paint me.

Jocelyn Lemus

“untitled.”

the sensation of being in a box full of polluted air killing the soft lungs inside me. 

my hands full of wet blisters peeling, como las naranjas frescas de un árbol.

the sensation of fire dripping from my forehead, oh no! that is just sweat.

my back aching from the hunches, nunca como el dolor de una madre dando luz.

the sensation of what we call “pain” eating at our fresh like if there was no tomorrow. 

my family, they are who i dig floors for, los que me hacen luchar para seguir.

the feeling of chemicals and oils penetrating my dry skin.

my life is not the one i asked for, pero nunca reniego por lo que Dios me dío.

the world where i cannot be myself without being judge.

cuéntame lo que te hace seguir, y yo te hablo más con detalles.

let me be your immigrant.

let me penetrate my dark and dry feet into the dirt of “your” land.

let me carve my initials on your brown wooden porch.

let me scare you with the color of my skin.

let me wear my hoodie while walking down your street.

let me look at you with my bare eyes, just to scare you away.

i’ll let you assume the worst of me.

i’ll let the world paint me an image of myself.

let me be your favorite American.

let me wear your colors.

let me bleach my skin.

let me eat your apple pies.

let me breathe. 

i am your American now.

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Review:

When we are given information, as humans we either decide to expand on those ideas or to let it be the way it is. Being able to only choose one piece of poetry was incredibly difficult for me because all of them create their own image. Therefore, I decided to implement imitations from five different poems we read and analyzed in this course. These are the top five poems my imitation skills were able to take upon:

“My Brother at 3AM” by Natalie Diaz

“The Tired Worker” by Claude McKay

“To President-Elect” by Javier Zamora

“Mexicans Begin Jogging” by Gary Soto

“Queens, 1963” by Julia Alvarez

To begin with, when creating this poem I used my ability to connect between different poems we did in our class. To give a broader meaning of this imitation I created and gathered up the ideas of free-verse with a pinch of five different poems. It’s like a pizza, with five different toppings, each defining the meaning of the flavor. I mean, who wouldn’t put so many toppings on a pizza?

To elaborate, the reason my imitation defines the original text of those different poem above, it’s because my poem depicts different sets of audiences with inverted meanings. For instance, it gives the perspective of an immigrant worker and their mentality. But, my poem also elaborates to how the perspectives of African Americans. It varies as one reads it. There’s so many meaning to it, one must dig deep to understand. Every single detail matters in a piece of art. This poem demonstrates a modern piece that is able to formulate how immigrants and African-Americans feel about their race and about the way they define themselves. The Spanish translation means a lot when one finishes reading the poem. It shows how those who were not appreciated and accepted for their roots, shifted to Americanization because they believed that was the only salvation to that land.

Now, you may ask how does each poem formulate the imitated poem of mine’s.

Well let me just begin, “My Brother at 3AM” is a symbol of self-identity and I was able to depict that message and shape it onto my poem. I was able to demonstrate how the identity of the poem was extremely changing as one keeps reading it. You go from being yourself to being someone else’s satisfaction just to fulfill their expectations. We hide inside the mask for so long that it becomes a habit. Some times we are strictly told to be this be that, which discourages is to even praise who we truly are. We soon become so overwhelmed by what we are being told, that we decide to glue on the mask onto our face, so we don’t get the urge to take it off and show our real self because of judgement and discrimination.

For the next three poems, “The Tired Worker,”To President-Elect, and “Mexicans Begin Jogging” these elaborate the imitation onto my poem by giving the perspective of an immigrant with or without papers. My poem describes how one is being asked to be in such land without being oppressed by it. It’s about being able to ask for acceptance of who they are and being giving it. All these poems shape my imitation because, “The Tired Worker” talks about how one is so stuck in the norms of their life, which is to work and work. That’s how an immigrant feels in America, like as if their days have no difference. This also refers to the poem of “Mexicans Begin Jogging” because even though someone has papers, they aren’t considered American either. As much as that person wants to believe it, society doesn’t allow it. They are forbidden to become any type of American. And, “To President-Elect” that was also another imitation onto my poem, because this one refers to how one has to run and has to survive the biggest pieces of life in order to keep going. My poem demonstrates how one is running, but they stop due to society and their expectations.

