The Cat in the Vase

To whom this may concern,

For my creative poetry project, I decided to create a series of scenes that popped in my head for William Carlos Williams’, Poem “As the Cat”. As I read the poem aloud repeatedly, I could hear the tone of suspense, and almost-chaotic. To me, Williams conveyed an innocent, genuine scene that aims to a younger and fun audience; more specifically children. Moreover, an older reader can also build a connection to this poem.

With that, it inspired me to use bold and bright colors that can capture the audience. I choose to depict the cat as a black figure because I want the cat to stand out, but also so that others can picture their own preference of a cat. Leaving them curious, much like a cat’s personality. The song “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat” also helped set the mood for the scenes. The song is rather funky. In my opinon, I feel like it conveys the behavior of a cat very well.

Perhaps, my audience can see themselves as the cat in the images above. In the first and second tercet, “As the cat / climbed over / the top of / the jamcloset / first the right / forefoot… (Lines 1-6)” The cat is faced with a large obstacle. Yet, because cats have gifted abilities, the cat builds the strength and force to reach such high heights. Connecting back to the reader, although the challenge and obstacle is difficult, they should be like a cat. Confident, and moving with swift, ease. In my head, the cat must have observed the surface of the jamcloset, until it got bored. So, it curiously makes it way to the other side. The last tercet, “…into the pit of / the empty / flowerpot (Lines 7-9),” leads to the cat clashing against another obstacle. Will the cat remain in the empty, flower pot or will it decide to leap out? Going back to the reader, the person can face the new challenge and make it work, or they can overcome it again.

Much like the cat in Williams’ poem, I found it challenging to come up with something that mirrors the poem. However because I tackled my challenge with ‘confidence and ease,’ it transitioned to something fun. As of right now, I am inside the empty, flower vase. Where I am comfortable, and will reside for a while. Just like cats, sometimes what makes others uncomfortable, may be comfortable to us.

Sincerely,

Evelyn Hernandez

Antonio Lopez’s interview was so inspiring and heart-felt. Every word he spoke sent chills down my spine. The way he delivered himself was very powerful and unique; something that I do not see often. To me, his superpower is poetry and writing overall. It is quite obvious that poetry is his natural talent, and his language which I find it fascinating. One thing during his interview that stuck with me is the way he views poetry. Antonio Lopez mentions that many people think of poetry as something from the Renaissance Era and nothing more.

Like in many of his poetry, Antonio Lopez displays his understanding of poetry and politics in “Triptych of the Adobe-Cotta Army” This poem really is one of my favorites. The choice of diction helps the readers, like me, visualize what exactly is being interpreted in the poem. Lopez includes politics by defining the effects of gentrification in his poem. In the interview, he highlights that he can only speak in poetry. Referring back to the way people view poetry, generally, he strives to communicate the conflicts and problems within the community through poems. He wishes to demonstrate that it is possible. In Triptych of the Adobe-Cotta Army, it displays Antonio’s view of how gentrification impacted the community, his family, his home.

Another important thing that Antonio Lopez included in his interview is that we, the low-class minority, need to attend Ivy League colleges or achieve education overall. That we should go against the title that the higher class gives, and change it.

Evelyn Hernandez

“More Gentefication, Less Gentrification..”

After rereading the prompt for today’s blog, it reminded me of my favorite Netflix show called, Gentefication. To make it short, Gentefication consists of Mexican-American cousins working together to help support and save their immigrant grandfather’s taqueria from the claws of gentrification.It is not only the taqueria that is in risk of shutting down, but also neighboring grocery stores, bars and corner markets.  This takes place in Boyle Heights, giving insight on how gentrification not only affects the community and its culture, but also the hardship that is yet to come. Gentefication is a play on word of gentrification. ‘Gente’ in Spanish translates to ‘people.’ This show is a replica to what is going now– in real life; in the present.

