Today we had a peer review for Essay 3. We spoke about the play Lysistrata, and students need to bring in a copy to read on Thursday, March 19, the anniversary of the War in Afghanistan.
Homework is to keep reading Dreams and to bring in three (3) essays questions tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 18, is still International Women's Day in our classes. Bring in something from a woman you admire to share. Nely is baking cookies in the 9-10 a.m. class. Other students can bring in other refreshments. If you bring a beverage bring cups. Someone can bring napkins. Remember Jeremy and Nely brought snacks for Martin King's birthday January 19.
A belated Chinese New Year, just in case I forgot to say it.
We read from Alehouse this morning also in the 9-10 a.m. class (earlier class you are missing some great poetry). Students were to reflect on one of the poems (39-42), plus continue reading Diana Raab's The Poet's Notebook(39-42). Respond to Raab's essay in minimally three (3) paragraphs.
Students can combine both freewrites in one response. This is due in the morning.
Events in the Bay
Patricia Smith is at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, Thursday, March 19, 8 p.m. (I think). Visit www.lapena.org
There is also an event at the Buttercup Restaurant in Oakland near Jack London Square, looking at the first 60 days of Obama's presidency. It is free and begins at 6 p.m. Visit www.wandaspicks.com for the details on both.
I'll bring in poetry with war as a theme to share Thursday also.
Homework is to keep reading Dreams and to bring in three (3) essays questions tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 18, is still International Women's Day in our classes. Bring in something from a woman you admire to share. Nely is baking cookies in the 9-10 a.m. class. Other students can bring in other refreshments. If you bring a beverage bring cups. Someone can bring napkins. Remember Jeremy and Nely brought snacks for Martin King's birthday January 19.
A belated Chinese New Year, just in case I forgot to say it.
We read from Alehouse this morning also in the 9-10 a.m. class (earlier class you are missing some great poetry). Students were to reflect on one of the poems (39-42), plus continue reading Diana Raab's The Poet's Notebook(39-42). Respond to Raab's essay in minimally three (3) paragraphs.
Students can combine both freewrites in one response. This is due in the morning.
Events in the Bay
Patricia Smith is at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, Thursday, March 19, 8 p.m. (I think). Visit www.lapena.org
There is also an event at the Buttercup Restaurant in Oakland near Jack London Square, looking at the first 60 days of Obama's presidency. It is free and begins at 6 p.m. Visit www.wandaspicks.com for the details on both.
I'll bring in poetry with war as a theme to share Thursday also.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 3:37 PM
12 Comments:
Rebecca Evans eng 1a 9-10 3/16/09 Response to without weeping
Compassion is a deep emotion more than empathy it is a strong sense of acceptance and understanding for another on a level of equality. Compassion as defined by Merriam Webster states, “A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”
In Willie James King’s poem, Without Weeping, he compares compassion to a cow who finds the gumption to lick her slimy new born calf. He references compassion as a comforted child. Compassion was not in misery for a life was born and a child was comforted. Compassion elevates suffering and comforts the weaker character. Showing compassion brings strength and a sense of alleviation of the problem at hand.
People often forget to practice compassion and instead send judgment and heartbreak. Compassion is the ability to overcome what one might find disgusting, vile, boring, or irritating in faith of another. Every day we are faced with opportunities to show compassion but society has adopted the “Put me first” mentality.
Obama encounters the “Put me first” mentality numerabe times in his book, “Dreams of my Father”. He is confronted y his step father Lolo, who tries to instill self pride and protection first while he witnesses his mother who puts others before herself. He sees his sitter Auma put her education and comfort before that of her family and he learns his father died due to his incapability to draw a line between giving and receiving.
King discuses the lack of compassion some mothers show to their children when they can no longer raise them. A difficult predicament no doubt, but resolute just the same. To show a small amount of compassion would be to save a future life which in turn saves the world and its future.
