Johnny Depp uses. His roles in  movies or shows are unusual and creative, such as the Mad Hatter or Edward Scissorhands. He also works with directors who have twisted ideas and darker stories, like Tim Burton. He chooses these roles because he feels he can be apart of them, "With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it's not acting. It's lying." This reflects his personality and beliefs in choosing the roles he does, because he can relate to them, as an individual.

The Great Gatsby Question

Why do you think Daisy was crying when Nick returned yet Gatsby seemed joyful and content? Do you think Daisys tears were from pain or happiness?

Appreciating poetry

Poetry speaks to everyone differently. Some poeple enjoy it while other people can't stand it. Yet something I've grown to understand that I never had before is how the poems and poetry written expresses the author themselves. The poems they write speak to and relate to them more than to any other person, because of what they've thought one through or thought of for the inspiration. This allows the reader to experience deeper feelings toward the poem because of the authors own attachments to their writing. I appreciate this because it allows more people to relate to the author themselves. It adds more meaning to the piece of writing instead of just being a piece of writing. 

American Dream

The American dream can be different for everyone, but for me it is a few simple steps that evolve into my own success. My American dream begins with finishing school to become qualified for the job i want. After getting the job, the rest is self explanitory, make money and live large. I define the American dream as success. The only way you can get anywhere is with success. America has evolved to be all about that., If you have success in your life generaly it is believed you've achieved your dream and are happy.

My own definition is very similar to the "usual" interpretation. When people think America words that first come to their mind are education, money, and success. Basically thats the order to the American dream. Without education you usualy can't find a good job to make a lot of money, there for your not considered as "successful". How i define the American dream and how society defines it are very much the same, that shows how being a part of America for my while life has shaped my thinking to how the "usual" standards are shown to be.