Daniel's poetry anthology

Life is your Greatest Teacher Poetry Anthology

By Daniel Song

Dedications to my loving family, constantly helping me through life. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today being the person I am today. They are what helped shaped me, hammering at me to make sure I am always in top condition. Always helping me open new doors to new things and encouraging me to step out of my safe zone, showing me the world through many uncountable ways.

Thanks!

Why$Cry?

by$Julie$O’Callaghan You$know$something$wonderful will$always$happen.

It$always$does.

Know$what$I$mean?

Like$how you$just$opened$the$window and$the$warm$breeze wrapped$itself around$your$neck.

It$will$happen$again.

It$always$does.

Julie$O’Callaghan’s$“Why$Cry?”$is$a$very$worryGfree$poem.$It$tells$us$that$hope$everywhere$and$will$help$you$ even$if$you$don’t$know$it.$She$creates$a$very$strong$tone$in$her$poem$by$backing$it$up$with$repeIIon,$“It$ always$does.”$The$theme$of$this$poem$is$probably,$“hope$is$everywhere$and$can$be$very$easily$spread.”$ With$these$lines,$“Like$how$you$just$opened$the$window$and$the$warm$breeze$wrapped$itself$around$your$ neck,”$it’s$like$she$is$telling$us$her$own$experiences$with$hope.$I$think$she$used$this$example$because$it$ strengthens$her$theme$and$shows$us$that$she$believes$hope$is$literally$everywhere.$The$repeIIon$of$“It$ always$does,”$really$reassures$the$reader$and$allows$them$to$completely$believe$the$author,$“Believe$me.$I$ know.$Just$believe$me.”$I$think$those$two$lines$“It$always$does”$gives$this$small$poem$its$strong$meaning.$ With$the$strong$emoIon$and$the$sudden$ending,$it$really$dug$into$me,$leaving$me$stunned.$There$is$no$ rhyme$scheme$in$this$poem,$which$actually$adds$to$it$because$it$makes$it$seem$like$she$didn’t$put$much$ thought$into$creaIng$this$poem.$By$making$this$decision$to$shape$her$poem$around$extremely$simple$and$ small$ideas,$she$convinces$people$to$believe$her$and$understand$a$simple$concept,$something$even$kids$ should$be$learning$to$understand.$Julie$finishes$up$her$poem$very$strongly$leaving$her$readers$pondering$ about$it$aOerwards.

Fredrick$Seidel’s$“Snow”$is$a$short$but$powerful.$He$uses$the$simple$“aabb”$rhyme$scheme$ and$cleverly$portrays$his$thoughts$about$snow.$The$rhyme$scheme$makes$the$poem$sound$ even$more$simple$and$happy.$Other$authors$describe$snow$as$a$white,$fluffy$and$deadly,$but$ Frederick$Seidel$doesn’t$do$so.$Instead,$he$indirectly$compares$snow$to$death,$and$because$ this$is$a$short$poem$and$isn’t$really$descripIve,$it$really$gives$us$space$to$think$about$what$ the$author$has$to$say$about$death.$By$straight$up$comparing$the$two$topics$it$really$gives$us$ the$space$to$creaIvely$think$about$the$meaning.$I$think$the$theme$is$that$“Death$will$come$ no$maUer$what,$enjoy$life$while$you$can,”$because$“We$all$will$get$there$(Line$4),”$reminds$ us$that$everyone$will$eventually$die$and$so$nobody$will$be$lonely.$The$short$line$length$ makes$it$sound$like$death$isn’t$really$such$a$big$thing.$“It$falls$and$It$stays$and$it$goes$(Line$ 2),”$which$makes$life$sound$like$a$whiz$and$adds$to$the$poem$by$making$conInuously$ keeping$the$poem$concise.$The$second$line$has$2$consistent$pictures$in$my$head,$snow$and$ life.$Why$does$life$“fall”?$Because$life$is$like$presents$falling$from$the$sky$into$our$parent’s$ hands.$Throughout$the$rest$of$the$poem,$he$switches$between$the$2$pictures.$The$reason$ this$poem$is$so$powerful$is$because$of$the$deep$topic,$life,$which$is$really$hard$to$understand.$

Snow

by$Fredrick$Seidel

Snow$is$what$it$does.

It$falls$and$it$stays$and$it$goes.

It$melts$and$it$is$here$somewhere.

We$all$will$get$there.

The$light$of$a$candle

by$Yosa$Buson translated$by$Yuki$Sawa$and$Edith$Marcombe$ Shiffert The$light$of$a$candle $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$is$transferred$to$another$candle— $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$spring$twilight.

