I am the Poppy

When I first read this poem while doing the assignment, I was so impressed that I decided to recreate the emotions of the poem exactly as I felt the poem. And that’s what I recreated ‘The Rose and The Poppy.’ The main point of my poem is Poppy. Therefore, I wrote the poem in the shape of a ‘flower’ resembling Poppy. The order of reading this poem is not fixed; the audience can read it as they want.

In the original poem ‘The Rose and The Poppy’, the poet strongly asserts the poppy’s uniqueness in contrast to the rose. Furthermore, the poet explains the original beauty of the poppy. Hence, I compared the various colors of the Rose to the orange color of the Poppy. And I wrote about the uniqueness of the poppy. Additionally, I recreated every beautiful phrase from the original poem as I understood them while reading. For example, the original poem explains the beauty of the rose using the past and the future timeline. I really like this method, because it means the rose is very common and everyone can remember all the moments with their rose. So, I twist this part and emphasize the symbol of the rose, love.

The lines at the top of the flower petals all represent the differences between the Rose and the Poppy. The part corresponding to the stigma of the flower describes the Poppy itself. The lines at the bottom of the petals all highlight the characteristics of Poppy. Particularly, since the original poem does not mention the narcotic addiction that Poppies are known for, I incorporated this aspect to emphasize Poppy’s free will and identity. A poppy is a flower that someday has to wilt and drop its leaves into the ground. So, when someone sees poppies in the field, one can only see the flower and stem. Inspired by this, I wrote the stem section exactly as in the original poem. Because the entire words in the original poem gave me the feeling of the poppy’s personality and free will. In the stem part, while the original poem mentions ‘scenting rooms,’ I changed it to ‘Nature’ to emphasize the free will of Poppy. Since the Poppy is a part of the flower that I mentioned, it cannot last forever. And the feeling that it will wither someday, ‘Rotting into umber,’ is included to capture the essence of the original poem.

~Jisoo Jang

From caterpillar to pupa, and then to butterfly

Upon seeing this poem and its drafts, it became evident how much time and effort the poet invests in crafting poetry. In particular, the evolution from the drafts into the poem “Sometimes the Words are So Close” felt akin to a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. Initially, when writing drafts, the poet writes the words directly from her mind using a pencil and paper. Additionally, she list all the words and sentences she has thought of “for now.” Then, while arranging the sentences, she deletes those that don’t fit the content or feel awkward. This is the impression gained from observing the handwritten drafts. Handwritten drafts convey a rough feeling, similar to cutting a steak into a size fit for eating before cooking. The poet then transcribes these expressed sentences using a typewriter. In this process, she also attempts to remove intentionally “pretentious” sentences and overall reviews the poem. Finally, she presents the poem after undergoing as much completely as possible. She thought the sentence was too pretentious, but she kept it because she realized that it suited the poem well. This was perceived as one process. In fact, upon comparing the drafts and the presented poem, the drafts felt better. This is because she provides insight into the struggles the poet faced while writing the poem and reveal the sentences before revision. Overall, while the poem appears neater and better organized compared to the drafts, giving a clearer sense of what the poet wants to convey, the rough feeling of the drafts was more appealing.

Nevertheless, I must move forward

Claude McKay’s poems “The Barrier” and “December, 1919” may seem to tell different stories at first glance, but they can also be seen as part of one connected narrative. First, examining “The Barrier,” I can see that it is a work that effectively incorporates the woes and sorrows of the Black race, as well as the discrimination experienced due to race. In particular, it describes the power held by whites and the racial discrimination they showed towards Blacks. In this poem, the speaker uses expressions that vivid descriptions of color to explain the differences between races, the discrimination resulting from them, power, and inequality as much as possible. By utilizing contrasts commonly associated with black and white, such as “Dawning,” “Sun-illumined,” “Glowing spark,” and “Dark,” the speaker raises their voice against the discrimination and inequality they face. Additionally, the appearance of “a river reed” suggests that, due to the discrimination and limitations imposed by whites, Blacks must simply flow along with the beautiful voice, like the rustling of reeds in the wind. Furthermore, it is evident that the speaker maximizes poetic expression through various similes.

