I actually sang this in my head along to jazz/swing music and that just goes to show how poetic Hughes is in his seemingly radical poetry.

This minor line paints such a vivid picture and places you into the house in which he is a slave and instantly humanizes the speaker and brings attention to the small hurdles in the life of a black man.

Even though this line is so short, it portrays the past and the present while using an unfamiliar analogy. The implication of his knowledge growing over time and obtaining wisdom through the obstacles he has faced.

This is by far my favorite excerpt from this poem. His vivid and profound way of portraying shame is thought-provoking to say the least. This seems as though it should be said behind a podium.

It's interesting that Hughes interpreted what the 'negro poet' said to him as pitiful and not angry.

Hughes introduces this piece with a radical tone which, in 1926, was nearly unheard of so this gives you an idea of how Hughes thought.

This rhymes with "never the less" but it also carries a big connotation of gentleness and soothing so its interesting to think about what she wanted this line to do.

If these are supposed to be ages it is interesting coming before the word "foolish" however if they are just meant for numerical sake it is interesting to think of the connotations with those two numbers.

I think this is an interesting use of repetition especially after the word "murmur." It can be read in multiple rhythms so its really up to interpretation.

Love the meaning of not letting one reader or observer stand in the way of you "deceiving" them with your writing/art.

The way he simply states these things creates an absorbing process for the reader. It is as if he isn't giving advice but informing you that this way is the way and his way.

The way Pound describes the "complex" form of writing shows the reader there is no limit that even time or space can have on the experience in the process of art. Very inspirational.

Very blunt and "this is the only way" feel. He is an extremely confident writer to say the least.

Interesting way of describing writing. As if there is no thought process involved in the new fashion of poetry.

Such a delicate yet heavy line. The way he creates a vivid scene with 2 lines and a title is absolutely sublime.

Very much like Henry Adams discovering the dynamo and the virgin.

Descriptions are very much sharp yet brief. Works well with the flow of the piece.

Coming of age vibe. Discovery is definitely a constant in the pieces we've read.

This use of parallel and one world vs. the other is very much like many of the texts we've read.

Very much like They Feed They Lion by Philip Levine with the listing of nouns.

Relates to the veil in DuBois piece. There may be a consistent theme of two halves separated by something.

This is a complex way of using a common euphemism into a different message for the benefit of the poem.

"I know" leaves a finished feeling to the poem even though you're not sure if the speaker does actually know.

Clever way of saying the man who died was young.

I love this poem. The speaker begins by saying love is not all that matters. It lists things that are more tangible and useful than love and how it makes you feel. The speaker speaks of their friends who are killing themselves from "lack of love alone." In the last few lines the speaker is debating "selling" their significant other's love for peace or the memories for would. However, end the poem with claiming they "do not think they would." Very hopeless and unique love poem, especially for the time it was written.

So interesting reading these poems in chronological order because you can see his diction accustom to the times and however still mention "Abishag." This poem almost seems a speech of sorts. Very uplifting diction with mentioning of work and providing.

Such a unique simile. The diction of this piece is very blunt and direct--unlike most of Frost's poems.

With this couplet and repetition of the line, you end the poem with a sigh of relief yet also a bit of despair and anxiousness.

As a reader you instantly know this piece has a pitiful tone with not being able to take both paths. This classic Frost poem can be picked apart for all its worth because every aspect is so sound.

An echoing feel resonates this passage of the poem. Not in form, but in diction. "...rabbit out of hiding...yelping dogs...no one has seen them or heard them made" As a reader, I imagine a vast land. Even the mention of the "gaps" gives off this implication.

First mention of an animal which places you in the countryside. Frost's imagery in his poem is a bit peculiar but vivid to say the least.

Instantly creates a rushed feel to the piece.

I think what Masters is trying to do is use Lucinda Matlock as an example of a "successful" and "fulfilled" life. "I had lived enough, that is all." Almost saying "this is all I wanted to say." Gives a summarizing tone towards the end of the poem.

Interesting narrative feel. Like you're simply listening to Lucinda speak about old times.

Has a very mystical feel, somewhat alternate universe-y. However, this also translates towards a potential identity cris the speaker is having perhaps.

Seems all he cares about in life is his "jug" or alchohol. He cares little about his safety which speaks to the entire poem. It's interesting to come back to the fact about the poem being called "Mr. Flood's Party" as well.

First simile in the the poem and it has a tender feel to it. Gives a certain lull in the poem itself.

Says so much about how we equate the kings of the past to the poets/writers of the past. Robinson portrays them in an equal light.

Interesting implication of the innocence of young men to the "unfairness" of older men.

The repetition and redundancy throughout this piece portrays a certain tone for the piece as a whole, however this specific sentence has a rhythmic feel to it that draws the reader in once more.

The repetition creates an exhausting feeling of the speaker.

Such interesting diction. Considering the surrounding sentences, this takes you out of the story for a brief second.

Ironic she capitalizes "because" instead of "perhaps," given the prior capitalization of it.