Yosa$Buson$is$very$clever$and$creates$a$poem$with$mulIple$layers$of$meanings.$While$at$first$it$might$ look$like$a$very$superficial$poem$by$throwing$the$obvious$and$comparing$candlelight$to$twilight,$it$has$ more$to$it.$I$think$the$main$message$is$that$one$person$can$make$a$difference.$We$know$who$Terry$Fox$ is$right?$He$will$be$the$example$of$the$candlelight.$He$aUempted$to$run$across$Canada$with$an$ amputated$leg$to$raise$money$for$cancer$research.$“The$light$of$a$candle$is$transferred$to$another$ candle.”$This$line$really$expresses$how$emoIons$spread$really$easily,$and$how$Terry$Fox$lit$others$ candles$with$his$own$flame$of$powerful$feelings.$Although$he$didn’t$achieve$his$goal,$he$inspired$others$ to$tackle$this$problem.$Every$year$we$run$for$cancer,$realizing$the$big$problem$it$is$causing.$This$haiku$is$ a$very$simple$way$of$expressing$this$idea.$I’m$not$sure$if$the$weird$shape$of$this$poem$was$intended,$ because$normal$haikus$look$like$fire,$which$would$actually$connect$to$this$poem.$I$think$the$Kerigi$is$the$ “–“$on$the$end$of$line$2$because$it$separates$the$two$ideas$of$candles$and$twilight.$Yosa$Buson$of$the$ Edo$period$seem$to$have$put$much$thought$into$this$poem,$making$readers$constantly$remember$the$ concept$he$conveyed.

Poem by Daniel Song

Disappearing Ice$covers$autumn Cougar$misses$the$white$bunny; Chances$stroll$away.

“Disappearing”$by$Daniel$Song$throws$an$unusual$topic$at$the$readers$because$through$the$poem$he$talks$about$chances.$ I$think$the$theme$of$Daniel’s$poem$is$that,$“there$are$many$chances,$but$need$you$need$to$catch$them.”$In$this$poem,$the$ cougar$missed$his$chance$to$successfully$hunt$the$bunny.$When$you$miss$a$chance,$you$miss$an$opportunity.$An$ opportunity$will$affect$your$life.$If$you$hesitate$to$grab$your$chance,$it$will$slip$away.$The$serious$tone$in$his$poem$is$ developed$on$the$very$last$line$when$he$states$that$“chances$stroll$away.”$Using$the$word$“stroll”$I$imagine$and$agree$ that$chances$are$really$easy$to$miss$because$the$fear$of$failure.$Usually$when$you$miss$a$valuable$chance,$you$may$not$ ever$receive$it$again.$In$other$words,$chances$are$very$important$because$it$may$completely$chance$your$life.$In$my$ opinion,$the$author$used$the$first$line,$“Ice$covers$autumn,”$to$remind$people$that$the$seasons$will$always$keep$changing.$ This$is$an$example$of$symbolism$because$he$is$comparing$changing$seasons$to$the$unknown$tomorrow.$Both$seasons$and$ tomorrow$are$dynamic;$none$of$them$stay$the$same.$I$think$through$this$comparison$Daniel$was$trying$to$express$that$ chances$are$always$changing$like$seasons.$He$includes$the$basics$of$a$haiku,$the$kigo$and$the$kireji$and$the$5,7,5$syllable$ rule.$The$kigo$of$this$poem$is$the$word,$“ice.”$The$author$decided$to$use$2$season$words$in$the$first$line,$and$he$confirms$ the$season$word$of$his$poem$through$describing$the$bunny$as$a$“white$bunny,”$meaning$winter.$Otherwise$this$problem$ would$have$kept$me$wondering$because$autumn$may$also$have$ice$for$example,$morning$frost.$The$kireji$is$very$easy$to$ spot.$The$usage$of$“;”$separates$the$idea$of$nature$and$the$serious$concept$of$chances.$I$think$the$author$decided$not$to$ put$rhyme$in$his$poem$was$because$it$wouldn’t$fit$in$with$“nature”$theme$thus$making$the$poem$unnatural.

AOernoon$on$a$Hill

by$Edna$St.$Vincent$Millay I$will$be$the$gladdest$thing $$$$Under$the$sun!

I$will$touch$a$hundred$flowers $$$$$And$not$pick$one.

I$will$look$at$cliffs$and$clouds $$$$$With$quiet$eyes, Watch$the$wind$bow$down$the$grass, $$$$$And$the$grass$rise.

And$when$lights$begin$to$show $$$$$Up$from$the$town, I$will$make$which$must$be$mind, $$$$$And$the$start$down!

