an allusion to Van Gogh's actual life, as starry night was the view from his asylumn window

I like how so much of this poem feels as though it could be a companion piece for the painting with how detailed and image heavy the work is

Because of the quote from Van Gogh, these lines are able to immediately evoke images congruent with starry night in my mind

i feel as though much of this poem is about surviving and how one, as a women, is able, or not able to, survive and flourish

i really like how Sexton equates this kind of dreamy evil with women, especially women of "the other" which i feel offers a really interesting duality that is then present throughout the whole of the poem

I really enjoy how she jumps between different senses and sensory details throughout the piece.

the role of speech and language, both in what it is able to convey as well as that which it sounds of

The role of women and what they are expected to do in the confines of society; makes them out to be immensely docile

i like this sense that the day is able to interact with different aspects of nature

a sense that there is very much something at stake here

consider the role of women and the female throughout this poem

role of repetition

all of this is happening as morning comes and the world awakens

i like this attention to the mechanic that is evident throughout this piece despite the evident abundance of natural imagery

consider the role of repetition and this repetition of behavior that is evident throughout.

as if it is a possibility that none of this is really there at all, the role of perception and actuality.

the role of perception

The role of man and the power he exudes.

role of color; so much of color is absent throughout the poem

i like this comment on capitalism and the role of the working class and job market as well as how oneself and others view the working class

i like this image as it is kind of an oxymoron and i find it interesting to see the image unfold

the role of innocence and beauty, as well as the ways in which this affects the subject matter of her poetry as well as the connotations evident throughout this poem, especially considering that these are the lines that end the whole of the poem.

allusions to greek myth

a feeling of decent though not in a way that seems reminiscent of relief

beautiful and detailed imagery-- i love the colors and feelings that she is able to evoke here, as well as the allusions to various religious and spiritual belief systems.

role of this poem being a dedication-- all of the connotations that might accompany this

I like how she includes self-destroyed as war, at least in my mind, is a very self-destructive act

oblivious of what? the horror of war because of the lack of first hand experience?

Perhaps another reference to norse myth? or perhaps WWII

all of the world that has become war torn, as well as all the lives that have been wasted and lost as a result of this kind of warring

in norse myth a woman goddess who chooses who will live and die in battle. also a movie starring tom cruise

I like her comparison of the sunset to that of a fire, as if it is so intense it has lit the world and horizon on fire, really powerful and beautiful images

all that is contained within oneself-- I really enjoy this capacity that is present

I like this duality; does she mean a dream within a dream?

as if she is able to keep all of these aspects of her lover? within herself and saves them

I love all of this natural imagery associated with summer and a kind of harvest and ripeness that is felt by everything

I like the way in which Millay makes it feel as though this woman is breaking some kind of standard and beginning conveying this revolutionary nature of being and existing

The whole world is left frozen, and here the speaker stays forever on the edge of action, as so many things that should be moving remain frozen in a state of almost moving.

I really enjoy this in-between nature that the world is then left in

I like Millay's ability to make Medusa out to be someone who has the potential to freeze all time and make a statue out of the world, not just out of one particular person. I really like this quality and the image that this then invokes in my mind

Millay often brings in so much of Greek myth, though here I find it of importance that she brings in Medusa due to all of the power that she is able to exude as a woman in power

I think this is a really unique way of describing sky; I can see it in my head, though I have no words to describe how it looks. I think Millay is (obviously) so talented for being able to evoke images such as these that leave me speechless.

as if this love becomes a small blip in relation to the larger scale of how the speaker feels and knows love.

I really enjoy how Millay notes the way in which love has the ability to change a girl, especially in relation to this girl being that of marble, as if all she is reduced to is an object of art and beauty that serves no real purpose apart from being looked at.

I like her ability to convey this freedom and the ways in which love has the capacity to take all of this freedom away, which I find interesting, as if one who is in love becomes a fool that is trapped. Somber, though often very realistic.

I like this ending, as if the speaker is pulled out of their thoughts and back to the real world. I think this piece also deals extensively with the macro because of Millay's ability to depict all of the macro that is able to fit within the human brain and soul.

