Poem 9

Fire and Ice

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BY ROBERT FROST

Some say the world will end in fire, 

Some say in ice. 

From what I’ve tasted of desire 

I hold with those who favor fire. 

But if it had to perish twice, 

I think I know enough of hate 

To say that for destruction ice 

Is also great 

And would suffice.

Does the speaker seem optimistic or pessimistic? Why?

What are possible other elements that could bea s destructive as fire and ice?

Poem 8

Holy Sonnets: Death, be not proud

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BY JOHN DONNE

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee 

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; 

For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow 

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. 

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, 

Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, 

And soonest our best men with thee do go, 

Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery. 

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, 

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, 

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well 

And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then? 

One short sleep past, we wake eternally 

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die. 

Does the speaker sound arrogant? Or afraid? What evidence exists of both?

Poem 7

O Captain! My Captain!

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BY WALT WHITMAN

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, 

The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won, 

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, 

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; 

                         But O heart! heart! heart! 

                            O the bleeding drops of red, 

                               Where on the deck my Captain lies, 

                                  Fallen cold and dead. 

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; 

Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills, 

For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding, 

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; 

                         Here Captain! dear father! 

                            This arm beneath your head! 

                               It is some dream that on the deck, 

                                 You’ve fallen cold and dead. 

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, 

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will, 

The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done, 

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; 

                         Exult O shores, and ring O bells! 

                            But I with mournful tread, 

                               Walk the deck my Captain lies, 

                                  Fallen cold and dead.

What does the "fearful trip" represent, and what evidence supports this? (Hint: what was happening in America in the 1860s?)

Could the captain of the ship represent the President of the United States? Why or why not? 

Does the speaker of the poem seem to be happy or sad about the death of the Captain?

Poem 6

We Real Cool

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BY GWENDOLYN BROOKS

The Pool Players.
        Seven at the Golden Shovel.

We real cool. We   

Left school. We 

Lurk late. We 

Strike straight. We 

Sing sin. We   

Thin gin. We 

Jazz June. We   

Die soon.

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Questions to mull over:

Why do think such a short poem is so popular (and resonates with so many people)?

What do you think the formatting adds to the poem?

AudioUse Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or

Poem 5

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

By Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on that sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

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Questions to contemplate:

What do you think the significance of this poem was in the movie Interstellar?

How do you think the repetition of the word "men" helps the poem? 

Poem 4

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

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Questions to ponder:
Is there really a road less traveled? Why do you think so?
What do you think inspired Frost to write this poem?

Poem 3

No Man Is An Island

By John Donne

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; 
It tolls for thee. 
                                                                                                   
Questions to think about:

What do you think the island and continent in the poem is supposed to represent?
Using this poem as reference, how do you believe that people face death?

Poem 2

Because I could not stop for Death – (479)

BY EMILY DICKINSON

Because I could not stop for Death –

He kindly stopped for me –

The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste

And I had put away

My labor and my leisure too,

For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children strove

At Recess – in the Ring –

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –

We passed the Setting Sun –

Or rather – He passed Us –

The Dews drew quivering and Chill –

For only Gossamer, my Gown –

My Tippet – only Tulle –

We paused before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground –

The Roof was scarcely visible –

The Cornice – in the Ground –

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity –

                                                                                                                          

Questions to think about:

What is the speaker's attitude toward death? Does the speaker seem to fear death?

What do you think the "House" mentioned in the fifth stanza represents? Why?

Poem 1

Richard Cory

BY EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.
                                                                                                                          

Questions to think about:

Did the ending surprise you? Why or why not?

What is something (other than the ending) that really struck you about the poem?

Game Night Flyer

Introduction

Welcome to the Poetry Game Night Blog! The event will take place on April 27th, at the Uni High Library from 8:00-9:30. Extra credit will be offered  to anyone who comes in some English classes, including those taught by Ms. Majerus and Mr. Mitchell. Poetry themed food prizes will be awarded to participants and winners.

Participants will compete in teams of 3-6 people. If you don't have a planned team, just show up and we will happily put you on a team at the competition.

The competition will consist of three rounds. One round of Family Feud style poetry survey questions, one round of a team Jeopardy competition in poetry themed categories, and one round of teamwork poetry interpretation questions.

On this blog, you will find daily poems posted with prompts that promote interpretive thought. The questions at the competition will mainly be based off of these poems, so if you want to win, read these poems! Bonus points at the competition will be provided for people who answer the prompts in detail or post insightful comments on this blog before the day of the competition.

Stay tuned for poems!

Note: The library is also hosting an open mic on April 27th from 6:30-8:00pm. Check it out for a night filled with fun!