Settings in the 1950's

The play Fences by August Wilson took place in the 1950's in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The play took he setting of a time where it was difficult to be of a dark skinned color. 

Political views
In 1953 Dwight D. Eisenhower became president. In 1952 the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 removes racial and ethnic barriers to becoming a U.S. citizen. And in 1953 the war with Korea ended Which brought thousands of young servicemen back to America to pick up their lives and resume.. During 1954 the famous case of Brown vs. Board of Education was being tried, with the winning case this made segregation to be ruled unconstitutional. In 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give her seat on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Economical views
Population in the U.S. according to the Bureau of the Census was 151,684,000. An estimate of the unemployed was 3,288,000. Life expectancy in woman was 71.1 while in men it was 65.6. Cost of a loaf of bread was $0.14, car were up to 6,665,800 and the average salary was $2,992. Labor force male/female were to 5/2. bomb shelter plans became widely available. We were just beginning to rising out of the Great Depression.

Sport views
Sports were adored  since people had more leisure time and a greater prosperity that led to greater participation in athletic activities. Athletes were a diverse group, and where popularity was not based on social status but on the ability of the individual. All american sports such as baseball and football gave opportunities for the rise of the great stars such as, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Henry (Hank) Aaron, Juan Marichal, Jim Brown, and Frank Gifford. Meanwhile great women athletes played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. 

As seen in the movie, "A League of Their Own." Where the U.S. are in the second world war which lead to sports being under maned. This lead to the women to lead a head in sports and entertainment for the public.

Entertainment views
West Side Story premiers in 1957 and influences violence. Science fiction became more popular with the actual possibility of space travel within literature. The television became the dominant mass media as the number of people who bought a television set increased each week. At first it began with sitcoms which then evolved into what people considered as the 'eye witness' which encouraged people to do live broadcasts of events happening at the time of viewing. This was made possible in 1951 with the development of coaxial cable and microwave relays coast to coast.

Technological views
The production of the hydrogen bomb and it was all utilized by the air force and the navy in war with Korea. The first U.S. satellite, successfully orbits the Earth. The first domestic airline passenger service began by National Airlines between New York city and Miami. Music could become more accessible and heard in any location because it became portable.

Alive to Witness

The understanding of young peoples race is vague, they don't typically see the judgement that's passed upon them or the judgement that they pass upon others. They don't see the difference between genders on how each experiences race and racism. The young people of today are the result of racist parents, of whom were taught to criticize others and to view the white's as a more superior race. The young people of today are blinded of their world around them, the limits and stereotypes that they are burdened with, the prejudice that they must endure.

Any race that are not of the white race feels as though they must do something to their physical appearance to give off the impression that they're one step towards being white. These girls will go beyond towards changing their appearance, and its not even the girls! It is the entire non-white population that hate their own race. Point in case, I had a neighbor who was, of course, of brown skin color. He was arranged with a light skinned woman, and together they had a child. Their first child was born with dark skin, and so the man would give his son a bath every hour hoping that his son's skin would lighten. It is obsured what people would do for the shame of their skin colors. Its nothing to be ashamed for!

Also the difference on how different genders experience race and racism is another factor. I grew up being taught the white's version of stereotypes. Each race was given an offensive comment that pointed out their difference from whites. For example, Asians were usually short and always squinted. I always questioned on who decided what was an appropriate height stature, or who determined how big your eyes should be to deemed acceptable. That of course belongs to the whites, they believe that they are perfect and everyone else is below them, that everyone else who are different from them are not defined as humans and are not allowed to be given equal rights. Women goes through the concepts of beauty and what makes them ugly to the eye of whites. And men goes through many criticisms about their strengths and intelligence.

The young people are blinded with the world around them, the world built by whites. The young ones are to be burdened with the stereotypes that harm their beings and makes them wish to change what they look like and how they act. They must endure the prejudice from other brainwashed people telling them that they are not good enough, that they are ugly because of where they come from and what they are. The young ones must live the stereotypical lives, and I think that, that will never change. The trauma that we have suffered now that were taught to us by the past generations will be taught to the next generations and to the next and next. Like a never ending cycle, this one cannot be broken, not now and not tomorrow. It will come a time where the young ones will not suffer from what we suffered but it is in a time that I cannot see being alive to witness.