Rebecca Evans eng 1a 9-10 3/16/09 response to The Poet’s Notebook
Diana Rabb reminisces over great writers in which some of their best work has come from the daily musings recorded in a notebook. Yusef Komunyakaa used notebooks as scrapbooks to record his life; he clipped out articles of interest and recorded pieces to eventually create his own unique work. The great Langston Hughes admits the simplicity of daily notebook scribbles to larger and deeper works. Al Young chose to use his notebook as therapy. It became a safe haven in which he could record his most deep feelings and experiences without reprimands or criticism.
Today journals come in many forms whether the tradition written, or the new blogs, twitters and facebook updates they are all forms to chronicle one’s life and experiences. I myself am partial to the traditional notebook where my hand is free to fly over the page with no weight or burden holding it back. I have been a keeper of journals for years, at first I saw them as a chore, I was to record my day and its muses daily. Once I broke through my own rigidity and wrote instead when I felt the need my writing became meaningful, and beautiful. I find myself following in Al Young’s footsteps, chronicling as a therapeutic approach to stabilize my well being.
I agree with Rabb in the reconnection to old notebooks, they can be scary but also amusing. I am inspired by what I have been through and dedicated to keep my life on forward motion. To reminisce about what I thought was so important then and leaves an unimpressionable mark on me today offers hope. Perhaps the problems facing me today will soon too be a distant memory a page in a notebook that makes me who I am today.
Cesangary Tzinzun
English1A 9-9:50am
3/16/09
response to "The Poet's Notebook"
As Diana Raab analizes over great poets she realizes that each of them got their own feelings about their notebooks. Some feel "naked with out having them in their everyday lifes, others use them as a way to let their emotions out. Some like Al Young and Lagnston Hughes turned to their old notebooks during their difficult times.
I believe that notebooks come in handy on a very important occasion, but sometimes when you least expect to need a notebook something important or something that you may want to go over and remember. Thats why its always good to carry an agenda, or a pocket notebook, or ir your like me and you have a cellphone or blackberry you can save it in your memopad.
I really liked reading what the poets had to say about their notebooks. Its amazing how some have deep feelings for a collegerule paper, that for alot of people may mean nothing to them, but to great poets like the ones mentioned here, mean alot because its a way to write about life experiences and make it into art.
Cesangary Tzinzun
English1A 9-9:50 am
3/16/09
freewrite to "On Running Into an Ex-Lover" (pg:46-ALEHOUSE)
So I think what this poem is trying to say is that two ex-lover accidentally ranned into each other on the street, they are talking for a while, and he is trying to figure out how she is keeping a smile on her face with out telling him nothing about how she trully feels. He is trying to know how is the conversation flowing with out any arguments, fights of betrayal and trying to ignore what trully happend between them. He obviously still has feelings for her, so instead of talking he wants to kiss her, just to see how she really feels. He wants to know if she has really forgeotten about him as they say good bye. As they walk away they leave pretending like if everything will be ok and everything they ones spoke and the love they shared went all down the drain.
I really like this poem. I think it fits into anybody that has gotten out of a relationship where something went wrong, and even tho you didnt turned out as enemies, when you bump into your ex you always wounder, what happend?, but you both avoid the conversation, thinking the other person doesnt care. Sometimes people still have feelings for each other but are afraid of telling them. Sometimes they just want to know if that person has really forgotten about them.
I really liked how Kathleen Latham put in the poem "After five minutes, I want to put my tounge in your throat until your manners are dislodged" its another way to say that the person wants to make up, or just wants to know what the other person will do, or if they still have feelings for each other. I really like it and kind of can see what this poem wants to say.
Jennifer Gonzales
English 1A
9-950a
Reflection on Willie James King "Without Weeping":
Compassion is definitely something not everyone has. When it comes to children, compassion needs to be present. Showing compassion is the only way children will feel safe and worry-free. When King mentions how the mother cow licks the "slimy afterbirth" of her newborn seems grotesque to us but to the cow it is something much more greater. A new life is emerging into a world. The cow feels important. The cow knows that it is its responsibility now to take care of her young.
People feel and think differently. When people have babies some of them do not take full responsibilty. Others have unplanned babies and then make the child suffer for their mistakes. It is not the childrens fault they were brought to earth on such unfortunate circumstances, it is the parents. Parents need to show compassion, care and love. Without it, how will our children grow up? What will they make of themsleves and the world?