Antonio Lopez is a victim of gentrification, much like many other families. His craftmanship of poetry is an amazing representation of what it is really like. His poem, Triptych of the Adobe-Cotta Army, delivers and conveys the raw emotions Lopez felt during these tough times. Lopez uses diction that may be considered “foul language” or “inappropriate.” How can one really deem this as “inappropriate” after what has happened to him and his family? A person who has never experience, should not try to have a say in this whatsoever. Lopez begins the poem with strong imagery, “My fingers are desperate / to unearth the ruins / of my countrymen (Lines 1-3.)” The countrymen is a representation of the victims. The second tercet continues what he discovered, “Only to find a Tesla / on the second floor / of our apartments (Lines 4-6),” and line 7, “— now a parking garage.” What was once homes to many families, is now a contributing factor to what has ruined, damaged and perhaps killed the soul, the livelihood, of what made the community great.

Another part of the poem that stood out to me, “Consider the clotheslines as a bandolier (Line 51).” In the poem, line 51 is separated from the following tercet stanza, which builds suspense. The two following, tercets “slung over ruined soldiers, / who’s uniforms still cling /  onto apartment balconies / Quien cedieron sus tierras / to raise the wrinkled flags / of blusas and neon vests (lines 52-57).” A bandolier is a piece of fabric, latched across the chest and body of a solider that carries ammunition. This reminds me of the Mexican-American War that resulted in Mexico handing over the Mexican Cession, and the Treaty of Hidalgo as evidence. Lopez ties the connection between the war and the present, as many families like Lopez’ have to struggle abundantly in order to survive. Many taking most jobs as laborers. It is as if Lopez is comparing gentrification and the community of “Latinidad” to battle of his ancestors and the “white forces” that long fought on the same land– many, many years ago.

Lines 64-66 holds a big impact overall, in my opinion. It goes like this, “All to nurse the newborn / with this vision, / Una vida mejor (Lines 64-66).” Lopez hits the target; the reasoning as to why so many immigrants from Mexico come here to the United States. Children of immigrants parents, are taught at a young age, that living here in the United States is the key to a better life. How can this be a better life if people like Antonio Lopez, are forced to flee their homes because they cannot meet their (those wanting to ‘improve the community) definition of what makes them a responsible citizen? They work day and night, having little to no sleep, to make ends meet and simply that is not enough?

The article published by Los Angeles Times, highly discusses why second-generation or the generation with college education, must give back to the communities they came from. Why our gente should help the community and keep the soul alive, to prevent gentrification from clashing down on the them.

Evelyn Hernandez

The Devil Inside Us?

In both poems, Abecedarian Requiring Further Examination of Anglikan Seraphym Subjugation of a Wild Indian Rezervation and My Brother at 3 A.M., written by Natalie Diaz depict the harsh experiences that the indegenous had to go through. The one I decided to focus on was, My Brother at 3. A.M. 

In My Brother at 3 A.M., the poem revolves around a mother being awaken by her weeping son on her doorstep. There is constant repetition of “He sat cross-legged, weeping on the steps/

when Mom unlocked and opened the front door” and the time of it taking place at 3 A.M. Diaz conveys imagery by using diction on describing the brother’s “lips [that] flickered with sores.” The connection between the lips and the mom asking the brother “on what [is he] on” clearly displays that there is some drug abuse going on. It’s been known for a while that the Indigenous people abuse alcohol and drugs to cope with their past experiences, the stress and living situations.

Reflecting on Diaz’s 2018 interview, and her reflection of not having the ability to “be fully in [her] body” relates to the brother in the poem. The brother did not have permission to fully experience his body, allowing the drug to take over his body. Adding on, the time 3 A.M., is also known for it to be the “Devil’s Hour,” where spirit entities and demons alert humans that their presence is here. The brother perhaps thought he was seeing the devil, but in reality is his mind playing tricks on him.

What really stood out to me was the ending. Where the mother realizes that she’s looking at the “hellish vision” of her son.

