"Getting Out" ~by Cleopatra Mathis

(#7)
After a year of marriage, a couple goes through a painful divorce; however, they both secretly still love each other and find it hard to say goodbye

The poem describes the rough relationship a couple shares. They spent a year together married; however, "That year we hardly slept, waking like inmates who beat the walls." Even while they were together, there were problems. Neither of them would mention them though; they kept quiet about the problems and "the silent work of the tightening heart." The poem also describes the harsh fights the couple had. "Finally locked into blame, we paced that short hall, heaving words like furniture." They both could not stand the silence anymore, and all of the problems built up inside of them. Eventually, they ended up fighting and blaming each other for all of their problems that had piled up. However, the last stanza presents a different side of the relationship. Although the couple fights and disagrees, it is clear that they still care about each other. They still write to each other yearly to say they are happy now, but if they had truly moved on then they would not need to send this yearly message. The end also mentions "the lawyer's bewilderment when we cried, the last day. Taking hands we walked apart, until our arms stretched between us. We held on tight, and let go." This farewell is not the typical goodbye after a divorce. The couple is afraid to let go and separate from each other; therefore, clearly they still care about each other.

"The Apparition" ~by John Donne

(#8)
The tone this poem creates is vengeful. The poem describes how a man feels after he has been rejected by the woman he loves. "When by thy scorn, O murderess, I am dead." This line does not literally mean the woman killed him; it means she destroyed his heart. The woman left him and is now with another man. Throughout the poem the speaker is comparing himself to her new lover. Although the poem starts out bitter, it turns to bitter satisfaction. At first, the man was hurt and angry about his lover choosing another man over him. However, as the poem progresses, that anger turns to bitter satisfaction. "I'd rather thou shouldst painfully repent, than by my threatenings rest still innocent." The poem ends with the speaker wishing for his lover to suffer; he wants her to feel all the pain she has caused him. Her rejection "killed" him, and now he wants her to think of him when she is with her new lover. He wants her to be haunted by the pain she caused him.

"Crossing the Bar" ~by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

(#12)
This poem discusses a man's view as he approaches death. The man is waiting for his death to come and hoping for it to be peaceful. "And may there be no sadness of farewell when I embark." The speaker does not want his death to bring sadness or pain to himself or anyone else. He simply wants to pass away and "See my Pilot face to face." I interpreted this line to mean that the speaker wants to be with God. He accepts that his life is nearing its end and now all he wants is to be united with God in heaven. "When that which drew from out the boundless deep turns again home." The man wishes to return home where he began in heaven with God. Crossing the bar represents passing from life to death. After passing through the "dark" of death, he will be "out to sea" in the happiness of heaven. This poem is an allegory for passing to death. It uses many symbols to compare the sea to the path toward heaven.

"My mistress' eyes" ~by William Shakespeare

(#8)
The satirical tone of this poem is created through the various comparisons the author uses. The author mocks other poets who make false comparisons between their lovers and other aspects of nature or beauty. "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; coral is far more red than her lips' red." Although this poem could be easily misinterpreted as the speaker insulting his lover, this is not the message he is saying. He is simply being realistic in describing her beauty rather than using false comparisons like many other poets. In the end, he says that she is beautiful and wonderful, but she cannot be compared realistically to these other things like the sun and roses. The tone is not insulting and negative as it may initially appear. Instead, it is satirizing and mocking the false comparisons commonly used by poets. While his mistress may have beautiful eyes, they are nothing like the sun. This does not mean they are not still bright and beautiful; it means that they can not be compared to it realistically.

"next to of course god america i" ~by E. E. Cummings

(#14)
The poem mentions many little allusions from various patriotic cliches. The poem references the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful. The lack of punctuation in the poem creates the effect that the speaker is in a hurry and very passionate about what they are saying. It is written in the form of a speech given to an audience, but it is in direct address to America. This poem could also be viewed as a person criticizing people who just spout patriotic cliches. Some people speak strongly about being patriotic; however, they do not actually understand the war and what is going on. The author is saying that people need to be patriotic, but they also need to understand why they should be patriotic and support the country. Instead of soldiers "rush[ing] like lions to the roaring slaughter [who] did not stop to think they died...," people should understand why they are fighting. The speaker is in favor of being patriotic, but only if the people comprehend what the cause is that they are fighting for.