I love how Millay talks of her experiences of nature and how desperately she desires to know all of these experiences in such a deep and almost painful way. I think this adds a really interesting dimension to her poetry

I like this wandering tendency and capability of the soul

I like the way that Millay is so easily able to bring death and the end of the soul, the end of one's being, into the micro, in relation to taking it down in a way that relates only to perhaps leaving one's house. I really enjoy this layer of simplicity

Relating the macro and micro of nature to the macro and micro of the soul-- i enjoy the way in which she is able to connect these two experiences.

I like the amount of power she is able to convey in this line in relation to how she feels of herself and the ways in which she controls her own destiny and power.

The somber and heavy thought that we will not know earthly beauty after we are gone-- the notion that there is very much an end to all that we know and all that once encompassed us in some way.

A slight tonal shift here, as if there is a capacity to feel hopeful even after all that we have come to known changes or disappears.

Why and in what ways? To perhaps know and experience that which is unknown?

The feeling that she is able to empathize and feel all that everyone else feels and the notion that she is able to feel all of these different emotions and temptations, thereby calling them her own.

I would be interested to know if Millay enjoyed Whitman, as these feel so reminiscent of him that I would like to know if this was an intentional allusion, or rather if she is just happening to speak on the same unknowns that are unknown to all.

I like this line as well especially when considering the nature of infinity and its relation to the human condition and how we attempt to define all that we do not understand.

So much of this poem is of infinity and the speaker's attempt to both understand and kind of "count" or place infinity so that it has the potential to fit into her mind.

Again, i like her attention to the macro and her attempt to bring it into smaller terms as a way for her mind to attempt to understand and comprehend all that is larger than herself.

I like her movement from macro to micro and how Millay works to convey how she fits into the grand scheme of things, as well as the ways in which these things seem to affect her and in what ways.

I really love so many of Millay's poems because of her ability to layer so much sensory detail within her poems so effortlessly without her language being overly flowery or pretentious. Especially here, I like her ability to pay such close attention to the small line that separates land and horizon.

what is left of us after war and after defeat, ends on a somber tone

this is gorgeous, depicts a kind of beacon of almost-hope

kind of reminiscent of care packages and sending things to those who we love who are busy and far away fighting another man's war

further imagery associated with wartime and all the blood spilled as a result of the violence and senseless killing

portrayal of all that is literally burnt and ruined in the times of war

as if all of the years spent in war result only in death

place your bets (in french)-- further conveys this sense that war is nothing more than a game, or treated as such, and works to convey a sense of carelessness on the parts of those who make decisions in wartime

Marxist lens: How wartime is often a result of economic gain or loss; as well as the ways in which war is very much some kind of gamble among people

because of the title, it is likely that death and its accomplices will be common themes and images will be present throughout this poem-- large focus on how war seems to only result in death

the role and presence of the home in Lowell's poetry appears to be a rather common theme throughout, though here it might represent that which is ravaged by war and wartime repercussions

to find and love that which is small and lovely in a world that is so often, on a whole, made ugly by the likes of man-- the ability to find peace in nature

directly addresses the present conflict that plagues the world, and how she desires and hopes for a time in which none of this will exist, and that the world will solely be a place of beauty and belonging

i like how she writes of childhood with a such a high reverence and seems to respect all that is encompassed within youth

as if Lowell is able to capture both the remnants left of the summer season as well as the very first inklings of fall time-- i think this provides for a really beautiful read and a multitude of images and tones that might then be applied to the work as a whole

I think Lowell's capacity to ponder and bring in different cultures and mythology insanely important and interesting when reading her works. Additionally, I find that by reading these pieces Lowell allows for her audience's mind to wander based on the images she provides

as if Lowell does not to work to capture and entrap Venus and the female form in general the same way in which another painter or writer may, instead she works to represent them both beautifully and with dignity and respect

direct mention of Botticelli's painting and what that the provides for the further reading of this work as I think the colors present in the painting work to create a tone and image surrounding this poem as well. Additionally, through this mention one might consider beauty ideals and standards, as well as all that Venus represents for womanhood

the pattern as a further example of the embedded repetition throughout-- as if this relationship between a man and women would have broken some kind of established pattern

a sense of repetition is conveyed throughout the likes of this poem

so much attention to physicality and what one is wearing, what does this lend to the poem on a whole?

again, there is a kind of feeling evident that she feels as though she is trapped within the likes of her own gender roles in society, unable to feel the outside world in the confines of her dress

image and language reminds me of greek frescos and other paintings associated with Venus and other greek goddesses and the portrayal of femininity

as if her desire to write and create begs her to nearly revolt against the binding of her dress and therefore the confines that women experience in society

although she richly- and beautifully- details the likes of her dress and current, popular fashion choices, it seems as though she is not truly happy in wearing these garments. Reading through a feminist lens may make for a more interesting read when one considers the role of women in society.

