Poetry Portfolio (Jeremy Giles)

1

Poetry Project

Jeremy Giles

English 10

Ms. Leschhorn

April 15, 2010

2

Table of Contents

Ars Poetica…3

Published Poems…5

Homage to Author Rimbaud…6

Nouns… 8

Beggar Boy…10

If You Forget Me…12

Pain…15

Explication of “Annabel Lee”…18

Original poems…20

Heirlooms…21

Aggravation Survival Guide…23

The King’s Throne…25

Numbers…27

Thorns of Glass…29

Works Cited…31

3

Ars Poetica

‘’The worst tragedy for a poet is to be admired through being misunderstood.’’ -Jean Cocteau

Poetry is a part of life that I believe we cannot live without. I believe this because poetry is life

itself. Through poetry, we are given guidelines how to deal with many of life’s constant struggles such as

loss, survival, and pain itself. Through these emotions that we all feel and having poets as guides, poetry

can lead us through the most difficult times of our lives. I believe without poetry, people would act in a

more chaotic manner because of the anxiety that would drive them. This is because poetry has an

infinite amount of forms: books, art, objects. Anxiety ensues in others because of their lack of

satisfaction; unanswered questions and requests. Poetry brings an understanding to those who cannot

understand more “practical” ideas such as religion. People are naturally attracted to things they cannot

understand and they begin to make an effort to fully comprehend these, bringing a sense of order in life.

Disrupting this order would only cause people to shy away from any type of order altogether.

Though many do not enjoy poetry, poets are highly renounced in society because of their insight

on the universe; reality. Poetry also gives us a view of someone else’s reality, and in this case it comes

from the poets. Someone’s view of reality allows others to see life from multiple perspectives to invoke

empathy when necessary, and learning from experiences that the readers may or may not have, making

better people out of us all. Through the poetry I have written, I have been able to better understand

what the experiences of others and what to expect in the future. Also through my works, I am able to

express how I feel through a certain time even if I did not have someone to express these feelings to at

the time. When those who personally know me read my works, they can see exactly what I was feeling

and who or what I was thinking about as well; poetry allows me to communicate with those close to me.

4

The ability to communicate with those close to me is one of many things I like about poetry.

Another important thing that I like about poetry is that there is not a concrete set of rules; poetry is as

free as the wind. Because of poetry’s freedom, each person is able to write in any way they wish, about

anything they desire. We are also able to write poetry in the same form as someone else, but it still will

not be the same. We can write about an emotion, and either hide it or allow it to easily be seen through

the words we use and the way we align them on the page. The poems I like tend to be original; a free

verse. Many of the poems that interest me have a type of irony in them, such as a poet writing about

order, but words spread out chaotically on the page or something usually chaotic written in a very

controlled manner. These poems usually give advice such as how to deal with pain or how to let go of

someone I care about.

Writing and reading these poems throughout this project gives me somewhat of a satisfying

feeling. Through the course of this project, some of the deadlines were very close together considering

the amount of time it usually takes for me to complete something. As something was completed,

something new was assigned, sometimes before a previous assignment was due. Along with other

stresses, this caused a large burden as to not fall behind in other classes and catch up on my work for

this one. Now that it is all over, I feel as if a large burden has been lifted. I have also learned better

techniques for time management and writing in general. Without this project, I would have to learn

these lessons and techniques at a more critical and demanding time.

5

Published Poetry

6

Introduction to “Homage to Author Rimbaud”

“Homage to Author Rimbaud” is the second most appealing poem to me because it

compares people to that of insects, savages in nature. Wright uses many metaphors to elaborate

on the way people act towards each other, some without realizing it. This takes simple actions of

human nature and uses this metaphor to elaborate how extreme these actions are, at a more

“fitting” scale. He is poem consist of a pair of couplets, quatrains, and triplets with enjambment

and end stops to allow the reader to fully obtain an image of what he ensues.

7

Homage to Author Rimbaud

Laying our eggs like moths

In the cold cracks of your eyes,

Brushing your hands with our dark wings

--Desperate to attempt

An entrance, to touch that light

Which buoys you like a flame,

That it might warm our own lives --,

We cluster about your death

As though it were reachable.

For almost a hundred years

We've gathered outside your legend (and been afraid

Of what such brilliance affords;

And knew the while you were risen, your flight

Pneumatic and pure, invisible as a fever;

And knew the flight was forever,

Leaving us what we deserve

Syllables, flowers, black ice;

The exit, the split cocoon...