The last connection and imitation that I dedicated to my poem was given from “Queens,1963.” I became inspired when this poem talked about the oppression the black people felt inside a community of whites or other races that were not so dark skin. My poem gives out the imitation of this poem because I elaborate on how blacks are not welcomed to walk down the street of certain communities because they are seen as a target and a threat.

I used my ability to implement strategies into my poem in order to master the imitation. Even though it’s not perfect, I tried implementing figurative devices into the free-verse, and I’ve give it an audience and I used third person to make it seem as more serious among the reader.

La im stly, one may noticed that the title of this poem is “untitled.” The reason why I decided to title my poem this way it’s because it shapes the meaning of the poem. It allows the reader to understand that when one person goes through discrimination and/or oppression in so many ways, it is so much harder to find a way out of it. We try to pin the needles into our skin in order to figure out how to sow the pieces of what and who we really are. It wasn’t always about the way we view ourselves, but about the way the world viewed us. As humans we stand in a position where if society doesn’t accept us, then no one will, not even ourselves. Being untitled is where I stand if I don’t fit in any culture, not even on my own roots then why even try.

Acceptance was our salvation.

 

to evaluate.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

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When we write, our minds are build upon differently allowing us to express our ideas and comparing it to others. Which to leads me to evaluating the three blog posts noted down:

Tropic Shadows: A-

White America: B-

and

The Great Divided: B-

Even though every single person was capable of writing and evaluating the analysis of each of Claude McKay’s piece, they all hit that particulate criteria where they were super close to having everything jot down. I’ve noticed that everyone did an amazing and true effort of getting into the point and digging some of those ideas that just come out instantly. However, I must say that the blog post of Tropic Shadows certainly shaped the idea of everything that should be mentioned. This person was able to bring in particular ideas that were not that mentioned. There was so much detail that was able to be seen with an instant. For example, this person was able to use a well written and well structured blog posts that shaped it with the importance of McKay’s piece alone.

In addition, the reason I I gave the other two blog post a solid B or B minus was because they were able to correlate everything together from each of the and analysis of the McKay’s piece but they were also missing some criteria that allowed them to have a better grade. Don’t get me wrong all of these people did an amazing job and the blog post but I feel like they could’ve been having it a little bit more detail with new ideas they were not always straightforward to find I feel like they could’ve elaborated more they can make connections with the outside world. overall everyone did a good job as I was reading the blog post, but they could’ve been like a bit more of a detail and emphasis of what they were trying to say which will lead them to make a better and more understanding of the text.

to live is to feel.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

As my eyes rest the wonderful feelings the body can perceive, they also feel the worse types of emotions the body cannot handle. Some days, my body wants to feel the day, but on others my body just wants to be glued onto my bed. Life is a tough journey full of responsibilities that prevent you from feeling or doing what you look forward to. time is your mortal enemy when you need it the most. When reading and deeply analyzing “Outcast” and “The Tired Worker” by Claude McKay, I found myself feeling the despair and lonely emotions described in both sonnets. McKay was able to grab into the ideas of a person who was extremely exhausted and unsatisfied about his or her life and shape it into a significant sonnet. The tones in these two sonnets release frustration and desperation for peace and relaxation. Having to beg for sleep and/or peace is the worst feeling humans feel on the daily basis. Being so tired, but yet not given the chance to rest it out, not even with a chance of sleep formulates the descriptions in these poems. 

To answer the question, I do believe that both sonnets by McKay do give signs of hopelessness and despair of the working class because they both give so much detail within the structure of the sonnet alone.

To elaborate, the sonnet “Outcast” emphasizes how a human can live freely, but not really when it comes to facing the realities of life and how one shall work to get where they want to be at. McKay also mentions “Something in me is lost, forever lost”(9). This shapes the sonnet because it demonstrates that the working conditions during this time of period made the workers lose it. By that, I mean that workers became so dull and immune to the feeling in their daily work. This is significant because as humans we are supposed to work for what we like and how we do it. However, McKay is painting a picture for us in order to understand the working conditions of that period of time. For instance, this sonnet also emphasizes, “Under the white man’s menace, out of time” (14). When McKay decided to finish his poem with this last line, I was captivated by the type of remorse my body levitated. This is a powerful line because it shows how the working class definitely went through a dark hole of hopelessness and despair as they were exposed to that type of environment.