I too, "side with the cow eating the snotty rheum of her sore womb" (King). That shows how dedicated and proud a mother really is for her young. She will do what it takes to care for her young, even if it means licking the gooey secretions off of her newborn just to make it feel loved and safe without worry. Children need to feel compassion because that is the only way to strengthen the heart and soul of another. Living in a world as ours, we need it.
Jennifer Gonzales
English 1A
9-950a
Response to Diana Raab "The Poet's Notebok":
A notebook is a vital tool. It can be used in numerous ways, some minor and some major. It helps with the simplest note jotting but at the same time helps to open up our minds. It is much like a blank canvas for a painter. Envision what can become of a blank piece of paper. A multitude of letters, words, thoughts and images combine to make what is known as a record of our mind and soul. It is history of ones thoughts and ideas. It serves as a place where one can relieve stress, express excitment and even sadness. It is a compilation of many emotions. Emotions that are felt now, tomorrow, yesterday and even 10 years from now. It is very therapeutic and can help control ones emotions.
Many great poets always kept a notebook, I can appreciate that. Now I see why they became great poets. For poets it seems like a place for quick release, release of ideas that come quick and need to be documented for later review. Like Raab said, "As poets, we cannot always trust our memories, which is a good reason to carry a notebook".
I agree with poet Major Jackson about one of his deep regrets when he says, "never journaled long enough and consistently [enough]..." I have a notebook that I hold close to my heart. I do not write in it as often as I would like to, but I will make a conscious effort. When I get upset, angry or sad I go to it for comfort. It helps me to control my agression. It allows me to think clearly when my mind gets fogged up by different emotions.
Raab says, "Time has a way of altering perspectives, and it's always intersting-if not sometimes scary- to flip back and read earlier entries". It's true. I often read back what I have wrote and I evaluate what I was thinking at the time and how I went about handling the situation. It surprises me because I think about, if I would have reacted the same way or if I would say the same things today. A notebook is a very powerul tool. It has helped me not only to become a better writer but also to become a better person.
Nely Ruiz
English 1A 9:00am – 10:00am
March 16, 2009
On Running into an Ex- Lover
Kathleen Latham
Reflection
The first thing that this poem brings to mind is its truth. These feelings, actions and the entire meeting described in this poem happened every day all over the world. I am almost always the person opposite this point of view. I am the one keeping my smile, and my inquires civil and polite, just like Latham writes. (Line 4-5) I never want to assume anything of the other party. Since normally I am the one who breaks up with them. I play it safe by asking general questions about work, family and other news. I never delve into the current love life status or anything in the past. They have to bring it up and even then unless I want to hit one more time, I keep quiet and respond with vague answers on my dating status.
The history of the person’s relationship dictates the reactions; most I play cool and wait for them; that way I do not assume anything and therefore cannot get caught up revealing my thoughts or feelings on the person and / or the past relationship, Sometimes, “ I want to thrust my tongue down, [their] throat…” (Line 8) I still want them. Hey it happens – normally I wait to see if they want it too. The usual methods; dropping hints , flirting, slyly asking about their current attachment or lack of. Some of the best times can be with an ex; its casual, you both have already been there done that, there is no awkwardness and best of all they know what you like, so there is no need to start any training.
Nely Ruiz
English 1A 9:00am – 10:00am
March 16, 2009
Moments Noticed Reflection
It is true a notebook is a very good tool for a writer to have on them at all times. Diana Raab mentions many famous poets that kept some sort of journal or notebook throughout their life. These notebooks contain musings of all kinds; scribbles, notes, lines of poems, events in a life, and newspaper clippings. This outlet of writing helps to prevent writers block and keeps the flow of inspiration moving. As poets become famous, their public yearns to read these notebooks to gain insight into their private thoughts.
This outlet is also suggested to people in homes and orphanages as therapy; People who have been through situations that render them unable to communicate verbally. Many domestic violence shelters help people who have crawled so deep inside themselves to at least put their thoughts down verbally. A notebook is freedom, it is not an assignment and it is a place where they can do whatever they feel like doing. Through this writing they are able to reach out and deal with emotions and feelings in a way that is safe and productive.