In “December, 1919,” the speaker emerges as one who misses their mother. Moreover, the speaker desires to cry, but cannot at the moment. It has been ten years since their mother passed away, and like that time, they once again yearn to cry out loud. Here, the speaker emphasizes the continuous flow of tears by depicting them as a fountain, suggesting that their tears keep flowing constantly. But, the speaker cannot cry freely, and the exact reason for this is not explicitly stated in the poem. However, considering “The Barrier” written by the same author, where the speaker fights against racial discrimination and utilizes poetry as a tool to raise awareness of the harms of racial discrimination, one can infer that it is a situation where crying is impossible because of the hardship and hatred towards the world. Nevertheless, tears flow naturally when the faint memory of the mother, who supported and loved them more than anything, comes to mind, making it evident. However, more importantly, considering the current suffering of Black people and their human rights, as well as oppression, I can also understand the speaker’s strong determination, realizing the reason why the speaker cannot shed tears freely. Nevertheless, he must move forward; thus, he cannot shed tears.

Jisoo Jang

Very difficult stories to tell

Personally, since I have never experienced crossing borders myself, I don’t know well how difficult it must have been or how much trauma it might have caused. Javier Zamora clearly addresses my question through his poem, ‘From The Book I Made with a Counselor My First Week of School.’

In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker’s counselor appears, jotting down the story he said. Through this, I learn that he had a grandmother who made great pupusas. A pupusa is a thick griddle cake or flatbread from El Salvador and Honduras made with cornmeal or rice flour, similar to the Colombian and Venezuelan arepa. Through pupusas, I can catch his cultural background. Additionally, the fact that the counselor wrote down the story next to ‘Stick-Figure Abuelita,’ not referring to her as ‘grandmother’ but using the Spanish term ‘Abuelita,’ suggests that the speaker himself drew the picture. From the title and the first sentence, I understand that this is inside a school counselor’s office, where the speaker is sharing his childhood stories and receiving counseling. In the second stanza, stories told by his father and mother are mentioned, always emphasizing to watch out for gringos and to smile. Here, ‘gringo’ is Spanish and it means ‘foreigner.’ This sentence connects with the last stanza and conveys an important meaning. In the third stanza, I recognize how much the speaker struggled to cross the border. Also, the mention of ‘cacti’ in the third stanza is the Spanish word for cactus.

In the fourth stanza, Javier mentions seeing a dead coyote had flies over and emitting a foul smell next to yucca plants and a dried creek. However, the italicized font suggests that the counselor is transcribing what the speaker said. So, the line about Javier’s story is the note that the counselor wrote. Yucca is a plant adaptable to various climates and environments found across the American continent. Therefore, even when the creek dries up and the coyote dies, the yucca can survive. In the last stanza, the counselor prompts the speaker with a question in Spanish, attempting to reassure him and guide him to open up if he has any concerns. However, the speaker, remembering the advice of his parents mentioned in the second stanza, simply smiles to the counselor, the ‘foreigner’, and says nothing. The phrase ‘no animal, I knew that man.’ might be Javier’s own reflection presented in italics, but the consistent use of italics throughout the previous stanzas indicates that is the counselor’s note-taking. And that sentence gives hints at the possibility that what Javier saw was not a coyote, an animal, but perhaps a person.

Having endured immense hardships and adversity to cross the border, the speaker, while not engaging the counselor or saying a story, remembers the advice given by their parents and simply smiles. Maybe the speaker is afraid of being the ‘coyote’ that he saw. However, through this, the readers can discern the magnitude of what the speaker has experienced and how difficult that journey has been.

Through your poems, I’ve noticed that many references to ‘coyotes’ appear. Does the ‘coyote’ symbolize the wounds and loneliness in your heart?

