POETRY PORTFOLIO BY: HOSANA TAGOMORI
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1. Introduction (What is Poetry?) 2.One Hundred Years Later 3.A Pit of Hell 4.This Cruelty shall end 5.Why do you sob? 6.Dig the soil of pain 7.Laughter Differed 8. Confined 9. A dog’s cry 10. Thrown wish list 11. Drowned In Freshness
WHAT IS POETRY? Poetry is a skill that everyone has. It is a unique form of art, and through it, we can express our feelings and expressions, as well as our thoughts and opinions. Usually poetry includes senses and figurative language to enhance the poem, and draw the readers to it. Poetry usually has a hidden meaning behind it, that readers have to interpret themselves. It could mean many different things based on different people’s perspectives and their background. In addition, it is usually written in stanzas, with a rhythmic pattern, or the same amount of syllables. Poetry can be used to communicate freedom, through comparison, and it can be well expressed through figurative language. It is a great way to show freedom, and talk about it, due to the fact that many people could see and understand what freedom means in the poem, in many different ways, and the poem can also alter their thoughts.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER A FOUND POEM FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING’S SPEECH
ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER One hundred years later, Still not free, One hundred years later, Sadly crippled.
Slaves who had been seared, In flames of withering injustice, Stripped from their selfhood, Robbed from their dignity.
The whirlwinds of revolt, Continuing to shake, By manacles of segregation, Chains of discrimination.
We have come, To our nation's capital, Cashing one check, Guaranteed the unalienable rights of life.
On a lonely island, Of poverty, In the midst ocean, Of material prosperity. Still languishing, In the corners of society, Finding ourselves exile, In our own land.
This sweltering summer, Will not pass, Until a great beacon of light , In whose symbolic shadow we stand today. Not to seek to satisfy, Our thirst for freedom, By drinking from the cup, Of bitterness, and hatred.
A joyous daybreak to end the long night , An oasis of freedom and justice. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning, Justice rolls down like waters, Righteousness like a mighty stream. Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
STATEMENT OF INTENT This is a found poem about freedom, which was originally from Martin Luther King’s speech “I Had A Dream”. In this poem, it talks about discrimination, and injustice, especially during 1963, when there was lots of racism going around. The message I am trying to tell the readers here is that everyone should be guaranteed the rights of life, and that if we try hard not to drink from selfishly drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred, we can have access to happiness. This is a treated found poem, where I changed the orders, and added a few more words to enhance it. In addition, I am also trying to tell the readers that if we all agree to stop racism, and “cash one check” our wish for freedom would be granted.
A PIT OF HELL A FOUND POEM ON SLYVIA PLATH’S BOOK “THE BELL JAR”
A PIT OF HELL The groggy sleepless blood, Drags through my veins, In the air thick and gray, An acrid hellish stench of tar. Picks, axes, and chisels, Pounding on my street roof, My world falls apart, As if there was no integrating force. Weak, and tired deciding, From hideous questions, Longing for a noble escape from freedom, A healthy, active, intellect will. How I wish, To escape from responsibility, Crawling back, Abjectly to my mother's womb.
Two electric currents, Runs my life, and floods it, Now covered with despair, As if I were smothering. Nowhere else to go, No home, to blubber and cry, What's left, is naked fear, An urge of selfpreservation. Each flash, a great jolt drubs me, Till my bones would break, As sap flies out of me, Like a split up plant.
I turn wearily, Stern, final, Paternal, directive. I want more. Not solid, but hollow, not brave, but afraid, Behind my eyes, holds a numb, Paralyzed cavern, A pit of hell, mimicking nothingness. Ricocheting down the corridors of laughter and tears.
STATEMENT OF INTENT I made this found poem to show how people can long for freedom, just as Sylvia Plath did. Here, there isn’t really a message, except it kind of tells the readers that wanting more can stop freedom, or make it harder to get it. This poem shows emotions and feelings, and the readers can really see how she wants to have help, and go to her home to blubber and cry, but she ends up being stopped from that. This is another treated found poem, where I added a few words to improve the poem. The poem, could have a different meaning than the prose because I deleted some parts and also changed the order.
THIS CRUELTY SHALL END A FOUND POEM ON ANNE FRANK’S DIARY, DECEMBER 24, 1943
THIS CRUELTY SHALL END Wind on their clothes, Cold on their cheeks, They come in from outside. People hiding, Confined prisoners, Burying under blankets.
Building life on chaos, Suffering and death, I see the world transformed, Into utter wilderness.
Looking up at the sky, I hear approaching thunder, But hold on to my ideals, For perhaps the day will come. Holding my head high, Putting on a bold face, Keeping from thinking, But thoughts come.