Open-ended Inauguration

Through John F. Kennedy's inauguration he discusses the role of science shaping our world for the better and away from the worst.When Kennedy says, "We offer not a pledge but a request... before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction." He was implying that as of then the only uses that we used science for was for destruction and for weapons of war such as the second world war where many innocent lives were taken by the usage of these science based machines. The two ways that Kennedy believes that science can positively affect the future were to explore the stars and eradicate diseases. He stated in his speech, "Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce." This means that Kennedy believed that science is not only capable of evilness but for goodness, though it depends on morality of humans for the purpose of science. In my chemistry class, the first thing we ever did was to find how science was in our everyday lives, and the results were that science was literally everywhere. From the toothpaste you use in the morning, to the foods you eat, the things you drive, to the knowledge you absorb everyday.

President Kennedy believed that true progress only results from nations working together for change. In Kennedy's inauguration he stated, "Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction." This means that he is encouraging and supporting peace, if a nation is willing to let go of all evilness to embrace and spread peace then soon others will become affected and awed by it too will become peaceful. Kennedy also says, "To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe 'struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required  not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right." In this he is saying that a nation can make a difference in the world by granting and helping other nations in the world. That no matter if the entire world isn't changed, one step at a time will be progress nonetheless. This reminds me of Atticus from the book, "To kill a mockingbird.", where Atticus tried to change his town's views of equality even if it meant that his ideals were to be rejected. He felt as though both the truth and righteousness was to be told, that if he was different from the others they would see his logic and follow in his example.

The Irish Day.

The celebration of Saint Patrick's day has been celebrated for over a thousand years! The day was celebrated in remembrance of a man in who was kidnapped as a child from the Wales -England-. And was then sold onto slavery in Ireland, where he served as a slave for about six years. As the legend goes he dreamed of having seeing God and was lead by god to escape on a getaway ship. He escaped to Britain then to France where he studied under Saint Germain and became a Bishop within 12 years. When suddenly he had a dream that the Irish were calling to him.

He went to Ireland and converted many people. But what was most important about Saint Patrick was that he spent twenty years converting people to Christianity across Ireland and building schools and churches that would help him further in his quest. Later in his life he put the curse of God into all the snakes in Ireland and sent them to the sea to drown.

In essence he baptized all of Ireland. He died, and the day became a saint's day to celebrate the universal baptization of all Irish people. But the festival became more of a holiday celebrated everywhere for the special Irish people. As to the modern day we celebrate with parades and the Irish families would feast on the traditional Irish bacon and Cabbage. 

Outside the Box.

 We've been practicing open-ended responses and today you are responsible for explaining how Don Haskins was another individual with the immense capacity to THINK DIFFERENT.

• How do people generally react to those who are willing to step outside the box of comfortability and normalcy and behave in a way that is considered unconventional or unacceptable?
• Why was it so important for Don Haskins to think different?

People generally react to those who are willing to step outside of the box of normalcy and comfortability with great prejudice, concern, and hate. In the movie, Glory Road, Don Haskins was treated with disrespect and disbelief when he added 'negro' players onto the basketball team. This shows that when humanity is faced with something that they consider to be abnormal then they would react in a sense where they'd put the aberrant person down.

It was important for Don Haskins to think different because he needed to make a team that would save the school and win for the sake of basketball. In the movie, Don Haskins showed that he didn't care about skin colors he only believed in potential, he needed to view the players equally as human beings. This demonstrates his dedication to the sports of basketball, and his ambition to fully utilize whatever he has in his grasp despite the negative feed back and hatred. Don Haskins reminds me of the character Atticus from the book 'To Kill a Mockingbird'; where Atticus a lawyer defended a black person in a white time and white town. Atticus tried his best to defend Tom from being persecuted for a crime he didn't commit, Atticus viewed the accused man with indifference a quality just like Don Haskins to neglect the difference with people and to treat them as equal.

