free verse
This week we are talking about free verse, in particular about Psalm 121, “Mother to Son,” “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” In the case of each of these, which we’ve now discussed in class, the message is clear. What we still have to talk through is the form and the way in which the form and ideas work together. I’d also welcome comments about the psalmic form more generally. Langston Hughes was exposed to jazz and blues, it would be interesting to trace that influence in these poems. I’m not asking for expert opinion, just observation. For further reading see Hughes “The Weary Blues”.
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
For Psalms 121, it was mentioned that the form was like an “x” where the first half of the first line relates to the second half of the second line, and the second half of the first lines goes with the first half of the second line. I like this observation because it is kind of like the psalms are woven together. They are not just a string of verses with little meaning, but they are a cord of powerful words that is hard to break. It kind of reminds me of a braid. As I was reading other Psalms, I realized that this form is common for many of the Psalms. It reminds me of the verse that says something to the affect of “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.”
For “Mother to Son,” I liked the observation that the form of the poem was like a set of stairs. Each line is dependent upon the next one; therefore, it is like climbing a staircase to get to the next line. I also saw this when I was reading it. When you look at the poem, it somewhat resembles a staircase by the length of its lines. However, it does not look like a very good or well built staircase. This could represent the mother’s “staircase.” The staircase that she is climbing is definitely battered and torn, it is mangled and bare. This could represent the picture that the words form due to the length of each line.
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Reading the poem “Mother to Son,” the way in which it was written really caught my attention. I loved how in the lines 8-14, the mother was describing to the son the constant struggle and repetitious cycle through life on which she fought. The lines either had commas or just ran onto the next line, like that of a ladder with rungs. The mother seemed as though she kept stressing climbing endlessly and how she kept at it, but then with the line of her telling her son to keep fighting, I found that so powerful. It seems as though the struggles for African Americans are continuous and I found it so intriguing that this poem was also written in 1921. That means that this poem occurred before the later movements towards equality. Even then, many African Americans were struggling with equality, as well as identity and finding their place in the world. It is also ironic that so many more struggles and movements towards change came later on. Even today, there are still struggles that I think will never truly go away. The matter of fact of the son being so respectful and listening to what his mother had gone through is also something that I really take to heart. The unspoken role of the mother as the teaching figure, living through many hard times as well as good times, also serves as a testimony to the son that life is not an easy journey, but one in which he must endure and never give up on. It is a something worth fighting for and standing up for, too.
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I remember in seventh grade I had to memorize the poem Mother to Son. It’s just a really powerful poem, not only for the black community but for anyone in general. I know life’s not easy, because I’ve already experienced traumatic hardships so this poem really hits home for me. Just the descriptions of the staircase as she’s stepping down the steps really describes like different types of hardship. For example the pieces of the carpet missing to me mean like you lost and clueless and not sure how to put it back together or that something used to be there that’s just not anymore. Where as the tacks on the staircase could relay to feeling pain in a hardship in your life. The poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers. I couldn’t agree more with Christina from class, it seems like he’s saying look at everything we’ve done. You know the white race was there, but we were right there with them. However the symbolism of slavery is really a big thing here to because of the different times mentioned like the pyramids, and Ab Lincoln really are some of the hardest times that African-Americans ancestory history. By him repeating how a river runs deep, and relating that to his soul I feel like it’s a play off of the history he gives. Like the farther back in history he goes, the deeper the river gets.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Langston Hughes has always been one of my favorite poets. Growing up in high school we were frequently exposed to his writings, such as “A Raisin in the Sun”. The overall realness that is so easily felt in his poems gives them tremendous life and makes the passion behind them very apparent. Most of the poems that i read from Hughes were very much like “Mother to a Son”, the ones that have a very real life connotation and message. It was nice for a change to hear a slightly different side of Hughes with “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. It was neat to read in more of a natural context and how Hughes related nature to the journey of man. I loved how the presenter today described the poem as having many earthy words, when the poem got to the part about the Mississippi’s muddy banks turning golden it surely summed that statement up. It was a nice new scenery of images that Hughes created, compared to the beaten up, poor and rugged places that we usually get it was sweet to hear these neat earthy vibe. Overall i got a great new perspective on Langston Hughes and his writing, it showed me a whole new tone in his poems that i had not heard before.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
The poem’s main theme is the journey that African Americans went on in order to obtain equal rights in America. The title of the poem clearly defines this theme by saying the Negro speaks of rivers. This means that an African American is telling his story about his struggle for equal rights. The river also symbolizes unity between all blacks that were fighting for equal rights. The speaker describes his people as being human blood in human veins. This means that we need to work together in order to survive. The speaker also describes the hardships that the slaves went through. They said that they felt like sheep being controlled by their master. The poem states, “I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it,” which symbolizes how much the slaves in the south wanted to over come slavery and gain their freedom. This poem also pays tribute to Abe Lincoln, and how he helped end slavery in America. The last line symbolizes how slavery made blacks go closer together by stating, “My soul has grown deep like the rivers.” This line is repeated to show how important unity was to the slaves. The river also symbolizes the wisdom of the elderly because it is described as wise and ancient. The poem says that the slaves were fighting for their freedom ever since they were young. The river also symbolizes the comfort of their family by stating, “I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.”