"Ozymandias" ~by Percy Bysshe Shelley

This poem is about Ozymandias who was an ancient Egyptian tyrant. It describes a statue of him in the middle of the desert. The way the sculptor shaped the face and features of the statue depict what Ozymandias was like as a person. The author describes the face "whose frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command" shows that he had a bad reputation and was not well liked. The state of the statue is a bit ironic too. It has a pedestal saying to look on the statue with strength; however, the statue is falling apart to ruins. The arrogant and imposing looking statue stands in the middle of the desert where no one is around to see it. This demonstrates the way people remember reputations. If someone makes a positive impact on the world, then they will be remembered. However, if someone is a strict tyrant that everyone dislikes, then they will be forgotten and the only remembrance of them will be an old ruined statue in the middle of the desert that no one cares about.

"Much Madness is divinest Sense" ~by Emily Dickinson

(#7)
This poem depicts the author's view of conformity versus nonconformity; she believes it is insane to simply conform and go along with the rest of society.

"Assent - and you are sane - Demur - you're straightway dangerous." This line shows the way society views those who are different from the majority. If someone agrees and follows everyone else, then they are viewed as completely normal. However, if someone disagrees or thinks outside the box, then they are dangerous. Their opposing views present a threat to the normal views and opinions of society. Society is not very open to new opinions, and they often try to simply quiet the nonconformers down. As the poem says, they are "handled with a Chain." This poem is saying that to conform with society is insanity. It is important to form one's own opinions of something rather than going along with everyone else's opinions.

"APO 96225" ~by Larry Rottmann

(#13)
This poem is written as if it is little pieces of letter conversations between a soldier and his family. The soldier's letters to his mother are all (except one) understatements. He tries not to focus on the war and on the battles. Instead, he talks about the rain, the "funny monkeys," and the spectacular sunsets in an attempt to make the war sound better than it is in reality. However, the father's response to what the war is really like creates situational irony. The family had been begging their son to tell them the truth of how the war really was, but he had just been telling them positive understatements. When the soldier finally tells the truth and says, "Today I killed a man. Yesterday, I helped drop napalm on women and children." Then, his father responds saying, "Please don't write such depressing letters. You're upsetting your mother." This situational irony represents the way society viewed the Vietnam War. No one really knew what was going on over there, and most of them honestly did not want to know. They all wanted to sound interested and concerned about what was happening; however, they did not want to hear the terrible reality of the situation.

"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" ~by John Donne

(#9)
When reading this poem, I found that I did not know what a many of the words in it meant. So...that is where I started. A valediction is a word meaning farewell. The poem describes when one is away from their lover and has to say farewell. Sublunary means of or relating to the earth. "Dull sublunary lovers' love (whose soul is sense) cannot admit absence, because it doth remove those things which elemented it." When the two are geographically apart and forced to make a valediction, they cannot admit that they are apart because of the sadness and mourning it brings. Profanation means having contempt, irreverence, or disrespect. "No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; 'twere profanation of our joys to tell the laity of our love." This line means that when the two are apart, they cannot be sad because it would be disrespectful to simply forget the many joys their love and time together has brought them. Trepidation means tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation. The diction is this poem is used to compare death to leaving a lover. Their valediction is sad; however, mourning is forbidden because what is important is the many good times they shared together rather than the sad moment of their separation.

"I taste a liquor never brewed" ~by Emily Dickinson

(#11)
When first reading this poem, I thought it was simply describing alcoholic intoxication. However, a closer look led me to believe this poem was an extended metaphor. I may be wrong...but I think this poem could be describing a rain cloud. The liquor never brewed could be the rain that never fell and still remains in the cloud. "Not all vats upon the Rhine yield such an alcohol." A vat is a large container used for holding liquids; the Rhine is a river in Germany that connects many different European countries. Clouds hold rain and travel over many different places as they make their way through the sky. Clouds are "inebriate of air and debauchee of dew." They are intoxicated with air, and cause dew to form on the grass every morning. The "inns of molten blue" could be referring to the blue sky. Bees, foxgloves (plants), and butterflies all live because rain water causes the plants to grow and therefore supplying flowers for the bees and butterflies. The phrase "I shall but drink the more" could be describing the way clouds continue absorbing more and more water until it finally rains. The reference to seraphs (angels) and saints reminds the reader of heaven - an image often associated with clouds. "The little tippler leaning against the - sun" could describe the way clouds mix and mingle with one another, and they lean against the sun as they pass over it and block sunlight.