In addition, the other sonnet “The Tired Worker” also elaborate how the life of the working classes faces the emotions of loneliness with lack of hope. McKay gives us visuals with a rhythm that rhymes in order for us to determine the underlying message. Not only that, but we are given the ability to feel what the is being described. The use of exclamation points gives a significant emphasis because it allows me or the reader to recognize the emotions of the worker. The feeling of “let me out of this cage” or “may I see the day and look forward to it.” However, this sonnet describes it as “O let me rest / Weary my veins, my brain, my life!”(12-13). Having to beg the beauty the world can perceive detects how damage a person can be. How is it that we beg the spiritual world for our internal pain instead of the people around us? This sonnet clearly indicates the desperation that the working class is experiencing on how they tend to lose the hope of having a better life. This is a powerful piece because it gives a tone of the need to want something that is not possible to obtain.

Therefore, McKay’s “Outcast” does represent the hopelessness and despair of the working-class speaker in “The Tired Worker.” They both seek the need and the want of a better life among the problems they are facing. These two sonnets indicate how they are both trying to find a better version of life that does not hold them back the way their working conditions do.

let me speak.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

Whenever one thinks of a sonnet, they automatically hear “oh! a simple poem.” However one should never push away the difference both a sonnet and a poem carry within the message they are trying to convey. A sonnet is more like a guide with rules to structure a poem and a poem is a way of being more open and free of creative writing. When reading and seeing William Shakespeare’s sonnet “my mistress’s eyes are nothing like the sun,” perform by Catherine Tate, I automatically saw a deeper message using the ability of a tone. Tate’s tone became aggressive and frustrating as she was saying in the clip. This is significant because it demonstrates how the sonnet is being brought into the real world. It is not only said, but shown with the expressions the mouth can perceive. Shakespeare does an splendid job when he is trying to embrace the message of the sonnet because he is capable of use words and manipulate the movement of the mouth along with it.

As I was analyzing the sonnet and comparing it to Tate’s mouth movement and emotional tone, I was able to find the emphasis in her words. For example, when she says, “If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun” (line 3). This becomes a vivid and colored line because with the help of Tate’s tone of her voice, she is able to take this phrase and make it hers. Tate was able to enhance the performance of this sonnet because her facial expressions were able to give in the meaning of the sonnet. Not only was that line a vivid one, but also, “My mistress’eyes are nothing like the sun” (line 1). This is also an important because Tate was able to grab this phrase and turn not only into a ray of sunshine, but the entire light alone. Her voice becomes a shape, a loud and strong shade that has no capacity to exist in any dimension.

In the video, one can clearly see Tate’s frustration develop as she recited the sonnet. Her change of tone shifts extremely quickly from how she began to how she ended it. She said it with so much speed, the heavens couldn’t even listen to every word she was saying. Her accent became thicker and her facial expression became more aggressive as if she wanted the English teacher to not just see her, but she through her. Every skin of the sonnet meant something to her, just like it meant something to Shakespeare. Her way of expressing the sonnet became louder and louder making it more possessive and appealing.

Tate was able to grab Shakespeare’s sonnet and make it hers. She made some magic with it using her lips and her tone, only to make it beautiful and persuading.

“you won’t be seeing me again.”

By: Jocelyn Lemus

The world shifts from dimension to dimension in order to find who to target next. Who shall be the victim of the day? Who shall feel this day more? Who shall remember every breath and every touch of this day? A day can change your life, it can change you. Being a nine-year-old boy, Javier Zamora an undocumented Salvadorian poet crossed the U.S.Mexican border in order to get where he is at now. A graduate from UC Berkeley and an inspirational poet. When reading his famous poem, “To President-Elect” I felt this cold breeze flow between my ears and inside my chest. The sensitivity of the topic bruises just like a peach, so softly and so quietly. He was able to implement so many straightforward a and hidden messages in this piece.

