Journal #16

-Villanelle-

What is a Villanelle?
A Villanelle is a type of poem that entered poetry in the 19th century. The villanelle has 19 lines, 5 stanzas of three lines and 1 stanza of four lines with two rhymes and two refrains. The 1st, then the 3rd lines alternate as the last lines of stanzas 2,3,and 4, and then stanza 5 (the end) as a couplet.

Structure:
line 1 - a - 1st refrain
line 2 - b
line 3 - a - 2nd refrain
line 4 - a
line 5 - b
line 6 - a - 1st refrain (same as line 1)
line 7 - a
line 8 - b
line 9 - a - 2nd refrain (same as line 2)
line 10 - a
line 11 - b
line 12 - a - 1st refrain (same as line 1)
line 13 - a
line 14 - b
line 15 - a - 2nd refrain (same as line 2)
line 16 - a
line 17 - b
line 18 - a - 1st refrain (same as line 1)
line 19 - a - 2nd refrain (same as line 2)

Example
Musical and sweet, the villanelle,
like light reflected in a gentle rhyme,
moves to the ringing of a silver bell,

Its form creating soft and tender spells.
Like the singing of distant silver chimes,
musical and sweet, the villanelle
 
Flows through the heart, and builds a magic spell
from sunlight and from shadows, and, sublime,
moves to the ringing of a silver bell.
 
It never arcs into the sharp loud yell
of vast pipe organs. Soft its climb.
Musical and sweet, the villanelle,
 
Like a tiny and translucent shell
catching sunlight in the summer time,
moves to the ringing of a silver bell.
 
Soft and gentle, tender and so frail,
like light pouring through petals of the lime,
musical and sweet, the villanelle
moves to the ringing of a silver bell.

Sondra Ball
(Poem title unknown)
______________________________________

My attempt at a Villanelle...

It is the day

It is the day
To the beginning of the rest of my life
The beginning to the choices and decisions I will  make

Its forming like a storm in the desert
So rapidly and fast moving
It is the day

These decisions will have impact on my life
It will tell me where I am to go
To the beginning of the rest of my life

Suddenly everything is in my hands
Not of others, simply all  mine
It is the day

It is my opportunity to change my life
For what I would like it to be
To the beginning of the rest of my life

It is my time to have control
Of where I will be taking myself in life
It is the day
To the beginning of the rest of my life

Journal #15

-"WHAT IS" Poem-

Childhood

It is the first step
The beginning
The start
To the rest of your life

Filled with constant adventure
A time of learning
Mistakes are made
But only to be learned from

It is a time to enjoy
Since only done once
It is hard to forget

The memories stay to be remembered

This is childhood

Not the greatest, but hey I tried!

Three Found Poems

For my poems I choose them using a common theme, Paris. I choose this theme because I would love to travel to Paris, France one day in my lifetime. By choosing the poems it gives me descriptions and outlooks on what Paris would be like and make me feel as though I am much closer than I actually am to being there.

1.

Paris in Spring

The city's all a-shining
Beneath a fickle sun,
A gay young wind's a-blowing,
The little shower is done.
But the rain-drops still are clinging
And falling one by one --
Oh it's Paris, it's Paris,
And spring-time has begun.

I know the Bois is twinkling
In a sort of hazy sheen,
And down the Champs the gray old arch
Stands cold and still between.
But the walk is flecked with sunlight
Where the great acacias lean,
Oh it's Paris, it's Paris,
And the leaves are growing green.

The sun's gone in, the sparkle's dead,
There falls a dash of rain,
But who would care when such an air
Comes blowing up the Seine?
And still Ninette sits sewing
Beside her window-pane,
When it's Paris, it's Paris,
And spring-time's come again.
      

Sara Teasdale

Links:
Poem: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/paris-in-spring/
Picture: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-49751293/stock-photo-spring-in-paris-bloomy-cherry-tree-and-the-eiffel-tower-focus-on-flowers.html


Sara Teasdale is a well known American Poet. I became aware of this poem by searching the internet and coming across Poem Hunter. Her poem was among many but stood out to me because of its theme, Paris. I like the strong descriptions and how she uses old english due to its early publication. Since finding her poem I have become to respect and admire her words.

This poem is describing spring time in Paris. Wind is blowing, rain drops still clinging, and leaves are growing green. Sara gives great descriptions of spring time in Paris. She illustrates using words to describe the appearance and weather in Paris at the time. She captures you and causes you to create your own picture through with her deep descriptions.


__________

2.

Paris I adorent

France, her mystery
Her history
Around each corner
A story unfolds

The quiteness of La Seine
The elaborateness of Le Tour Eiffel
Paris I adorent
As it is you I explore
We have developed rapport

En Paris ces't ma couer
En Paris ces't ma maison

One day we will meet again
One day we will meet again

Peter LeBuhn    

Links:
Poem: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/paris-i-adorent/
Picture: Google Images


The poem "Paris I adorent" is very interesting. Peter LeBuhn uses both English and French as the language in the stanza's. Paris is a very historic city and by his words it proves this.
                                                 "France, her mystery
                                                  Her history
                                                  Around each corner
                                                  A story unfolds"
In the city around each corner stories unfold from centuries of events. This is one of the main reasons why I would like to visit the city. This history fasinates me. I would love to explore the history in the city and be apart of the culture. There beautiful structure,  Tour Eiffel, would be a dream to see both during the day and at night.

I like how Peter LeBuhn talks about all the history that is filled in the city, all the exploring to be done and the elaborateness of the Eiffel Tower.


