We started off this week with a new PoW called, "The Whipping" by Robert Hayden. This poem was about a neighbor who was watching a woman beat a young boy. The structure of the poem was really interesting to me. The 1st stanza is in 3rd person, but it then switches to 1st person. Both were in the perspective of the neighbor. The jargon that was used was done specifically to set the tone of the poem. In the 3rd stanza, it reads "She strikes and strikes the shrilly circling / boy till the stick breaks," (lines 9-10) When these lines are read out loud, it physically sounds like the broom hitting the boy. The other poem we analyzed was "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke. This poem took more of a metaphorical approach in the way that they used the dance style of waltzing to portray the abuse. It was in first person and was about a boy who craved his dad's love despite all the abuse he goes through with his drunken father.
We have also been working on our This I Believe essays. My essay is I believe passion derives from inspiration. I got the idea of doing this from my love of painting, drawing, crafting, etc. In my essay I wrote about how I was inspired to pursue art as a hobby by my Aunt Joanie and Uncle Dean. They weren't biologically my aunt and uncle, but they were close family friends. Sadly, Joanie died of pancreatic cancer and a few months later Dean died of the disease hemophilia. Dean said he was giving up because he couldn't bear to live without Joanie. I miss them so much and am glad that this project allows me to honor and thank them in some way.
We have also been working on our This I Believe essays. My essay is I believe passion derives from inspiration. I got the idea of doing this from my love of painting, drawing, crafting, etc. In my essay I wrote about how I was inspired to pursue art as a hobby by my Aunt Joanie and Uncle Dean. They weren't biologically my aunt and uncle, but they were close family friends. Sadly, Joanie died of pancreatic cancer and a few months later Dean died of the disease hemophilia. Dean said he was giving up because he couldn't bear to live without Joanie. I miss them so much and am glad that this project allows me to honor and thank them in some way.