Reflection on The Silence

I decided to do my project on the poem "The Silence" by Phillip Schultz. For this project I wanted to do a poem I hadn't done before. I haven't been a big poem reader and wanted to get a few more under my belt. I went to poets.org and picked the subject of alcohol and started reading until I found one that spoke to me. This one was the one. I chose this option because I wanted to see if I was actually understanding what was written. I want to know if I will be able to figure it out in the future so I can maybe keep reading some poems, since I did seem to find this section enjoyable. Extremely difficult, but enjoyable. I found this poem challenging because it seemed to jump from one thing back to another, so I wasn't quite sure I was following it right away, but in the end I think I got it. I think I gained another prospective of how to view the time that grows between friends.

The Silence

For this assignment I chose"The Silence" by Phillip Schultz.I have already been working on trying to write about the poem and am about ready to start typing my paper. I choose this poem because it reminded me right away of all the friends I have that I don't keep in good contact with from high school and so on.I know it it's hard took when life keeps moving on, but I think what t the speaker is trying to point out is that sometimes all someone needs is Theo friend to talk to, to listen our just to be there. The poem also discusses a time a grief the both had that the both enshrined with alcohol. This must have been the turning point in their lives. When one took the road of school and never stopped. The other got off the road but never helped his friend with his troubles either. The friend would call when he was drunk. In pain. The speaker still dreaming. In the end the speaker realizes even the angels couldn't help his friend ease his pain.

The Twenty-third Psalm

For Entry #2 I decided to pick "The Twenty-third Psalm" - Anonymous

I believe that this poem has a controlling metaphor because it talks about the greatness of heaven/God.
The author uses the figurative language to make the trials of life and death seem scary. But he matches it with peaceful things. This makes me think that although life/death may seem scary at times, there is a peaceful happy place waiting for you.
I feel that this poem has a calming affect, because some of the things the authors mentions things that calm me. For example: green pastures, still waters, for thou art with me, they comfort me and surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

Leaving the Motel

For Entry #1 I chose "Leaving the Motel" by W.D. Snodgrass

1.
I'm not 100% sure on this one, but the speaker isn't the author. I believe it is the couple or maybe one person speaking for both of the people in the poem. There isn't really anything that identifies whether the speaker is male or female. At the beginning, line 3, it says fold your collar, but this again could be one speaking for both. But the speaker is involved in an affair.

2.
They are at a motel and getting themselves ready to leave after having some sort of extra marital affair. The speaker mentions kids holler near the pool-they'll stay the night. They also mention the second bed, giving the licence plate numbers, paying, next time in other rooms with other names. A lot of motels have pools and a second bed and most place request your licence plate number and finally, you have to pay for the hotel and give a name for the room. I seem like its an affair because the speaker says things like keep things straight so they don't take each other's things home for their spouses to find. Again, different names-they are trying to cover their tracks. The speaker also says not to take anything so that no one can find it.

3.
I think the tone is kind of secretive yet rushed. They say "out of sight" and "Keep things Straight"-"which they won't care to trace" and "can't press claims".

4.
I believe the theme of the poem is the secretiveness of extramarital affairs.

Home Burial

Home Burial by Robert Frost has two speakers, a woman and a man, whom I assume are husband and wife because they talk about their child that is buried out in their yard. The wife seems to be openly grieving about the loss of the child and seems to be mad that the husband isn't grieving at all (well in her mind anyway). The first spot I noticed that the wife is upset is when she when she didn't want to tell him what she stopped to look at out the window. She didn't really think that he know that it was the child's grave. Then she mentions how she is upset how he dug the grave for the child and how she didn't know the man who was digging the grave and how he came back into the house with the mud on his shoes and going on with everyday life. It is almost as if she couldn't stand the sight of him after that point.
The man seems to be upset with the women going to find comfort in others and not with him and wants to work through this together. He tells her to don't go to someone else this time. He also asks her to help him, to help him talk, but he really doesn't get a chance to talk about the child. He even says he is cursed at one point. I think that is trying to say that he can't please her either way. He finally says that she needs to stay or else....basically...

A Certain Lady

Below are my responses to the questions following Dorothy Parker's "A Certain Lady"

To whom does the speaker seem to be talking?
It seems he is talking about a woman that he is in love with. He says "paint my mouth for you a fragrant red" (line 3). I think this means that he is talking about getting lipstick on his mouth from hers. He also says "That I am gay as morning, light as snow, And all the straining things within my heart You'll never know" (lines 10-12). This is why I think he is in love with her.

What sort of person is he?
He seems a little love sick and dramatic at the same time. Either way, may in love. Or lust.

How do you feel about him?
I feel kind of bad, because it seems the he feels very deeply for this woman, but I get the impression she is not in love with him. "When you rehearse your list of loves to me" (line 5); "And when, in search of novelty, you stray," (line 21).

Which habits and attitudes do you like the least?
I think I like this the least "And you bring tales of fresh adventures-Of ladies delicately indiscreet; Of lingering hands, and gently whispered things. (Lines 15-17) It seems as if he is either sleeping with a prostitute.

How soon can you tell that the speaker is not altogether happy about his conversation and conduct?
I think line 11; "And all the straining things within my heart - You'll never know

In what tone of voice would you read the first twenty-two lines aloud?
A soft almost loving tone.

What attitude would you try to express toward the person spoken to?
Loving and friendly at first.....

What tone would you use for the last two lines?
Maybe quietly and sad, but also a little sinister.

How would you describe the speaker's personality?
He seemed very kind, but also seems a little naughty, but maybe I think that because I just keep thinking the woman is a prostitute.

What aspects of her behavior are most crucial to the poem's effect?
Line 10 "That I'm gay as morning, light as snow" and lines 24&25 "And what goes on, my love, while you're away, You'll never know.