The poet I have decided on is Jack Prelutsky. My partner, Ellen, chose  J Patrick Lewis as her poet. Both of these poets are related in the genre of poetry that they write. They are both children's poets. What appeals to me about this kind of poetry is how amusing it is. Children's poetry is just very enjoyable to read. Something very interesting about both of our poets is that they were both Children's Poet Laureate's. I am excited to learn more about both of these poets. 

     When i read the work of Denise Levertov, I notice some similarities between her and my midterm poet, Dave Lucas, especially in her poem "The Third Dimension". The tone that she uses appears in a couple of the poems by Dave Lucas. The tone seems to represent a sad form of love. A couple of her other poems also show similarities in the way that the two write in respect to the tone. Another similarity I notice is that neither Lucas or Levertov use a rhyme scheme when writing. Although they both still have a flow in the way that they write, there is no rhyming in it. 

     One thing that contrast between the two poets is how they set up their lines. Dave Lucas did not have anything special with how he transferred from line to line, but Levertov writes similar to Catherin Wagner in a couple of her poems. She indents a few lines to change the way you read the poem. Levertov also writes a little more complex than Lucas. When I read Lucas' poems, they were fairly easy to understand, and the message was clear, but when I read Levertov, it is more complex and harder to comprehend at first. 

     

Sonnet 29       by: William Shakespeare       Read by Daniel McCall

Concord Hymn           by: Ralph Waldo Emerson     Read by Bill Clinton

            Both of these recitations were read and presented very well in my opinion. First, there was Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which was read by Bill Clinton. It comes to no surprise that the President of the United States who speaks to the whole country at times has a solid rhythm and keeps a steady pace when reading this poem. He presents an image of what is being said in the poem, as if you were there, witnessing it yourself. He also keeps good eye contact throughout the recitation, all while keeping his voice steady and strong. Daniel McCall has a very emphatic presence when reciting Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare. He puts the emphasis in all the right places, and after he is done reading this poem, he has successfully given a wonderful interpretation of what is trying to be said by Shakespeare. Although Daniel’s voice does seem faint at moments, I believe this adds to the imagery and emotion of the message behind this poem, for it makes it easier to visualize and understand. Also, after hearing his story, I believe that it makes his recitation much more touching because it makes it seem as if it was to come straight from the heart. 

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad. 

                                    -Christina Georgina Rossetti

 

            I chose the poem Remember by Christina Georgina Rossetti because I believe that this particular poem is very dramatic, and I felt a great deal of emotion overcome me after I was done reading it. I interpret this poem to be about a man or woman speaking to their loved one before they pass away. They are telling their loved one to remember them when they are gone. Lines five and six are particularly dramatic to me, because the poet gives light into the future that was to be held by the two, but is now shattered and left to think of what it could have been due to the passing of the person.  But, as emphasis is added onto remembrance again and again, a sudden change occurs at line nine. Although they want to be remembered, they do not want their loved one to grieve and mourn over them. It is a very selfless and touching thing to say, and I believe that it makes this poem so much more dramatic and brilliant. I believe that the last two lines are the best lines, and most dramatic piece in the poem; “Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad.” This person is telling their loved one that rather than being sad while thinking about the memories that they shared, that it would be okay for them to forget and smile, and to just be happy. To me, this has a strong way of showing what love really is.