Ginsberg's choice of language truly stands out in phrases such as this. Each line depicts madness, whether through exclamation points or lines which do not appear to make sense and cause us to retrace our steps and reread over and over again. This rereading causes the reader themselves to go mad in the process, which results in that so called "lightbulb" at the top of our head effect. Time displays vulnerability and danger, especially for both the narrator and Carl. Time described as animal soup depicts vivid imagery a reader such as myself can conjure up in my head and understand the dangers of it all. Carl himself has gone mad, and the poem constructs different forms of madness through specific locations known for its access to drugs and sex.

Why is New Jersey referred to as "Zen"? New Jersey appears as the safe place for this narrator, as well as most folks traveling away from locations of struggle. While the narrator moves from place to place constantly, New York remains as the main location. Places such as Paradise Alley or the Bronx indicate locations for folks who struggle to live comfortably day by day. New Jersey gives off a sense of safety or stability for those who have trouble where they currently reside already.

Earth screams for water. While certain motifs such as water and nature coincide with the following lines, voices come into the picture as well. To provide an image of what the thunder says in this stanza, depicts a powerful comparison between the past and present. Mother nature uses their voice in the Waste Land to communicate their own pain and slow but impactful decay to the reader.

In an article I found online (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/science/climate-change-intensifies-california-drought-scientists-say.html?_r=0) the writer claims, “Rising temperatures dry the soil faster and cause more rapid evaporation from streams and reservoirs, so they did not need any research to tell them that the drought was probably worse because of the warming trend over the past century.” While the sound of water makes a sound similar to line 357 “drop drop drip drop”, the Waste Land T.S. Eliot describes ironically has no water at all. As a result, thunder communicates the possible outcomes of what rain or water can bring. An emphasis on rain from thunder allows for rebirth and rejuvenation. As temperatures continue to rise like the article mentions, the earth and thunder scream at the top of their lungs for the attention they deserve. While their cries remain unheard, the drought continues to worsen.

However, weather manages to break promises and still brings no water to bear. The thunder lies, in a similar notion to a weather man incorrectly describing the weather. Without rain, this allows for no chance of rebirth or rejuvenation. The thunder continues to lie, in order to encapsulate the "dry, sterile" the world is currently living in.

This poem very much parallels Hughes poem "I, Too Sing America" as I mentioned in a previous annotation. In this line, I imagine the difference between how the 'strong man' coops up African American slaves in the kitchen in contrast to Hughes. For Hughes, there is a shift or transformation rather, where a day like tomorrow can change so drastically and a slave will no longer remain cooped up in the kitchen. A day like tomorrow can push one to finally sit at the table, and feel the attention they deserve to feel like an American rather than feel shunned despite their skin color.

An immediate thought that came to mind was Langston Hughes poem "I, Too, Sing America" where the narrator specifically states, "I, too, am America". The work the narrator puts into the roads, rails and other variations of the sort remains neglected. The narrator's voice depicts how selfish 'the strong men' are towards them. However, to connect both poems, at the end of the day, they are both American, but only one receives that privilege and continues to grow stronger even today.

Blues music reflects the struggle and pain black people endured throughout this time period. Not only was this a coping mechanism, other artists were known to do the same thing. In Langston Hughes poem "The Weary Blues" the following lines, "He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man’s soul" depict a similarity. Blues music unifies and strengthens the community as a result. Singing about their tragedies represents a coping mechanism and makes them feel as though they have a sense of belonging.

Many folks throughout the Harlem Renaissance heavily relied on music to depict their personal feelings. Certain artists such as Bessie Smith or Billie Holiday come to mind of the pain and suffering they had to overcome throughout this time period. Songs such as "Strange Fruit" describe the pain of all the lynchings that continued to occur frequently. While terrible murders such as this occurred, blues music strengthened the community and made their voices heard.

This speaks volumes in regards to the American Dream and what we as a nation all work towards achieving. However, no one ever considers the hardship and complete disadvantages people of color have from the very start.