Edna$St.$Vincent$Milllay$creates$a$poem$full$of$literary$elements$with$a$message$that$is$simple$but$ powerful$to$those$that$read$it.$The$theme$in$this$poem$is$that$real$happiness$can$be$found$everywhere.$ Edna$inspires$others$to$think$uncomplicatedly,$to$change$your$mind$to$believe$everything$is$precious,$ like$in$these$lines$“I$will$touch$a$hundred$flowers,$and$not$pick$one.”$She$creates$a$very$sad$tone$in$this$ poem,$encouraging$readers$to$leave$darkness$and$to$truly$see$and$understand.$I$think$this$poem$has$a$ depressing$tone$also$because$it$talks$about$how$dark$and$blind$society$in$today.$She$promotes$simple$ thinking$“I$will$be$the$gladdest$thing,$Under$the$sun!”$Edna$really$wants$others$appreciate$everything$in$ our$“sightless”$world,$“I$will$touch$a$hundred$flowers,$And$not$pick$one”.$“And$when$lights$begin$to$ show,$Up$from$the$town.”$The$author$verifies$“lights$as$she,$and$other$individuals”$that$can$actually$ “see”$the$world.$These$lines$are$also$an$example$of$symbolism.$Light$and$darkness$are$people.$In$my$ opinion,$darkness$is$something$addicIng,$something$that$is$nearly$impossible$to$escape.$On$the$other$ hand,$light,$the$slimmer$of$hope$that$can$help$the$people$that$are$sicng$at$the$depths$darkness$see$the$ beauIful$world.$Both$light$and$darkness$symbolize$individuals$looking$forward$to$the$next$day,$hoping$ for$a$beUer$tomorrow.$“And$when$lights$begin$to$show,$Up$from$the$town,$I$will$mark$which$must$be$ mine,$And$then$start$down!”$It’s$like$the$author$is$telling$us$that$she$once$dueled$the$darkness$and$that$ going$up$against$darkness$is$nearly$impossible.$Although$unlike$others,$aOer$a$victorious$fight,$she$is$ able$to$claim$her$own$light$to$assist$in$helping$others$see.$If$she$added$rhyme$to$this$poem,$it$would$ greatly$emphasize$and$categorize$the$“pairs”$she$is$using.$I$think$she$didn’t$use$rhyme$because$it$makes$ it$much$more$freer,$comparing$it$to$happiness,$as$it$isn’t$locked$up.$There$is$parallelism$in$this$poem;$the $ repeIIon$of$“I$will….”$massively$increases$the$emoIon$conveyed$because$it$states$that$she$finds$the$ happiness$everywhere$and$will$help$preserve$nature$and$brightens$other’s$lives.$These$thoughful$and$ creaIve$comparisons$in$this$poem$conInuously$make$the$reader$wonder$every$Ime$they$read$this$ poem.

Poem by Daniel Song

A$Masked$IdenIty I$change$my$face$in$search$for$some$pleasure With$each$disguise,$a$different$person.

Cloak$myself$in$invisible$leisure, And$within$darkness,$condiIons$worsen.

Everyday,$change$myself$for$other$souls Now$I$mold$my$face$into$something$new.

Please,$someone$help$break$my$mask,$my$fake$goals.

And$destroy$my$vault$filled$with$sorrow's$blue.

Sadness$past,$sIll$stabbing$me$like$new$ones Forcing$my$eyes$to$water$one$more$Ime. Why$can$I$through$you,$see$all$the$bright$suns?

The$one$my$heart$so$trusts,$worth$many$dimes.

And$now$you$are$here,$what$is$there$to$fear?

The$mask$now$off,$shaUers$and$disappears.

This$poem$“A$Masked$IdenIty”$by$Daniel$Song$thoroughly$examines$one$of$the$biggest$problems$in$society$today,$ which$would$be$changing$yourself$to$“fit$it.”$Although$the$problem$may$seem$small$at$first,$it$will$slowly$grow$change$ your$habits$around$other$people.$I$ think$the$ theme$of$this$poem$is,$“Look$at$the$ world$using$ your$own$pair$of$eyes,$not$from$other$ pairs.”$It’s$ true$you$must$someImes$look$ through$ other’s$eyes$to$understand$their$ situaIon,$ but$in$today’s$society$we$usually$use$ other’s$eyes$ just$to$fit$into$their$group.$For$ example$ people$need$to$wear$the$same$thing,$ play$the$ same$game$and$act$the$same$way,$ “Now$I$mold$ my$face$into$something$new.”$He$ sets$a$very$ sad$tone$in$this$poem$by$using$dark$ words$like,$ “sorrows”$and$“cloak”$to$try$to$help$ people$ understand$that$hiding$your$idenIty$ actually$ hurts$you$in$return.$By$constantly$ changing$ yourself$so$others$accepts$you,$you$ live$in$false$ security$in$the$corner$of$your$room,$ “Cloak$ myself$in$invisible$leisure,$and$within$ darkness,$ condiIons$worsen.”$When$you$are$ always$ changing,$you$aren’t$your$true$self,$“Everyday,$change$myself$for$other$souls.”$I$think$the$biggest$impact$constantly$ changing$yourself$is$you$learn$to$have$mulIple$personaliIes$and$you$don’t$even$know$who$you$truly$are$anymore.$ Through$this$line$he$writes$from$the$perspecIve$of$love$ones.$He$says$that$that$changing$your$idenIty$creates$holes$in$ hearts$of$people$you$love,$“Sadness$past,$sIll$stabbing$me$like$new$ones.$Forcing$my$eyes$to$water$one$more$Ime.”$ This$is$also$an$example$of$personificaIon,$“Sadness$stabbing$me.”$Another$Ime$he$uses$personificaIon$would$be$in$ this$line,$“Sorrow’s$blue.”$The$last$two$lines$of$his$sonnet,$“And$now$you$are$here,$what$is$there$to$fear?$The$mast$now$ off,$shaUers$and$disappears,”$the$author$in$the$poem$must$have$finally$found$a$person$that$encouraged$and$inspired$ him$to$take$off$his$mask.$Although$Song’s$poem$doesn’t$have$many$literary$elements,$he$creates$a$poem$with$the$ basics$of$a$sonnet,$including$the$abab$rhyme$scheme$and$the$rhyming$couplet$to$end$his$sonnet.$Through$his$sonnet$ he$conveys$a$very$strong$message,$which$glues$itself$onto$the$reader,$always$reminding$them$to$be$themselves.