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I absolutely love free verse. Don’t get me wrong, it is great that structured form and scansion make you really think about vocabulary and the undertones of the piece, but there is nothing as vast and unlimited as free verse. It may be my favorite for with which to write satirical poetry.
Having said that, I think Mother to Son is a marvelous peice. Sipe, you did great justice to this poem in your introduction. One of the great aspects of free verse is not only the limitless vocabulary at your fingers, but the great source of imagery that then becomes. My favorite aspect of this piece is the physical connection of the torn and rugged stairs with what stairs would look like in a home in harlem at the time in which this piece was written. The tacks and splinters sticking out and the torn carpet represent so many things, both physical and emotional.
Another great attribute of free verse is the shape the physical words take. In this piece, Hughes actually formes the lines into stairs. This would be practically impossible if some stated form were imposed on the piece.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
In the poem ‘Mother to Son’ I see such love and devotion, but more than anything I see honesty! I see a mother who knows that she had a hard time being African American in what was a white community, and that it was probably going to be worse for her son. She admits that her life has been anything but a crystal stair, or anything but elegance, wealth, or simply an easy going life. I liked the description about the stairs that she had to climb, as being sharp like tacts, painful and possibly hard for others to see like splinters, boards torn up symbolizing how careful one would have to be, and places without carpet, making the floor cold. After thinking about all of this I see how hard it was for this mother to have a firm foundation in fear of stepping on something painful. I see her as giving hope to her son, and the point of her speech was, there are a lot of stairs in all of our lives, but its not the conditions of the stairs or how pretty they are, or how much it cost to build or the worth that mattered, but that you reach the top! So boy don’t you turn back she said, like someone who fears heights, just don’t look down, keep going! She firmly believes that he can reach the top of the stair case, whatever the stair case actually leads too!!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I love reading the Psalms as poetry, because that is what they are. The words are beautiful, and they are simply timeless. The meanings and messages behind these poems continue to affect people throughout the ages, and they stand strong as some of the earliest forms of free verse poetry. Psalm 121 is very interesting, because as we noted in class, there are many forms of parallelism within its lines. I think the Psalmist was trying to really emphasize God’s care, and so needed to repeat many things and use progression to give his point. Repetition is used throughout this poem with words like Lord, thy, and preserve. It seems as if each pair of lines has similar meter, and most are split up into two parts. For example, lines 5, 6, 7 all have commas in the middle of the lines separating the two parts. This keeps the rhythm and allows for the progression to the broader aspects of God’s protection. I also find it interesting that the last line seems very metrical, much more than the rest, and is also longer than the rest. This seems to give finality, as it shows that God is in control of every single thing and even uses parallelism even with the line (going out, coming in; this time, evermore). The fact the Psalms are in free verse adds an element of humanity to them and allows me to feel the writer and apply them to my life, more so than if they followed a rigid structure or form.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Mother to Son was such an appealing free verse poem. It qualifies as such because it doesn’t follow and “formal” rules of line and verse. But in and of itself, Hughes creates his own pattern that fit very well with the subject of stairs. Each line acts as its own phrase (no enjambment or anything), and is relatively short. There are few examples of traditional literary devices, but its rhythm is aesthetic enough. It follows sort of a jazzy, blues type of form: a few pauses, a few shorter lines. I can almost hear a sax playing in the background. The very fact that each line is broken up with various lengths, volumes and such, resembles the stairs that the speaker is describing. They are nice and pretty, parallel, or even remotely the same.
Each description of this staircase is a metaphor for events or stages in one’s life. Tacks(ln. 3) can represent stabbing pains, like a death or some other tragedy. Places with no carpet on the floor (ln. 6) could be times in our life where things are very comfortable or easy to get through. But, says the speaker, we are to keep climbing the stairs, regardless of their state.