Jisoo Jang

Pupusa – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupus / Yucca – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca

To focus on myself

In a 2018 interview, Natalie Diaz said, “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.” She declared that she would no longer focus on external voices judging her, but rather concentrate on her inner self and her essence. It’s time to look at how her determination is manifested in ‘My Brother at 3 A.M.’

In the overall context of the poem, there is no defined ‘I’ as a character. Therefore, one might argue that there is also no speaker, but through the title ‘My Brother,’ it could be interpreted that the poem is about the speaker observing their brother and family. On a superficial level, the poem portrays the speaker’s brother feeling that a ‘demon’ is approaching him. And while the mother remains unaware of this, she eventually realizes it as the demon comes closer at the end.

However, considering an interview Natalie gave, this poem could be interpreted differently. Again, in the interview, she aimed to focus on her essence. In this view, the demon approaching the brother in the poem could be seen as external factors, namely external gazes, preventing Natalie from focusing on herself. Natalie is Latina and a queer woman. She knows herself very well. And she strives to focus on her essence and the voices within herself. However, there is a looming demon. It could be the “gaze” of people or the ‘words’ they say to her. Initially, like the ‘mother’ in the poem, she might not have noticed this demon. But she is aware of it in her mind, the subconscious, represented by the ‘brother,’ screams as the demon approaches. When she couldn’t fully focus on her essence, she would have considered about others’ thoughts or gazes. And subconsciously, it is appeared in the actions of the ‘mother’ in the poem. The ‘mother’ in the poem remains unaware of the approaching demon. However eventually, she realizes consciously and subconsciously that she continues to be concerned about the external gazes and thoughts disguised as demons.

How might she have reacted upon realizing the external demon? This could be understood from an interview she gave in 2018. She will strive even harder to focus on the voices she hears within her mind and her essence. As a Latina, as a queer woman, there may be times when she feels uneasy and unable to focus on herself. During those times, she may see the ‘demon’ lurking in front of her again. However, despite that, continuing to focus on herself until the end is what she truly considers important.

Jisoo Jang

The Reiko Gomyo’s way: how to endure the internment period

To understand this poem, I first attempted to draw a picture. In the picture I drew, I sensed the loneliness and hope. The imagery of grass, newly sprouting buds, and the green hues of spring. How do these represent the experience of daily life at the internment camp?

The author was born in Japan and later immigrated to California, USA. While the author and the speaker are not explicitly the same, it can be inferred that the author likely experienced loneliness during the internment period imposed by the US government. Detainment in a country where rights to freedom are ensured creates a gap that would have brought significant loneliness to the author. It is definitely likely that the speaker in the poem shares this feeling. However, the speaker does not give up. The grass that grew by the ditch last year must be moved elsewhere. Everyone who sees the grass there will think so. The ditch is not where grass is supposed to grow. The speaker clearly feels oppressed and lonely, akin to the withering grass. But the grass that grew by the ditch will grow again next year. And someday, ‘firm’ buds will bloom abundantly. Ultimately, it means that oppression will not go forever, and the speaker’s steadfast determination shines through, indicating that liberation will come, allowing her and other Japanese to enjoy freedom like those trees, like American citizens.

Jisoo Jang

I am not a rose. I am a free poppy.

‘The Rose and The Poppy’ by Adrianna Puente is most effective in challenging the traditional symbol of the rose. To understand this poem, we need to start with the title. The Rose traditionally symbolizes ‘love’ itself, with its thorns representing ‘pain.’ However, alongside it, The Poppy is traditionally a symbol of ‘Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.’ Yet, in this poem, The Poppy seems to focus more on the efficacy of the flower rather than its traditional meanings. As we know, The Poppy is sometimes associated with a type of narcotic, but it can also be used as a medical remedy. Depending on its use, The Poppy can either harm or heal individuals.