While facing discrimination and segregation, the narrator refuses to allow this treatment to belittle them. In fact, the narrator communicates to the reader how they "grow strong" as a result. This growth alludes to referring to "Tomorrow" as the future, a future where anything is possible, including a change on how we perceive race and basic fundamental human rights overall. This final line depicts growth from the first line, where at first the narrator sings in regards to their nationality they are rightfully entitled to claim, but towards the end fully embracing their own identity as an American.

(Does that make sense or am I just babbling? Oh well, I just mainly wanted to say this poem out of all of them really spoke to me, evoked a lot of my emotions and is basically...badass in general.) Not part of my annotation technically but just had to say this part

The narrator equates their own personal experiences to a river in order to feel more at one with how far African Americans have come. These rivers bare witness and provide wisdom towards the pain endured from slavery and a lack of receiving basic human decency from others. Another noticeable aspect about the rivers includes a possible critique towards how long discrimination and violence has occurred towards one particular group of people.

Are the zombies not out to hurt anyone?

This tone is rather foreboding as he continues to age and awaits death within the current.

Is this similar to ..."Knocking on heaven's door?" or rather death awaits on the other side?

Do their voices hold this much power?

What are these staring forms? Reading this line gave me chills and I am left wondering if these forms are lifeless.

Those with clean ears don't have to deal with these voices.

Why it implied that his voice is never broken?

Are these certain retinal scars that we encounter in our day to day lives? Are these all descriptions and examples of what it means to be broken? Such as the branches growing out of stony rubbish and a dead tree that gives no shelter?

Why is the snow forgetful? What gives snow this description. Is this a sign of the weather changing? Winter keeps people warm and summer is filled with rain which contradicts each other in what the seasons are usually filled with.

The last line here, 'not sooner together', is interesting due to the fact that the narrator chooses to put the literal world 'pause' in between cordially yours. Not only does 'pause' separate cordially yours literally, but this pause prevents the phrases and character from being sooner together with whoever they want to be with.

This phrase reminds me of the paranoia and doubt someone can face when trying to forgive someone who has severely hurt them. The diction depicts doubt throughout, or even show forms of an abusive cycle. As I look at this sentence more and more, I think of how one can feel there is a lot of accumulated damage from one particular person, but by the time an apology is needed, all is forgiven so the cycle can continue.

I read this and felt as though this is similar to "leave us be" maybe? Does the narrator want to be left alone?

There is a repetition of location which causes the reader to grow fixated on where this item, whether it is the 'egg' or some other object is placed. Are we able to figure out where they are? I'm considering that myself.

Could these prisoners also be considered young slatterns? Earlier it states how young slatterns are bathed in filth, do they also eat filth? They seem to coincide with one another. Aren't they also basically starving due to the fact that they are underpaid for all the hard work they choose to commit themselves to?

There is an interesting comparison between how the definition of promiscuity tends to shift between those who identify as men and women. Based on the context of this poem, men have lust towards adventuring and easily replacing previous workers in the railroading jobs mentioned, where as women are given the short end of the stick and are unappreciated for any of the hard work they do.

Is this the same thing as knowing how one thing leads to another? What exactly is occurring here? Which sequence of events could prevent them from not wanting to come back and making a different decision?

What makes this evening darker than any other? Is it also metaphorically speaking, based on the gloominess that continues to extend beyond the surface?

Why isn't it possible to travel both? Why should one feel limited to perceive things only in black and white? There is simply no good or bad, or one road less traveled. Everyone encounters different experiences in their lives and it is quite possible to attempt two different journeys before finding a perfect fit, or realizing that both roads can correlate with one another.

In order to have sunshine, you need to have rain. That is sort of a compare/contrast scenario that comes to mind when thinking of something negative such as depression. In order to feel content with one's self or find some distorted, personalized version of happiness, gloomy clouds may arrived beforehand. In that sense, it is important to see life through different perspectives due to the fact that everyone has their own personal experiences and struggles that they must overcome. A double consciousness allows for one to not only see things based on what they're seeing, but going above and beyond to see what is occurring through everyone's eyes. This "in limbo" perspective allows anyone to learn about what is going on with the news and in different countries, while not maintaining this double-consciousness allows for those living within the confinement of their own home to focus on their own personal problems and not feel educated on what is going on in other countries or states.