The speaker doesn’t even say “if you keep climbing it’s going to be awesome at the top—a crystal stair). No, she says life can be crappy and hard to get through. But not giving up is the whole point of it, it makes us stronger and more prepared for trials.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
It’s interesting to observe the way Hebrew poetry is written in comparison to Western poetry. There are some distinct differences, although naturally both forms are equally as beautiful and emotive. In Psalm 121, just from what I’ve noticed, I think the psalm uses a lot of synonymous and synthetic parallelism; in every two lines, the subsequent line seems to either repeat or add to the message of the first line.
For example, in the first two lines of the psalm, I think I picked up on some synthetic parallelism.
“I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
The author says that he looks to the hills, which provide his help. And where does his help come from? … from The LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
Expressing a single idea in two or more different ways is common in Hebrew poetry. Roughly 75% of Old Testament scripture is written in poetic form, which shows how much poetry was valued to the Israelites of Old. Their culture was full of emotion, and poetry was very integrated into the way they expressed themselves.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
In the poem “Mother to Son”, Langston Hughes works to provide hope for children, specifically black children in America. The poem has a theme of overcoming struggles, persisting through evils, and keeping faith during difficult times. Hughes uses the metaphor throughout the poem of a crystal stair. The use of this metaphor is almost ironic because of the immense struggles people encounter in their lives.
Hughes begins and ends the poem with his crystal stair metaphor. He uses the crystal stair to represent the ideal or dream life that we all have. Everyone has an idea of what they want to be and especially as a child we are constantly dreaming of what we want to be when we are older. I know from experience that we will face trials in our lives that will attempt to ruin our crystal stair. I also know that parents, specifically mothers, are extremely concerned with their child’s future. I have had many talks with my mom about college, jobs, and my future in general, and she always relates it back to her own experiences. So, when the mother in this poem speaks to her son I can easily relate.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
The Negro Speaks of Rivers is SOO beautiful and SOO symbolic. The beauty in the fact that the speaker talks about how his race has been around since the ancient rivers, and has flowed throughout the world, on every continent. WOW! Just think about that…it’s powerful. I particularly like the part when the speaker makes reference to Abraham Lincoln. I think that this really speaks volumes because of the influence this man had on our country with regards to slavery and the black people. He changed the “flow” of our country. He caused the current to go the other way. He put up the dam that needed to be constructed in the middle of racism.
I feel that this free verse poem flows like a river does. If you look at the actual format of it, it has long lines that just ungulate along like a river does. The reader is allowed to mosey down the ‘river’ as they read and to feel the current (passion) of the speaker. I really think that the author did a wonderful job of capturing the potential feelings of a whole race. It’s powerful to say the least.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Well, I thought the presenters did a great job with the free verse poems for this week. I enjoyed all of the poems. My favorite poem was Psalm 121. I just like the idea that the Lord had helped him. Stating that God made heaven and earth I really do believe shows how powerful God is. I love that God is portrayed as our protector in this poem. When you read poems like this, you really do come to realize that God is and always will be there for us. After making the point about how people got sick from the sun and were sun struck, well there’s a transition in verses 6-7 about how God protects us from the sun and also from our soul that can’t be touched. In this poem it also emphasizes how much God loves us and that he is with us for an eternity. When Nick presented this poem to our class he said that he thought that the song got broader and broader as the poem went out. I agree with this because at first it was talking ab out a small trip to Israel and ended up being compared to how God is with us for an eternity. This is an awesome poem, not just because it is part of the Word but because we are able to relate to it and it is simply powerful!
April 4th, 2008 at 7:50 am
The Psalms in general are many, beautiful, and varied. The collection of them spans every realm of emotion and human experience. There are different styles of the Biblical Psalm - psalm of thanksgiving, psalm of lament, wedding psalms, coronation psalms… The style of the Psalms in general is pretty loose. They vary from 2 verses (Ps. 117) to 176 verses (Ps. 119). Some use stanzas of a certain length, others don’t have stanzas at all. A psalm can be whatever the author wants it to be. But there are some common techniques used in the Biblical Psalms, and some form of structure used, depending on the theme of the psalm itself. For instance a psalm of thanksgiving will often start with thanksgiving to God for something He’s done, and then describe the troubles that God has remedied, and then tell others to thank God as well for His goodness. A common tool used in the Psalms is a type of two-line parallelism where the author makes a comment and then repeats the concept of it in slightly different terms in the following line.