Throughout the poem, the speaker insists that the speaker is not The Rose but The Poppy. The speaker rejects all the symbols associated with The Rose, such as love, friendship, comfort, romance, etc., and claims herself to be a kind of natural flower, The Poppy. Why does the speaker keep asserting that she is not The Rose? While The Rose traditionally symbolizes not only love but also alluring women, the speaker asserts that she is not a captivating woman like The Rose, but rather a flower in nature, inartificial, just one among many people, like The Poppy. As mentioned earlier, The Poppy can be both a remedy and a poison. The speaker states that she may be chosen like The Rose on Valentine’s Day, but she never forgets who she truly is in any situation. The speaker chose The Poppy, which can eventually turn brown like a wildflower in a field, rather than conforming to the traditional symbols of love, friendship, and pain associated with The Rose. And that woman, the speaker, strongly asserts her desire not to play the typical role associated with The Poppy as either poison or remedy, but rather to live freely like the Poppy blooming in the field. By doing so, the speaker effectively rejects the traditional symbols of The Rose. A captivating woman like The Rose is just one among the common 8 billion people, much like The Poppy.

Jisoo Jang

We both are penitents

Ode 44 tells a story about love, drunkenness, and Islam. Overall, I believe that the poem portrays an acceptance of Islamic spirituality.

In the first stanza, I distinguish between the Tenor, which is ‘She’, and the Vehicle, which includes ’tilted glass’, ‘verses on her lips’, ‘Narcissus-eyes’, ‘wine-red lips’, and ‘a dewy rose’. I deliberated extensively whether to assign ‘she’ or ‘her lips’ as the Tenor, but ultimately, I chose ‘She’ for the Tenor because I believed that this first stanza praises her beauty. ‘Tilted glass’ came with ‘with,’ so I regarded it as a Simile. Additionally, since ‘and’ connects ’tilted glass’ and ‘verses on her lips,’ I considered ‘verses on her lips’ as a Simile as well. ‘Narcissus-eyes’ describes the characteristic of her eyes, hence I thought it a Simile. As for ‘wine-red lips,’ it signifies that her lips are as red as wine color, so I considered it a Simile too. Furthermore, ‘a dewy rose’ is preceded by ‘as,’ so I interpreted it as a Simile.

In the second stanza, I considered ‘he’ as the Tenor and ‘churl’ and ‘a double traitor’ as the Vehicle. In fact, this part took me a long time to interpret because it started with ‘I’ but had ‘he’ appearing in the middle. Therefore, I regarded ‘He’ as representing an Islamic person. As another Tenor, I considered ‘we’, and ‘Drunkards’ as the Vehicle. Here, the author mixes ‘We’ and ‘I,’ which I saw as a clear indication of drawing a line to distinguish between an Islam puritan and oneself. Since ‘churl’ came from the sentence ‘he surely were a churl,’ I considered it a metaphor, as it describes the same subject, and ‘a double traitor’ was also seen in the same light, hence I thought it’s a metaphor too. Additionally, ‘Drunkards’ is a word immediately preceding ‘we,’ so it’s a metaphor. Consequently, I,’ or ‘we,’ describes how love and wine are perceived slightly differently between us and the Islamic person, but nonetheless, we are destined under God’s privilege.

In the third stanza, I saw ‘Hafiz’ as the Tenor and ‘poor penitent’ as the Vehicle. Although I also considered ‘wine and woman’ as the Tenor, when I observed the exclamation ‘Oh! HAFIZ!’ at the beginning of the stanza, I felt that ‘Hafiz’ should be the subject because the author emphasized this word. Regarding ‘poor penitent,’ since it’s preceded by ‘this,’ it indicates that the author equates ‘Hafiz’ with ‘poor penitent,’ making ‘poor penitent’ a kind of metaphor. In the last stanza, by directly addressing ‘Hafiz’ and asserting that we are both penitents, it implies that we will not live too humbly.

As the overall content of the poem portrays both the Islamic person and oneself as penitents before God, it is evident that the poem embraces Islamic spirituality.