Evelyn Hernandez

Bland Life

Given the video, it saddens me that many Japanese-Amerians  had to deal with the criticism and backlash from others. Rather than realizing from the outside perspective, Americans immediately assumed that ALL Japanese-Americans were dangerous and not trustworthy.

The poet, Yotenshi Agari, really caught my attention because in the passage, it informs that he gre mums in Central California. Mums —which withhold different symbolisms across cultures— represents rebirth and enduring life. The haiku poem is, “Moonlit summer sky/ same black houses/ standing in rows.” The imagery invoked in the haiku poem captures the horrendous, daily life that these internees experience. They had no other freedom to go elsewhere. Referring to the video, they attempted to bring life and excitement by bringing education, religion and agriculture.

Line 1, “Moonlight summer sky” clearly tells the audience that the poem takes place at night. Like many other internees, Agari would most likely stay up during the night, probably reminiscing his life before being held at the camps. The lines that really stood out to me were lines 2 and 3; “Same black houses/standing in rows (Line 2 and 3),” Agari gives off a solemn, monotonous tone, clearly telling us, the audience, that there was nothing else. That there is nothing else but the moonlit summer sky, that casts it’s rays onto the “same” houses. The “same” harsh conditions. Again, referring to the video, the internees attempted to “build a community.” So, I believe that Agari was trying to build a “sense of community.” Much like in most neighborhoods, there are rows of homes, all build with similar structures.

Evelyn Hernandez

A Little of Us In Everyone

During our discussion on Walt Whitman’s “I Sing the Body Electric,” I realize it is more than just  a ‘long poem.’ Walt Whitman vividly goes into depth on describing every individual. After reflecting on the poem, he describes both ‘men’ and ‘women’ equal. There is no discrimination of either or. Each line/stanza possesses a big impactful purpose on the audience. It allows the audience realize that life is just a cacophony. However, behind that cacophony, is something beautiful and unique, whether we fully understand it or not. I believe Whitman purposes to question ourselves yet how we view the world.

Luis Alberto’s Ambroggio’s “We Are All Whitman #2: Song/of/to My/Your/Self” possesses the importance of every individual and how all are unique, similar to Whitman. Ambroggio highlights the different cultural backgrounds, the skin color and how everyone is the same yet different. It was a struggle to read as well. Rather than specifically focusing on the human body. Teaches the audience that there’s a little of the soul in every human being. The soul is in every materialistic item, and the way we perceive that item travels to others.

What I really enjoy about the videos is how it demonstrates that each language is beautiful. That really putting emotion can change how we interpret it.

Evelyn Hernandez

Rhythm and Meter

Looking at the titles of the poems firsthand, I realized my interpretation was different. It had never occurred to me that it would be a portrayal of woman. To me, “Delight in Disorder,” sounded more of a poem that demonstrated the hues of  blacks, whites and grays within the world from Robert Herrick’s perspective. Whereas, “Still to Be Neat” was revolving Ben Jonson’s focused attention on the world. 

After thoroughly reading over the poems, and taking them into depth, I realized that it was more than that. Both Herrick and Jonson all focus on woman, in such a unique manner. Herrick’s refers the woman as a “sweet disorder in a dress.” Disorder is defined as “putting something out of order.” Herrick symbolism on the woman is a person who is meant to disrupt his daily life. To allure him away with her “tempestuous petticoat.” He gives every inch of her attire a purpose to benefit him. The terms he uses describes the lady as if she intended on doing so. 

In Jonson’s poem, he holds a similar lens on woman. Jonson seems to focus on more of what she is always doing, than rather the attire she wears. The narrator notes that she is always “still to be powdered, still perfumed.” The woman is someone who is always well-dressed no matter what. What caught my eye was lines 10 to 12. He views the woman as a person to complete the act of lust. Where the woman “strike [his] eyes but not [his heart].”

Both poems kind of connect to the history of woman and how they were treated. Today, woman are still facing certain conflicts without being sexualized in any manner.

Evelyn Hernandez