No Strings Attached - Shante Marie

Hand in Hand
swinging with so much laughter and joy
a zest for life shared between us like we would live eternally.

Lips to Lips
laying passionate long kisses, some how intercepted by our wondering
tongues
the feeling of soft lips pressing against one another
LOVE!

Eyes gazing into Eyes
I felt as if you saw all my fears and secrets not yet released
like we could see our future together.

One on One
special moments, insiders, love like no other
that no one could ever understand...

WE shared a bond like no other
a bond so tight that even screw drivers or drills couldn't break
APART...

Apart we are now... going our separate ways
talking to other people, distant but yet so close
I miss you! I miss us! I miss we!

I miss my bestfriend, my heart & soul, I miss my everything!
But know that our love is strong enough that like magnets we will be one again
like a puzzle, like the old days..
Remember when we held hands, kissed, stared in each others eyes
ALONE

Ohh that word ALONE explains how I feel now that you're gone!

Goodbye Letter to Satan -Cristina Small

Dear Lucifer,

        Thank you for the past 17 years of my life we've spent together. It was great but I have to leave you. Do you remember when I always looked for reassurance in relationships like, Baby tell me you need me or please tell me you love, just because I needed to hear it. But now I know not from you, from him. The only man to lay his life not on the line but on a cross, cross my heart and pray on bruised knees and bleed tears from blind eyes because I was afraid to see the shame in the reflection from the rain God wept to let me know he's hurt too. Since he's a man that never lied, I aiming to be a woman that always tells the truth, so listen. I remember the first time we met. You took the form of a mother and you placed to weight of the world on my pre-pubescent body, I cracked. At the age of 9, you told me that I was a woman now and I’d have to defend myself. Discouragement fell from your lips like the walls of Jericho and that was the first time you broke my spirit. I was raised with a hate so strong we grew closer. By the age of 12 you took the form of a man and you hugged my body so tight I had mistaken you for Christmas sweaters. Daddy said that this was only supposed to be between husband and wife, so I pushed you away. That was the first time I told you no. One year later, you turned into my first love and you told me that we'd grow old together. After we separated, you turned my womb into a tomb and I figured that you were all I had so I made tally marks across my skin to count the days we spent together. I was certain that this is where I needed to be. I finally grew up and you explained the luxury of college. Me living on my own is what I needed and I'd succeed in anything I wanted to be. We made plans for bright futures with no dull moments. There was no looking back. Then one day, you took the form of a senior advisor and told me that you didn't see the end that you promised but I knew promises were made to be broken, so I’m breaking the promise I made you 17 years ago that binded me to the world from birth where I showered in sin and hid from God since he knew what was right. But doing wrong felt so right so I confided in you. But all you ever did was kill spirits and break bodies and crush unborn dreams so they couldn't awaken the dead soul and wounded flesh you have made of me. I will no longer fall victim to I love yous with warm embraces in cold arms. No longer search for kisses from dead lips, you no longer complete me. But I got a man now and they call him Jesus. He is a stronger force then you could ever match up to so I dare you try him. Not tryna sound clichéd but you lost a good thing and you lost a soul because I believe in him now. So once again thank you for the past 17 years of hell you put me through because heaven never looked so much brighter.

                                                                                                 Sincerely,

                                                                                                       Your Lost Love

Winter's Here, Summer's Lost

Art's Direction

When people think of art, they usually think of paintings and drawings but, to me its so much more. Art is a combination of feelings and thoughts that are expressed through any outlet, wheteher it be photography, music, poetry or drawing. A piece of art can tell so much but only the artist can really explain what they were thinking when they created their creation. Art is really something deep within each person. I use to be bitter at the fact that I could not draw but, that wasn't MY art. I had a great ear for literature and a perfect hand that always carefully caressed a pen and paper. My art was writing, and my thoughts streamed from my brain down to my hand and spilled out on paper. So I really admire artists of all aspects because it takes a lot to find YOUR art but, when you do its the best discovery ever made.

Faded

Def Jam Poetry Slam

People can read you through your eyes. They tell a story, your story and it's up to you whether you want to reveal it or not.

Something to Think About ..

I've never thought about this until I came across this quote.

Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean is a fairly new artist and his music is amazing. He's so smooth and he talks the truth in all of his songs. He's an artist that doesn't hold back his true feelings which is really admirable, especially coming from a man.

Poetry was never really an issue for me, I would have to read the poem a few times in order to understand it but, I think that's pretty normal. However, I would just read a poem just becasue I had to, I didnt really care about the connections the author was trying to make or the even tone and theme. Now, when I read poetry I want to get more out of it, there's always a hidden message I believe. Its a way to better understand language. The theme and tone of a poem definitely allows one to connect emotionally and mentally on another level.When you understnd the theme and tone of a poem there's so much more life to it. Each time you read it you learn something new, which is really remarkable. I really applaud poets for all the thought and time they put into their work. Even if it is really short, it is still a masterpiece in it's own way. Writing poetry isn't easy, it takes time, effort and patience but, the outcome is always pretty tremedous.

Savoring the Moment

Music is often used as a form of therapy, we turn to it when we are feeling down or when we just want to forget about everything and just dance. We know every lyric, pause and break in a song, but what we fail to realize is that music is poetry. To sum it all up it is poetry with a nice beat and captivating hook. The themes and tones of many songs and poems often complement each other. It can be the most overplayed song such as Nicki Minaj’s “Moment for Life”, that can have a great connection to two poems like “A Dream within a Dream” and “Alzheimer’s.” This song and these two poems share a theme of savoring the moment and share a tone of optimism.

“A Dream within a Dream” brilliantly written by Edgar Allen Poe is a favorite of mine. It depicts dreams and how they tend to slip away. We live in a real world but we prefer fantasies because they are ours and go accordingly to how we view them. The line “And I hold within my hand grains of the golden sand. How few! Yet how they creep through my fingers to the deep…” is one of my favorites in the poem. All these hopes, dreams and even memories we have, we so badly want to hold on to but we can’t. In Poe’s poem he talks about losing something he had which appears to be a partner. He says “Take this kiss upon the brow, and it parting from you now, thus much let me avow” which is his way of declaring a good-bye.  He talks about departing from her and questions if what they had was real. He wants to hold on to it so badly, but it’s slipping away from him. This poem relates so much to the song because both poet and lyricist are holding on to a dream (PoemHunter).

Alzheimer’s is a disease closely associated with dementia. It is characterized by memory loss, confusion and emotional instability. The hardest part about having Alzheimer’s is not being able to remember the most enjoyable highlights of your life. The poem “Alzheimer’s” by Kelly Cherry follows an old man who obviously has the disease. He remembers parts of his younger years but not his wife. This poem may act as a counter point to the theme savoring the moment, but it actually contributes to it. Alzheimer’s is all about memory loss, but there are still parts in one’s life that are clearer than say what one did yesterday. In the poem the old man, “remembers the walkway he built in between the front room and the garage, the rhododendron he planted in back” (16-17); these were significant moments that the old man remembered. Alzheimer’s victims tend to remember moments most dearest to them. These are moments that they savor because they are historically great and memorable.

 The song “Moment for Life” talks about finally living a dream and wanting to savor that moment for life. It is about appreciating and holding on to the little moments because we do not know how long they will last. Nicki Minaj is a fairly new rapper who has become a mainstream phenomenon. She went from rapping on mix tapes to selling millions of albums and going on sold out tours. This was her dream and it has become real and she wants to hold on to it as long as she can. Throughout the song there is the use of rhyme scheme, in one particular line she says. “I wish that I could have this moment for life, because in this moment I just feel so alive”, which reassures the listener that this time in her life and career is huge (MetroLyrics). No one wants to see their dream deferred, so that is why a perfect theme is savoring the moment. In the song she talks about how she came from a neighborhood in Queens and now she is in Hollywood. Her tone is appreciative but yet optimistic, she’s eager to find out what’s next in store for her.

Optimism is a great tone because in both poems and song there’s a sense of curiosity. Poe questions “Is all that we see or seem a dream within a dream?” He’s searching for more. Minaj also demonstrates optimism as she says “And I will retire with the crown, yes!” which is a bit of a stretch considering her reign has just begun. In “Alzheimer’s” when the old man actually remembers it is a sign of optimism. It takes a lot for an Alzheimer’s patient to remember and the ability to remember even for a minute is the most satisfying action. In both poems and the song the tone really stretches the emotion that the writers are trying to give. Minaj is really appreciative of all that she’s accomplished, but she’s not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Poe left his love, but he wants to go on to see what else is out there for him. Cherry provides the old man with the strength to remember. All these writers show optimism in their pieces because they are searching for something more. They may have come to a brick wall, but they are finding a way to move around it.