People tend to ask this question a lot when dealing with any form of negativity. This reminds me of how a lot of people would prefer to remain ignorant in order to feel content with their own personal agenda. As long as it is not occurring in front of their eyes or they do not have to experience the situation themselves, it is not relevant to what they continue to deal with personally. There is this fear floating within the air that forces people to stay within their comfort zone and not even bother questioning what may linger on the other side.

This is perceived as an attack deemed intentional towards this individual in particular. This line suggests giving up the access of understanding what has occurred in the past, as a way to escape their own problems. Not only does the library seem to be a valuable resource, this was present to allow those 'inquiring minds' to find the answers to the truth, as a way to be informed, regardless if knowing the truth will hurt others or make them feel powerless within this society.

As the story reaches its conclusion, her mental health begins to take a huge decline. The wallpaper symbolizes the rise and decline of her mental condition and symbolizes how depression can spiral out of control. Not only that, but the lack of support and understanding negatively affected everyone in the end. She now wants out of this "hell hole", of what makes her feel trapped and she is willing to take that risk by any means of escape.

Based on my perspective, the way the different forms of light can manipulate what she sees are what cause her sense of order to feel threatened or out of place. This consistent change replicate her current mental thought process with everything she is currently facing.

She constantly feels trapped from her everyday surroundings that she continuously encounters. She deals with it from her husband, her house and even the wallpaper that continues to stare back at her. Her mental illness makes waiting three more weeks to leave this house engulf what remains of her mental stability. Not only that, but a plethora of things cause her mind to feel consistently irritated. The lack of understanding and support she receives carries over into this wallpaper that continues to taunt her menacingly.

The importance of the fifteenth amendment is often overlooked by others. There was a cause and effect relationship that allowed the Black community more freedom, although this "freedom" has always been limited. Racism is still present, whether overt or covert and without an education system that is knowledgeable about making history more inclusive, there will still remain this lack of representation or a feeling that they never belonged. Even today, it is important to remember that not only did slavery exist because of a White man, but also focusing on more of the accomplishments of how much the Black community has contributed throughout history. I, myself, personally, was not educated so much on the history of African American women because they are far often more overlooked than men, despite their vast accomplishments over the years. These are important issues that everyone should have more knowledge towards, especially when it touches base on basic fundamental human rights.

This is still relevant to today in terms of all of the police brutality that is constantly targeted towards Black men. Ignorance is bliss towards the folk who currently think racism within this day and age is non existent. W.E.B. Du Bois is able to vividly capture the oppressed versus the oppressor and how they are completely unaware of their own privileges.

While reading this piece, I was constantly reminded about identity and how certain people are taught to separate their identities to not face certain judgment or prejudice. In reality however, intersectional feminism allows for all identities to intertwine, for one does not precede the other. It is important to feel Black and American and not have to deem one as more important as the other. This same issue stands for myself, where I embrace all my identities as a Mexican woman that is also a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

A very deep, meaningful saying that is still very relevant today. This allows me to think of how those with power, the oppressors, continue to thrive off of a continuous cycle of minorities that face oppression on a day to day basis. Although thinking of more abstract meanings of how that can still remain relevant to today's standards, due to the fact that people truly never felt the need to understand the force occurring all around us.

Based on this, people never seem intimidated by outer space or the unknown because it was something that could easily be ignored. The saddest part, is the same could go for the way women are treated. Women are treated like foreign aliens. This allows a patriarchal society to thrive and remain superior for they feel they have the most control with no fear of their own forces or what they are capable of. This is at least the case in America, as it goes to mention later on.

There is usually the saying that history tends to repeat itself, so historians try to piece it all together in a "domino effect" sort of light. One aspect can lead to the next, which is what Adams was more than determined to figure out on his own.

By the last stanza, it appears that things continue to worsen with time. Earth continue to loses its own natural resources, as well as by the end the lion no longer grows. Why did they stop growing? Is the lion beyond our own control?

Lion is mentioned before the last stanza

wasting the environment

a biblical relationship depicted here. What helps it grow exactly?