This takes away from the narrative speak of the piece and integrates a stream of consciousness of sorts.

The fact she chose to capitalize this twice in one sentence emphasizes the amount of doubt she has towards the irony regarding her husband being a doctor causes her a certain illness.

Gilman states her opinion on marriage without really stating it. You get the impression that she is unsatisfied with the results she is receiving from her marriage thus far.

Specified diction integrating a certain feel to the piece right off the bat.

America often only recognizes the positives of its history--just look at any U.S. History textbook. This line makes the point that America is made up of slavery and robbery of land and all that is left behind in memory is the "sweet melodies...and fairy tales and folklore." This line not only brings recognition to the African Americans and Native Americans that suffered throughout America's history, however it also brings great emphasis to DuBois' success of overcoming what society destines the Black man for.

Rather than excepting "the veil," DuBois says no to all the things assumed of Blacks in society and embraces his "Negro soul" and refuses to be, what is more familiarly called today, "white washed." He, like many other African American activists of history, strives to prove wrong and be the very best at any and all things that he was continuously told was "for the white man." This piece is not only an introduction to the first of DuBois racial struggles. but also, what some may argue, a powerful piece of advocation for racial issues.

He has a consistent use of shadow-based words (shades, closed round about us, night, fade, etc.).

His use of metaphors with racism/racial connotation (shadows-darkness//black; blue skies-lightness/white) has a powerful effect towards the reader and clearly shows how he was feeling as a young boy when being first discriminated against.

Back in the day (and still, sadly), African Americans had a correlation with AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and to see such literate and beautifully crafted sentences throughout this piece is perfectly proving wrong any assumptions made about Black individuals/writers.

Speaks to just how innocent he is and wondering as to how being African American can be a problem, which in itself speaks for how atrocious racism is.

Du Bois has separated himself in a way from reality. Speaks to him maybe wanting to escape.

Water is definitely a motif in this poem. Perhaps it could be symbolizing the speakers longing for happiness or the feeling of drowning?

It ends in such a way that you have a certain relieved sigh as you read the last sentence. I imagine him writing this story on the journey home.

This ties back to the earlier paragraphs beautifully and reminds the reader that all is connected and Adams is still the same man--even if he is a bit more knowledgable.

A bit of a renaissance-feminism feel. The comparison with power and females and trains reminds me of WWII when women were the ones building those "trains" (planes and ships) while the men were off at war. It was they who had the power then, so who's to say the goddesses didn't have the power long ago?

Religion and faith are obviously motifs in this, however the continuity of religious-speak leaves the reader wondering more about the dynamo and technology that Adams was fascinated with in the beginning. Or perhaps this is Adams discovering his faith?

The mention of other writers and artists brings you back to the fact that Adams is as human as any of us. He admires and desires just as we do. He is full of curiosity and is simply writing his thoughts as they come. However, doing so with structure, meaning, and beautiful transitions and connotations..

The shift towards talking about art and sex and beauty, brings attention to the fact that transition in thought, for Adams, from technology to beauty was easy because of his fascination. He is speaking of evolution of other movements in history (sex, religion, women, art, etc.) and, in a way, comparing it to the evolution he believes will happen with technology.

This is the first time you are taking out of the story because of the mention of the world "thus." This is more along the lines of the words in the Bible which could be another connotation towards religion.

At this point, Adams is simply describing what happened to the world and what his observations were and I, for one, cannot tell if he is pleased or skeptical but he is obviously paying excruciating attention to it.

Langley seems to have a distaste for technology being connected to faith.

He seems to be putting his faith in technology at this point. No longer comparing the two but simply having such a trust and fascination in the dynamo that he's implying God was the reason behind it.

An outrageous statement that shows just how much Adams is fascinated by the dynamo.

The beginning of many comparisons to religion throughout this text reveals a relationship between Adams and faith. Not necessarily a bad relationship or a good one, but a relationship nonetheless.

You get the idea that he is fascinated with what he grew up with. He, being roughly as old as what he is studying gives you a bit of insight of him being curious since birth.

This is an interesting statement coming from a man who seems to be educated. It seems as if he has something to prove and how his knowledge can become vast and more than that of what others were taught.

After further informing myself on this being based on the Detroit riot acts of 1967, I see the rage that Levine is trying to convey and desperately desires his readers to understand what he witnessed from the government and strives for social conviction. The last stanza, to me, was the most vivid and raw; especially with the line "...and they belly opened."

Interesting grouping and selection of nouns. Levine seems to like atypical nouns to describe the main focus of the poem. However, it is obvious that these nouns aren't random and have a specific job with the rhythm and imagery and so forth.

The visual created in this line of the dull bones and the muscles ripping and pulling, creates an image that takes the reader to that gut-wrenching place when reading a piece of work. Throughout the poem, there are lists and repetition with the end line of each stanza and it creates a sense of redundancy in that the writer wants the reader to "get it." It seems as though a poem you are searching for the meaning, even though the writer is spelling it out for you as best he can because you "had to be there" to understand.