The$Listeners by$Walter$de$la$Mare ‘Is$there$anybody$there?’$said$the$Traveller,$$$ $$$Knocking$on$the$moonlit$door; And$his$horse$in$the$silence$champed$the$grasses$$$ $$$Of$the$forest’s$ferny$floor: And$a$bird$flew$up$out$of$the$turret,$$$ $$$Above$the$Traveller’s$head: And$he$smote$upon$the$door$again$a$second$Ime;$$$ $$$‘Is$there$anybody$there?’$he$said.

But$no$one$descended$to$the$Traveller;$$$ $$$No$head$from$the$leafGfringed$sill Leaned$over$and$looked$into$his$grey$eyes,$$$ $$$Where$he$stood$perplexed$and$sIll. But$only$a$host$of$phantom$listeners$$$ $$$That$dwelt$in$the$lone$house$then Stood$listening$in$the$quiet$of$the$moonlight$$$ $$$To$that$voice$from$the$world$of$men: Stood$thronging$the$faint$moonbeams$on$the$dark$stair,$$$ $$$That$goes$down$to$the$empty$hall, Hearkening$in$an$air$sIrred$and$shaken$$$ $$$By$the$lonely$Traveller’s$call.

And$he$felt$in$his$heart$their$strangeness,$$$ $$$Their$sIllness$answering$his$cry, While$his$horse$moved,$cropping$the$dark$turf,$$$ $$$’Neath$the$starred$and$leafy$sky; For$he$suddenly$smote$on$the$door,$even$$$ $$$Louder,$and$liOed$his$head:— ‘Tell$them$I$came,$and$no$one$answered,$$$ $$$That$I$kept$my$word,’$he$said.

Never$the$least$sIr$made$the$listeners,$$$ $$$Though$every$word$he$spake Fell$echoing$through$the$shadowiness$of$the$sIll$house$$$ $$$From$the$one$man$leO$awake: Ay,$they$heard$his$foot$upon$the$sIrrup,$$$ $$$And$the$sound$of$iron$on$stone, And$how$the$silence$surged$soOly$backward,$$$ $$$When$the$plunging$hoofs$were$gone.

Walter$makes$an$emoIonal$poem,$including$much$odd$vocabulary$and$making$this$a$very$aUracIng$poem.$He$reminds$ us$that$life$is$not$perfect$and$will$have$its$highs$and$lows.$The$theme$is$someImes$life$must$be$walked$alone,$“‘Is$there$ anybody$there?’$he$said.$But$no$one$descended$to$the$Traveller;”$Walter$de$la$Mare$encourages$individuals$to$walk$on,$ even$aOer$being$disposed$of$by$others.$He$creates$a$very$lonely$tone,$urging$people$to$keep$their$word.$The$reason$I$ think$that$this$poem$has$a$lonely$poem$is$because$no$one$waited$for$the$traveler$to$come$back.$Through$his$poem,$he$ inspires$others$to$be$trustworthy,$“‘Tell$them$I$came,$and$no$one$answered,$That$I$kept$my$word,’$he$said.”$The$ constant$thought$of$ghosts$and$loneliness$is$the$main$reason$this$poem$is$so$creepy.$Being$a$poem$of$the$older$Imes,$ there$are$some$untouched$words$in$modern$society$such$as$smote,$spake$and$neath.$These$unused$words$really$hook$ readers$if$they$are$willing$to$understand$the$meaning$of$the$words.$Rhyme$is$used$few$Imes$in$this$poem,$which$adds$ to$the$eeriness$by$adding$more$emphasis$on$those$words.$Rhyming$is$very$deliberately$used.$The$first$rhyme$would$ give$you$an$emoIon,$which$would$be$amplified$by$the$second$rhyme$thus$increasing$the$emoIon$transferred$in$this$ world.$Through$unique$word$choices$and$a$deep$theme,$Walter$makes$this$poem$a$very$lonely$piece$of$work$always$ helping$others$through$unloved$Imes.

