Poem Journal

Jehron Bentham 0090141

Introduction to Poetry

Poem Journal

This is a collection of my personal thoughts on the proms which my Poetry class has analyzed combined with some of the information we discussed.

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Sea Shells

[pic 2]

I first thought the persona to be male speaking of how a female persona would be caught in awe at the sea shells she would discover on the shore, and about reminiscing on this memory of a lost partner through death. Tia mentioned the possibility of it being his mother the female character focused on, and the child remarking these memories after time has passed after walking on the beach with her/ her death. The face “half-sketched in sunset” conveys the hazy and distant memories the man has left of his mother on the beach, as well as the side profile of her from walking by her side, only catching the side which he can see.

My view of the poem’s subject matter was changed during the discussion in class.

The female persona speaks on her relationship with a man stuck in his childish whim, admiring nature all around him, and paying no true attention to his partner. The quote in italics interrupts the thoughts the female has, symbolizing the importance of quote in her life. He continued his practice of admiring sea shells, neglecting her in the process.

She finds herself having to stoop to a new low appealing to him as a sea shell in order to gain any appreciation.

This was a favourable poem, even though the male persona's characteristics and traits made me joke at and judge his personality.

My Father Always Promised Me[pic 3]

At first read and analysis, the significance of the title was thought to convey the undying dream of the persona to physically “fly” – travel abroad by plane as opposed to being limited to the “flights” she takes while being above her father's head. It was explained in class that she feels restricted, “having only half a life”. She only flies when her father comes back from abroad. He is her support (axis/grounds and stabilizes her)

Her dreams, although seemingly impossible perhaps due to the lack of financial stability, or the absence of her mother, her father supports her, remains optimistic and gives her a solid foundation and the ability to actually achieve her dreams by, doing the very best he could, dissipating the thought I gained of the father during my first read.

Greens[pic 4]

The title and first few lines of the poem lead me to believe that the persona speaks of picking peas. The mothers knees are "chill" because of the time of the year. The ground could be frozen. The absent father makes her knees “bitter”, but she, herself, is also bitter as she is not well adapted and rightfully suited to be pulling the weight in the role as breadwinner of the household. Her knees will soon give in to the ill-conditions.