A Father's Gift.

Everyone has their own "marlin", the great challenge, the big fish in the sea. Though they might seem trivial to some and important to others, all battles are significant and conquered.

I was a child, almost new to the world, ignorant of the worlds pain and evil. Not saying that I ever suffered greatly, this is a tale of determination not angst. My father was an artist, he'd sit outside beneath the sunlight, his back faced the house and faced the tall trees that laid behind the property. He stay in his chair for hours, his hand gripping a charcoal pencil and he'd sketch the world he saw with his bright blue eyes. His black hair would look golden brown in the sun's light, and he would sit hunched over his sketch pad. He was my role model, I wanted to become an artist like him one day.

"Dad, teach me to draw."

"I can't teach you to draw, you must learn for yourself."

"But can you help me?" He let out a long sigh then looked at me.

"Get a piece of paper." He showed me a few tricks but it wasn't there where I was challenged to draw, no it happened later in life. Years passed, and I found myself sitting in the living room floor, sweltering in the blazing heat of summer. It was my last summer before I would find myself attending middle school. My father didn't draw anymore, claiming that he had lost the time, patience, and the 'feeling' needed to draw. Art isn't all about technique and details, its about feelings and emotions. In the mist of my boredom I looked around the room to find a picture of a woman staring at the camera. It was then that I had the 'urge' to draw.

I ran to my room to grab a light lined pink sheet of paper and a chewed out pencil. I ran back and began to draw the woman on my pink paper. I don't remember why I started drawing realistic people, perhaps I saw it as a challenge, a worthy opponent. About an hour later my drawing was finished, I ran over to my father and showed him my drawing hoping for his appreciation and applaud. He looked at it for a moment before criticizing it harshly. Deep down I knew he was right, the drawing of the woman was horrible. Everything was off, it didn't even look like the woman, far from it. 'It' looked like an alien who's face was reconstructed with fire and metal.

Realizing that my father was right only angered me. I was furious and I was determined to show him that I will out beat him. The next night I held the picture of the same woman and another sheet of paper. I drew her again, only this time I was concentrating on everything and anything. After I was finished, again, I ran to my father to show him my work. And again was it mocked off, he pointed out everything that was wrong with it. His words didn't hurt me, it only strengthen me.

I was fully determined to one day make him give a good comment on my art. And so every night for a week I would draw the same woman then go to my father for approval but never getting it. Though at one point he said that with each drawing I was getting a bit better. I began to notice things when I kept drawing the woman over and over again. I realized the definition of art, I awoke my real abilities in the artistic world. I gained patience and the 'feeling' that my father would often describe of so fondly.

Years passed from then where I had increased my abilities in the drawing area, but even then my father criticized my work but to the minimum. He now gives me the applause that I wanted and I see the pride in his eyes. I realized that my father has in a way helped me, he gave me a gift. A profound gift but a gift non the less. He often gives me advice on techniques that are used, I remember the words that he'd say ripple inside my head. Though it's taken years to catch my 'marlin' I've seen it's head in the ocean. It just broke the surface and started to circle my boat. The heavy tugging reeled it near my boat, and the harpoon is in my hands, ready to strike. This is the tale of my greatest challenge, so far.

Valentixes Origins

Valentines: Origins.
The origin of modern Valentines day originated from Christian and Roman traditions, mainly to the Roman celebrations of Lupercalia. The festival of Lupercalia were celebrated on the 15th of February. The festivals were to include the paring of young men and women. The men would draw the woman's names from a box, and each couple would be paired until the next year's celebration. These festivals were passed down from generations to generations and the day of modern Valentines was created. Though before it wasn't named Valentines day, the day was named after a Christian priest of the name Saint Valentine. Whom was under the emperor Claudius II, and during a time of war Claudius made sure that no soldier was to be married for fear that they would be distracted. But Valentine being a heartless romantic secretly married soldiers with their loved ones. When the emperor found out of Valentines defiance he had Valentine killed on February the 14th.