Poem by Daniel Song

It$ Won’t$Stop Time$is$like$a$river.$It$is$shapeless.$It$is$ anywhere,$everywhere$it$wants$to$be.$It$isn’t$ going$to$stop$for$you.$You$cannot$stop$every$ bullet$it$shoots$at$you.$The$crab.$Creeping,$ crawling,$climbing.$Claws$out$of$the$crowded$ cornucopia,$to$die$of$age.$Unlike$us,$killed$by$ guns.$Remembered$by$poppies.$Mankind$now$ sicng$in$secured$darkness.$Each$with$a$box$of$ troubles.$But$remember; Time$is$always$moving,$It$won’t$stop$for$ you.$It$is$neither$fast$nor$slow.$ Forever$moving.

“It$won’t$stop”$by$Daniel$Song$creates$a$meaningful$topic$readers$will$eventually$encounter$someIme$in$life.$ For$example,$as$children,$parents$always$reminded$us$to$never$waste$Ime$and$not$to$fool$around.$This$ concept$is$carried$on$throughout$life.$Daniel$creaIvely$expresses$this$idea$through$his$poem,$“It$is$anywhere,$ everywhere$it$wants.$It$isn’t$going$to$stop$for$you.”$The$main$theme$that$was$exisIng$in$his$poem$was$“Ime$ will$keep$moving$and$will$not$wait$for$you.”$The$idea$that$Ime$is$always$in$moIon$is$directly$stated$ throughout$the$poem$in$these$lines$“It$won’t$stop$for$you,”$and$“Time$is$always$moving.”$Everyday$won’t$be$a$ perfect$day,$so$you$can’t$waste$Ime.$In$our$society,$people$are$too$used$to$expecIng$others$to$help$them$ solve$their$own$heap$of$problems,$“Each$with$a$box$of$troubles.”$As$more$and$more$troubles$pile,$we$need$ more$Ime$to$solve$them$all.$“Mankind$now$sicng$in$secured$darkness.”$This$line$expresses$how$people$are$ sicng$in$their$rooms$thinking$about$their$thousand$concerns,$unwilling$to$take$iniIaIve$and$solve$them,$ refusing$to$step$out$of$their$safe$barrier.$“Unlike$us,$killed$by$guns.$Remembered$by$poppies.”$In$this$line,$Song$ creates$a$sad$tone$by$discouraging$people$to$stop$living$a$completely$dependent$life.$People$cannot$always$be$ there$for$you$because$someImes$people$have$their$own$problems$too.$He$included$two$literary$elements,$a$ simile$and$alliteraIon.$Using$alliteraIon$really$helped$describe$how$the$crab$crawls$mainly$because$acIons$ speak$louder$than$words.$“Time$is$like$a$river.”$I$think$the$author$decided$to$use$this$comparison$to$explain$ how$freeGflowing$Ime$is.$Another$point$is$that$Ime,$like$water,$will$slowly$kill$you.$I$find$it$easy$to$connect$the$ shape$of$the$poem,$because$circles$have$too$many$sides$to$count$just$like$how$you$would$never$be$able$finish$ counIng$Ime.$The$author$creates$a$meaningful$concept$and$encourages$people$to$live$the$beauIful$life$you$ have,$and$to$keep$in$mind$that$Ime$will$never$wait.

Poem by Daniel Song

The$Weight$of$Sorrows Sorrows$weighed$me$down, And$it$helped$me$sink Slowly$driOed$into$the$unknown.

Into$the$heart$of$the$ocean.

Into$the$heart$of$a$maze.

Into$the$heart$of$help.

At$the$heart$of$the$ocean, I$unconsciously$sank, Darkness$nibbling$away.

And$all$the$sorrow’s$pressure, Gave$me$less$and$less$pleasure.

At$the$heart$of$the$maze, I$stared$at$my$intricate$environment.$$ Feeling$misplaced$and$lost.

The$urge$to$escape,$it$grew, So$slowly$my$mind$went$crazy.

At$the$heart$of$help, She$gave$me$warmth.

Constantly$helping$me, Fished$me$out$of$the$ocean, Allowing$me$to$breathe$again.

Leading$me$through$the$maze, Secng$my$mind$right$again.

Daniel$Song$creates$a$poem$full$of$literary$elements$in$his$poem,$“The$Weight$of$Sorrows,”$at$the$same$Ime$ digs$deeply$into$a$common$subject$in$life,$sorrows.$This$word$oOen$means$suicide,$sadness,$depression$and$ tears,$“Sorrows$weighed$me$down,$and$it$helped$me$sink.”$These$problems$are$creaIng$a$very$big$problem$ in$society$because$everyone$will$need$to$fight$this$problem$one$day.$The$author$at$first$compares$sadness$to$ sinking$into$the$ocean$then$to$being$lost$in$a$maze.$I$really$like$these$examples$because$it$strengthens$his$ ideas$and$thoughts$on$this$topic.$“Feeling$misplaced$and$lost.”$I$especially$like$the$maze$metaphor$because$ you$are$“lost”$in$the$maze$and$your$own$feelings.$I$think$the$main$theme$in$this$poem$is,$“you$shouldn’t$ hold$onto$all$your$sorrows$yourself.”$These$lines,$“She$have$me$warmth.$Constantly$helping$me,”$very$ important$to$this$poem$because$it’s$basically$the$theme$of$the$whole$poem.$She$miIgates$some$of$the$ sadness$and$takes$some$sorrows$off$of$the$character’s$back.$The$tone$of$the$poem$is$set$in$the$first$few$lines$ in$the$poem,$because$of$the$word$sorrow.$The$author$makes$the$word$carry$greater$meaning$by$describing$ and$comparing$it$to$feelings$in$different$situaIons.$Daniel$emphasizes$the$three$situaIons$by$presenIng$ them$through$repeIIon.$I$also$found$personificaIon$in$this$poem,$“Darkness$nibbling$away.”$I$found$the$ poem$extremely$interesIng$because$of$a$conceit,$which$helps$the$author$conInuously$refer$back$to$his$ metaphors.$With$his$hopeful$ending,$Daniel$creates$a$meaningful$poem,$which$suddenly$liOs$the$mood$of$ readers,$allowing$the$readers$to$finish$his$freeGverse$poem$stunned$with$emoIon.