8

Introduction to “Nouns” by Charles Wright

“Nouns” by Charles Wright reveals the idea of a role model; the ideal person. The entire

poem is a metaphor using the part of speech, the noun, and the actions of a person and the noun

itself. Wright uses this poem in order to explain the role of the noun in sentences and what it

means to be a noun in real life; knowing who to precede and whom to follow. The tone of the

poem insists it was written as if to declare an important statement rather than to tell others

something they did not originally notice. The voice of authority seems easier to grasp because

the poem is written in couplets with the use of enjambment to connect the middle stanzas

together. I like this poem because Wright cleverly writes it in a form that makes nouns sound like

people, yet they always have been; the connection was always visible, but overlooked constantly.

9

Nouns

Nouns are precise, they wear

The boots of authority;

Nouns are not easily pleased.

Nouns are assured, they know

Whom to precede and whom to follow,

They know what dependence means,

That touchstone of happiness;

They need no apologist.

When nouns fall to disuse, and die,

Their bones do not coalesce.

Such absences implicate

No person, no place, no thing.

10

Introduction to “Beggar Boy” by Langston Hughes

“Beggar Boy” by Langston Hughes surfaces the ideas of human connections though

experience and empathy. Because the speaker does not have these connections with the beggar

boy, questions are raised about how he could possibly be happy. From what the speaker can see,

only the outer appearance, it seems impossible for the boy to have any type of joy at all. The

author uses enjambment to emphasize features of the boy and the lack of connection between

him and the speaker; as we cannot see what has happened as we read, the speaker cannot while

looking at him. This is an excellent poem because the message is apparent to everyone, yet it is

also so necessary at the same time. Along with the message, it speaks of things that go through

our heads when we look at others who we do not personally know and puts it into context of

their origin.

11

Beggar Boy

What is there within this beggar lad

That I can neither hear not feel nor see,

That I can neither know nor understand

And still it calls to me?

Is not he but a shadow in the sun –

A bit of clay, brown, ugly, given life?

And yet he plays upon his flute with a wild free tune

As if Fate had not bled him with her knife!

12

Introduction to “If You Forget Me” by Pablo Neruda

“If you Forget Me” by Pablo Neruda uses the idea of destiny to convey his feelings for

someone he cares about. He uses many metaphors and enjambment to further attempt to explain

his seemingly ineffable feelings such as the inanimate objects acting as boats, sailing toward his

love. His passion for his writing is expressed mainly through the enjambment; his specific details

create a more intense feeling. The way in which he wrote the poem makes it seem that he wrote

his poem to be read in a certain way; perhaps to force the reader to have a visual picture in their

head of every stanza before continuing to the next. He may have changed the published writing

into this form in order for the future readers to see the images that he also saw in his mind as he

wrote it. This is a very moving poem because it captures the idea of true love which many are not

able to find.

13

If You Forget Me

I want you to know

one thing.

You know how this is:

if I look

at the crystal moon, at the red branch

of the slow autumn at my window,

if I touch

near the fire

the impalpable ash

or the wrinkled body of the log,

everything carries me to you,

as if everything that exists,

aromas, light, metals,

were little boats

that sail

toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,

if little by little you stop loving me

I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly

you forget me

do not look for me,

for I shall already have forgotten you.

14

If you think it long and mad,

the wind of banners

that passes through my life,

and you decide

to leave me at the shore

of the heart where I have roots,

remember

that on that day,

at that hour,

I shall lift my arms

and my roots will set off

to seek another land.

But

if each day,

each hour,

you feel that you are destined for me

with implacable sweetness,

if each day a flower

climbs up to your lips to seek me,

ah my love, ah my own,

in me all that fire is repeated,

in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,

my love feeds on your love, beloved,

and as long as you live it will be in your arms

without leaving mine

15

Introduction to “Pain” Kahlil Gibran

“Pain” by Kahlil Gibran uses knowledge and pain itself to convey his points about pain

itself. His points consist of learning why everyone must experience pain and how to overcome it.

Gibran uses enjambment to make his comparisons more noticeable along with the liminality

behind these ideas. He uses stanzas with different numbers of lines and the least number of lines

usually indicates its importance. His shortest stanza, put near the middle of the poem, is his most

important idea; most forms of pain are self-chosen. I find this poem to be the most important I

have ever read because the content is apparent in all modern aspects of life though it was written

long ago.

