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Lana Turner has collapsed!

I was trotting along and suddenly

it started raining and snowing

and you said it was hailing

but hailing hits you on the head

hard so it was really snowing and

raining and I was in such a hurry

to meet you but the traffic

was acting exactly like the sky

and suddenly I see a headline

LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED!

there is no snow in Hollywood

there is no rain in California

I have been to lots of parties

and acted perfectly disgraceful

but I never actually collapsed

oh Lana Turner we love you get up

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We real cool. We
Left school. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We
Die soon.

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The poem, “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks was read by an individual by the name of John Ulrich. He is a Student in South Boston, MA. Personally, I thought that John Ulrich did a very good job of reading the poem and helping to add better context to it. Ulrich describes how he came from a family of eight; four sisters and three brothers. He tells us how he had a very close, tight relationship with all of his siblings and he always found himself surrounded by “unconditional love.” Around the time when he was 17-18 years old, Ulrich expressers how there was a cluster of people in him community, friends and neighbors that attempted to commit suicide. He lost many people he knew to this despair and depression. In a way, he sees it as a loss of innocence in his community. When he reads us the poem, which is about rebellion and its cost, it describes teenagers who are having fun, hanging out yet know they will die soon because of the choices they are making. I think that Ulrich’s background/past experiences add a lot of context and emotion to the poem because he is connecting/comparing it to his own life experiences. He read the poem with passion and expression which helps the reader to develop a better understanding of the poem’s message. Personally, I also think that John Ulrich is a well- intended individual that comes from a good/loving family; he has a strong base to work off of. If and when he were to ever need help or guidance in his life, he always has the option to turn to his family for support, which I think is a very important aspect to have in life. He has a strong understanding/grasp of the despair in the world around him and contributes by doing what he can to help save people who feel trapped and alone in this world. The poem is about rebellion and its costs. Seven teenagers who are hanging out outside a pool hall recite the poem. These teenagers portray themselves as rebellious, staying out late, and having parties. Although being rebellious and going out as a kid may be fun, it always has its costs/consequences. The poem suggests that living recklessly can lead to an early end. It's a reminder to value one’s life and make wise choices. Personally, I feel that the emotions, issue that are presented in this poem are meant to signify to us the importance of making the right choices in life so that you can live your life to the fullest. Some poetic devices that are used in this poem include alliteration, repetition and rhyme. Alliteration is seen in the repetition of the 'W' sound in "We" and "We," and the 'L' sound in "Lurk late." It adds a rhythmic flow to the poem. The phrase "We" at the start of every line is an example of repetition in "We Real Cool." It emphasizes the group's collective identity. Lastly, rhyming is used in the poem to emphasize certain aspects of the poem to add meaning and depth. For example, "We Lurk late. We Strike straight," the words "late" and "straight" rhyme, adding rhythm to the poem.

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This image shows teenagers vaping, which represents the poem because it shows kids making choices they shouldn't be making. They know they aren't supposed to do it and think they're cool because they are doing it anyway. In the poem, the author writes, "We Lurk late. We Strike straight," which suggests that these teenagers are staying up late to have fun amongst one another and party. However, as the poem suggests, this rebellion comes at a cost. The lines "We Jazz June. We Die soon," emphasize the teenagers' desire to be seen as cool and independent, which is similarly portrayed in the image. Beneath the surface, the poem hints at the consequences of their actions, suggesting that the rebellious behavior of these kids may lead to a destructive path and cut short their future.