Poem by Daniel Song

The$BeauIful$Moon The$great$moon$always$in$the$sky No$maUer$when, It$will$always$be$there.

To$warm$those Shrouded$in$darkness With$the$dim$light$it$carries.

It$is$the$sole$candle$ That$spreads$it’s$light, To$anything$that$is$willing$to$carry$it.

Through$simple$ideas,$Daniel$Song$creates$a$poem$called$“The$BeauIful$Moon”$about$kindness.$The$tone$ presented$through$this$poem$is$a$warm$one$because$kindness$is$compared$to$the$moon.$He$compares$the$moon$ to$kindness$because$the$moon,$$“It$will$always$be$there.”$When$the$sun$takes$over$the$sky,$the$moon$cannot$be$ seen$but$it$is$sIll$indeed$there.$I$really$like$this$comparison$because$kindness$will$always$follow$humanity$ wherever$it$goes,$just$like$how$our$moon$orbits$the$earth.$This$is$especially$true$because$wherever$you$are$there$ is$kindness$even$if$you$cannot$see$it$yourself.$I$think$the$author$didn’t$choose$to$compare$kindness$to$the$sun$is$ because$in$reality,$the$sun$is$essenIal$for$survival.$Unlike$the$sun,$the$moon$is$not$needed$for$survival.$Kindness$ is$a$feeling$that$is$not$required$for$living,$but$is$necessary$for$a$complete$life$because$it$its$possible$to$forever$live$ “Shrouded$in$darkness.”$I$think$the$main$theme$of$his$poem$is$that$“kindness$is$everywhere$because$anything$ can$spread$feelings.”$I$agree$with$this$theme$because$if$you$think$about$it,$anything$could$spread$feelings.$For$ example,$a$Get$Well$Soon$card$would$hold$the$caring$emoIon$the$sender$had,$or$giOing$money$to$buy$educaIon$ for$people$not$as$fortunate.$The$supplies$would$hold$sympathy$and$care.$He$then$strengthens$his$idea$with$a$ metaphor$by$comparing$the$moon$to$a$candle.$Although$there$are$no$other$literary$elements,$I$think$Daniel$did$a$ good$job$gecng$his$point$across$with$a$simple$poem.

Who am I?