            The themes and songs of many songs often complement each other. Savoring the moment has been a reasonable theme for both poems as song. The tone optimism has also shown to fit well. In a Dream within a Dream by Edgar Allen Poe we see a man departing for his love but being grateful for the moments they shared.  His optimism shows as he questions whether his time with her has been a dream. Kelly Cherry shows an old man remembering himself years ago, he savored those special moments of his younger years. In the song Moment for Life, Nicki Minaj raps about how much she’s achieved and how she will forever cherish these moments. All of these works of art show optimism and moments being savored.

Freedom

One quote that we discussed that I really connected to was "Freedom is never volunteerily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." People sometimes allow themselves to be oppressed. They're scared to use the voice they were given, so they go along with what they are told to do or what is expected of them. Some don't have the courage to declare for themselves. In life nothing's ever handed to you; you have to fight for what you believe in and speak up when you think equality is being overlooked. Nothing is free especially "freedom", many people take it for granted, but its something that should be cherished. One's own freedom defines them. Throughout American/World history our own people had to fight for their freedom. We went through wars and slavery so that one day we could stand on our own two feet and make a decision for ourselves. There were episodes like the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust that went on for years because the people knew they deserved better and were't going to stop unless they got it. Overall, its just important to educate yourself and know what you want in life and just strive for it. No one pushes you harder than yourself.

This is such an amazing song and the video is even better. I love when artists tell stories with their music and videos.

The Unthinkable

Communication is often said to be the key to any relationship, whether it be romantic or friendly. However, in many of these relationships there’s often misinterpretation and miscommunication. There is a strong difference between listening and understanding what someone is saying. Often people hear what’s being said, but don’t understand it resulting in other complications whatever they may be. In the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemigway and “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri, the conversations being held are heard, but not fully understood amongst the characters. This concept is also found in a song named “Unthinkable.”

In “Hills Like White Elephants” a couple is having a discussion about their “situation.” Although the situation is never fully revealed, it’s assumed to be a discussion about abortion. Both are talking, but neither one seems to be listening or understanding the others point of view. This is seen when the girl says “If I do it you won’t ever worry?’ The man replied, “I won’t worry about that because it’s perfectly simple.” Then the girl says,“Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me.” To this comment the man said “What do you mean?”(62-65). It’s much more of a back and forth discussion. The girl is talking and pouring her heart out but, the guy doesn’t seem to be interested in the ideas that she is bringing forth. He's going along with everything that she’s saying but, he's not fully thinking about it. She’s contemplating the idea, looking at pros and cons, but he's just spilling out anything that will make her feel better and hopefully make the right choice on his behalf. When he says “I’ll go with you and I’ll stay with you all the time. They just let the air in and it’s all perfectly natural”, she responds by saying, “Then what will we do afterward?”  He responds by saying, “We’ll be fine afterward. Just like we were before. “What makes you think so” she responds (46-49).  He’s misinterpreting the whole situation and it’s a very serious matter. He’s agreeing to what she says but he's not thinking how the decision will benefit or burden him. At one point the girl [Jig] says, “And you think we’ll be alright and happy. He replies “I know we will. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people that have done it” (52-53). The man is obviously trying to reassure the girl that everything will be fine after the operation and they will be able to go back to how they were before.

Throughout “Interpreter of Maladies”, Mr. Kapasi, who is the tour guide of the Das family, has been misinterpreting several things that were said to him. From the start, Mr. Kapasi is very aware of the actions of the Das’s. He observed them and questions their behavior. However, as Mrs. Das began to show sudden interest in him, his judgment went away. In the car, she asked him about his life and seemed very interested. It was weird to see a more natural communication between Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das than her own husband. He reveals to her that he had another job, which is interpreting for a doctor. Mr. Kapasi knew many languages and loved interpreting. Mrs. Das found this to be quite “romantic”, she said. From that moment, Mr. Kapasi was taken away by her. The story says “it flattered Mr. Kapasi that Mrs. Das was so intrigued by his job.” He went on to build this secret relationship of the two in his head simply because she referred to his job as romantic. The story reveals that “the feeling of intoxication grew” as he thought about her (53). This was all very new for him because his wife showed no interest in his job. However, he had misinterpreted Mrs. Das. In no way was she trying to hit on him or lead him on.  She was just expressing her feelings on his work.