But some of the Psalms do not hold much at all to these common standards, and others hold to an even stricter structure, like Psalm 119, which is an acrostic poem, with 8 lines starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
So basically, in writing psalms, there is a lot of freedom in how to structure the poem, but there are common techniques often used, as seen in the Bible.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I’d like to address Dr. Prescott’s lecture instead of the poems we looked at this week. Although the poems were thought-provoking I am finding myself thinking more about the lecture right now. The lecture last night on Christian art was very interesting. I found what Dr. Prescott said to be applicable to every art form, not just visual art. The question of what is Christian art has been a question I’ve dealt with every since I got into theatre. I loved what he had to say about the work being worship. A lot of times in theatre, and the other art forms as well, artists find themselves creating something that doesn’t seem related to religion at all. So, how can we apply what we are doing to our faith? Because we are using the talents God gave us to create something beautiful (as he created with us) and this, I believe, can operate as an act of worship. Art can be a powerful ministry and it doesn’t have to be blatantly Christian themed, or laced with Gospel allegories. Often I find God’s love and presence in simple stories of redemption of characters. Or poems and art works that express the incredible beauty we find in nature.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Free verse is very interesting to me. To me it seems as though it doesn’t necessarily require as much thought in that whatever someone is thinking at that moment spills out on to the page. The changes in lines and the amount of words in each line are usually broken up by ideas, or by phrases, but sometimes this isn’t the case and how the lines are broken up don’t necessarily have any rhyme or reason.
In the case of the psalm, there is something a bit different than some other free verse poems we have read. The psalm seems more structured to me than the Langston Hughes poems, perhaps because the lines are longer, of similar length, and are less choppy. Several literary devices are used. There is a lot of repetition, as in Psalm 121, to get a point across. Things are said several times but in different ways. Each sentence/verse is an affirmation of something, and four lines are strengthened by starting the same way: with “The Lord.”
April 4th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I was especially impressed by the form of Psalm 121. I like that the psalmist has this question, answer rhythm that flows from line to line. To form the structure for this free verse poem the psalmist allows the ideas of one line to continue on the next line so that the verses connect and thus flow sequentially together. Because every line in this poem is a sentence (and a period at the end of a sentence indicated a pause or rest) it seems like it would be hard to make the lines flow together. This “spill-over” structure (or parallelism) works perfectly to ensure that the reader is engaged from line to line. He also uses parallelism by repeating phrases like “The Lord” to echo ideas from one verse to another. As I was reading other psalms, this parallelism structure is used often in many of the other psalms too. I think this way of organizing free verse poetry is especially effective in creating rhythm and flow.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Psalm 121 is a very comforting psalm especially for scared college students. This poem gives the image of God being our leader and caregiver. During college, we can feel lost and alone, and all we can do is look towards the hills. This psalm describes our help coming from the hills. Hills can also be a symbol of obstacles. Like a lost sheep, a hill can separate us from our shepherd who cares for us. While we are looking at our obstacles, our savior comes from our obstacles, and saves us. Once we are saved, God looks over us without stopping, “he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” This does not mean that we need to stay awake to make sure that God is still looking over us, but we are able to sleep.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Psalm 121 is eight verses long and seems to be split up into four different sections. These four sections are like couplets. Verse 1 and 2 go together, 3 and 4 go together, and so on and so forth. This Psalm is an encouragement to me because it assures me of God’s continual presence and protection in my life. The structure of the poem may speak to this. It is very predictable and structured in an orderly way to say that God is constant and will not be changed. He will never leave us. The first couplet pronounces that our help comes from God. We should look to him, the one who has created everything. Also, we should not worry. God will not forget you. This we see in the second couplet. Not only do I see a connection within the couplets, but I also think the first two and the last two go together. The last two couplets speak of God’s protection from all evil. Not only will he protect, but he will also give us comfort. The words sun and moon in verse 6 probably refer to the polytheistic belief that the sun and moon were gods. He will not allow the gods of other nations to harm you. And lastly, God will keep them from all kinds of evil, and he will do this forever. This is what I see. What do you think?