Initially, when I first read the poem I was extremely amazed by how Zamora was able to structure his poem differently and uniquely. So many important messages stood out to me when seeing and analyzing this poem as I read it. For instance, he begins his poem with anaphora, repeating the word “there’s” (1)  three times in the beginning. This is significant in the poem because it provides an enormous emphasis to the tone of this piece. The tone become extremely sympathetic and dominant at the same time. This strategy allows the reader to focus into tying up ideas together. Not only that, but one phrase that caught my attention, not with what was asked, but how it was written caught my naked eye. When he states, “¿no one’s running?” (2). This stood out to me because originally, there are two question marks when using Spanish language instead of English. As you see here, Zamora used both languages and literary cultures together to question in his piece. This relates to bi-cultural and bi-language aspects in his poem. There is so much meaning within the poem and it just becomes to difficult to analyze it in such limited time. One more thing that also gives the poem power and meaning is when Zamora includes the phrase, “sobreviviste bicho, sobreviviste carna” (8). This last line is essential to acknowledge because he inputted an italicized Spanish phrase that shapes his culture. Coming from a Salvadorian family, I was able to relate the way his Spanish works. Most do not know what ”bicho” means. I remember always using it around campus or my friends and many would question what it meant. That word just means, “kid.”  Using this small Spanish phrase demonstrates his appreciation of his culture, giving it more spark to the fire of the piece. 

When analyzing the poem alone and listening to the recitation Zamora gives, I can compare these two in a sense where both were extremely convincing when sending out their powerful message. However, the way he decides to begin this poem in the recitation, caught my attention instantly. In the poem alone, it starts with, “There’s…” but when Zamora was reading it out-loud, he began with, “Congratulations.” Even if just a simple word added in the beginning, it still has meaning and significance because the reader will end up catching the attention faster than expected. The word alone gives the reader an urge to know what is being or who is being congratulated. In addition, another phrase that was said in the recitation and not shown in the poem was, “if you call us alien, you’re equally fucked.” Having this phrase said in the recitation changes the tone giving it more force to the voice alone. This changes the poem because it gives it a big touch on the way the speaker poet feels deeply inside. It gives meaning to the reader and the poem altogether.

To learn and to read and to give and receive even if it is just with the voice or a piece of paper.

the eyes of the mirror.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

Seeing and believing have one thing in common; they are both under one mindset and one soul. In Natalie Diaz’s poem “My Brother at 3 AM” the author is able to relate it to what she quoted on her interview, “to return back to the body because as an indigenous person, as a Latina, as a queer woman, I haven’t been given the permission or the space, to be fully in my body.” I was able to relate this quote because they both share the same idea of the the true trying to fit it into the physical body. It’s about being able to find one’s true colors. This specific poem is extremely important when being compared to this quote because they both demonstrate how a person is trying so hard to find their inner self. Self-love comes from finding your yourself no matter how foggy the road trip to it is, self-love will always be key to its position of being the real you.

To elaborate, this poem is a reference to the return in the body because when you read it, it specifically says how the brother is staring in to the pitch black exterior of the house. The thing is that, there is literally nothing outside. As the poem states, ” The sky wasn’t black or blue but the dying green of night” (14). The brother felt hurt and upset as if the invisible sky has yelled at him for stealing the constellation of stars. This is important because in other time find out true selves, we must block our surrounding because they become a distraction to us. Not only that but this poem also talks about how the brother fears something, something only he is capable of seeing. The poem also mentions, “The devil does. Look at him, over there” (12). This is essential in the poem because the brother is not actually seeing the outside of his house, but he is looking at a mirror in front of him. He is scared of his true self, he sees a demon overpowering his own body, his own soul. This relates with social identify because the brother has not found himself in a sense where he’s actually found his enemy, the side that society sees him, which are the norms of cliché stereotypes. Not only that, but the poem also demonstrates how in the end his mother is also able to see that figure and her reaction is speechless. They show fear, as if what they see is not satisfying. The saddest part is that they are seeing themselves through the eyes of the mirror. The meaning of the devil is their indigenous roots not being able to free themselves. This correlates with the silence of self identity because the world forbids them from being their selves. They’ve been rejected so much that even their inner souls wants to reject it too.