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The poem “POEM,” written by Frank O’Hara, is read by the individual Richard Samuel who is a Glassblower in Seattle Washington. Richard Samuel discusses how he first encountered this poem in college in a poetry appreciation class and that he liked this particular poem because it expressed the feeling of anxiety and the hurriedness of everyday life in the city. Samuel expresses how this poem was one of the first things he read that commented on the tabloidization of our culture, and how life was getting way out of our control and that things in life that should be given little importance were beginning to gain more and more importance each day. In college, he thinks that most times people feel that their life is very out of control, which is how he felt as a college student as well. I like how Samuel  is connecting this poem to emotions that he felt during college and emotions that most people feel at one point or another in their life.  I can even relate to this as a highschool student. At times I even feel that my life is out of control and then something random and not important happens but it makes me stop and think, my life isn’t so bad.. Personally, I also really liked how the speaker read the poem as though he were the narrator in it. He read the poem with emotion and understanding, which as a listener helped me to better understand the meaning of the poem. The poem is about the everyday moments and the unexpected interruptions that make life interesting. O'Hara uses Lana Turner's collapse episode as a metaphor for life's unpredictable nature. This unanticipated incident represents the unpredictability of life. It seems as though O’Hara is expressing that unexpected events can occur in our everyday lives, causing us to stop and appreciate the present. The poem is a celebration of life’s ordinary and extraordinary moments. I agree with the emotions that the author is expressing in terms of life itself. Frank O’Hara wants us to relish life and take notice of both the little and big things that occur.  He wants to recognize that something small and unimportant for one person (like collapsing) can be big and important to someone else (like a movie star, which makes the news).  Some poetic devices that are used in this poem include allusion and imagery specifically. The allusion in "Poem" is the reference to when Lana Turner collapses, “I was in such a hurry to meet you but the traffic was acting exactly like the sky and suddenly I see a headline LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED!” Lana Turner was a famous actress in the 1950s. This ties the poem to a specific time and cultural context, adding another layer of meaning. An example of imagery in the poem is in the lines "it started raining and snowing" and "the traffic was acting exactly like the sky," paints a vivid picture of what the surrounding atmosphere is like in the poem adding further context and emotion.

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This image represents the poem "POEM," written by Frank O'Hara because it signifies mystery and surprise. The poem itself is about how there are always going to be unpredictable moments that occur in our everyday lives. Moments that we won't expect to happen. This image shows an opened box with a question mark coming out of it. This is meant to be a metaphor that represents life's unpredictable nature. The line, "suddenly I see a headline LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED!" is the event that is meant to signify the unpredictability in life. "I have been to lots of parties and acted perfectly disgraceful but I never actually collapsed," this line expresses how despite our plans or how we behave, we can't predict everything. It's a reminder that anything can happen to anyone at any time and that life is filled with mystery and surprises.

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By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

We set today a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee.

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The poem “Concord Hymn,” written by Ralph Waldo Emerson and read by President Clinton commemorates the completion of the battle monument, to honor the fallen heroes of the battles of Lexington and Concord in the Revolutionary War, and bring out the eternal spirit of patriotism that motivates us to this day. President Clinton was the 42nd president of the U.S. As a former president, President Clinton represents many important democratic values of our country which give weight and seriousness to the words of the poem.  And, as he recites the poem, he brings to life compassion and understanding towards the people that have served our country in the past. The poem honors the troops who gave their lives during the Concord Battle. It recognizes the colonists who gave their lives in order to serve their country. Personally, I think that because President Clinton is a former president, he helps to add meaning, emotion and depth to the poem. President Clinton reads the poem as though he were speaking out to the former troops who have served our country. It read as if he was reading a thank you letter to all who have served our country, which is something that I particularly enjoyed. The poem honors the troops who gave their lives during the Lexington and Concord Battles. Emerson acknowledges the colonists' sacrifices who gave their lives during the Revolutionary War. .The poem portrays their bravery as a historic setback to British colonial rule, something that deserves to be honored and remembered. The poem takes intentional effort and dedication to preserve the memory of the heroic dead and their deeds so that their actions are never forgotten. Personally, I like the emotions/thoughts that the author included in the poem. I think that it is important to recognize the actions of those that have made a significant impact in our history, in this case, it was historic battles during the Revolutionary War. This poem represents heroism, bravery, sacrifice, along with many other emotions such as gratitude. Some poetic devices from this poem include metaphor, symbolism, and rhyme. For example, the line "And Time the ruined bridge has swept,” is a metaphor that compares the passage of time to a stream that sweeps away a bridge, symbolizing how over time we forget events in the past. Another example is in the lines, “We set today a votive stone; the memory may their deed redeem,” represents symbolism through the “votive stone.” The votive stone represents the memory and respect for the heroes of the past, and the commitment to remember their deeds. Lastly, rhyme is used in the poem by following an ABABCDCD rhyme scheme. For example, in the first stanza, "unfurled" (A) rhymes with "world" (A), and "stood" (B) rhymes with "slept" (B). The alternating rhyme pattern helps to create rhythm, adding further meaning to the poem itself.