April 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I really enjoy free verse and the line it walks between having structure and having flexibility. This flexibility allows a person to use their own creativity and choice of structure to create a work of poetic art. But yet, it does have some sort of form in order for others to make sense of their creation. For me, it would be harder to create a well-written free verse, because there is no outline to follow. When writing a haiku, the form is given to you and you just fill in the blanks with pretty words. In a free verse, you have to be intelligent and creative enough to create those pretty words, but also design the beautiful structure for it to be written. At the beginning of the poet’s choice when we heard Langston Hugh reading his poem, I was unaware that it was a poem he was reading at first, because it just sounded as if it was a conversation. But then as I listened closer, I heard the words and form that he created. He was able to use free verse in a way that expressed informal thoughts in a unique way.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
The poem mother to son seems to be one that could be said to anyone. I know that we all go through times where we allow ourselves to be discouraged and have a deep desire to give up. I love the fact that the mother tells the son not to give-up even though her life has been far from perfect. There must have been some times where she must have felt as though she wanted to turn back and “set on the steps”, to just take a break from life and all of its complexities. I think that this is something that all of us go through at one point or another. Life is never perfect for everyone. It always will have those sharp turns and “torn up board”. I think that is what makes life worth living. To be able to come out and say to someone else “I did it, so can you!” She says that she has to turn corners. It is often in those turned corners that there are unexpected events in life, that is when it is the most important to keep going.
As Christians, we have the encouragement of things like Psalm 121 to help to remember that we can keep pressing onward. We must keep remembering that He does not slumber so we have nothing to fear. God is always there to watch over us and be with us when our lives are not “crystal stairs”.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Psalm 121 could not have been placed in the syllabus at a better time. During this stressful time of the semester, as papers and exams are piling up and sleep deprivation is sky-rocketing, I enjoy looking to this psalm for peace and comfort. Although it is placed in the free verse section, this psalm incorporates many of the elements of poetry that we have discussed throughout the semester including a lot of repetition and an interesting relationship between the words and the form. As someone pointed out in class, this psalm is really neat in that it begins by discussing how God protects us in the small things (not suffer thy foot) and progresses to a broader sense of protection in the end (preserver your going out and in). What I also love about this psalm, as Professor Perrin also noted, is that it is so easy to relate to. I know what the author is speaking of, and the very same comfort that he experienced is what I also experience after reading the poem.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Last night Ted Prescott’s message about what is art in relation to Christianity and how Christianity is art opened my imagination to realize that God’s creation is art. He said, painting is not God’s preferred form of art, or something like that, but the creator who paints the painting can portray Christianity through works of the painting. He also showed some sort of sculpture of marble that had dis-colorization in the middle so light could shine through, yet the marble was still a solid rectangle. He explained that people’s traditional approach to art tends to impede both a rich experience of the goodness of God and a profound understanding of this present darkness. “If I think that by withdrawing I can get away from sin’s influence in the world, I forget that sin is active within my own walls and within my own heart.” He urges readers instead to more daringly embrace good art, whether Christian or not, as a means of expanding vision and enlarging wisdom, accepting the sensual pleasure of God’s gifts even as they take care to avoid the kind of exposure that may actually diminish their ability to experience goodness.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Langston Hughes’ poem “Negro Speaks of Rivers” is great. I really liked the images that I had while reading the poem; they all seem to be such organic and rich places. All of these places were graced by Negroes too. Hughes’ seems to be trying to enlighten the reader that, Negroes have been around, self-sustainable and independent for a long time; why is it then that whites seem to consider the African-Americans less-intelligent? (I think that Hughes’ is asking that question). Just as the river (a recurring image in the poem) gives life to the areas through which it flows, Negroes have been part of the pulse of their environments since the beginning of time. I think that this is only one of the possible meanings of the poem, but I think that it could be an argument for the equality of Negroes to Caucasions.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I think free verse can visually emphasize meaning a poet is trying to portray. Since the meter of the lines don’t have to rigidly follow a set pattern, Some lines only have one word. For instance, in “Mother to Son” the only word in line 7 is, Bare. As she reminisces, she sums up for her son her life… bare. The length of each line leading up to line 7 increase in syllables, and then instantly, there is an immediate decrease in length. Lines 8-20 continue to increase and decrease in length, and visibly form a wave. Visual aid gives the poem a feeling of movement, and as the lines undulate, so does the tone.
A similar visual aid is seen in Psalm 121, My Help Comes from the Lord. Line 7, again only has one word, Hand. This seems to be the most important word in the entire Psalm. My help comes from the Lord’s HAND. The complexity of nuances of each Free Verse Poem are brought to one origin, line seven, where the images and metaphors eject from.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I wanted to comment on the lecture from last night. I’ve never had class with Ted Prescott but I wish I had. I have also never been an art major but have taken many courses and have also semi-wished I had. Yet, it’s never too late for art.