Also, Diaz also uses the repetition of stanzas, which also refers to the figurative device of pantoum. This is an important device because it guides the reader into a more empowering message is being sent. She uses pantoum, when she repeats, “Stars had closed their eyes or sheathed their knives” (19 & 22). The use of this device allows the reader to feel the poem more, it gives the reader a picture where they are able to implement their own emotions to it. This poem elaborates so many messages from self-love to self-hatred because of the way society sees us.

within the meaning.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

The creation of poems takes a large space within its true meaning. We must dive in, in order to learn how to swim, it is not just a matter of whether I can just dip my toes into cold water. As reading George Herbert’s poems of “The Altar” and “Easter Wings” my brain had a major debate of which poem demonstrates a more power Christian message. Being able to grab the topic of religion into a master piece of  a poem must have been a challenge for Herbert. Certain topics can become extremely severe and delicate when it can be controversy. I found myself deeply analyzing both poems and coming into conclusion that the two drive Christianity in a different perspective. One takes the religion into a church, while the other one upon the sky. This was extremely important for me because both poems strive a similar, but also different point of views

To begin with, George Herbert’s poem of “The Altar” drives us into a meaningful theme of Christianity from the perspective within an altar. If one focuses extremely closely to how Herbert decided to shape the poem, it is literally the shape of an altar. This talks so much about his imagination and how he created certain details to his poem. An altar is a symbol of a Christian set of table that holds the bread and wine for those who confess. This becomes important because we notice that Herbert begins his poem, “a broken ALTAR”(1). This tiny piece he decided to begin his poem with symbolizes true meaning of his perspective Christianity.  Initially, when we compare the shape of his poem to his first phrase, they seem to give different perspectives. Why is the altar broken inside the poem, but not abstractly? Not only that, but we can also notice how he capitalizes the word “ALTAR” and how the connotation of the word shifts from something soft to something loud. It is as if the poem was shouting at us or as if the religion of Christianity decides to crawl under our skin because it is described as something broke. To continue, another phrase that shows how this poem touches the topic of Christianity was when he mentions, “To praise thy name”(12). This is also about religion because in an altar God is being worshiped and we are being renewed in a religion sense. Herbert’s poem “The Altar” does give a message within the Christian religion.

Furthermore, George Herbert’s poem “Easter Wings” also demonstrates a powerful theme when talking about the Christian religion. First of all, just like his other poem, I found myself questioning the way he decided to shape this piece. As I analyzed its shape after I read the poem, I found myself thinking of either two pairs of wings or two pairs of hourglasses. Herbert begins this poem with a connection that majority of all know about. He begins his poem with the connection from the bible, the piece about Adam and Eve. When he mentions, ” createdst man in wealth and store”(1), this implies how God created them of not actual wealth and not a store but out of nourishment within the kingdom they were offered to stay in. He continues with, “foolishly”(2), which becomes an important term because this explains how the bible describes betrayal within Adam and Eve. The way they were not grateful with what they had, and ended up biting the fruit from the forbidden tree. Herbert continues his poem by elaborating more into detail of the continuation of the tragedy by adding, “with sicknesses and shame. / Thou didst so punish sinne” (12-13). The ideas Herbert keeps implementing into his piece becomes a major part of the Christian religion. This is significant because he uses lots of strategies in his poem in order to guide the connection within its religious theme. One strategy I saw that becomes meaningful was how he mentions, “the flight in me” (10/20) two times and they are in the endings of each stanza. This is important because he really wants the reader to take into consideration that he is implementing a deeper thought with who reads the piece. Whether it is me or him or even you. Therefore, this poem was able to grab the Christian religion and shape it.

So out of both poems, I must say they are both extraordinary in a way where he shapes and connects them from one line to another. However, the one poem that digs deeper into the sense of the Christian religion was “Easter Wings” because in this poem, Herbert was able to make a connection within the pages of the bible. Not only that because he was able to grab those sheets and make it his as he was writing his poem. It takes a big step to include allusions that create a major connection inside the poem. Herbert’s “Easter Wings” was able to grab the biggest story of the bible of Adam and Eve and shape it into the biggest ideas of Christianity. Therefore, I believe that the poem “Easter Wings” sends more of a Christian message.

what we are now.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

We see flowers in the garden, always distinguishing the rose from an ordinary flower that has no name. At least, not most tongues know other types of flowers more like they know the existence of the rose. As reading both poems, “Sea Rose” by H.D. and “The Rose and The Poppy” by Adrianna Puente I was deeply analyzing them trying extremely hard to determine which author uses a more effective symbol of the rose. Honestly, I feel like both poem challenge the true and deep meaning of a rose. They guide the reader into an incredibly effective manner of what is the true meaning of a rose.

