Blog response

1.  Which of the poems had the most meaning for you personally?

2.  What thoughts and/ or feelings did the texts evoke in you?  Why?

            Out of all the five poems I read, they all had a different message.  Alone was about being in the dark and I am from swingsets and jungle gyms led us through the life of Debby Gordon, but they all connected to one thing which is identity.  Personally, As I Grew Older had the most meaning for me because it is something I can relate to.  As I Grew Older was unlike other poems like Alone or Richard Cory where there was no hope in the poem, instead As I Grew Older jumped from hope to interference to hope and determination.  As well, I can relate to As I Grew Older because just like Langston Hughes, I had a dream in front of me that was blocked.  I had always wanted to take singing lessons and had found a good teacher too, my dream was “in front of me, bright like a sun”.  However, my dream got interfered just like how “the wall rose, rose slowly, slowly, between me and my dream.” for my provincial exam marks came out poorly therefore I had to focus on my studies instead.  I was devastated for a moment but I realized that in order to “find my dream”, I had to work hard for it.  So, I studied hard and proved to my parents that if I maintained a good study habit, I should be able to take up singing lessons.  Furthermore, I am from swingsets and jungle gyms inspired me as well, especially within the last quote: “I am from the people who paved a way for me, I am from the best that could be, and I am the best I could be.”  Debby Gordon implied something that touched me, realizing for me that my friends and family have all influenced who I have become which made me the best that I could be.  However, Alone and Richard Cory did not light up my life one bit.  Alone showed signs of desperation especially since the refrain is “Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone.”  There were no signs of turning to a different direction with some hope in this character’s life.  I thought that this person had no motivation too because they were “lying, thinking last night how to find my soul a home.” yet, still ended up “with one thing” “that nobody, but nobody, can make it out here alone.”  Richard Cory was one of the darker poems too in my opinion, because it is set in a rather unpleasant and poor setting, where the poor envied and looked up to Richard Cory, who was a king in their eyes.  It did teach me though, that not everything seems as great as it seems to be.  Richard Cory was “admirably schooled in every grace” but no one knew the troubles he was facing in order to “put a bullet through his head.”  Lastly, I am from pink tights and speak your mind, was rather a poem of relief.  This poem, however, had the least meaning to me though.  The character remains childish and never seems to want to grow up.  Perhaps it was from the mind of a child for much of its life is filled with “Winnie-the-Pooh and sweet fields of sugar cane.”  It did, though, remind me to loosen up in life and remember to just be a kid once in a while.  Throughout all five poems, they all spoke to me in different ways- to work hard for what you aim for, that I am already the best I can be, don’t judge books by its cover and to remember that a child lives inside of you.  They may all mean different things but it is all a part of identity.