poetry response #9

Holly Patton

Mrs. Jernigan

English IV-AP

28 March 2011

“To The Indifferent Women”

Charlotte Anna Perkins Gilman

            To be perfectly informal and for lack of better word choice, Gilman’s sestina pissed me off (sorry Mrs. Jernigan). While her structure is impeccable, I can only think “So what?” as her demeaning message screams at me from the page. She accuses mothers of “avoid[ing] the care/ And toil for human progress, human peace,…[and] love.” She calls their homes a “little pool of undeveloped love.” Who does she think raises the women and men that change the world, that spread “strong and fruitful love”? Indeed some would not credit their mothers if their upbringing was unpleasant. But are there not millions of mothers in the world shut in their houses to care for the children that they love dearly? Does she think that they are always appreciative and grateful to be cooped up in their, as Gilman so sardonically states, “little homes”? Ask any mother and she will tell you that raising a child is no walk in the park. Yet they do it anyway because of the amount of love for people they want to send into the world. This makes Gilman’s seemingly contradictory.

            To be fair to Gilman, I know her desire for equality is legitimate and feminism was and remains to be a predominant topic in society. However she fuses the role of men and the role of women, wishing to erase gender boundaries, to join “woman’s life…with man’s to care for the world.” I am not saying that discrimination against women is acceptable (in fact, it’s disgraceful). But for Gilman to vehemently attack the role of a mother as useless and futile job shows a naïve perspective of life that could go back to an unfortunate upbringing or something of that sort. 

poetry response #8

Holly Patton

Mrs. Jernigan

English AP-IV

21 March 2011

“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”

Dylan Thomas

            In this piece, poet Dylan Thomas embraces his own “carpe diem” philosophy by characterizing the meeting with death oxymoronically as going “gentle into that good night.” He urges his readers to not accept death without a fight, to live life’s fullest potential, to “rage…against the dying of the light.” Thomas laments those who believe they have discovered life’s true meaning only to find out in the end that their “frail deeds” are futile whether they are good or wise. The shift in Thomas’s speech occurs in the last stanza when he turns from speaking about the general public to a direct address to his father. His contradictory statement of “Curse, bless me” displays the desperation in his pleading. He sees death as a worthy opponent, one that will one day defeat him—but not without a fight.

            I first encountered this poem in the eighth grade in English class. I did not know exactly what to make of it, and I confess that unsurety still prevails. Thomas’s abstract view of death strikes me because of lyrical flow, passionate and pleading poeticism. Yet his perception of death is one that I have trouble grasping. I know and believe that death is a tragedy that every human experiences, but I have not had anyone truly close to me pass away. Some seem ready to go on, and it’s too early for many others.  His passion sparks inspiration in me that makes me want to agree with all of his words; but my verdict of agreement or disagreement has not yet been decided.

Poetry Response #7

Holly Patton

AP English-IV

Mrs. Jernigan

8 March 2011

“My Hometown”

Donal Heffernan

            Poet Donal Heffernan chooses a topic dear to many hearts, poets and non-poets alike. A hometown is a place that shapes character, forms memories, provides relationships. Heffernan’s admiration for his own hometown hides in his straightforward description of the town’s characteristics. Although it sounds quaint and quiet with its “two stories, as flat as the surrounding prairie,” Heffernan emphasizes its bravery when it “outlasted the fields of the Depression, and/ Bravely swam against the raging Omaha Creek floods.” With a slightly comical tone, Heffernan adds that this beloved hometown provided places to “launch [its] next generation.” His recollection of these memories display his fondness for his town, Homer, and his jocularly nostalgic approach to this sentimental subject shows his ability to reminisce on his past lightheartedly.

            In my own experience, I have found many people that I meet to be eager to talk about their hometown and their past. Speaking of such familiarity seems comforting to them. A hometown can be a defining structure of childhood, because it influences your view of the world as a whole. Children that grow up in Gatlinburg have a completely different perspective than those that grow up in New York City. For some, home evokes discomfort and unpleasant memories; but for others, like Heffernan and myself, it evokes a sense of safety and happiness.