To begin with, when reading and analyzing “Sea Rose” the first thing that captured my attention was being able to understand why H.D. chooses to imply the rose into a sea instead of a garden. Roses are normally found in flower shops or a garden at a house, however in this situation the rose is somewhere of a sea, maybe having a journey. From reading this poem, I understood that this specific rose was in a tough situation, as H.D. mentions, “you are caught in the drift” (8). This is symbolic because this connects with the sea and the waves that they give. In this setting, the rose is being held hostage in a stigma of how it should look and what it must symbolize to society as a whole. Roses are normally defined as delicate and glamorous. However, H.D. wants to push the cliche meaning into something more that something soft and soundless. The symbol of the rose in this poem tells a different story of how the actual journey of the rose is actually harsher that some may not yet comprehend. H.D. wants us to picture the rose as something reckless, full of a life that isn’t only satisfying the naked eye. It wants the rose to build its own world where it is seen something more than what it appears to be.

To add on, Adrianna Puente’s poem “The Rose and The Poppy” does not quite share similar ideas to the poem H.D. wrote. When I was reading and analyzing Puente’s poem I found ideas of the rose not symbolizing what everyone already thinks when they see a rose but also how the poppy flower is set to the side. A rose may look like one image, but the poppy also has features and stories that are quite different from the one and the other. Puente emphasizes “not the flower you give to a lover” (4). This is crucial to her poem because it shapes how she wants the reader to understand that as long as I am my kind of flower, I will not fit in to the same categories where the rose defines love and purity. She begins her poem by emphasizing what the the poppy  does not symbolize. However, in her next piece of lines she continues with explaining how the poppy flower and how it should be defined and seen. For instance, Puente mentions “most times I am forgotten” (17). This is important because Puente is emphasizing that people focus so much to the rose that they forget that other types of flowers do exist. In this piece of stanza she shows how the poppy is forgotten because the distractions are set to the rose.

Overall, when reading and analyzing both poems in depth I found myself agreeing more towards H.D.’s poem “Sea Rose.” H.D. was able to target and identify the symbol that the rose gives out. The way this poet was able to challenge the transitional meaning of a rose was different and abstract. This person was able to grab a rose and pin it into a different world that no one cares to see it from. Everyone thinks of a rose as a plant sitting at a garden or inside a flower shop waiting to be bought and appreciated. However, this poem is able to grasp the rose and pick on its petals in order to understand its purpose. Not only that but this poem pushes the rose to certain limits up to the point where it distracts the cliche meanings of it. Therefore, H.D. uniquely challenges the symbol of a rose.

with every breath i take.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

Being able to breathe and read these poems at the same time became difficult. These poems took control of my tongue, of my entire mouth.  There was no pause button as I read, the beat and rhythm of the poems were possessing my body into another dimension. As I was intensely reading both I Sing The Body Electric by Walt Whitman and We Are All Whitman: #2: Song of/to/My/Your/Self by Luis Alberto Ambroggio there is a comparison when they both used their way to manipulate words into an up beat of a rhythm and sound. These two poems carry similarities because they connect with the types of freestyle they used. They were both able to express themselves in these poems like if there wasn’t a forever. Once they began writing and reciting these poems, it seemed like there was no end to it. Being able to pour the whole soul into poems is what I saw coming out of these two poets. Their poems not only took control over the bodies of the audience, but it also took control over the bodies of the writer. The translation of rhythmic enumeration of the body parts in these two poems levitated the soul in one piece. When levitating the soul, I mean to say that the poems became like a concert to the reader, it made the person read intensely as if periods did not existed.