"February" ~by Margaret Atwood

(#8)

The tone of the poem is one of loneliness and bitterness. It is achieved through the way the author describes her cat and the actions of mankind. The cat's behavior is compared to human behavior. The author is showing bitterness toward procreation when she says, "It's all about sex and territory, which are what will finish us off in the long run." She believes mankind is carelessly procreating and not thinking about the problems or consequences that may result. A tone of loneliness can also be seen in the line "February, month of despair, with a skewered heart in the centre." February is the month that contains Valentine's Day, but the author depicts this as a negative and painful time of the year. Perhaps the author is lonely or lost someone she loves, so all she can think of is the bitterness she feels about being alone? The author ends the poem with a call to action telling the cat and mankind to go do something and change their way of life.

"Bright Star" by~ John Keats

(#12)

The speaker is using the star as a symbol for how he wants to live his life. He does not want to be alone like the star "hung aloft the night, and watching, with eternal lids apart." This star is symbolic of the speaker's desire for companionship and to be with the one he loves. He does not want to simply stand back at a distance and watch like the star does to the earth. However, he wants to be like the star in a sense that he is "steadfast" or unchanging. He does not want things to change. He wants to stay "awake forever in a sweet unrest" and be with his lover. Like the star, he wants to spend his lifetime unchanging with his love, "or else swoon to death." He would rather spend forever with his love, or else die right at the peak of happiness with his love. He does not want to be like the star and distanced away from everything else.

"Dream Deferred" ~by Langston Hughes

(#11)
This poem is made up of similes and one metaphor. It discusses the various ways to respond to a dream that has been deferred or put off. If someone has a dream or goal they wish to achieve and someone tells them no or for some reason it is not possible at the time, then what happens to it? This is the point this poem discusses. "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" When some people's dreams are deferred, they simply forget about them over time like a raisin drying up. Other people let the denial of their dream eat away at them until they finally break down and cannot take it anymore; it "fester(s) like a sore - and then run(s)." In addition, some people become bitter and angry when their dreams are deferred. They let the denial sink into them until all they have left is bitterness; in this way it "stink(s) like rotten meat." Yet, others try to sugar coat this deferred dream, so they forget about their lost dream and move on. They make it appear as though it really does not matter; it "crust(s) and sugar(s) over - like a syrupy sweet." Still to others, "it just sags like a heavy load." Some people dwell on their lost dreams and cannot forget about it; they carry it as a burden for the rest of their life because they cannot move on and forget.
..."Or does it explode?" This last line is the one metaphor in this poem full of similes. It is also written in italics as the author's way or emphasizing the importance of this last line. I believe this line could be interpreted a couple of ways. It could be taken to mean that the person, metaphorically, explodes with anger because of their dream deferred. It could also be interpreted to mean that the dream explodes or disappears. Often, if something explodes, then it is instantly destroyed and all traces of it are gone. There could be other ways of interpreting this line too; I am not really sure the correct interpretation? This poem uses figurative language to show the numerous responses to a dream deferred.

"To Autumn" ~by John Keats

(#9)

The purpose of this essay is to provide details and imagery to visualize the season. Every line is filled with descriptive diction of Autumn. "Late flowers for the bees...barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day...gathering swallows twitter in the skies." The word choice describes the beauty of Autumn. These are just a few of the lines that clearly describe a scene of nature. The poem follows the progression through the day beginning with the "maturing sun" and ending with the "hedge-crickets sing[ing]." There were a few words I found while reading that I was unsure of their meaning. The clouds are describes as "barred"; I understood this as a description of the clouds as the sun sets. When the sun sets, the clouds appear barred across the sky with various colors between them. The poem mentions the "river sallows"; these are shrubby willows that grow near water. Also, the poem describes a bird whistling from a "garden-croft" which is a small kitchen garden or farm. These words all contribute to the description and beauty of Autumn; they allow the reader to better form a mental image and appreciate the season.

"Spring" ~by Gerard Manley Hopkins

(#14)

This poem contains two allusions; it references the garden of Eden and Mayday. The allusion to the garden of Eden is in line 10, "A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning in Eden garden. - Have, get, before it cloy." I was unsure what the word cloy meant, so I looked it up and found its meaning to be: to become uninteresting through overabundance. I interpreted this to mean that spring should be enjoyed and cherished while it lasts. The allusion to the garden of Eden also supports this point; Adam and Eve should have cherished their time in the garden rather than wanting more out of it. "Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy." This allusion to Mayday creates a comparison between the innocence of childhood and the hardships later on in life. This poem centers around the idea of new life. When we are young, we are happy and appreciate the simple things in life such as a nice spring day. However, as life progresses we face hardships and our lives become "sour with sinning." These allusions help to show the point the author was trying to convey - spring is beautiful, but like all good things it must come to an end. It cannot stay perfect and beautiful forever, so we must enjoy it while it lasts...we must "get, before it cloy."