16

Pain

Your pain is the breaking of the shell

that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its

heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder

at the daily miracles of your life, your pain

would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your

heart, even as you have always accepted

the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity

through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the

physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink

17

his remedy in silence and tranquility:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided

by the tender hand of the Unseen,

And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips,

has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter

has moistened with His own sacred tears.

18

Explication of “Annabel Lee”

This poem dramatizes the idea of everlasting love. “Annabel Lee,” by Edgar Alan Poe, speaks

through the lover of Annabel Lee. He speaks of their story of how they met, envied by others, and pulled

apart from each other while still holding onto their love. The Speaker begins in explaining that they lived

“In a kingdom by the sea” and also explains how he and Annabel Lee are highly blessed “With a love that

the winged seraphs of heaven Coveter her and me” (2, 11-12). Later, his love, Annabel Lee is killed

because of an illness he suspects was caused by the gods themselves, but regardless, he stays by her

grave and they continue to love each other.

The writer drives this poem with the themes of love and jealousy. Because of “The angles, not

half so happy in heaven, /Went envying her and me--” this couple was separated by “the wind came out

of the cloud, chilling/And killing my Annabel Lee” (22-23, 26). The speaker means that because of

jealousy, the most precious things can be taken from one as was his Annabel Lee. The reason for this

jealousy reveals itself through a brief mention of her “highborn kinsmen”, her royal family (17). Her

royalty would not play a role in this, unless the speaker is far from royalty: a peasant. This small of class

is mentioned only briefly perhaps to imply that their difference in social ranking did not matter to him or

Annabel Lee; just as it should not with anyone who falls in love.

In the last stanza, Poe introduces alliterations in order to attempt to explain the depth of the

speaker and Annabel Lee’s love. When the speaker sleeps, “the moon never beams without bringing me

dreams/Of the beautiful Annabel Lee” (33-34). This is of utmost significance because Poe does not use

metaphors in any of his other stanzas within his poem. In his other stanzas, there is not an attempt of

further explanation of anything that is stated. This may in order show additional words are needed to

express how he feels, perhaps not infinite amount of words. As the speaker sinks into depression over

19

her death, he feels her presence because “the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes/Of the beautiful

Annabel Lee” (35-36)

Though she died, this did not separate them because “Our love it was stronger by far than the

love of those who were older than we—/Of many far wiser than we—” (27-29). As she was in her grave,

her love still lived on and her lover, the speaker, stayed beside her “In the sepulcher there by the sea,

/In her tomb by the side of the sea” (39-40). The speaker wishes to tell the readers that true love

expands past that of the gods, social status, and death.

20

Original Poetry

21

Introduction to “Heirlooms”

Objects can tell just as many words as pictures, sometimes even more. They say that a picture can tell a

thousand words, so what exactly can a picture and an object tell? Together, they can tell a story that

could be centuries old with the picture as a mental reminder, and an object as a physical reminder. Old

pictures and objects are passed down in some families through their generations as heirlooms in order

to remind the family of these words they would otherwise be easily forgotten.

22

Heirlooms

I am forged from the hearts of two families

Enemies for hundreds of years,

guarding two objects that are sacred to them.

A large brown crystal, as dark as the hearts of those

Lives looking like lust lingered

inside them for generations.

Heresayers had hopes

Of a summer wind,

blowing,

singing

down the valleys to a precious mineral

of their own.

Silver slates were salvaged

from a dying wish,

a will with two joining

hands to unite the families

and forge a new sacred object.

As a feuds spirals out of control,

so will the stem of this object.

As humans must atone

For their crimes against another,

so must this stone be put behind bars.

23

Introduction to “Aggravation Survival Guide”

Aggravation is an emotion many feel for most of their life. Some feel this emotion more than any of the

positive ones. Because of aggravation, many act on instinct instead of finding a way to solve a problem

analytically, costing them more than they had hoped. Unwise thinking puts others in situations that only

increase the effect of the problem to others, and a larger burden on themselves; thinking before acting

is key.

24

Aggravation Survival Guide

Tolerance is necessary

to keep a level head.

You may not really like it much

but out prison stead.

vibrations continue chaos

can bid others need meds

A fight with your bad impulses

But losing makes people dead

25

Introduction to “The King’s Throne”

In life, people take different paths which they eventually shy away from. These paths are either left out

of fear, the pursuit of happiness, or the pursuit of someone else. Many are given chances while going

down a road that are worthwhile, almost foolish to give up. At times in life, people are placed on a

throne high in the sky with a crown on the top of their head. Many lose this throne and crown because

they have not truly deserved it. No one deserves a crown or a throne of any kind until it is earned.

