Blog # 18

Christian the Lion

　

High up on the planes of Kenya in Africa

Rocks and sand a setting for a reunion

Stood two men waiting in the heat of the day

Air heavy with anticipation

With curiosity he slowly approaches

The men anxious for some sign

The distance between them begins to close

The lions stride quickens in recognition

It’s as if the lion has found his prey

The men stood still

The embrace is like no other. Like no time has passed.

A Love between beast and human

Once again together

The lion holds on to each, like a dance with two partners

Each wanting to hold on forever to this brief moment it time

Caressing each one in turn

Tawny brown and golden eyes

A lion’s mane but not quite full

Human, it doesn’t matter to this sentient being

A lion’s life set right by these two men forever

entwined but separate

A journey unknown in it’s beginning but

Touching all lives

http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/other/videos/a-lion-called-christian-christian-the-lion-reunion.htm

Poetry Matters

Can Poetry Matter

　

Before this class I never thought much about poetry. I appreciated it but what I thought was does it rhyme or not. There are old poets from centuries ago to modern day poets. I never realized how complicated poetry can be, and how diverse. What it means to the people who write it. It’s sad that it isn’t as popular as it once was, but I think that it has expanded into different genres. From the movies like we saw in class to music, like rap. In Dana Gioia essay she talks of the subcultures that are still thriving even though they have diminished. I think that poetry has an important place in today’s society, along with all other art forms. Especially because of the history it holds. Poets from long ago give us an insight into our past. The details of everyday life from those times can enrich our lives today. If people would take time to appreciate this from of recorded history they could learn a lot.

One night when I was working on one of my poetry blogs my 7 year old son asked me what I was doing. I told him I had to write a sonnet for school. I explained to him what it was and asked him if he wanted to help me. He started to create a poem for me, so I typed it. It was a great moment for me to see him learn about poetry. I think it’s important for kids in schools exposed to different kinds of poetry. It’s a great avenue to learning to read. Rhyming helps us to remember. Here a short segment of my son’s poem:

When days pass my heart beats wide

It would be wider if I had someone inside

Then I met someone bright and tall

Her eyes sparkled so like gold

Blog # 15

Scene from the series “Sleepy Hollow” between Ichabod Crane and Abbie

                         
                   /         u    /     u    /        u     /    u       /  u  /  u    /    u    /    
Ichabod: Where did you procure such massive quantities of preserves?

 /     u    u  /   u     /   u  /
Is there a nearby citadel?

             /    u  /   u   /         u      /       u      /       u        /       u
Abbie: A supermarket called Buy Plus, buy more spend-less.

/     u     /     u       /       u   /
I will take you there someday.

(Ichabod picks up a jug of water)


                  /           u        u     /    u   /  u  /      u    /
 Ichabod: Pine Springs? Is that a variation of water?

             u      /      u   /  u      /     u      /
Abbie: A brand of water, cheapest one.

                  u      /       u   /  u
Ichabod: You paid, for water.

   /      u       /        u     /      u   /    /      u       /    u      /    u     /      u   /     /
Why not drink from one of the thousands of taps around town or the lake?

              
               /    u    /   u     /  u    /    u    /   u     /     u       /      u      /  u      /    u    /
Abbie: Tap water has chemicals in it, and the lake you don’t even want to know.

                
                  /      u  /   u       /        /      u  /  u  /    u      u  /     u      /      u  /  u      /        u   /
Ichabod: The extent to which your generation has defiled the earth is truly mind-boggling.

(Text notification)

             
              /       u      /       u     /      u /     /
Abbie: The horseman will ride after dark.

  /  u    /      u  /    u   /        /      u       /        u    /        u   /   u         /  u   /   u     /    u
After we finish the kits why don’t you meet with the Masons, while I grab Corbin’s

  /       u    /       u    /    u 
shotgun from the precinct.

                        
                  u    /    u      /         /         u   /   u       /  u  /    u     /   u       /     u   /   u     /
Ichabod: The Masons say they’ve discovered information of how best to exploit the

    /    u             /    u  /
Horseman’s weaknesses. 

  u     /       u  /      u     /     /  u      /     u   /   u  /  u
Are you certain you can forgo such a conversation?

                /      u       u    /      /         u      /     u    /     u      / u /     u  /      u    /    u    /     u
Abbie: They won’t let me, they know that the no girls’ policy really gets under my skin.

Most of these lines are more than iambic pentameter, I wonder if it’s more because Ichabod is British, from the 1700’s.