Okay so to start off, the first time I read this story it confused me. A lot. I had no idea what it was really about, especially when the guy says "to let the air in"... Let the air in where?! And to be completely honest, I thought he was talking about something completely different than what it actually was. At first I thought maybe a lobotomy, you know where they drive an ice pick into your eye/brain? Technically that would let the air in somewhere. Then I thought that would be far too brutal, but I suppose anything is possible. Then I absentent-mindedly thought maybe a boob job, 'cause you never know. But that wouldn't be letting "air" in per se, but more like silicone... Or whatever they put in there. I don't really fully understand the procedure, but either way that's not what the story was about. It was only until another person in the class piped up and said "I think it's about abortion" that I actually realized how well it fit. Anyway, so this story is about abortion. Basically it's about this couple who's sitting at a train station discussing it, but it seems like the American man has already made up his mind. The young girl, however, seems to be at a crossroads as to if she wants to actually keep the child or not. The man keeps reassuring the girl that it's a simple procedure with no risks, and that it's just "to let the air in" (which makes a lot more sense to me now).
I can see why the girl is on the fence about this subject, I mean it's probably not the easiest thing to give up a child. I wouldn't know first hand, obviously, but I can guess it's going to take a lot more thinking that just over a few drinks at the train station. And I'm sure there could be a million different reasons why abortion is bad, and people all have different opinions on the subject (I think it depends on the circumstances, not saying it's right or wrong). But this young girl is obviously suffering from a lot of internal coflict, whereas the man is certain he doesn't want this child. Now, the part I really liked about this story was the fact that it's clear that the train station represents the choice they have to make. One side of the tracks is barren and dry (white elephants), which would symbolize her getting the abortion, while the other side is lush, green, and fertile. The green side obviously symbolizes her fertility and choice to keep the child, which she seems to be leaning against. Who knows why the man doesn't want the child, there could be many reasons. Maybe the girl is too young and it would be frowned upon, or maybe she's colored and the man doesn't want that attachment to her. Maybe he's married and this young girl was his mistress, maybe he was fooling around with her behind his wife's back and got her pregnant. He would obviously not want to keep a love child, and an abortion would obviously be the easier choice for him.
In the end though, the girl picks up her things and moves to the green side, suggesting that she decides to keep her child.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
"My Son My Executioner"
I have to say, I didn't particularly like this poem. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful poem and all, it's just so sad. The basic message in this poem is you don't live forever, as if we didn't already know that. But come on now, I don't need another reminder. But at the same time, it's probably what every parent goes through when they have their first child. All through your adolescence and the beginning of being an adult you pretty much think you're invincible, and I can't speak for everyone but I'm really not a careful person because I'm just not afraid. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be, but I'm really not. And I'll probably feel that way until something happens that tells me otherwise.
When a father looks at a newborn baby, what does he really think? In this poem it's saying that he thinks about how he finally realizes he's aging faster than he thoought, he's "start[ing] to die". While the baby is "just astir", indicating it's his beginning, the father feels his youth fade away. It's a symbol of life and death in a sense, because even though the parents will die they'll still live on in their son. I guess that's why the author calls the child an "instrument of immortality".
Also, I don't really like the title of the poem. Not like it's irrelevant to the piece or anything, but it's just sort of brutal. An executioner is the big guy in the black mask who straps you into the guillotine and chops your head off, not your newborn son. I guess the little guy is an executioner in a sense because he makes the father realize he's aging and dying, but again it's still pretty brutal. It sure paints a picture, that's for sure.
When I was driving out to Cape Breton with my best friend and her parents a few years ago, they continuously played the contry music station and it absolutely drove me nuts. I know more country songs because of that road trip than I'd have ever liked to hear in my lifetime, but I couldn't help it because it basically sank into my head while I was sleeping. Anyway, this poem reminded me of a song that was drilled into my head back then by Toby Keith. It talks about a guy who's getting older and he realizes he's not in his prime anymore, and he's not as good as he once was. This song was a little less annoying than the rest of them, maybe that's why I remember it so well. But yeah, that's what this poem reminded me of. The poem is a bummer, but the song is a nice laugh.
"I ain't as good as I once was
My how the years have flown
But there was a time back in my prime
When I could really hold my own"
When a father looks at a newborn baby, what does he really think? In this poem it's saying that he thinks about how he finally realizes he's aging faster than he thoought, he's "start[ing] to die". While the baby is "just astir", indicating it's his beginning, the father feels his youth fade away. It's a symbol of life and death in a sense, because even though the parents will die they'll still live on in their son. I guess that's why the author calls the child an "instrument of immortality".
Also, I don't really like the title of the poem. Not like it's irrelevant to the piece or anything, but it's just sort of brutal. An executioner is the big guy in the black mask who straps you into the guillotine and chops your head off, not your newborn son. I guess the little guy is an executioner in a sense because he makes the father realize he's aging and dying, but again it's still pretty brutal. It sure paints a picture, that's for sure.
