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In the poem "What the Living Do" by Marie Howe, the speaker runs through a series of images of everyday life. How do these images make the reader feel? Also, is there a shift in the poem, and if so, what's the impact of that shift? Please incorporate a quote (or quotes) to illustrate your thinking.

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Q1. In the poem "Perhaps the World Ends Here" by Joy Harjo, the table becomes an extended metaphor. What does your group believe the table represents and why? Please incorporate a quote or quotes to illustrate your thinking.

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Does your pod prefer Harjo's or Howe's poem? Explain your reasoning and campaign for your favorite!

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In the poem "Perhaps the World Ends Here", the symbol of the table represents a higher power, or God, that "has been since creation" (Harjo 2). By introducing an immortal, centered object, Harjo creates an unmoving, complex feeling towards the table: similar to most religious faiths or spiritual beliefs. Allusions towards the Last Supper, or other religious practices at a table, globalize how people of all beliefs "pray of suffering and remorse... and give thanks" (Harjo 10) at the table. She introduces how global and universal a kitchen table is, like how global and universal religions and faith systems are.

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We think the kitchen table represents life and the never ending changes and cycles that we go through during our lifetimes. No matter the cycle or stage of life we are in, we can all be connected by our similar experiences, just as we are connected with others when we gather for a meal at the kitchen table.

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Our pod really enjoyed the poem "What the Living Do" because of the deeper meaning that is shown throughout the poem. It shows how the very mundane things that happen in our live could possible be the last things that we do. We should not take for granted the small inconveniences in our lives because we will miss them when we die. The depth and complexity of this poem shows how passionate the author is about the message she is portraying. This poem really shows how the small things in our lives are going to be the things we miss the most when we die. This is our first and last time every living so we have to appreciate every little thing.

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The table represents life and all that it entails. The beginning of the poem says that "the world begins at a kitchen table" (Harjo 1), just as the world began with the first appearances of life billions of years ago. Life is full of human experiences that mark what it means to be alive. We will watch others be born and die in our lifetimes, reminding us of how lucky we are and what a miracle life is. This is exemplified in the quote "We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here" (Harjo 9). In all, the table is a cycle of nourishment and livlihood that reminds us of the joys of being human.

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In the poem "Perhaps the World Ends Here" by Joy Harjo, the table can be used to represent a community of people. In the poem, what happens at the table and the table itself represents "what it means to be human". The actions that happen around the table such as gatherings, preparing food, and giving thanks are all things that are uniquely human and things that have been and will always be what makes us so.

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The extended metaphor of the table in "Perhaps the World Ends Here" represents togetherness and family. In life when we are with one another, "at this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks" (line 10). The poem refrences many activities we do together. We learn from, pray for and with, and gain support from those around us. The final line finishes the metaphor by essentially saying leaving life with people around you, filled with laughter and tears, is a "sweet" way to go.

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Our pod preferred "Perhaps the World Ends Here," by Joy Harjo. We all agreed as a whole that this poem was more straightforward with its meaning of how the table represents togetherness. It feels like it could be a universal idea of how so many human experiences and emotions happen at kitchen tables. We really enjoyed the different emotions the examples had, such as, "we have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here." The idea that one place can have such strong yet differing emotions is shown through the idea of life and death. We liked how it shows not only the positive aspects of growing with family but the negative losses that are innate in life.

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We preferred Harjo's poem. Harjo is able to tell a life story like it all happens at one table which paints an emotional scene about the intimacy and vast experiences we experience all in one lifetime. We liked this poem because it simplifies life into one meal that you must cherish and embrace before it is gone.

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In the poem "Perhaps the World Ends Here," the extended metaphor of the kitchen table represents the importance of family and community and how these things are a constant and center throughout life. The kitchen table does not change as it "has been since creation, and it will go on" (Harjo 2), even as its surroundings and people that are around it change and grow.

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In Howe's poem, "What the Living Do," Howe mentions a sink full of dirty dishes, a drain that does not work, open windows in a living room because the heater is on too high, driving a car, dropping groceries, and more. As a reader, these make me feel a sense of connection with Howe, like I can relate to instances in her life because I have been through them too. There is a sense of annoyance with these images, because whenever they happen to us we become frustrated. But later in the poem, Howe shows appreciation for these things. She is alive to experience them, "This is it," These instances ARE the human experience, these are things we are bound to experience just because we are alive to do so, and that is something Howe realizes near the end of the poem. "I am living." is what she explains after showing appreciation for herself and being alive.

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These images represent the mundane tasks and little inconviniences that we live though everyday that we hardly notice anymore that the speaker feels is the only thing "the living do". Howe questions the point of life as she describes moments when she feels life is meaningless as we "park. slam the door shut in the cold," or "drop a bag of groceries," clearly expressioning a discouraged outlook on life (6,10). The mood shifts when she changes from all the negatives she experiences in life to saying "But there are moments.." and describes the little things that make life worth it, as she notes that there is more to life and being alive than the few small things we view as mundane (13). In this shift, the speaker brings in a positive and uplifting mood as she describes the love she has for herself and how she appreciates being alive.

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"Perhaps the World Ends Here" is our favorite because we like the table used as a metaphor for things that keep you grounded throughout life.

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The images the speaker uses make the reader realize that even the repetitive and "boring" parts of life need appreciation too. We noticed a shift in between lines 10-11, when everything above line 10 seemed to be explaining little things in life that all humans engage in, and then everything after line 11 is talking about what the human desires to have. For example, in line 12, "we want more and more then more of it" shows how we desire to have things beyond what we are given.

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The images in "What the Living Do" create a slight feeling of discomfort and things that humans do to try to alleviate those feelings. For example, "spilling my coffee down my wrist and sleeve"(Howe 8) highlights this annoying but relatively trivial instance to highlight that in life we experience many discomforts, but instead of being annoyed about what she cannot control, she embraces it.

In the beginning of the poem, the author sounds annoyed about these ordinary discomforts and makes life sound miserable. However, in line 11 her attitude shifts to a more optimistic outlook on life, and she begins to embrace her "blowing hair, chapped face, and unbuttoned coat" (Howe 15).

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The series of images reminds the reader of all the bland, monotonous tasks that life gives us. It is easy to try to get through life quickly because it feels like a race. The shift in the poem shows the speakers realization that life isn't about everything that needs to be accomplished or fixed, rather it's about you and how you continue on. When she looks at her reflection she tells herself, " I remember you" which ends the poem with self- understanding. She finally sees how caught up she became and how she needs to appreciate herself and what's around her.

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In the Poem, "What the living do", the series of images portrayed makes readers feel overwhelmed and drained. It demonstrates how routine can blind us from the beauty of life. The poem shifts at when the poet realizes "this is what the living do". This shifts illustrates when she realizes that part of life is all the negative experiences we learn to appreciate.

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Our pod preferred the poem "What the Living Do" out of the two poems. We chose this poem because of the message it shared with us that life does not have to be so mundane and monotonous instead it can be joyful and enjoyable. The author proves this because after talking to Johnny in the beginning her solemn tone shifts to a more optimistic tone. This shows how even when life sends obstacles and struggles our way we can still find ways to be grateful not with what we have but just with life itself.

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We absolutely loved "What the living Do", because it emphasizes the true reality of life, and how it is not easy nor hard. The experience of life depends on your perspective and the love in your heart, and sometimes we get too stuck in our head to remember that.