Jisoo Jang

Hanging out with the words

In Luis Alberto Ambroggio’s poem, ‘We are all Whitman,’ there is a repetitive listing of words. From the opening lines of the poem, such as ‘Hispanic, Latin, blond, black, olive-skinned, native and immigrant,’ Ambroggio enumerates the composition of citizens based on race and personality. This rhythmic enumeration of various words parallels Walt Whitman’s ‘I Sing the Body Electric,’ where the poet similarly lists body parts in a rhythmic method. Therefore, this poem is cacophony.

To interpret this poem, I’ve read it multiple times and realized that as the words are repeated and more commas appear, the reading tempo naturally accelerates, leading to an inherently faster pace. Reflecting on a class where the professor read Whitman’s poetry, I found myself reading too quickly, causing my heart to beat faster. The extensive listing of words seemed like a dance, and it was evident that Ambroggio hung out happily with words when composing this poem.

The poem not only presents a standard list of words but skillfully organizes them with similar sounds, especially for those reading the poem aloud. This arrangement guides readers to emphasize specific elements. For instance, immediately after ‘Self,’ he places ‘Hispanic,’ creating a simultaneous pronunciation of the ‘S’ sounds. Also, he arranges ‘poor’ and ‘rich,’ repeating the ‘r’ sounds. He accentuates the ‘t’ sound in ‘planting times’ and emphasizes the ‘C’ in ‘classes and cares,’ prompting distinct enunciation for the reader. These are Alliterations. Furthermore, there are Assonance examples in the poem. ‘Hispanic’ and ‘Latin’ share the parallel sound of ‘a.’ Additionally, ‘today’ and ‘tomorrow’ repeat the ‘o’ sound, and ‘sprout’ and ’embodied’ similarly feature the repeated ‘o’ sound.

Overall, This poem, much like Whitman’s works, aimed to express the entire 8 billion humanity. Ambroggio seeks to portray how many people exist in the world, how orderly and chaotic the world is, how many ‘Walt Whitmans’ are living, and how we live, laugh, and dance in our lives.

Jisoo Jang

In search for the real beauty

Jonson and Herrick search for the natural beauty of woman. Both insist that real beauty is not found in a fine, neat dress, but in a sightly distracted dress. There is a similarity between Jonson’s poem and Herrick’s poem. Through my individual analysis, I found that their poem’s prosody is Iambic Tetrameter. They both used Iambic Tetrameter to equally describe the natural beauty of women. In my opinion, the most effective poem in representing the nature of art is Herrick’s. To compare some lines from the two poems, I am going to talk about the reasons.

Jonson’s poem, “Still to be Neat”, has an emphasized line, “Though art’s hid causes are not found.” I think ‘Though’, and ‘art’s’ are stressed syllables, combining two syllables, making it a “spondee.” Focusing on that line, Jonson highlights the idea that even though a woman continues to conceal the original looks, the essence cannot be entirely hidden. And through ‘Spondee,’ he strongly emphasizes this fact. He mentions that the neat appearance is kind of beauty, but it fails to resonate with his own heart. Overall, looking at his poetry, instead of describing the slightly disheveled appearance of a woman he likes, he depicts the perfectly neat appearance and expresses his dislike for it. However, if the disheveled appearance is genuinely the beauty that he loves, wouldn’t directly describing it make readers feel that he truly appreciates that beauty? Therefore, I felt that his appeal to the beauty that he likes lacks or credibility.

Herrick’s poem, “Delight in Disorder”, also has an emphasized line, “Do more bewitch me, than when art.” I think ‘Do’ and ‘more’ are stressed syllables, combining to form a “Spondee.”’ Focusing on that line, Herrick highlights the idea a woman who is too precisely sweet, fine, and neat cannot captivate his mind. The only thing that appeals to him is a slightly disheveled, a bit tousled beauty. Throughout the poem, Herrick vividly describes the kind of beauty he appreciates and goes into the details about why disheveled beauty resonates much more with him than perfectly neat beauty. In this meticulous detailing, readers can keenly feel how much he cherishes the slightly disheveled beauty. I think that being genuinely honest with oneself is the nature of art. Therefore, when comparing Johnson and Herrick’s poems, Herrick’s poem effectively represents the nature of art.

Jisoo Jang