Advice Column.
It seems that the time where there are the most break-up's are in spring and a little before Christmas. And to offer advice I would say to limit meeting with your partner at times during the spring. People are crazy during those times, the stress getting to them and they're eyes are set on spring break. If you set them off, they will end it off with you. Advice to those times, give them space, send them ice-cream by mail - preferably vanilla - and don't complain. Stress is one thing but pressure is another.
As for the other, the little time before Christmas, it's supposedly the "most wonderful time of the year, there'll be much mistltoeing, and hearts will be glowing when love ones are near." but due to the fact that it's also the "most desperate time of the year, where there'll be much death and moaning, and hearts will be broken when money is sparse."
People are cheap, money is tight, don't lie to yourself. People are so broke that they'll rather be alone for the holidays than to get a 'special' gift for their partner. Also due to the fact that Christmas is a time for the family. Either one partner doesn't want to meet the other's parents or they're hiding terrible secrets from their own parents. None the matter, Christmas is a time of greed and us humans tend to ruin everything.
Heed my warning, when times seem to be hard, duck, roll, stand, and cower in fear behind the sofa with a bowl of ice-cream, regardless of the gender.

Personificating Seven Days

Personification is a literary language that describes an inanimate objects with humane or animistic characteristics or movements.

Sunday: Procrastinating Sunday. He's typically a young lazy person saving everything to the end. And when the deadline arrives he sits at his coffee table, still dressed in his pajamas, with a bad case of bed hair  his back hunched over the wooden table, with his glasses on and works on his assignments. Sometimes it isn't assignments that he wait to do, he would run in his most casual and comfiest of clothes into the laundromat, ignoring the fact that its really full during the days. He really needed to wash his clothes he was down to his last pair of pants. He would run to his cable service, it was the last day to pay the bill. Sunday's a lovable and casual person, but you can't rely on him.

Monday:  She is unforgiving, like a strict old nun with a ruler in one hand and chalk in the other. Her hair is pure white making her seem angelic but the truth is that not even evil would stay with her wretched soul. Her teeth yellowed and crooked, she bares her teeth snarling at the innocent souls that merely passes her. She is dressed in the most darkest funeral clothes as if she was mourning the death of everyone in the world. She should be avoided like the black cat, if it crosses in front of you YOU SHALL NOT PASS. She will beat you into shape again to meet the rest of the unending day. Her presence fills the body with chills and hatred, you wish that she would pass away soon. But betting on her abominable soul not even death would want to greet her face, she would be forced to stay in limbo and haunt the grounds of where she dies.

Tuesday: She is the quietest of all people. She sits in the back of the classroom watching both the class and the teacher. She would rather not speak and make herself known. She wears dull colored clothes in order to blend in with her surroundings better. She does not want to be noticed and she isn't. Her face is always neutral, when she wants to smile she would hold her hand to her mouth in the most discretely way possible and let a little chuckle. She knows everything and everyone, she knows the gossip of the school, she knows the secrets of the school. But she keeps to herself and nobody complains, not even her.

Wednesday: He is the calmest of all people. Like a captain for a ship, he would look calm in the eyes of his passengers and save the day. His posture is serious and he is willing to learn for an education, he will not give up, and he believes in a no win scenarios. He believes that if he made it this far, than to give up would make all his hard work useless. He would work himself to the bone, he is confident and attentive. He is dressed in his best of clothing and when he's forced to wear casual clothes it would be iron to perfection and not a single wrinkle or flaw would be spotted on him. He's a serious person and yet the calmest, like the eye in the storm,

Thursday: He's fun to hang around with, he knows the best of jokes and he knows when to quit. He's easy going and also aware of his surroundings. Although he's easy going and fun to hang around with he is serious and should not be made angry. You wouldn't want to be anywhere near him when he's mad. He wouldn't harm you or say anything bad to you or about you. All he would do is to cut off all ties and vows to never speak to you, and to make you feel guilty of what you've done. He wears color clothing that isn't too bright or too noticeable, in fact, it's just right. His clothing suits him and he wears it just right. He's one of the most easiest and enjoyable person of his class.