Who$am$I?$Sadly,$even$I$don't$know$the$real$answer$to$that$deceiving$quesIon.$You$may$think$that$you$know$yourself$now,$ but$through$Ime,$others$will$change,$and$you$undoubtedly$will$change$too.$Through$the$10$poems$exploring$my$idenIty,$I$ found$out$a$liUle$more$about$myself$and$learned$that$anything$we$do$will$change$our$who$we$are.$ The$poems,$"Snow"$by$Frederick$Seidel,$"It$won't$stop"$by$Daniel$Song,$"AOernoon$on$a$Hill"$by$Edna$St.$Vincent$ Millay,$and$"Disappearing”$by$Daniel$Song$$all$fit$under$a$meaningful$category,$"Life$is$your$greatest$teacher.”$Throughout$ my$life,$I$found$that$a$huge$porIon$of$it$was$keeping$everything$the$same$so$everything$would$never$change.$I’m$sure$all$of$ you$have$heard$this$before,$“Step$outside$of$the$box/Think$outside$the$box,”$a$phrase$used$by$my$parents.$With$these$ words$in$mind,$I$started$to$learn$from$life.$$"It$won't$stop,"$by$Daniel$Song$$reminds$us$that$Ime$will$not$wait,$"It$isn’t$going$ to$stop$for$you/It$is$neither$fast$nor$slow/Forever$moving.”$As$more$and$more$Ime$pass,$I$find$it$embarrassing$to$think$ about$the$many$hours$wasted$being$scared$and$afraid$that$everyone$will$leave$me$behind.$With$the$thought$of$me$being$ the$only$survivor,$"Snow"$by$Frederick$Seidel,$really$taught$me$that$death$isn't$that$big$of$a$deal$because,$“It$melts$and$it$is$ here$somewhere/We$all$will$get$there.”$(Snow$by$Fredrick$Seidel)$Although$I$am$trying$to$understand$this$concept,$I$cannot$ fully$accept$this.$Friends$and$family$play$too$huge$of$a$role$in$my$life.$Luckily$to$counter$sadness,$darkness$and$death,$there$ is$light$and$happiness,$“I$will$be$the$gladdest$thing/Under$the$sun!/I$will$touch$a$hundred$flowers/And$not$pick$ one.”$(AOernoon$on$the$Hill$by$Edna$St.$Vincent$Millay)$I$am$so$happy$to$understand$that$happiness$is$literally$everywhere,$ especially$$in$simple$thoughts.$With$this$newGfound$technique$I$aim$to$find$countless$happy$thoughts$and$help$others$learn$ this$intricate$skill.$$“Chances$stroll$away.”$(Disappearing$by$Daniel$Song)$really$relates$to$me$because$I$always$feared$failure$ and$tried$to$evade$humiliaIon,$so$I$never$grabbed$scary$chances.$Here$friends$and$family$step$into$my$life$once$again,$ always$supporIng$me$and$lending$their$bravery$and$courage$and$helping$me$becoming$who$I$want$to$be.$Thanks$to$their$ borrowed$courage,$I$could$finally$find$my$own$and$look$for$scary$chances$to$conquer.$ The$poems,$“Why$Cry?”$by$Julie$O’Callaghan,$“The$Light$of$a$Candle”$by$Yosa$Buson,$“The$Listeners”$by$Walter$de$ la$Mare$and$“The$BeauIful$Moon”$by$Daniel$Song$$have$a$similar$theme,$which$would$be$“Hope$is$everywhere.”$On$my$ rough$adventure$through$life,$I$knew$giving$up$wasn’t$a$good$opIon,$but$I$always$took$that$path.$Slowly,$everything$ became$hopeless$for$me,$but$thanks$to$many$people$in$my$life,$I$never$gave$up$hope.$The$light$of$a$candle/is$transferred$to$ another$candle—”$(The$light$of$a$candle$by$Yosa$Buson)$represent$those$people$in$my$life$who$help$develop$me$so$I$can$ tackle$problems$over$and$over$with$new$skills$each$Ime,$always$there$to$light$me$up$again.$“You$know$something$ wonderful$will$always$happen/It$always$does.”$Through$this$poem$I$gathered$many$keys$and$opened$many$closed$doors$ and$finally$realized$that$the$only$way$to$stop$feeling$hopeless,$was$to$become$opImisIc$and$hopeful,$that$wonderful$things $ would$happen$if$I$accepted$hope.$As$life$progressed,$I$became$independently$hopeful$and$quicng$wasn’t$an$opIon$ anymore.$With$my$weak$opImisIc$actude$and$all$the$negaIvity$in$the$world,$I$soon$went$back$to$feeling$hopeless.$“‘Is$ there$anybody$there?’$said$the$Traveller/But$no$one$descended$to$the$Traveller,”$(The$Listeners$by$Walter$de$la$Mare)$The$ Traveller$keeps$on$searching$for$his$friends$and$family,$showing$strong$perseverance$and$no$signs$of$giving$up$on$his$hope.$ Suddenly,$I$saw$the$world$with$new$thoughts$and$my$weak$actude$suddenly$strengthened.$$I$was$so$inspired$by$a$ficIonal$ character,$I$remembered$the$hard$work$people$put$into$me,$to$make$make$me$a$hopeful$person$and$slowly$I$gave$up$on$ being$negaIve.$Unconsciously,$I$noIced$people$giving$up$everywhere$around$me.$So$I$fed$them$hope$like$people$once$did$ to$me,$“To$warm$those$shrouded$in$darkness/It$is$the$sole$candle$that$spreads$its$light,$to$anything$that$is$willing$to$carry$ it.”$(The$BeauIful$Moon$by$Daniel$Song) $ The$last$thing$I$explored$in$my$anthologies$is$the$fact$that$“Sorrows$are$very$heavy,$and$the$weight$is$deceiving.”$I$ think$these$two$poems$have$thoroughly$explored$the$true$weight$of$sadness,$“A$Masked$IdenIty$by$Daniel$Song$and$The$ Weight$of$Sorrows$by$Daniel$Song.”$$Everywhere$sorrows$are$causing$regret$and$even$greater$sadness.$$I$have$endured$ many$sorrows,$none$very$heavy.$$“Sorrows$weighed$me$down$and$helped$me$sink/She$gave$me$warmth/Fished$me$out$of$ the$ocean.”$(The$Weight$of$Sorrows$by$Daniel$Song)$Every$Ime$someone$around$me$helped$me$back$up.$One$Ime,$I$sank$ so$far$down,$suicide$was$in$mind.$“Why$can$I$through$you,$see$all$the$bright$suns?”$(A$Masked$IdenIty$by$Daniel$Song)$One$ person$helped$me$see$again,$and$forever$I$will$be$able$to$see$the$suns,$meaning$never$will$I$fall$into$darkness’$grasps$again.