I really enjoy her poems because of how image heavy they are and how easy it is for Lowell to craft a portrait of the world around her through her words. So much of this is focused on nature and it relays a kind of calming tone

as if all of these things become part of her "shadow" and linger after she is gone, considers what we leave behind

relates back to the title in the way that the house and what's left of the speaker in it almost create a shadow of the speaker and all she was; as if all homes hold these shadows of the people that came before because they, in themselves, seem as though they are living things

the role of the home and what one feels for where they have done most of their growing up

this stanza is happy, beautiful, and incredibly nostalgic

image of what one leaves behind after they have passed, additionally the speaker brings in time again while considering all that both she and the home have experienced together, as if they have both watched on another grow and change

a feeling of longing and affection for that the speaker loves, especially the longing to remain forever with those who we love

a sense of inevitable emptiness, though it does not resinate in a somber way, but rather the speaker is able to address simply that one day earth and time will continue to move forward and they will not be a part of it

all of that which comes before this line might relate to the difference and contrast between that which is natural and that which is man-made and the ways in which both of these contrasting aspects of the natural world interact with one another-- additionally, the following lines allow the reader to infer that the speaker is taking into account notions of time and her place in the world on a whole

Definition of Penumbra: (noun) the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object. ASTRONOMY the shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse. ASTRONOMY the less dark outer part of a sunspot, surrounding the dark core.

much of this piece feels reminiscent of the sentiments of Whitman

happiness in nothing except existing in itself; the importance of the small moments of happiness and goodness.

The importance of finding happiness within oneself

I like her attention to virtues associated with humankind and the importance of finding peace and happiness in one's own life.

This seems as though it is a call to action for human kind in the importance of kindness, empathy, and charity, as they relate to that which is a meaning human experience. The importance of a symbiotic relationships between people are integral to a meaningful life, for if not, one chooses to kill off of their own lives rather than meaning something for and to others.

This poem portrays the freedom that may be found in nature and the ways that nature lends itself to freedom and the way that nature itself in its interactions with humans allow for a feeling of freedom and "lightness" in both senses of the word. I enjoy Sarton's use of imagery and the beauty in nature that she is able to exemplify and layer with heavier details and metaphor for human experience.

I love this piece, the imagery is absolutely gorgeous and her form is reminiscent of a sonnet and includes some of the rhyme schemes and form which are evident throughout. Additionally, I appreciate the way in which she uses seasons to display the passage of time as well as how the contrast between warm and cold are used throughout the piece in relation to the speaker and the parts of nature that are depicted.

This poem feels nostalgic and slightly somber, as Sarton uses the speaker to travel through the American midwest and explore this kind of journey between land and sea and the ways in which we learn of different emotions and experiences through this journey. Through this poem Sarton also explores the differences between the macro and the micro and how this influences the differences between the two.

What is the purpose of her inclusion of allusions to abrahamic religions-- how might this relate to an invention and a patent?

experience vs. education-- what do we learn from books and what do we learn from experience-- how might our education make us who we are?

Is there ever really enough to know here? Her tone seems to shift to something that is in some ways condescending. Is it a crime to wish to know as much as one can about anything? Is she suggesting that once someone is erudite they are aware of how to forget, how does this benefit someone like a philosopher?

Experience vs. Education, what might we learn from one and not from the other-- how are we taught and how do we maintain knowledge. The question of why one would wish to forget still lingers in this point of the poem.

Who might"It" be? The mind? The human experience and nature of humankind? Why would one wish to forget and what is the purpose of this forgetting?

the lack of ending punctuation leaves room for a ore open-ended feeling of the poem as if it were to continue living on in the minds of the readers after it is already over.

box like a casket? who is "them?"