Friday: In one word, Friday would be considered as hyper. He's like a child who had a whole box of chocolate chip cookies that were dipped in chocolate syrup and had rainbow jimmy's on top. He's too excited, too cheerful, too jumpy, too unfocused. He dressed like teenager wearing mix matching clothes that wouldn't work together but somehow did. He stay's up late and parties as if the world was about to end the next day. Perhaps it is. Beside the point, Friday is just too exhilarating and uncontrollable. His personality influences the people around him and sometimes they all end up in serious trouble. He never think things through, and he's irresponsible.

Saturday: He's the most laziest of all, he sleeps like a bear in hibernation. Believe it or not, his normal time to wake up is twelve, noon, he considers two in the afternoon oversleeping. He doesn't eat breakfasts since technically he always misses it, lunch is his first meal. He stays home in him pajamas and uses his time to do... nothing. He's unethically unproductive. He'd drag his feet on the carpet too lazy to pick up his feet. He doesn't even brush his hair, bed hair is cool. He ponders on why would he change out of his pajamas? He was going to be home all day anyways. Though he fixes his bed, he has to draw the line somewhere and the bed was the line. If he's in the mood perhaps he would do his homework and leave nothing for any other days. But that's only a possibility not a promise or goal.

Simile and Metaphor

Simile- Simile is a type of form of describing and relating two things together with a form of relationship using the words 'like', or 'as'. Simile stresses a situation, expression, or description to an extent of familiarity and knowledge. Simile is using a relationship of two objects and boldly giving its relationship.

Simile is an important part of writing as it stresses a description or situation so that the reader can image the scene in their heads and to give the reader a sense of how significant the quality is. Simile is seen everywhere and its importance is always underestimated.

"That was just your life"
By: Metallica

Like a siren in my head that always threatens to repeat,

Like a blind man that is strapped into the speeding driver's seat,

Like a face that learned to speak, when all it knew was how to fight,

Like a misery that keeps me though I've gone astray

Like an endless nightmare I must awaken from each day

Contradiction,

A premonition,

Not worthy of, so I deny

I deny.

I blind my eyes and try to force it all into place,

I stitch them up, see not my fall from grace.

I blind my eyes, I hide and feel it passing me by

I open just in time to say goodbye.

Almost like your life,

Almost like your endless fight,

Cursed, the day is long,

Realize you don't belong,

Disconnect somehow,

Never stop the bleeding now

Almost like your fight,

And there it went,

Almost like your life.

[Solo]

Like a wound that keeps on bleeding to remind me not to think,

Like a raging river, drowning when i only need a drink,

Like a poison that i swallow, but i want the world to die.

Like a release from a prison that i didn't know i was in,

Like a fight to live the past I prayed to leave from way back when

Like a general without a mission until the wars start again,

Start again.

I blind my eyes and try and force it all into place,

I stitch them up, see not my fall from grace.

I blind my eyes, I hide and feel it passing me by

I open just in time to say goodbye.

Almost like your life,

Almost like your endless fight,

Cursed, the day is long,

Realize you don't belong,

Disconnect somehow,

Never stop the bleeding now

Almost like your fight,

And there it went,

Almost like your life.

[Solo]

Like a touch from hell,

I feel how hot that it can get if you get caught,

Like a strike from heaven that turns that key,

That brings you straight down to your knees,

Like a touch from hell,

I feel how hot that it can get if i get caught,

Like a strike from heaven to reprieve,

That brings you straight down to your knees.

Almost like your life,

Almost like your endless fight,

Cursed, the day is long,

Realize you don't belong,

Disconnect somehow,

Never stop the bleeding now

Almost like your fight,

And there it went,

Almost like your life.

That was just your life.

Tone: The tone of this piece feels to me like ignorance, anger, rage, and devastation.

Mood: The mood of this piece feels to me like pity, sadness, and nervous.

