“Blindness” by Krishna Tateneni
I picked this poem because it talks about grief, which is a common topic that anyone can identify with in life. One of the interesting lines in the poem is, “on the day you lost sight, after your mother’s death” (Douket 77). This line paints a clear picture of how losing a loved one affects the bereaved. I have experienced the death of a loved one, which explains why this line is interesting to me. I can identify with the poet’s feelings as captured in this line. The main theme in this poem is grief and the pain that the bereaved experience after losing a loved one. In this case, the poet talks of the death of one’s mother and the ensuing blinding grief. The poet notes that the journey through grief is long, and it may take years for one to overcome the pain. During this period, the grieving party sees things differently due to the darkness that covers one’s life.
“On His Deafness” by Robert F. Panara
I picked this poem because the poet talks about his personal experience of living with deafness, which can affect anyone. The most interesting line in the poem is “My ears are deaf, and yet I seem to hear” (Douket 75). The contrast created by this line spurred curiosity within me, and thus I sought to read the poem carefully to understand its message. The main theme in the poem is the bright side of being deaf. The poet notes that while he cannot hear, the power of the written words awakens and thrills the inner ear. The beauty of awakening the inner ear is that one can hear and understand things that can easily go unnoticed to a normal person. For instance, the poet says that he can “tell each secret shade of meaning” (Douket 75). In deafness, the poet says that one learns to hear the harmony that exists in nature, from the cooing of birds to the swishing of leaves, which underscores the beauty of life.
“My Son, My Executioner” by Donald Hall
I chose this poem because it addresses parenting, which readers can easily relate to in real-life situations. The most interesting line is the opening one where the poet says, “My son, my executioner” (Douket 76). The effect of this line on me was that it caused me to be interested in knowing how one’s son can become their executioner. The main theme in the poem is parenting. According to the poet, once someone becomes a parent, his or her life changes irreversibly. As the child grows and becomes strong, the parents become weaker and eventually die. However, the beauty of having children lies in the fact that the parents’ lives are immortalized through their offspring. On this subject, the poet says, “Sweet death, small son, our instrument of immortality” (Douket 76). Therefore, despite the challenges that come with parenting, it has invaluable benefits, which underscores the joy of parenthood.
“Homage to My Hips” by Lucille Clifton
I picked this poem because it addresses self-empowerment, which can help many people that are struggling with being comfortable with who they are. The most interesting image is that of someone enjoying the freedom and accepting themselves regardless of the shape and size of their bodies or the color of their skin. The effect of this image on me was that I felt empowered to accept myself the way I am. I do not need to fit into social constructs to please other people. The main themes in this poem are self-acceptance and self-empowerment. For a long time, women have been subjected to stereotypes that they should have a certain body figure, which is normally petite. However, the poet breaks this stereotype and encourages people to accept themselves the way they are. The poem implores readers to realize that they are unique, free and empowered to do whatever they want to do with their lives. The poet uses hips, which are some of the body parts that most women feel insecure about, and declares that they cannot be enslaved by social pressures.
“Friday Night” by Baron Wormser
I picked this poem because the poet talks about relaxation after work, and I will soon identify with it after I start my career. The most interesting line is, “It is not written into any constitution or call to arms, but this takes place all over the world” (Douket 77). This line caused me to acknowledge the importance of unwinding after a long week at work. The main theme in this poem is relaxation, especially at the end of the week. The setting of the poem is a dinner party where people have met after working hard throughout the week to relax and connect with one another. At such events, people share their stories about life. The poet foregoes the use of a rhyme scheme to represent the diversity of people and their life experiences. Ultimately, Friday nightstands for having fun and enjoyment.
Work Cited
Douket. English 2 Readings. Aristotext.