I keep a journal that is really a glorified diary. I have had it since I was a teen, I do not write in it every day. The entries span years of my life. I have songs and poems that I have written in the pocket of the notebook from when I was a little girl. I have letters that I have written to my deceased relatives. In the back of the journal is a gold mine, it is a list of every person I have been sexually involved with, my notches on the bedpost so to speak. I have pin numbers, passwords and codes to every coded electronic and account that I have.
Some of the poets reveal how they keep their notebook, with a book list, quotes, and certain stages of life in different parts of the book. Some use certain types of pens and leather bound journals. Anyway you decide to keep your journal is your prerogative; it is your space you own it.
Munkhjin Munkhbaatar
English 1A
9-9.50
Notebook is a very useful tool for the writers, it helps them write everything down when something important comes to their mind. Most of the famous writers had a notebooks and something that they could write down. Writers cannot write poet whenever they want, they this moment it is like they are in the zone, so they could keep writing. Also notebook is useful for those people who have short term memory, so they won't forget what they are supposed to do.
I never wrote something down on my notebook even though I had notebooks. I always thought it was stupid. My friends used to make fun of our classmate girls who have notebook. But now I think it is so useful because sometimes I forgot my hw and the next day I lose points.
My sister had her own notebook where she writes everything. I went to her room everyday at night when she was sleeping or when she was not home just to read her notebook. It was interesting for me to know what my sister did yesterday. I always wanted to hang out with her and her friends but she never took me out with her. So it was the only way I could know what she did. One time I got caught when I was reading it. And she got really mad and she beat me up because she wrote all her secrets in it.
Chris w
English 1A
16 March 2009
A Poet’s Notebook Reflection
Diana Raab in her writing speaks of great writers. She discusses how some individuals carry notebooks to do their writing. To some writers a notebook is a necessity to some it is not. It just depends on the person. Some writers depend on their notebook for companionship others for emotional support. Keeping journal entries help you remember your life and what you did.
To some people writing is a form of letting out anger or emotion. Some people write in their notebooks about where they went today and what they did. They even write about the smells and the tastes of the day. Writing in notebooks is a good way to formulate good writing skills. I believe that there is no such thing as writing to much. It is a good idea to always carry a notebook, notepad or something to write in because you never know when you might get the urge to write something. Like the saying goes “Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”
Chris W
English1a
16 March 2009
Willie James King Reflection
I believe that compassion is something that is learned and acquired overtime. You don’t automatically become compassionate when you are born. You have to observe the adults around you and learn from them.
In kings poem he writes compassion as a cow licking her new born calf. Compassion is not held by everyone. Only a select group of people have and exercise compassion. Compassion could be giving some money to a homeless person if they ask you or don’t ask you. Compassion could be standing up for someone who is being made fun of. Compassion could be volunteering at a soup kitchen. When you think about it compassion is not all about the deed its about what motivates you to complete the deed. Its that urge inside of you to want to do the right thing or the urge to help someone.
King also writes about the lack of compassion some mothers have for their own children. As he says compassion is when the mother even though she is tired of hearing whining and crying she doesn’t give or throw the child away as easy as that my be she decides to love the child and comfort it from its crying. That is truly compassion and love of a child.
Andre Stephens
March 22, 2009
English 1A – 9:00 – 9:50
Response to: For Makmoud of Gaza by Devorah Major
The setting takes place in Gaza which is in the Middle East and a war zone. The war started on December 27, 2008, when Israel launched a military fight in the Gaza Strip (Wikipedia).
A 13 year old boy who seems to be totally unaware of the danger around him is out chasing songbirds. It’s obviously a hot day because his shirt is off and the sun is bright. The boy ends up getting killed by a soldier. The fatal shot causes the boy’s chest to explode and the bird’s feathers are mixed in with the boy’s blood.
It is impossible to know how the soldier feels when this happens. Maybe the boy surprised the soldier and he shot first and asked questions later. Maybe the soldier deliberately killed the boy. This poem has a lot to do with the casualties of war where innocent children are killed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932009_Israel%E2%80%93Gaza_conflict
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