I hear approaching thunder, One day, it will destroy us too, Not just once; over and over. But this cruelty, shall end. When will we be breathing fresh air again?
STATEMENT OF INTENT In the found poem “This Cruelty Shall End” I got the idea of writing it, when I thought of Anne Frank, and how she must have been longing for freedom. Anne Frank wrote this when she was living a life behind a bookshelf, hoping that she could get out. The message of the poem, is that Anne Frank had a harsh time through her life, as well as her sister, however, she was able to keep her head high, put on a bold face, and keep her confidence even through her hardest times. In addition, although she was hiding, and she can see her world slowly transforming from what she originally thought it was going to be, and even questioned herself, she never gave up saying “this cruelty shall end”. She never let her hopes down, and through this poem, many adolescents can learn from the poem, and get inspired to do the same as she once did. Unluckily Anne Frank died from Typhoid, but she died with hopes high and is still an important, inspirational person today, who thinks optimistically through the challenging, bitter days of her life. This is not a treated found poem, and I just reordered things around a bit differently. It was written in Anne Frank’s diary on December 24th of 1943.
HAIKU SECTION 4 SHORT HAIKUS ON FREEDOM
WHY DO YOU SOB
Your claws are wrapped, tight, But, windows are wide open, Why then, do you sob?
STATEMENT OF INTENT I got the idea of writing this poem, when I wondered why some people just keep saying “I want freedom” and mumbling about what they want and what they don’t have, when they have not even seen others, who are less fortunate then them. Also, there are some type of people, who just live their days longing for freedom and sobbing, but never get it. These type of people have a chance, but don’t take the chance, or see the opportunity waiting right in front of their bare eyes. In this poem, I wanted to convey the message that although big, fierce, and strong like the eagle mentioned in the poem, it finds itself not able to flee through the open windows because it is just focused on longing, and wanting, and doesn’t see the chance right in front of it’s naked eyes. I ended with “why then do you sob” because I also wanted to tell the readers, that crying does not do any help, and that the eagle should fly through the open window.
DIG THE SOIL OF PAIN
Dig the soil of pain, Rummage through the roots of life, For the worst grows fruit.
STATEMENT OF INTENT In the poem “Dig The Soil Of Pain�, I wanted to tell the readers that you can start life, and sometimes success can come from our worst, and lowest moments in life. I compared it to a tree, for the roots grow from below, slowly growing up and becoming stronger, and bearing fruit. I wanted to tell the readers that through your struggles, comes the best things, and that anything is possible so everyone should go for it without being nervous. Moreover, I also wanted to tell people that if you want to do something, you should do it with boldness and not hesitate, because we always learn from our mistakes.
LAUGHTER DIFFERED
Old, worn, and weary, Stained tears and ignored voices, Laughter, once again.
STATEMENT OF INTENT In the poem “Laughter Differed” I wanted to tell the readers that you can have freedom after all the pains and aches you experience. I also wanted the readers to know that it takes effort to get freedom, and it doesn’t necessarily come easily. In addition, I also wanted to deliver the message that we should always have hope, for one day, we would have freedom, and paradise once again. In this poem, paradise is just differed for a short moment of time.
CONFINED
Excruciating Pain, Living in a globe, confined, Pause, then utter heaven.
STATEMENT OF INTENT In the haiku poem “Confined” the purpose of the poem was to tell the readers that it is really hard to get freedom in our world, and that no one could have complete freedom, if everyone is not free. The globe, in the poem represents our world and heaven could mean the time when we are finally all free, and we all live our lives without any restrictions, and not wanting anymore. Also, it is when everyone has a good conscience, and everyone is moral. It could also mean the literal heaven, when everyone is free and do what we want to do, and don’t even think of wrong doings and wanting anymore.
A DOG’S CRY A FREE VERSE POEM
A DOG’S CRY The days you snatch away from me, Are now withered grey leaves, Not even my vicious growl, Can be used as my dark makeup. The leash you use to drag me, Is rotting and slitting me every second, You chain me to my cage, As you watch me tear myself down, In anguish. My growl has turned it to a breathless whimper, Barely possible to be heard, And my heartbeat is growing tender, Softer, and slower. Can't you see the stains of black tar, That once dripped down my scarred eyes, And can't you see my warm claws, That once played with old rags.
Won't you see your reflection, And see your kind side, Or is it that you want to wear me, Using me till I am dust. But in the midst of despair, I trust that there is a flame, And in the midst of shut windows, I know that there is light.