Evokes a sound and feeling of a constant and heavy base sound, like that of a steady drum, but to a kind of "annoying" level that dulls the mind in a way that does not seem to be favorable.

Why the capital "s" of Sense? Referring something to the effect of common sense of a sense like sight or tough-- how do both of these aspects in conjunction affect the way in which we see and understand the world around us in relation to our own minds.

What might be the mourners? Makes me consider all that might be contained within the brain and the multitudes that it is able to hold at all times.

it brings peace to the minds of those who have died or those that have died to know that they world will continue to flourish without them. Although this sounds sad, i find this comforting as well; as of everyone and everything will always be alright

image of a funeral/ casket, though it is not morbid, as the images of daisies allow for a rather child-like image to unfold.

creates a feeling of concreteness of time and that this cycle is always able to maintain itself throughout time. This also includes the word "should," which i find notable, as why shouldn't the world turn on if one person is lost-- time does not stop for the departed.

This reminds me of works of the confessional poets

I suppose Dickinson never did quite die, as her work is able to live on. This rouses questions in my brain around time and the way in which it continues to pass us by for no reason and at some point we all succumb to it. I also question who the "you" might be in the second line.

This befalls all great artists, poets, or mankind in general, as that which feeds us is often that which will eventually kill us, particularly if that is associated with greed and the need for fame.

irony because the poet or artist need this food to survive, but because of the uncertain nature of the popularity of their work and the way in which it is received, it yields for this ironic and unstable relationship to take hold.

This poem, because of images of plates make me think of Da Vinci's "Last Supper" and the layers of inconsistent popularity that live within all of those who become famous, but the way in which their fame is based on constant inconsistency.

I like this title as it hints to the reader that fame is a food or energy source for the poet, writer, or artist in some way, and that these artists presumably need this kind of food to survive, through it is constantly changing, which may point to the way in which a poet views the importance of their own fame, or the way in which fame and popularity based on the audiences is subject to change.

God or Jesus as the Shepherd guiding his followers-- how might a poet mirror the likes of this notion?

remembering the likes of summer while all that is warm has gone away and died as time passes into the cold and chill of fall and winter

Sounds and sights associated with autumn and seeing birds go south for winter, aspects of loneliness and solidarity, also crispness and barrenness among the trees and leaves

Such a dreamy quality in this poem, especially in relation to the title, though it especially feels as though it is a memory of a dream or of a far off day

I desperately want to know who this might be and what knowing might add to the interpretation of the poem.

a sense of mourning for a departed loved one

Such beautiful imagery in this poem-- heavenly and almost psychedelic, as if all of that which the speaker addresses is some kind of hazy vision

A poet on writing and poetry-- very much about the vocation of being a poet and that which a poet might be inspired by-- much of this is dependent upon nature

this is gorgeous-- dreamy and nostalgic, warmth of a summer morning

ABAB-- every other line rhymes in this poem. I usually prefer free verse but i think Fields does an exceptional job of making the rhyme fit and still convey her overall meaning

Might this poem contrast with the usual idealistic images of the home and the importance of a nuclear family at this time-- how might have this poem been received in the context of the time period in which it was written?

Happy image that is odd in the context of this poem, though offers a sense of nostalgia

I would never associate blue with fire, coal, or a chimney but i think it works here and ads a somber dimension to the images and tones throughout the poem

ABAB rhyme scheme

movement of time through seasons. Are humans the captives of mother nature?

I love this imagery associated with fall

Fields seems to enjoy this ABBA rhyme scheme in much of her poems, or just rhyme scheme in general, and does not seem to be constrained by these limitations and the rhymes themselves feel organic rather than overly thought-out and forced.

A uniquely American notion that is consistent with the American identity

This line is ambiguous in a way that intrigues me-- might she be references epic poetry and the prominence of male writers and characters in all of the classics?

Comments on the importance of women and the way in which they teach men-- the importance of mothers and of the home, Fields does not seem to make light of all of the work that women do within the home, as they cultivate growth and morals in children and the men that then rule society

Allusions to W. Blake? The language is reminiscent of a more Victorian English

Consider the repeated references and images associated with the color white; might this represent innocence and purity?