The lecture discusses a lot of things I’ve been thinking over the course of my four years at Messiah. What is the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian and especially in how they are viewed by the world. One way they are viewed is through their actions and what they produce. In relation to art, not only are their questions about what makes art considered to be art but what makes art Christian. Although the lecture was very informative and entertaining, I don’t think any conclusions were truly drawn. Nothing in art is black and white.
But, since I’ve thought about this for four years I wanted to share my own thoughts and questions about this topic: God has blessed everyone with different abilities. What separates Christians from non-Christians is the fact that we believe these talents are from the Lord. I believe it’s our duty as humans to use our gifts in a positive way to impact others. This may be through many different means but if it’s through art, then create art. If you are blessed with this innate gift to spit out iambic pentameter without even thinking, then be a poet. Just the act of sharing what we’re given will impact others. I know this seems simple and common but it is something to think about. But how is a poem going to help someone? You’d be surprised. How is a modern painting of a coffee pot going to make us better people. That’s where the mystery of God comes into play. As long as we’re actively pursuing our God given passions, then let Him take care of the rest.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I liked Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son.” It is a poem about struggle and sounds like a mother trying to inspire and motivate her son. She is telling him about the hardships she has been through, how she has been climbing all her life and he shouldn’t try and go back now. For whatever reason, I see this as an African-American family, I base this assumption on the slang and words Hughes choose to use. Given that this is a fact, both the mother and the son probably have face segregation and inequality. With this in mind, the poem has even more depth to it, as the mother talks about her struggles with racism and oppression. Interestingly, it almost seems like the mother is giving her son a “suck it up” talk as opposed to a motherly pep talk, with the repetition of “don’t you” in lines 14, 15, and 17. It sounds like she may be chastising him for his sorrowful state.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I absolutely love free verse poetry and am so glad that we got to talk more about it this week. I think that it is a way for the poet to express themselves without having to think about rules or form of poetry. I believe that this makes the poem more personal and more interesting for the reader. I thought that the poem “Negro speaks of Rivers” was very beautifully written and had such figurative wording. I always found it fascinating to learn about the history of slavery and African Americans as well as their songs (or poetry); therefore this was all the more outstanding to me. The lines of the poem refer to all the African American people as one and speak of their diverse experiences from the past to the present. The line that is used all through the poem is “I’ve known rivers.” This has to do with the unity of the whole race and them all flowing together just as a river does. I love this metaphor; it enables us to better see the strength and power behind the people who underwent great suffering in our country. I also think that it could have a more religious meaning and represent that we are all children of God; we are all linked and flow together.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
The psalmist is obviously one who knows the scripture. Most of the psalm is built of “Old Testament” promises well know to most Jews. For example, the last verse, “God will bless you when you enter and when you leave,” is taken from the blessings as described by Moses on the mountain of blessing. The psalmist uses this literary method to give praise to the Lord. The psalm is comprised of sayings found all over the scriptures, like “the Lord, maker of heaven and Earth” from Genesis, and “He that keepeth Israel shall nether slumber nor sleep,” which is a common theme all over the Bible. It would be worth noting that the psalmist uses precision when answering his own question “from whence cometh my help.” He then proceeds to identify that it is none other than Jehovah. In Hebrew there are many uses of the word God: Jehovah is, however, distinct to the God of Israel, and this in a time and day when no other people group had been monotheistic. Then to further distinguish Jehovah from other gods he attributes the character of Creator of the Universe to Jehovah so as to make no mistake. Unlike the relativistic world of today that says “many roads to one truth,” Judaism has and continues to be “intolerant” of the many ways of truth. I make this important connection because it matters, it makes all the difference in the world. A Jew will always want to know, which god exactly is it that you believe in? I think that in Christ we have often lessened the seriousness and the extent to which the God of Israel has gone to distinguish himself from amongst all other gods, and at a great price. Now I am getting into theology. O well, I love the psalms.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Free verse to me is a bit confusing. I do like the idea behind the concept as a whole but it is a bit “abstract” for lack of a better word. I guess the idea of free verse to me is like presenting anything you can come up with (while your on stage) and calling it theatre, banging on a piano and calling it music, or running 10 yards and calling yourself an athlete. While I feel that it is a way that a poet, or people in general, can present themselves in the realm of poetry, it feels somewhat elementary to me. Anyone can be a poet with free verse, if they have the ability to express through words. Now don’t get me wrong, I am attracted to this tool and ability that the method gives to all people, to be able to enjoy and become a part of the world of poetry, but I lose some of the respect for the poet compared to how I would view him/her if it were written in a specific form or style.