I myself, have been stripped away, Beaten, and morphed to another, How is it that I can trust again, Licking, and leaning on your lap. My memories slowly unwind, Dancing, fading away, Until all I have left, Is a muddled tune of regret. But in the midst of despair, I know that there is a flame, And in the midst of shut windows, I feel that there is light.
STATEMENT OF INTENT I got influenced to write this poem, when I was watching a documentary on abused animals in China. I really felt bad for them, and pitied them, and I also compared them to people now a days who are being insulted, treated badly because of their status, and also abused. In the end, I wanted to make it end with a happy ending, so I changed the last stanza’s “I know that there is light” to “I feel” which sound more confident to make it more touching. Also, I tried to tell the readers, that it could be hard to get freedom when you are afraid and sometimes it is really hard to go back to who you once were.
A THROWN WISH LIST A FREE VERSE POEM
A THROWN WISH LIST My days and hopes, are forever gone,
Why do I feel so hollow, as if I am nothingness, Like the minutes day turns to dawn, Only the air patting on my cheeks is my existence, And my life which once was delicately molded, I dread, living in the world, where I am left with Is left with creases of life that once were nothing, unfolded. Being dragged, in a place so free, every second's thrilling. My days have turned from blue engravings, The winter's blow is yelling out, Tranquilizing without a doubt, Shooing all my memories away, As if they were born to be astray.
The medal that I forcefully wear, Is a rusty badge of disguised flair, And my shoulders back, high and up, Mirrors pale droopiness caught in a cup. The stuffed strips of paper in my pocket, A scorching crumpled tissue set, Shining with cost, numbers neatly printed, An artificial illusion of straight lines listed.
Of restrictions, love, success, and failings, To grey graph lines , and piercing pines, That prick like sharp hooks of vines.
Turning around, I search for home, But I go mad, like a short tempered gnome, I can't lean, talk, or spill my clustered mind, Only to find myself selfishly intertwined. What ‘s left is memories of love, The one only stem, that grows into a clove, Squashed, like a print onto my palm, Soothing, like the incense of minty balm. I lie with eyes closed, Hoping, Wishing, Yet my selfish wishes has been proposed.
STATEMENT OF INTENT I wrote this poem because I wanted to convey the message that sometimes, our selfish desires can result in finding ourselves restricted. In the poem, the medal represents fame, and the paper represents money, however, even when the person in the poem is in a world of freedom, where his wishes are granted, there is no love and he still finds himself restricted even more than he once was in his original world. He wants to go back, but he can’t.
DROWNED IN FRESHNESS A FREE VERSE POEM
DROWNED IN FRESHNESS Pale light I awaken to, As I flutter my wings, Grasping the fresh air, Drowned in the freshness.
Perhaps it’s heaven I say, As a crowd of laughter echoes, A queer noise of agreement, So I beam, although so strange.
Opening the curtains of my cocoon, I wriggle in my delicate shelter, Examining my patterned wings, As smooth as interwoven silk strings.
Once full, I cry out to my mom, But there is no reply, Even the flowers, beckon, and shriek, The only response to my ache. I start to lose control, Until my wings could flutter no I find myself eager and flutter, more, As a child in a nightmare, Everything around me blurs, Lost, and not thinking, Until "Greenhouse" a child As I hear echoes of children talking. says.
Oh, what is there to come, In this strange little world, With hidden secrets everywhere, A savory sweet, teardrop of nectar. In a distance, Not so far, A bright fruit salad awaits, Hissing out to me. The air is fresh and bright, And the smell is a delight, I make my way through the breeze, Lured by the syrupy essence.
But why can't I escape, When I could see my family vividly, It is as if I'm caught in a bubble, Floating away from reality.
On, and on, I flutter, Going for the same four corners, As my delicate patterns fade away, As easily as wet paint wiped with a tissue.
STATEMENT OF INTENT This poem was written, when I was thinking of how a butterfly can be trapped. I wanted to write a poem with a small little twist, so I made it trapped in a little garden. At first the poem starts off with a new born butterfly discovering it’s strange world. It gets lured towards a garden, but it flutters into a greenhouse door. There, the butterfly eats all the nectar, but then thinks of it’s family. Just in a distance, it could see it’s family, but it cannot move, and it is blocked by a thin glass. It then starts to be frustrated, and think if the whole world is a lie, and if it’s parents don’t want the new born butterfly anymore.
FREEDOM ACROSTIC, AND DIAMONTE POEM TO END…
FREEDOM
Fight Rights Effort Escape Dream Optimistic Myself
Prison Confined, Restricted Deceiving, tolerating, Inferno, Pit, Chaos, Darkness Emancipating, Prancing, Allowing, Savory, Sweet Freedom
FREEDOM THE END