Both stories show a great connection to the theme of miscommunication and misinterpretation. A song that fits well to the theme of both of them is “Unthinkable” by Alicia Keys. This song talks about taking the first step to do the unthinkable or impossible. Although this song seems to be about love, it portrays other aspects as well. In both stories, the lack of communication allowed each character to do the unthinkable. The song starts off with lyrics saying “Moment of honesty, someone’s gotta take the lead tonight, whose it gonna be?” Mr. Kapasi took the initiative of creating an ideal relationship between him and Mrs. Das. Also, in Hills Like White Elephants the guy was trying to help his mistress make this step into having an abortion that she is hesitant about. She doesn’t trust that his efforts are in her best interest. Another line from the song that relates to misinterpretation and miscommunication is “If you have something to say, you should say it right now.” The song promotes clearly confessing anything that one has to say. It’s about declaring your feelings or ideas, but making sure the other person understands you. People hear things and they hear them incorrectly which can cause a lot of drama. This song allows one to be open with their true feelings, but making sure that the other person is on the same page. Its amazingly written and has such a strong meaning.

In conclusion, both “Hills Like White Elephants” and “Interpreter of Maladies” show a strong theme of miscommunication and misinterpretation. The characters did not comprehend what was being said to them. They either overanalyzed or undermined what they were hearing. They took the ideas the wrong way, and in the song “Unthinkable” it expresses making yourself clear and saying what you have to say. This song is perfect fit for both of these stories.

A Streetcar Named Desire demonstrates several emotions; each character has a different strenght and weakness. A question that  I found very interesting was "who do you sympathize with and/or admire at different moments of the play?" Of all the characters I would definitely sympathize with Blanche, mainly because she's had a rough time and nothing seems to look up for her. She's trying to find her self and we know that's not an simple task. In the play you see a little bit of the side she's trying to cover up when she yells to to Stanley "I hurt him the way he hurt me, but you can't! I'm not young and vulnerable anymore." It was such a random outburst, but it showed hurt and confusion. Blanche has such a strong guard up that she's afraid to open up, but as the play progresses layers of her begin to peel back. There's a revelation of her promiscuous past along with secrets from her hometown. As all these secrets come out so abruptly, they take a toll on her and its kind of hard not to feel bad for her.

A Streetcar Named Desire

   In the play A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams uses motifs and symbols to further accentuate the ideas and details of the play. The common description of the play is best known as a woman by the name of Blanche, who embellishes on an unforgettable stay at her sister Stella’s apartment with her husband. Blanche’s story is filled with so much substance as she tries to hide the truth from her sister, and on a new journey. However symbols around her present a clear image of her past that she tries so hard to cover up. The motifs of the play help support the plays themes and views.

Blanche has had a rough couple of months and she came to New Orleans to shed her old bearings and start over. One symbol that seemed to follow her to New Orleans is the Polka music. The polka music triggers an immediate flashback to her life back in Laurel. The polka music was the last song she and her husband danced to before he killed himself. Unfortunately it’s her last memory of him, besides seeing him in the room with another man. In Blanche’s case the polka music represents the beginning of her downward spiral. It also symbolizes the remorse she has for her husband, a man she loved so much, who was her everything to her. One memorable moment when Williams injects the polka music is when Blanche is talking to Mitch about her “past” she says “We danced the “Varsouvian!”Suddenly in the middle of the dance the boy I married broke away from me and ran out of the casino. A few moments later- a shot!” (Scene 6, 1844) Blanche partly blames herself for her husband’s suicide because right before he ran off; she told him how disgusted she was in him for being with another man. Whenever she hears the polka music, it startles her and she loses her grip on reality, unable to determine what’s real and what’s not.