This fits perfectly into the way I took in the two poems that were read and discussed in class. I took a lot from them mentally and from the uneducated view point of learning someone’s story, but the “art” or “craft” – to me- was lost by putting it in free verse. NOW, take the same poems, same ideas with the same POWER…place it into a more “artistic format” and ill be able to view it as POETRY rather than beautiful words, strung together for someone to read.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
My favorite poem that we talked about in class was The Negro Speaks of Rivers. I’m not sure exactly why it’s my favorite, but I just love listening to it get read. I love the emotions that this poem invokes in me. This poem was able to tell the journey of African Americans and the unity they all have throughout time and throughout the world. It’s just so amazing to think about this symbolism in this poem. African Americans are connected throughout the world and they have traveled to so many different continents. I love that this poem is free verse. I don’t think the impact would have been the same if there was more structure. It’s so much like the rivers that flow throughout the world. They aren’t structured, and they are able to freely flow.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I’ve always enjoyed the experience of reading, and singing, the psalms. At times though I think that I’ve failed to recognize their true poetic nature. Psalm 121 is a triumphant pasage that reminds me alot of Pslam 46. It’s all about God upholding and assisting his people, definitely somethign good to read when you’re going through a rough time. It’s quite full of hope and encouragement. I really apprecaite the language used in the King James Version (KJV). I actually use a KJV bible and even though people sometimes joke with me about it I don’t plan on changing. I just find the language better over all, and also slightly more accurate to the orginal texts. I really like verse 7 which says “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.” If God is preserving our soul, the very essence of our being, how much less shall he preserve our earthly affairs?
April 4th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I believe that the poem by Langson Hughes called “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” is a beautiful poem filled with some much emotion and meaning. I love the beautiful words that speak to the history of African American history, so deep and rich. The use of the “I” is very interesting, despite the fact that Hughes was not present at all of those important milestones in African American history, it shows the relationship and interconnection between different generations. The imagery created with the “human blood in human veins” emphasizes once again the importance of family within the African American race. I love the bold encouragement that is given even though not stated directly. I sense the unspoken empowerment that occurs after reading this poem. Even I am encouraged with everyday trials in my life, knowing that some before me have gone through similar or worse trials. Rivers are powerful and strong, and the strength of African Americans will prevail from Africa to America. I also want to note the comparison between the muddy and golden waters of the Mississippi. Just like the waters became clear, the slave became free with the help of Abraham Lincoln. I love the power of this poem to reach through generations, race, and ethnicity.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Of the three poems we discussed in class, my favorite was definitely Psalm 121. I should admit to being a bit biased because the entire book of Psalms is one of my favorites. However, this Psalm is still special to me in its own sense just as every other Psalm presents itself through its own unique personality. Beyond the simple free verse style of this psalm, this psalm attracts me through the meaning with in it and deep complexities of this poem. A reader of this poem does not even have the option to take this at face value, but is forced to dive into the deeper messages describing our Lord; our Maker of heaven and earth. In the first four lines, the writer of Psalm 121 gives a testimony of his own experience as he describes where he finds his help and support come from. The author then reassures that this same help can be given to you along with the security and safety found in the Lord throughout the following 12 lines. Another characteristic that I really appreciate within this poem that helps to give me a better sense of the immensity of God is through the many extremes compared in this poem. For example, heaven and earth, sun and moon, day and night, coming and going, now and forevermore. These awesome illustrations help to describe the true significance and hugeness of our God! Psalm 121 is often read prior to journeys as a prayer for safety, but I offer this psalm up as a praise of thanksgiving and awe!
April 5th, 2008 at 12:48 am
I’m commenting on Professor Prescott’s chapel on Thursday about Christian Art. He touched on a lot of good issues as in defining what Christian Art really is and isn’t, and most importantly what its purpose should and could be. The best definition he gave in my opinion was that Christian Art is art that expresses faith. That expression could be explicit or implicit. It doesn’t matter. But the other side of that coin is the fact that some works of art are unintentionally Christian, meaning that they inspire and evoke spiritual feelings without the artist intending that reaction. People are always looking for an experience when viewing art, and perhaps (because we are both physical and spiritual beings) that will always be somewhat spiritual. Out of everything Professor Prescott said that evening, I liked when he stated that before art “does” anything for the audience, it possesses a dignity in just being art. Perhaps works of art are less about the artist’s intentions and more about the fact that they exist, and that someone put enough thought and effort into them to make them exist.