"The Widow's Lament in Springtime" ~by William Carlos Williams

(#10)

This poem is filled with imagery and symbolism. The settings are described by colors, plants, and locations. "Masses of flowers load the cherry branches and color some bushes yellow and some red." This description creates a mental image of the yard as the widow sees it. The imagery of the yard and the meadow create a tone of lament. The widow sees her yard and is filled with grief at the loss of her husband. The "plumbtree with masses of flowers" reminds her of the thirty five years she spent with her husband. The meadow is described as being "at the edge of the heavy woods in the distance...white flowers." This imagery is also a symbol. The "heavy woods in the distance" represent the difficult time the widow is going through as a result of her husband's death. The meadow on the other side is representative of moving on past all the grief in order to find the happiness in life again. The trees of white flowers that once brought happiness to her husband and her now only bring sadness. The white flowers on the other side of the heavy woods represent finding that happiness again.

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" ~by Emily Dickinson

(#17)
The structure of the lines in the poem emphasize the sound of the words being used. "Kept treading - treading - till it seemed that sense was breaking through -" The breaks in the line create the sense that someone is walking very slowly. One thing I noticed about the poem is that there is no punctuation other than commas. There are no complete sentences, no periods, and numerous unfinished lines. The lines are broken up into short fragments that do not end; this form creates a sense of uncertainty. The unending lines follow the pattern of a funeral. The first stanza describes the mourners sadly walking or "treading." The second and third stanzas describe the funeral service, as music is slowly played and then the "box" is slowly carried out toward the grave. The fourth stanza mentions a bell and silence; the end of a funeral is often marked by the ringing of a bell as the people process out in silence. The last stanza describes the burial, being lowered down, and the end of it all.

...Personally, I did not really enjoy this poem and thought it was very depressing, but that is just my opinion.

"Those Winter Sundays" ~by Robert Hayden

(#7)
A man is looking back at his childhood, and he is regretting all the times he never thanked his father or acknowledged the kind deeds he had done for him.

Hayden describes the way his father woke up early every Sunday to warm the house for them. He uses description and imagery to describe the way his father would get up in the "blueblack cold" of the night and go start a fire. He describes hearing the "cold splintering, breaking" as the warm fire wood crackled and burned through the cool night air. I think this poem is expressing the regrets he is feeling about the way he treated his father. "Speaking indifferently to him, who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well." Hayden lists the many ways his father was helpful to him during his childhood and how he had taken for granted everything he did. Hayden is looking back with sadness and regret because he never gave his father the thank you he deserved. He always expected his father to do these things, so he never acknowledged them as important acts of kindness.

Perrine's "The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry"

Overall, I agree with Perrine's approach to poetry. However, I do not agree on one aspect of his interpretations. He bases the "correct" interpretation off of which one can account for all the details. When reading the Emily Dickinson poem, Perrine proves that his interpretation is correct, but no one else shared this same opinion. Everyone else interpreted this poem to be about a garden or a meadow, but Perrine proves them wrong. This is the point I disagree with. If everyone reads the poem and interprets it the same way, then how can they all be wrong? If every reader interprets it wrong, then clearly the author does not specifically state the poem's meaning. Therefore, the author writes it expecting for everyone to interpret a different way, so how can there be a right and wrong way? If the author wanted everyone to read it and to interpret it "correctly," then they would have written it that way. The author's ambiguity allows the reader to create their own interpretation.

Reading this article has changed the way I think about interpreting poems. Instead of assuming the first thing that comes to mind is correct, it made me look closer at the poems. It made me re-read them in order to pay attention to small details that may have been overlooked. The first time I read the poem "The Night-March," I thought it was about an army. I never would have guessed that it was actually about stars. I thought the poem was describing the soldiers moving quietly through the dark. I assumed that was the "correct" interpretation, so I did not pay attention to the words like "beaming," "bright," "gleam," "twinkling," and "shining" which all describe stars. Reading this article has helped me to re-read and pay closer attention to details in poems. It has also helped me to consider different interpretations other than the first one I think of.