Williams greatly shows the connection between the motifs and themes of the play. The reoccurring motifs allow the reader to actually think beyond the words being read. One begins to think of the connection the motif has in reality and compares it to the text. There are several motifs that surface around Blanche which includes light and bathing. Blanche takes a strong calling to these two motifs. Bathing is a common activity, usually one does it twice a day but for Blanche there is a constant need to cleanse herself. She spends most of her time in the bathroom bathing or applying make-up to cover up these invisible scars. In a religious sense bathing is a way to wash away one’s sins also known as baptism. In a way this applies to Blanche, she wants to wash away her imperfections, secrets and discretions. One of her sins being her promiscuity, results in her carrying on several inappropriate sexual relationships. She’s hoping that bathing will wash away her past, but in an effort to cleanse herself she’s just adding on more dirt. In addition, Blanche has an insecurity issue, she needs someone to compliment her and tell her she looks good. Her low self-esteem issues cause her to always bathe and keep re-applying make-up. Stella knows this about her, she tells Stanley to “When she comes in be sure to say something nice about her appearance.” (Scene 2, 1814). Stanley doesn’t understand Blanche’s need, that’s why he makes an effort to expose her true self.

In reality when we turn on the light in a dark room we get to see, objects around us. However for Blanche the light was an enemy, it not only shows what was in the room but it shed the truth. That was her main concern; she didn’t want to face to truth. She didn’t want to have her past revealed in front of Stella and Stanley. She wants to seem just as perfect as she was before Stella left. The light symbolizes the reality of her past and Blanche likes to think of herself in this magical world where nothing can go wrong. From the beginning, Blanche’s resistance to the light has been shown when she covers the light with a Chinese paper lantern. Blanche’s best explanation for the light is when she tells Mitch “…and then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that’s stronger than this – kitchen- candle…” (Scene 6, 1844). She tells Mitch that after her husband’s death the light in her life had went out. Her husband brought great joy to her and he lit up her life indeed. All those other mini romances mean nothing to her because no one can replace the light of her husband.  Although she admires her husband’s light she despises the light of reality. The light of reality forces her to believe that her world is an illusion and that she has to face what’s real. The light shows her loss of everything beauty, money, and dignity. There’s a point where Blanche admits that the dark is comforting for her, which is understandable because the light in her life has so much to say. In scene 9, Mitch confronts Blanche and tells her that he’s never seen her in the light, but she still refuses and when he tells her to just be real with him she has an outburst and says “I don’t want realism. I want magic! ..I don’t tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth. And if that is sinful then let me be damned for it! Don’t turn on the light!” (1854). In this scene, you really see the end of the road for Blanche. She’s been through so much since her arrival at Stella’s and now she’s decided to admit the truth.  She doesn’t think of her lies, as lies but as protecting herself and those that she cares about.

Tennessee Williams phenomenally wrote this play incorporating symbols and motifs to express ideas and feelings. Blanche struggled with the truth and with herself as well. Her biggest challenge was the truth and she couldn’t face it. She constantly bathed herself to cleanse herself from all her imperfections. She refrains from the light to hide her physical and mental scars. In an effort to start fresh from all that she had been through back in Laurel, she ended up becoming dirtier than when she arrived.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is honestly, one of my favorite books. A great tale of courage, self-growth and heroism. From the start of the book I was immediatley captivated by how Ken Kesey created an image of each character. Each character added to the plot in their own way. What I love most about this novel is how Kesey wrote it; for me I really had to think outside the box for each line that I read. There is always a deeper meaning than what you actually read, which is the best part of literature.

Brilliant

Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become.

C. S. Lewis

The Beginning ...

Literature has always been a friend of mine. From a young girl my mom would always read to me and I thought it was the best thing ever. I eventually mastered the craft of picking up a book on my own without someone begging me to. As my love for literature grew I became more interested in wrtiting as well. I would write about my days at school, or an exciting new place that I visited. In school I was always complimented on my strong ability to write, whether it was a short response or full paper. I've always admired how authors were able to portray so many ideas through their words and I guess that's what I wanted to do too. I used writing to express myself and it became a safe haven for me. I would write through any emotion, I had so much to say and the pen and paper were the only ones who would stop and listen. So I credit literature and writing for molding me into the person I am today. As I get older my writing skills grow with me and my ability to read and analzye a piece of writing has really amazed me.