April 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I suppose the poetry that I write, which happens every now and then, takes its shape according to the guidelines of free verse. Parini defines free verse as “poetry that has no set meters or rhymes.” I enjoy reading the Psalms, but never gave any real thought about their structure, other then for my Old Testament course. The psalm that was presented in class for this particular week was Psalm 121, “A Song of Degrees.” The message it conveys is one of hope, realizing that God is mighty and has unmatched ability. According to line 5, “The Lord is thy keeper,” and He will watch over me all of the days of my life, “for evermore.” Line 7 states that “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.” The Lord will keep me from the enemy, and when evil is allowed to tempt me, to draw close to me, God will provide for me and I will fall upon His strength, His everlasting strength. I have given my life to the Lord, thereby joining with Him in a new covenant. This covenant is unbelievable because even though I am not able to keep it, because of sinful nature, his grace is more than enough, and it is by grace that I am saved and a recipient of eternal life. The psalm begins with one person, the use of “I” and “mine,” but it moves to discuss Israel and moves into a second person’s point of view, a group of people are included. This effect was pointed out in the class discussion, and proves true. The phrase “the Lord” is used repetitively, which creates a certain image within the mind of the reader. This psalm and many other psalms contain an element of humanity, a personal component within them which enables readers to make connections and agree with the emotions and senses expressed by the psalmist and/or speaker. Psalm 121 renews the sense that God is bigger than the situation and that He is watching over and walking with each one of us according to where we are and how much we understand.
April 7th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Mother to Son illustrates the pain and yet resiliency of the black community. Langston Hughes understood both of those ideas and did a fantastic job of illustrating them. Last night I saw several of the same commercial for some program that CNN is airing in June called “Black in America”. The commercial was very insistent that watching this program would somehow help viewers to understand the African-American experience…how pretentious is that? Somehow, watching television is going to help non-black Americans to understand concepts like inequality, prejudice, and the manner in which all systems in this country (criminal justice system, education, social security, jobs, economics, etc.) represent two different countries. No real understanding can come of a television show, but listening to the words of a black man who grew up in a very bad time period for his people might give the reader just a glimpse into his world. Mother to Son puts the black experience in the context of a staircase. Although some people might proceed through life with everything they need handed to them (the crystal stair), this mother had to fight in her ascension just to stay alive. It is hard to understand how she can still conclude with such optimism - what is her motivation? Perhaps she just has that much willpower to continue and place all of her hope in the best of humankind, even though most of what she lived through represented the worst of people. In my opinion, this outlook is truly uncanny.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Free verse is my favorite type of form within the Poetry context. I love how this free verse style goes into the type of jazz and blues style that Langston Hughes portrays in his poems. The free verse style direcly correlates to that of jazz music. Being a saxophone player, this type of “free verse” no set style is exactly what jazz is. No matter how different you play an individual jazz song, among artist it usually always sounds good. Sheet music is often times not used within jazz. Typically jazz is called improv or “make it up as you go” I love this line in this in Hughes poem.
He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
Sweet Blues!
Coming from a black man’s soul.
O Blues!
This just sounds like a song that a person could be singing and playing a guitar to. The tone is very soft and is easily pictured by this poem.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
The Psalms are all so unique, but the 121st Psalm helps bring a different perspective to life. We all as humans constantly search for the thing that will make us whole or complete. I found Hebrew research that shows the form of this work is much greater than we will ever know. Right now we are studying Set Theory in my music theory class, and this is the idea that everything can be divided and given numerical value in music. The numerical analysis of this Psalm was done by Casper J. Labuschagne, and he found the pattern on which this work was written. This psalm is a classic example of a particularly regular numerical composition. On all levels, it divides into two exactly equal parts (vs. 1-4 and 5-8): 1 + 1 cantos, 2 + 2 strophes, 4 + 4 verselines, 8 + 8 cola and 27 + 27 words. It is perfectly symmetrical, and makes the reader feel the comfort and closure of the word. The line- “all of my help cometh from the lord” is one that I really struggle to accept. I am so co-dependent on those around me in my life that I often forget who really cares for me. Jesus my lord and savior has been there for me through everything that I have had to endure and still I worry myself with the pitiful mind games of those around me. Material things have never made me happy since I grew up with practically nothing…only the love of those who love me back mattered. I regret to say that most of my friends are no longer going to be a focus in my life. I can tell where I am not wanted. But I know that wherever I end up, my help will still cometh from the lord.
Sorry this entry became so random, but here is a link to the research paper that was written on this psalm. I really enjoyed reading it. http://theol.eldoc.ub.rug.nl/FILES/root/Labuschagne/NumericalFeaturesoft/Book5/psalm121/ps121b.pdf