I move forward




While cities sleep I always roam this place.
Never lost or misguided I am free;
The others see the smile on my face.
I enjoy this life, as it's meant to be.
Restricted paths never lead anywhere
Freedom is what feeds the open minded.
My destination isn't here nor there;
In plane sight, i'll know it when i find it.
For some, security is what they choose
Safe behind walls, they judge the world blindly.
Life is not consumed, but meant to be used.
Don't heed fear, we interact so kindly.
This gift is not to be taken lightly
We live based on what is, not what might-be..







My sonnet is in reference to how I live my life, and how I see some people missing out on the chances of which they wish they had taken. The form of a sonnet makes it difficult to write something which flows easily off the tongue  As most examples I read all were of more story like then poetic like. With such a volume of information being given, the tone can be altered line by line. I think this did make me view each line numerous times until i found the proper way to describe what i was feeling.

How do I view what you wrote?

On Interpretation.


After reading through each of the different approaches for interpreting literature I relate mostly to a formalist point of view. This is because it is how most, if not all, people are introduced to literature in their youth. Its what a foundation of interpretation is based on. First to understand the benchmark components to any writing, then to define and explain each in a coherent summery of that piece. This is where everyone begins their study, and where I feel most comfortable. Structure in style of writing is a reflection of structure in life. We live by schedules and cycles. We are grounded in nature to be look for the basic foundation first. The building blocks of what constructs what we are dealing with. Different styles of interpretation require a more in depth knowledge of the author, the era it was written, the influx of social statues and gender roles in society, or the want to explain it with a sexual mindset is always possible. These more in depth approaches require an ability to understand formalism, and then explain it with additional information about what influenced the author.

The ability to read it without knowledge of anything else, such as an unsigned undated piece of work, is why I prefer to take a formalistic view.




Title:   We Real Cool 

Author : Gwendolyn Brooks


When reading pieces of literature which are of a small scale, three to five syllables per line, the rhythm or sound of how its read plays a large role in its effect. A poem of this nature which follows a very small structure of only three syllables per line, do note the first line has four and the last line has two, can be read in multiple ways. Placing the stress on the We as the end of each line the object of the piece, and following a "ba bu dah, ba bu dah...." style lets us hear the sound of the piece as we read it. Forms which generate intuitive musical scales lead readers to follow along easier then having to read a monotone line by line example. The form of this piece is also very short in size with only three syllables per line. This helps to increase the impact of the few words selected. With only two one syllable words per line, those two words carry the full meaning of the poem. Increasing the weight of each word helps to increase the images they generate. For example the third line says "Lurk Late" imprints an idea of mischief, waisting time, lurking around till the the late part of the evening. Its ability to create a clear idea of what is being expressed while maintaining the proper rhythm and structure of the poem.

The construct gives meaning, the rhythm gives feeling, and the sound is appealing.

Poems For a Newfie...

Haiku:

At night the snow falls
Against a dark background, the
Morning is buried.

Limerick:

There was a young Newfie whose teeth
Were wretched far past belief
When he spoke any word
Not a syllable was heard
As everyone dropped dead at his feet

I find that a restricted form does not really impact the concept of what I wanted to express. It more so led me to think of multiple ways to express the same idea. Different forms of a single idea only let me understand more about what I wanted to write. If it wasn't for a set structure, I would have ended with my thoughts about the snowfall itself. After a few different versions I ended up thinking about seeing the effect on the morning. Not what the snow did, but what it effected in its entirety.

I found that when writing a limerick, I was constantly focused on the word choice, not as much as how I had to stay within a specific limit. I can see how it makes your of multiple lines at once. While your generating an initial idea, your also thinking of how to tie another idea to that with a rhyme. So I do now understand the different between word choice, and structure.