__________

3.
                                                            
A Trip to Paris

To enjoy a day Paris
Must be like an eternity in the clouds
One day I hope to my girl there, my little heirs
Go to the Tower, just shout “I love Paris” aloud

Although this maybe my first time here
I feel like I’m home, like I know this country
I know there are some dark places and alleys but I have yet to support fear
This is such a beautiful place, I’m glad it accepts me

As the sun goes down the night skies fill with promise

The stars are no help as the rays from their brightness illuminates the eyes of the river ways
Everything about this land seems too good to be true, she’s just so honest
Set up the way she wants to be makes me so happy I can’t see myself leaving this place.


A Tribute to Paris

Boonk Jackson

Links:
Poem: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-trip-to-paris/
Picture: Google Images

I choose this poem because I feel a connection through the words "Although this maybe my first time here I feel like I’m home, like I know this country". I have many friends and family which live in France, some even in the city of Paris. Although it would be my first time in Paris I wouldn't feel as lonely and lost as I would be if I didn't have the family and friends there. I would have a sense of "home" with them being there.

I enjoy this poem by Boonk Jackson. He describes Paris as a beautiful place, the brightness illuminates the river ways and he can't see himself leaving Paris.

I have to agree with him with not wanting to leave. There is so much information and history in Paris that you wouldn't be able to leave without seeing it all. Constant museum's and tourist attractions, you'd be busy for days!

Great poem!

Journal #14

-Morning Haiku's-

1. The sun is shinning
    Brighter then the eye can see
    Beauty day in May

2. Running in the wind
    Birds flying over myself
    Morning sun shinning

3. Eyes open widely
    Morning sun blinding
    Days beginning soon

Journal #13

-Protest Poem-

Dawn To Dark Night

They work
They fight
They hurt
Everyday from dawn to dark night

Pains and sores take
Crys and screams take
Happiness and family taken
Childhood taken

Fear fills the eyes
Of the young
The innocent
Little children

A nightmare
Far from a dream
A life unwanted
A life for no child

They work
They fight
They hurt
Everyday from dawn to dark night

Journal #12

-Attic, Ice Cream, Pants-


One afternoon, Sally and Joe were stuck inside due to the rain outside. They decided to adventure up into the attic to look around. Neither of them have ever been up their before. Together they go up the dusty stairs, and turn the handle on the door to the attic. Inside is black, except for the slight beam of light coming in from the window. They look around, some boxes here and there, a rocking chair and some old sports equipment. Everything seemed to be aged and outdated. Sally and Joe begin go through some of the boxes and start to find some interesting treasure. Sally finds a box of clothes, possibly some of her dads or grandpa's old thing, and puts on a pair of atrocious green pants. "Joe, Joe, check these out!" said Sally. Joe looks at Sally, sees her in those ugly pants and laughs so hard he falls down right into the rocking chair. "You look so silly" said Joe. "These pants are probably a million years old! They are huge and such a horrible shade of green! Yuck!" said Sally. The pants dragged on the floor collecting dust and whatever else was laying on the attic floor. Together, Sally and Joe, continue to look through the treasure in the attic. The afternoon is passing, and the rain is starting to dry up. Sally suggests to go outside to get some fresh air and to use some of the equipment they found in the attic. The outside is fresh, the smell of rain is strong and the puddles are slightly filled with water from the afternoon rain. Sally and Joe play in the drive way with their treasure that they found and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. The local ice cream truck goes by and the two friends get a treat to end their day of fun.

Journal #11

-2 themes in "Of Mice and Men", LONELINESS & DREAMS-

Loneliness: Many characters in "Of Mice and Men" admit to loneliness. George has confessions of loneliness early in the novel. George reminds Lennie that the life on the ranch is among the loneliest of lives. Other characters in the novel Candy, Curley's wife and Crooks all confess their loneliness. Candy is lonely because he is physically handicapped and cannot do that same things that other men do on the ranch. Crooks appears lonely in the novel due to the colour of his skin, he is singled out from the others and is put in a seperate bunk. Each of the characters have no friends to interact with and they have to interact and express their loneliness with strangers. In this book there are many reasons as to why the characters are lonely, each character posses characteristics which everyday people can relate too.


Dreams: The characters in the novel at some point express their dream of a different life. In the novel Curley's wife confesses her dream to be a movie star, Crooks has a dream of hoeing a patch of garden on Lennie's farm one day, and George's dream is of owning a couple acres. Each character in the book had their own set of dreams but none of them actually come true.

Journal #10

-A strange day in July.."He threw with all his might, but the third stone came skipping back"..-

The water did not move, not a ripple in the water. Silence acorss the entire lake. How is it that it came back to the boy? He threw the stone with all his might, but somehow it came directly back at him. The boy walked towards his beach house, a beautiful lanscape surrounding the house, flowers and toys scattered around the front lawn. He sat on a rock outside of the beach house, to ponder what has just occured. He sits, sky is blue and the sun is the brightest of the day. He sits and thinks of all the possible reasons this could of occured. Maybe the wind was strong, and it just came straight to me? The boy relaizes that it was indeed windy, but not windy enough to carry a rock. The boy looks frustrated and incredibly puzzled. He walks towards the water, strips his clothing and sets it on the sandy beach. He stands, naked, mid-day, on the shore of the lake. He watches the water, a ripple begins to form. A tall flops out of the water, beautiful purple and blue designs. He runs in the water, goes under, opens his green eyes and see's nothing. Dissapointment crosses the boys face. The boy thinks he has frightned this creature, and decides to wait and see if it will appear again. Tredding water, deep in the lake, water just warm enough to be comfortable. He looks into the distance, sun beams on his face, he see's nothing but the boats in the distance. The boys gives up and proceeds back to the shore. Sits down in the sand beside his clothing and watches the water. Eyes not blinking, just waiting to discover what has caused his rock he threw to come skipping back.