To add on, to specify on the up beats of both poems, these to poets used certain lines on stanzas that incredibly dominated the readers tongue and lungs as they read. For instance, in I Sing The Body Electric by Walt Whitman, he mentions,

“Head, neck, hair, ears, drop and tympan of the ears,

Eyes, eye-fringes, iris of the eye, eyebrows, and the waking or sleeping of the lids,

Mouth, tongue, lips, teeth, roof of the mouth, jaws, and the jaw-hinges”( Whitman 9). 

When I was approaching these lines, I became prepared to take a big ball of air into my lungs because I knew I was not going to have time to breathe in between the lines. For this poem shall not have broken spaces between the lines. I tried reading it like Professor Garcia, with so much to say and so little comes out. As if I was trying to say the last words coming out of my mouth as I took my last breath of being alive. With so much adrenaline and rush coming out of the system. You’d be surprised with the wonders the body is capable of doing.

In addition, Luis Alberto Ambroggio also uses lines that take your breath away unconsciously. For example, in We Are All Whitman: #2: Song of/to/My/Your/Self, he emphasizes,

“This Self is Puerto Rican, Chicano,

from Cuba free dancer of merengues,

from Santo Domingo and all the Caribbean,

from El Salvador and Nicaragua.

It comes from Mexico, Central America,

from Costa Rica, Tikal, Guatemala,

from their rainforests, lakes of salt and honey,

from Panama, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela..”(Ambroggio 5). 

When reading this outloud, it becomes important to say it fast with an intense rythmn, not only because the words take you there, but because the author does too. Ambroggio wants to manipulate us with his words into going fast because when saying all these place and countries he wants us to say it together because that is exactly what he wants the reader to take from it. The ability to not only say these places are united, but to actually feel it in your bloodstream flow across your body.

To wrap it up, both Walt Whitman and Luis Alberto Ambroggio translate each others’ body parts from each poems because they share a similar rhythm and sound. They both use the ability to fasten the beats by multiplicating the commas enhancing the sound of the readers’ voice. Even though, both poems might send in a different message, the beat still demonstrates the similarities of how they are trying to both send the message. They try to get the attention of the reader in order to send the messages through multiples strategies. Therefore, these two poets share the translation of body parts through their poems.

under the skin.

Jocelyn Lemus

When we read poetry, the poem becomes a melody for the ear. It attracts the movement of the mouth and the feelings of the person. As reading both poems, “Still to be Neat” by Ben Jonson and “Delight in Disorder” by Robert Herrick, I felt a shiver on my spine because of the way they both used their abilities to manipulate words.

To begin with, the way Jonson uses his words in his poem becomes realistic as one thinks of art and nature. In his poem, Jonson sees art as something that comes from natural beauty. Natural, meaning a naked face and a pure soul. Something that is free like the wind, something simple. According to Jonson, when a lady wears any type of make-up, “powdered”(Jonson 3) as he mentions, that only demonstrates the formulation of lust and not an attraction to the heart. As he also mentions, “all is not sweet, all is not sound”(Jonson 6) he prefers naturalness, something that he is able to see. Jonson wants to be able to see the person, and see them as a whole. As you can follow the patterns he gives in his poem, it is mostly emphasized as an iambic tetra meter. One can see it because the rhythm of the poem starts slows but eventually speeds up. Jonson describes that the nature of beauty comes from the art that has simplicity in all shapes and sizes.

To continue, on the other poem “Delight in Disorder” by Herrick he mentions how beauty comes from all sorts of things. From a “crimson stomacher” (Herrick 6) to “tempestuous petticoat” (Herrick 10). He brings those objects into life as he describes them. Beauty for him is also the simplicity of an object, maybe even a person. The clothing worn by the person brings out a charm for the naked eye. Something so appealing that does not change no matter how much one glances at it. For him art is the nature that becomes “too precise in every part”(Herrick 14). For Herrick’s poem it is emphasized that there is an iambic trimeter. The reason I kind of believe this is the prosody is because the rhythm of this poem becomes mellow as the poet describes the beauty of clothing women wear. His types of beauty is the one that is brought by nature.

To compare these two poems from each poet, it seems like nature and art are both kind of similar. Both poets give the ability to describe nature and art as something simple and pure. It is something that can appeal the affection of the eye. The tone these two poems have is that they are both being mellow and soft as I read it. It’s as if they were describing the way through a path full of beauty. After all, they are both describing their ideas about art and nature.