Meaning: the meaning of this song is that the main character is addicted with drugs and he describes his feelings with his drug addiction. He falls to his knees in grace, and his life was ending and falling away from him.

Metaphor- Metaphor is a type of literary speech that is a word, phrase, or thing that shows two things that are not alike are in most ways similar or relateable without using the words 'like' or 'as'. As difficult as it sounds it is possible.

Metaphor is an important part or writing as it insinuates that a person is that related thing. Metaphor is usually used as an insult since there are bad sides to an object that can insult or offend people. Metaphor is kind of rare figurative language but it boldly gets the message across.

"I'm already there"
By: Lonestar

He called her on the road

From a lonely cold hotel room

Just to hear her say I love you one more time

But when he heard the sound 

Of the kids laughing in the background

He had to wipe away a tear from his eye

A little voice came on the phone

Said "Daddy when you coming home"

He said the first thing that came to his mind

I'm already there

Take a look around

I'm the sunshine in your hair

I'm the shadow on the ground

I'm the whisper in the wind

I'm your imaginary friend

And I know I'm in your prayers

Oh I'm already there

She got back on the phone

Said I really miss you darling

Don't worry about the kids they'll be alright

Wish I was in your arms

Lying right there beside you

But I know that I'll be in your dreams tonight

And I'll gently kiss your lips

Touch you with my fingertips

So turn out the light and close your eyes

I'm already there

Don't make a sound

I'm the beat in your heart

I'm the moonlight shining down

I'm the whisper in the wind

And I'll be there until the end

Can you feel the love that we share

Oh I'm already there

We may be a thousand miles apart

But I'll be with you wherever you are

I'm already there

Take a look around

I'm the sunshine in your hair

I'm the shadow on the ground

I'm the whisper in the wind

And I'll be there until the end

Can you feel the love that we share

Oh I'm already there

Oh I'm already

There

Tone: The tone of this piece was desperation and angest

Mood: The mood of this piece was pity and remorse.

Meaning: The meaning of this piece was about a military man who was about to go over seas calls his wife and children to say good bye one last time to give them peace in case he dies during his serving. He gives them reassurence that if something did happen to him that he would be there in their dreams and in their hearts. And he died and fufilled his promise, he is with them in spirit and he helps them in their sorrows.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We take for granted the simple things in life, we don't realize it but only when it is gone that we realize its real importance in life. Although it might seem simple today, the rights we have gained were fought with blood and misery. In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final speech, his speech spoken on April 3, 1968 he said, "We've got some difficult days ahead... But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land." Perhaps King believed that as a whole and if people screamed loud enough that they will achieve their dreams. Maybe he thought that he had finished his duty, the duty to inspire defiance and skepticism into all people. If Dr. King came into our urban school tomorrow I would say that he would be greatly perturbed.

One dream that Dr. King strove for was freedom towards racism, discrimination, and equality, which has been abused. We overcame racism, discrimination, and fought for equality but in this modern age you would see students walking around the hallways with their pants hanging beneath their waist. These students dress as though they were a part of gangs or something, speaking slang towards others. When going into the cafeteria you would see mass diversity between the students; Hispanic students huddled on one side of the cafeteria, and African-american students on the other. This is certainly what Dr. King wasn't hoping to gain, he wanted equality for all. 

Another flaw in our urban school that would disappoint Dr. King is the abuse of our freedom. Our freedom of speech is valued highly but it doesn't necessarily mean for us to speak every thought into words. Such as saying profanities after each word or saying something offensive towards others. Our freedom to take advantage of an education is lacking, with students who attend the school neither caring for an education or dropping out like flies. When Dr. King was young he would fight for an education equal to those of different race. Now that we have that same opportunity we deny it and ignore its importance in life. 

If Dr. King was summoned to our school I believe he wouldn't be happy, not at all. Though I believe that he would be proud of me, for I look upon my peers with indifference and I accept everyone as an equal. I take advantage of my education, as well as appear to be educated. I don't slur my speech to the standards of others and wear appropriate clothing at all times. I am a honors student and my surroundings are different than others, my peers and I see the world in a realistic view. Though there are things that Dr. King would be proud of, our school isn't one of them.

