Example Student Work: Poetry

Poem: Immigrant

In the poem “Immigrants”, Pat Mora uses a baby wrapped in the American flag to symbolize immigrant’s hopes for acceptance into our society, not only for themselves but for their children.

Immigrants that come to America try to have their children adapt to our cultures, by teaching them to eat our foods “feed them mashed hotdogs and apple pie”. (2) And giving them American names, “name them bill and daisy”. (3)

The immigrant children are taught to play American sports, such as football. Speak English “speak to them in thick English/Hallo, babee, hallo”. (7-8).

Sadly their true nationality is merely a whisper “whisper in Spanish or polish when the babies sleep”. (9-11) the fear that is felt that their immigrant children will not be good enough or accepted into our American society “Will they like our boy, our girl, our fine American boy, our fine American girl”. (12-14) the fear of acceptance is clear from the beginning of the poem to the very end, a great effort is made to be accepted into our society; these immigrants give up their culture to try and adapt to ours, from food, sports, and language, to even American names; never really knowing if they will ever be accepted.

Poem: FILLING STATION  (see beautiful blog: http://scotchmutts.blogspot.com/)

In the poem "Filling Station", E. Bishop describes in detail a family run business. While initially painting a negative picture of a dirty filling station the poet is then able to capture the beauty of it by using vivid details and imagery. The reader is given the ability to look beyond the surface and find love and beauty in the most unexpected of places.

With short lines and elaborate detail Bishop describes the unpleasant atmosphere that is the filling station. The poem's first line states "Oh, but it is dirty!"(1), and goes on to describe a father in his "oil-soaked monkey suit"(5), and his "greasy sons assist him"(11).The reader then goes on to question if this family lives at the filling station. Bishop describes what appear to be loving, feminine touches placed throughout the filling station. There are comic books "they lie upon a big dim doily" (23/24) and even a big begonia. A dirty dog lies comfortably on a wicker sofa.Through questioning Bishop has the reader wondering who placed all of these little, loving touches in the filling station. Who embroidered the doily? Who waters the plant? She encourages the reader see past the initial appearance of the filling station and look for a deeper meaning.The poem ends with a bold statement "Somebody loves us all", which is meant to remind the reader that everyone, no matter what the circumstances, has someone that loves them.

Poem: "A Supermarket in California"

The poem a supermarket in Califorina is a prose poem by Allen Ginsberg.  In Berkly in 1955.  He  was one of the lead icons of  the beat movement.  He was born in 1926 and died in 1997.  My first reation to the poem made me feal sad when he said "Will we stroll dreaming of a lost America of  love past blue Automobiles in driveways,home to our silent cottages?" talking of a time when things were more simple.(21)

The author is looking for inspiration. so in the poem he goes into a supermarket where in his imagntion Whitman is there and all the food comes alive to him.He is so inspired that Walt Whitman is there for inspiration. as he says in the poem "I went into the neon supermarket dreaming of your enunerations!"(4).  I think he was searching  for inspiration and wanting to know which direction  go in life by saying "Where  are we going, Walt Whitman? The doors close in a hr!"(15)

    

I also think he wanted to know how life was for Walt Whittman  in his time in America by saying"Ah Dear father graybeard lonely old- courage-teacher,what America did you have?"(18)

     

My conclusion is the author is longing for a simpler time when things where differnt in America. I also think he longs to know his faviorte poet Walt Whitman. his thoughts,his opions and advice for inspiration in his own life as a poet himself in Ginsberg time. Walt  Whitman lived in 1819-1892.He wrote a poem America  that talked about everyone being equal in America. I think Ginsberg  thought life in America was not changing for the best in 1955.                    

Poem: "The School Children"

In “The School Children” Gluck talks about an apple orchard and children.

It was a difficult poem for me to understand at first. Did some research and this

is what I can tell you.

The children are the focus and all important to the mothers life and love.

She sends her children to school.  She does not know the teacher and hopes that the

teacher will teach them well.

           

The apple orchard is the mother’s home. She sends an apple to the teacher

to form a relationship between the teacher and her child. Hopefully the teacher accepts

the teacher as a offering.

            

The orchard is bear without her child at home. She is trusting her child to a

stranger.

           

I enjoyed this poem when I finally could understand the poet. A lot of information

And feeling in this poem.