How one might be affected by poetry or art. Evokes a number of the senses, espeically with the inclusion of the first two lines of this stanza

consider how poet's "sing," and the possible allusion to the British Romantics

possible allusion to all of the poetry that has been written about shepherds and from a shepherd's point of view. in the context of the poem, how might a poet by vocation be a Shepard guiding words, and what religious dimension does this title convey or suggest?

the inclusion of the different titles makes me wonder what each different title might bring to the interpretation of the story.

transition into womanhood, though not in a necessarily positive manner that might result in a kind of "off" nature that contrasts with the ideal likes of womanhood

how might this represent the different ways in which women might act in society

To compare this line with others in our selections of Jewett's works, Jewett often seems to compare maturity and innocence-- consider what this might provide for the story and why she does this, particularly in relation to how it affects growing boys and girls and the stereotypes that they might grow into.

Tranquility and calmness are evoked through these images, though a somber tone is able to take over as the funeral is addressed and continues onward throughout the story-- what does the juxtaposition of the tranquil imagery but somber setting of a funeral depict for the reader?

How might this work to convey aspects of womanhood and how others might have viewed women in the context of the time if they were unmarried?

Seems very telling of the time, and Jewett seems to often include this archetype of a female character where she is often a kind of busy-body, always involved in the likes of the business of others.

Story? but the speaker makes it seem as though it might be truth in the beginning? Again, what does this aspect of metafiction provide for the overall interpretation of the text?

He really is still so selfish in his "love" for Jenny that he is unable to image any other possibility?

How intense the "love" or "obsession" for Jenny goes that would allow for two brothers to be lead to murder? How special is this woman actually? Why would Jewett make this choice?

consider how Jewett conveys aspects of masculinity and emotion, as well as how the men in the story act in relation to Jenny and her possible and seemingly probably rejection of them.

gorgeous, so much imagery conveyed in these words and so clearly rouses emotions, sights, sounds, and smells associated with autumn.

might this suggest a hint of jealousy on the part of the speaker?

very intimate way that Jewett creates the image of this town, albeit filled with gossip in relation to Jenny, but this very accurately represents the way in which gossip might spread in a small town, especially for the time and especially in relation to what Jenny, as a young woman, will choose to do about these men.

allows for a reading through a Marxist and Feminist lens, as not only is Jenny adored for her beauty, but also for her money-- makes me wonder on the nature of the ideal woman, and the way in which these men seem to only like Jenny on her face value and possible fortunes. How might this make Jenny feel, or is she too innocent to notice any of these qualities in her lovers, if she even calls them that herself?

Interesting contrast between Jenny's inherent beauty and attractiveness in relation to young men in contrast with her innocence and childlike qualities. Why might have Jewett chosen to do this? how does this affect Jenny's nature and the way that men see her?

This address to the reader makes me wonder why Jewett felt it was of importance to address the reader-- consider how this piece may include aspects of metafiction

contrast between childhood and maturity, as well as closing this metaphor of the significance of the sea in Georgie's life-- Jewett allows for his character to become part of the sea, because although it may be chaotic, it is calm and quiet and the place in which he finds solace. Consider the way in which one must find their place or vocation within society and the prevalence of the fishing industry in New England.

Lovely lines, contain aspects of visual imagery and scents that these different flowers bring-- smells like summer. Also makes me think on the ways in which Jewett may be comparing women to flowers and how one might cultivate the growth of a child.

Wonderful line, as it conveys a sense of ambiguity as to why this house is this way, but also creates a sense of unity between men and women and the way in which they live together as well as the similarities and differences between them.

evokes a sense of "small townness," as all of the people have their own relationships and town gossip about one another, insights on perception and the way in which neighbors interacted with one another

I really love and appreciate the heavy detail and imagery that Jewett includes and evokes in her writing. It makes the piece richly colored and conveys the tone of the piece more readily

example of "women's work" and what would have been acceptable for women to do with their time in the context of the setting and time-- consider notions associated with the ideal wife and woman

Heavy attention and inclusion of specific, nautical terms that most likely would have been well known for the time and in relation to the New England region-- consider why Jewett might include words such as these, what do they add to the nature of the text?

example of colloquialism and the conversational and informal language that is present throughout

insight into the likes of New England and establishes setting and tone that is reminiscent of summer