Hyperbole

To me, Hyperbole is a saying to exaggerate something from normal. And on occasions isn't meant to be taken lightly or versa, it tells the mood whether it be serious or lightly. Hyperbole is an important part of writing as it stresses a situation at its greatest or worst of times, and sometimes it humors that situation. It describes a situation or description to an extent where the dark clouds of the sky are tears of a person. It relates the impossibly relateble things together. Hyperbole is, in a way, the basic foundation of literature.

The Captive's Dream by Anne Bronte

Methought I saw him but I knew him not;
He was so changed from what he used to be,
There was no redness on his woe-worn cheek,
No sunny smile upon his ashy lips,
His hollow wandering eyes looked wild and fierce,
And grief was printed on his marble brow,
And O I thought he clasped his wasted hands,
And raised his haggard eyes to Heaven, and prayed
That he might die -- I had no power to speak,
I thought I was allowed to see him thus;
And yet I might not speak one single word;
I might not even tell him that I lived
And that it might be possible if search were made,
To find out where I was and set me free,
O how I longed to clasp him to my heart,
Or but to hold his trembling hand in mine,
And speak one word of comfort to his mind,
I struggled wildly but it was in vain,
I could not rise from my dark dungeon floor,
And the dear name I vainly strove to speak,
Died in a voiceless whisper on my tongue,
Then I awoke, and lo it was a dream!
A dream? Alas it was reality!
For well I know wherever he may be
He mourns me thus -- O heaven I could bear
My deadly fate with calmness if there were
No kindred hearts to bleed and break for me!

Tone: The tone was sad, and tragic
Mood: The mood was depressing, pitiful, and yearning.
Meaning: The meaning of this poem was what a captive felt when separated from her loved one. How all she wanted was for him to find her and that they could be together again. She imagined on how he'd look, how he'd react to her disappearance, and how she would comfort his soul. But with the inevitable realization that he would never come she cannot be put to rest.

"This Time It's Different"

Let GO!
This time it's different

I'm burning up
I'm filling up, see
Forever plagued with this fire inside me
Deliver all, to live or die blindly

It's empty it's bluffing defining the nothing
Interfering with the call of fate is crawling out of you and now
Finding comfort in the smallest spaces have sold out
I know I said
I hope I don't upset the light you defend
But this time it's different

Destroy my pain
Then capture life again
(This time it's different)
Destroy my shame
Can't live my life this way
LET! go, GO! let go
And capture life again
LET! go, GO! let go
Can't live my life this way

I'm giving up
I'm living but weak
I'm hearing voices from shadows inside me
I never sleep,
My eyes are too focused, too hopeless, too broken, too open, to notice
Interfering with the call of fate is crawling out of you, and now
Finding comfort in the smallest spaces have sold out
I know I said
I hope I don't upset the light you defend
But this time it's different

Destroy my pain
Then capture life again
(This time it's different)
Destroy my shame
Can't live my life this way
LET! go, GO! let go
And capture life again
LET! go, GO! let go
Can't live my life this way

(Question everything) [x4]

I open my eyes
A voice inside me
I open my mind
But this time it's different

Destroy my pain
Then capture life again
(This time it's different)
Destroy my shame
Can't live my life this way
LET! go, GO! let go
And capture life again
LET! go, GO! let go
Can't live my life this way
LET! go, GO! let go
And capture life again
LET! go, GO! let go
Can't live my life this way

(I'm burning up, I'm living but)
Can't live my life this way
(I'm burning up, I'm giving up)
Can't live my life this WAY!

Tone: The tone of this piece was anger, defiance, and determination
Mood: The mood was depressing and inspirational.
Meaning: My interpretation of this piece is about a man who is being changed for the better, by that I mean that before he didn't understand the needs of others. But after seeing with his eyes he can see what he was blinded by before. By seeing the world in a new light he is angered, determined, and willing to change. He is telling the change between his old eyes to his new as he embraces his new found enlightenment and leaves his old.