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This image represents the poem "Concord Hymn," written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The image above illustrates a buried soldier who is being honored by his country and those who fought beside him in return for sacrificing his life for his country. The poem itself honors the troops who gave their lives during the Lexington and Concord Battles, during the Revolutionary War. The image is meant to represent the significance of sacrifice for one's nation. The line "We set today a votive stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone," is meant to commemorate the lives of all the soldiers who lost their lives in return to gain independence and freedom for our country. Emerson once again expresses in the line, "spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free," that we must honor all those who served for our nation.

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How can I, that girl standing there,

My attention fix

On Roman or on Russian

Or on Spanish politics,

Yet here's a travelled man that knows

What he talks about,

And there's a politician

That has both read and thought,

And maybe what they say is true

Of war and war's alarms,

But O that I were young again

And held her in my arms.

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The poem “Politics” is written by WIlliam Butler Yeats and read by Stephen Conteaguero. Stephen Conteaguero is a United States Marine Officer who was born and raised in Miami, Florida but now lives and works in Beaufort, South Carolina. He spends a lot of time with his wife and values her and he frequently goes down to Miami where she works to see her every weekend. Stephen joined the Marines after he had graduated from highschool and then once he had reported to his first duty station in Hawaii they deployed to the Persian Gulf and to fight in the Gulf War. When he was out there in the Gulf, he and his wife decided that they would marry when he came back. Conteaguero believed that the author of the poem “Politics” was giving his opinion on the matter of the comparison of politics vs. love. He very much respects and values love over politics. Conteaguero believes that because he joined the service and the fact that he had a strong connection with his father doesn’t mean that he isn’t very much in love with his wife. This is how Conteaguero feels he connects with Yeats. When he reads the poem, he speaks through experience and understanding which adds emphasis and meaning to the poem itself. The poem is about the conflict that exists between political engagement and personal desires. The narrator struggles to decide between paying attention to the woman he loves and the important political issues that are taking place around the world. It demonstrates how our thoughts about world events are frequently overshadowed by our emotions. I think that there are many emotions portrayed in this poem, which include, anguish, nostalgia, and longing. I think that the narrator expresses a desire to revert to their youthful state and embrace his loved one. Personal preferences and the importance of political issues clash together. This poem includes various poetic devices, which consist of juxtaposition and symbolism primarily. For example, Yeats juxtaposes personal love with political concerns. The speaker’s desire to hold his love in his arms is in stark contrast to the discussions of war and politics happening around him. This creates a powerful emotional tension in the poem. A quote from the poem that signifies this juxtaposition is, “And maybe what they say is true Of war and war's alarms, But O that I were young again And held her in my arms.” Here, Yeats contrasts the speaker's longing for personal love with the reality of political unrest. An example of symbolism in the poem, is in the line, “And there's a politician That has both read and thought, And maybe what they say is true Of war and war's alarms." In this, the “politician,” is meant to symbolize societal concerns. This contrasts with the speaker’s personal desires and emotions, emphasizing the divide between public and private life.

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This image represents the poem "Politics," written by William Butler Yeats. The image above is meant to illustrate two individuals who love each other (presented by the holding of hands), yet are divided by the conflict that exists between their political beliefs. The poem itself illustrates a narrator who finds it difficult to choose between paying attention to the woman he loves and significant global political issues. It illustrates how our feelings usually overrule our rational thought and judgment of politics. In the line, "How can I, that girl standing there, My attention fix On Roman or on Russian Or on Spanish politics," is meant to express the pull of human attraction and emotion, even amidst the chaos of global politics. The narrator's personal feelings are so strong, that they make the world's problems seem distant and create internal conflict, as presented in the image between the two people. Yeats also illustrates in the lines, "Of war and war's alarms, But O that I were young again And held her in my arms," the narrator's youth and the simplicity of love and personal connection. He's contrasting the complexity of politics vs his personal life.