Although$I$sIll$don’t$know$everything$about$myself,$my$anthologies$have$helped$me$ďŹ nd$another$page$of$my$ idenIty$which$will$assist$in$changing$many$days$in$my$future.

By Daniel Song

My$Name$VigneUe $ You$make$your$name$known$and$your$name$represents$you.$The$relaIonship$you$and$your$name$have$is$like$ Romeo2or2Juliet$and$Yin$and$Yang$because$without$each$other$it$would$be$incomplete$set.$Names$are$a$very$important$ part$of$your$idenIty.$It$is$the$first$thing$you$say$to$people$when$they$ask$who$you$are.$Names$will$change$how$others$ perceive$you.$If$your$name$is$made$fun$of,$every$taunt$is$exactly$like$thrown$spears$that$slowly$spear$the$person$unIl$it$ forces$them$to$completely$change.$It$changes$idenIty.$You$may$have$once$been$a$kind,$joyful$and$happy$person$but$no$ longer.$Completely$transformed. !

My$parents$named$me$Daniel.$It$means$Judgment$of$God.$Wise.$My$other$name$is$宋良彥,$spelt$and$ pronounced$Song$Liang$Yan.$It$means$kindness$and$wisdom.$The$second$character,$"良"$in$my$Chinese$name$wasn't$ picked$by$my$parents,$but$by$my$ancestors.$My$ancestors$made$a$humongous$list$of$words.$Every$generaIon,$the$ names$would$be$different.$When$I$think$of$my$name,$I$think$of$old$monks$because$they$are$kind$and$wise.$My$names$ are$incredibly$valuable$giOs.$Sparking$white$snow$that$my$parents,$ancestors$and$god$showered$from$the$sky,$which$ driOed$around$this$liUle$bunny.$We$are$so$lucky$to$receive$so$many$eternal$giOs$from$our$parents$like$my$name$and$my$ rabbit$zodiac. !

The$Chinese$are$weird$people.$They$thought$of$weird$ways$to$name$their$family$even$aOer$they$died.$My$ ancestors$were$great$generals$with$iron$will$and$insane$perseverance.$They$fought$many$baUles.$Their$will$and$ perseverance$brought$them$to$victory$in$many$baUles.$But$they$also$had$a$healthy$life.$Like$me,$they$ate,$slept,$ exercised$and$relaxed.$One$of$their$favorite$methods$of$relaxaIon$that$I$inherited$from$them$is$listening$to$and$playing$ the$Chinese$Zither.$When$played,$it$makes$beauIful$music$and$can$put$the$most$destrucIve$person$to$sleep.$I$feel$like$I $ am$the$same$as$my$ancestors$because$I$fight$everyday$to$make$it$through$to$the$next$day. !

While$exploring$the$world,$you$encounter$many$caves.$Of$course$they$are$already$open$to$you$because$you$ understand$those$people.$Then,$finally$you$find$your$own$cave,$one$that$is$blocked$off.$Your$name$is$the$barrier$that$ covers$and$blocks$everyone$from$seeing$the$inside.$When$you$get$dynamite,$it$blows$up$the$pile$of$debris$that$is$ blocking$the$cave$entrance.$When$you$understand$a$person,$you$are$given$the$dynamite$and$inside$you$see$it$all.$ NegaIve$outer$influences$assist$in$making$the$cave$wall$more$unbreakable.$When$I$was$liUle,$people$judged$others$by$ their$names.$There$was$a$troublemaker$in$my$class$and$his$name$was$Daniel$too.$My$grade$3$teacher$thought$that$I$ would$be$the$exact$same,$annoying$and$disrupIve.$It$felt$like$my$heart$was$wrenched$from$my$liUle$chest$and$more$ rocks$fell$into$my$treasury,$trying$to$block$everything$again.$It$wasn’t$other$children$judging$you,$but$the$teacher.$It$ easily$devastated$me$because$children$looked$up$to$adults$but$this$teacher$was$secng$a$unreal$example. !

Your$name$is$only$the$label,$the$deceiving$outer$layer.$You$must$make$your$name$known$and$make$it$your$own.$ If$your$outer$wall$is$decorated$and$beauIful,$people$will$come$see$it.$Although$all$that$maUers$is$in$the$inside,$it$really$ helps$for$others$to$like$you$on$the$first$glance.$To$make$your$name$your$own,$you$must$be$yourself$and$don’t$try$to$be$ someone$you$aren’t.$When$you$copy$everything$from$others,$it$means$that$you$are$no$longer$“you,”$but$the$same$as$ the$other$person$you$copied.$When$you$add$treasure$inside$your$cave,$people$will$noIce.$If$you$add$more$and$more$ precious$valuables,$people$will$change$how$they$see$you$because$you$are$worth$more$to$them.$My$teacher$slowly$ treated$me$differently,$changing$the$way$I$was$treated.$I$wouldn't$mind$too$much$if$I$were$to$change$my$name$because$ nothing$in$my$treasury$would$be$different.

The End

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