When I was driving out to Cape Breton with my best friend and her parents a few years ago, they continuously played the contry music station and it absolutely drove me nuts. I know more country songs because of that road trip than I'd have ever liked to hear in my lifetime, but I couldn't help it because it basically sank into my head while I was sleeping. Anyway, this poem reminded me of a song that was drilled into my head back then by Toby Keith. It talks about a guy who's getting older and he realizes he's not in his prime anymore, and he's not as good as he once was. This song was a little less annoying than the rest of them, maybe that's why I remember it so well. But yeah, that's what this poem reminded me of. The poem is a bummer, but the song is a nice laugh.
"I ain't as good as I once was
My how the years have flown
But there was a time back in my prime
When I could really hold my own"
Monday, October 17, 2011
"Paperweight"
I think this poem really stood out to me because I've been in a situation like this... You know, you're going through a hard time and you need someone who's going to be able to hold you down when it feels like the stress of the situation is just going to blow you away. It's a lot easier to go through something difficult when you've got someone by your side, I think everyone would agree on that. I mean sure, sometimes you need your space to think and be alone but for the most part you need a rock. The one person you can go to no matter what, you can cry on them and they'll just try to make you feel better. But I guess it's different if it's a partner and not a best friend, cause they're pretty much expected to be by your side when tragedy strikes. If a person is "too flimsy" to "keep the edges from curling" then it's really going to make things a lot harder on you in the long run if your partner can't help you be strong.
It's kind of a bummer poem in a sense, because it's looking at mostly how this person can't hold the speaker up. Maybe it's not all about going through the hard times, it's about the actual support in the relationship. If you can't be supportive to each other then how can anything work? You need a certain amount of encouragement to give you that extra push to do something, even if it's as simple as applying for a job. If your partner doesnt support you, or doesn't want you to get the job, then how are you supposed to feel confident?
A relationship between two people should be mutual, that's my opinion anyway. Trust and support should be the foundation of something healthy and amazing.
It's kind of a bummer poem in a sense, because it's looking at mostly how this person can't hold the speaker up. Maybe it's not all about going through the hard times, it's about the actual support in the relationship. If you can't be supportive to each other then how can anything work? You need a certain amount of encouragement to give you that extra push to do something, even if it's as simple as applying for a job. If your partner doesnt support you, or doesn't want you to get the job, then how are you supposed to feel confident?
A relationship between two people should be mutual, that's my opinion anyway. Trust and support should be the foundation of something healthy and amazing.
"My Mistress' Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun"
Oh Shakespeare, how I love thee so.
No seriously, I love Shakespeare. And especially this poem in particular, it's a great example of how to love unconditionally no matter the appearance of a person. This is just a beautifully written sonnet that captures just how amazing a bond between two people should be. For the first little while it seems like Shakespeare is just ripping into this woman, pointing out her every flaw and being so critical towards her appearance. Even the title itself, apparently her eyes are "Nothing Like the Sun"... Seriously, they're not, that's basically what he's saying. And he goes on to say that her lips are pale, her hair is wiry, her cheeks aren't rosy, and her breath not only stinks, but it reeks. That's pretty bad. "My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:" When his mistress walks, she's no goddess, she still walks on the ground like a normal person. But then we see a sudden shift in the last two lines, and here's where it really gets good: "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/ As any she belied with false compare." Hey, she's not perfect but she's my mistress and I love her. Just beautiful, don't you think?
This poem actually reminded me of a song, and I couldn't get it out of my head the whole time after I read this piece. Have you ever heard "Anyone else but you" by the Moldy Peaches? It's basically the theme song from the movie Juno, and one particular line stood out to me. "Here is the church and here is the steeple, We sure are cute for two ugly people." Is that not spot on? Two ugly people can be cute, I definitely agree with this. And I think that Shakespeare thought that hey, maybe my mistress is ugly, but I am too so we can just be cute together.
No seriously, I love Shakespeare. And especially this poem in particular, it's a great example of how to love unconditionally no matter the appearance of a person. This is just a beautifully written sonnet that captures just how amazing a bond between two people should be. For the first little while it seems like Shakespeare is just ripping into this woman, pointing out her every flaw and being so critical towards her appearance. Even the title itself, apparently her eyes are "Nothing Like the Sun"... Seriously, they're not, that's basically what he's saying. And he goes on to say that her lips are pale, her hair is wiry, her cheeks aren't rosy, and her breath not only stinks, but it reeks. That's pretty bad. "My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:" When his mistress walks, she's no goddess, she still walks on the ground like a normal person. But then we see a sudden shift in the last two lines, and here's where it really gets good: "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/ As any she belied with false compare." Hey, she's not perfect but she's my mistress and I love her. Just beautiful, don't you think?
This poem actually reminded me of a song, and I couldn't get it out of my head the whole time after I read this piece. Have you ever heard "Anyone else but you" by the Moldy Peaches? It's basically the theme song from the movie Juno, and one particular line stood out to me. "Here is the church and here is the steeple, We sure are cute for two ugly people." Is that not spot on? Two ugly people can be cute, I definitely agree with this. And I think that Shakespeare thought that hey, maybe my mistress is ugly, but I am too so we can just be cute together.
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