26

The King’s Throne

I walked down the endless road to the Throne of the king slain.

This road filled with statues of those fallen before I from the sky.

And the streets lined with people with hearts of frost and voices of flame.

I remember running to the road to the left of this into the rye.

Where I played with friends and scorned empathy and sadness

All was so peaceful, but I knew and felt nothing, all a lie.

I remember running from the road to the right, from the madness

Where I was struck by quintessence and lost all except my mind and sight

All was so chaotic, but I knew and felt everything, even minor gladness

Now I may skip down the road in the middle, my birthright.

Where all experiences have been taken in and utilized by every nerve.

The twisting tempests and the roaring tides cease for an eternal night.

I have finally reached the place I worked so hard to deserve.

Here I shall look over all until the day I fall as well and await a new .

27

Introduction to “Numbers”

Hypocrisy is a large issue that many people have; see it in others, but not in themselves. As Ironic as this

is, many are told about their hypocrisy and are highly offended, as they should. The issue is that people

begin to ignore their hypocritical ways or lash out in anger when being challenged. This fear of

opposition makes them begin making claims with many flaws in them, without truly thinking. Perhaps

this will force them to think more clearly.

28

Numbers

They say they are independent, but they never make rational choices

I wish they would compromise, but to them, that word is Irrational

The aggravation caused by them makes you hear imaginary voices

They tell me that I should think rationally, but what I express is their decision

I am told to think for myself though they try to hide what is real


You are encouraged to think of your future, though it is greater than out vision

The future, fast, complex and impossible to determine; dreaming seems surreal


We wait for acceptance, though its arrival is never at a perfect precision.

We are scorned for seeing everything as computable instead of "real"


They claim to have love so complex that we must prepare to expedition

Our emotions must be protected our emotions from a possible steal


In order to protect our numbers, we must try an organized excision

This type of interest is not natural; it must have great, but wrong zeal



29

Introduction to “Thorns of Glass”

Many people have problems with facing reality when this reality is not what they truly desire. These may

be because of personal beliefs and upbringing or many other causes. Because they refuse to look at

what is in front of them, they begin to lie to others around them, and eventually, themselves. These

false realities, usually created by others who seek control, can seem real and stable until they begin to

slowly fall apart. As these false realities begin to break, so does a part of themselves.

30

Thorns of Glass

I am caring, perhaps too much.

Perhaps I am too observant,

too flaming,

too cynical.

I am imprisoned in a free environment.

I can have fun

with others,

but happiness only with

one person: myself.

I can see it just as I can see

glass. Even the most beautiful things can

leave small cuts.

I can’t do math, but even I know

It will eventually add up.

My bars are formed from those around me.

I am in pain

Not a rip though flesh

or a scar screaming at a

broken heart.

This pain is for others because of

how desperate,

feeble-minded,

hypocritical,

people can be. False realities,

false tears and smiles

seduce,

lie,

enthrall us to hold on

as if nothing else matters.

I see things

for what they are

not for what I want it to be.

Why can’t everyone else?

31

Works Cited

"Jean Cocteau." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2010. 14 April. 2010.

<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jeancoctea107260.html>

"Pain by Khalil Gibran." PoemHunter.Com. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.

<http://poemhunter.com/poem/pain-2/>

Hughes, Langston. “Beggar Boy” Arnold Rampersad ed.

The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. 29. New York: Knopf, 1994. Print.

Neruda, Pablo. "If You Forget Me." The Poetry of Pablo Neruda. 24 Ilan Stavans, ed.

New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. Print.

Poe, Edgar Allan. “Annabel Lee” Kelly ed. The Seagull Reader Poems. 249-250.

New York:W.W. Norton and Company, 2008. Print.

Hard Freight.1st ed. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan UP, 1973. Print.

Wright, Charles. “Homage to Author Rimbaud” Charles Wright, Hard Freight 13. Print

Wright, Charles. "Nouns." Charles Wright, Hard Freight 26. Print.

Schneider, Darryn. Sunset at Casey Station Antarctica. 2006. Photograph. Blue Skies and Red

Sunsets. Atmospheric Optics. Darryn Schneider. Web. 14 Apr. 2010.

<http://optics.kulgun.net/Blue-Sky/>.

32

The Georgia Guide Stones. 2009. Photograph. Wired. By Randall Sullivan. Randall Sullivan, 20

Apr. 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. <http://battleofearth.wordpress.com/2009/04/>.

Documents

Poetry Portfolio (Jeremy Giles)