Sestina

He wakes early each morning for his father,

who at night, drinks away the money.

Out in the darkness and cold, throwing newspapers,

he pushes away the intense pangs of hunger.

Alone and hated by his father, the son

only lives for his mother and God.

*

He goes into the church, unaware of God

to find peace from the wrath of his father.

From the moment of epiphany, the son

knows God and no longer needs money

to keep away his hunger,

as he carries on his back, the bag full of newspapers.

*

After delivering hundreds of newspapers

and praying all along the way to God,

who is the only one with the power to diminish his hunger:

his hunger for nourishment, faith, and the love of his father,

he struggles through his young life, where money

seems to be the cure for the pains of the son.

*

The boy grew into the honorable man, but still a son

to a poor woman who loved him for throwing newspapers,

even though he sacrificed his health and childhood for money

for his mother and siblings. Now, his life is in the hands of God,

as the son leaves behind the disappointment of his father

to fight for his country and end his hunger.

*

His journey is never easy, but the hunger

he once felt, now gives him strength. The son,

through each danger and obstacle, prays to his Father,

who carried him as child outside delivering newspapers.

The son knows that by God

he is alive today and that love does not depend on money.

*

His life was spent always lacking money,

but he no longer feels the hunger

for the love of his family or God.

He realizes the power of God and His Son

as he sits on the porch reading the newspapers

and never feeling hate towards his father.

*

God has led this man through a life rich in the money

of love for his Father and lacking in hunger

for he knows the Son gave him all he needs, as he sets down the newspapers.

Found Poem

Everything is in motion.
The horizon, with a flash of fuchsia darting across, is clear.
He has succumb to her voodoo,
and she is captivated by his one man show.
The luminous moon rises into the black sky.
Her perfect fairy peach and cream complexion and tangerine joy
make his cold Ferrari black eyes turn to something blue.
His wild thing essence makes her heartbeat fast, like racing rubies.
He recalls the first time he saw her,
with her pink diamond earrings and Calvin Klein jeans.
At that moment, he fell for her, like falling through the silver ice.

She remembers the taxi he stepped out of
on his way into the café.
The dark lights shone down on his mysterious face
as she was mesmerized by his “Cool Water” scent.
Their chapel of love could wither away like a sterling silver rose,
or Romeo and Juliet could for the first time come true.

Vocab Poem

Words, Definitions, and Part of speech:

1. vociferous: (adj) Making, given to, or marked by noisy and vehement outcry.

2. timorous: (adj) full of fear; fearful

3. imbroglio: (n) a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc., of a complicated or bitter nature, as between persons or nations.

4. pandemonium: (n) wild uproar or unrestrained disorder; tumult or chaos.

5. servility: (n) slavishly submissive or obsequious

6. illation: (n) the act of inferring; conclusion

7. pastoral: (adj) having the simplicity, charm, serenity, or other characteristics generally attributed to rural areas.

8. kaleidoscopic: (adj) changing form, pattern, color, etc., in a manner suggesting a kaleidoscope

9. prosaic: (adj) lacking in imagination and spirit; dull

10. tessellation: (n) collage, mixture, abstract composition

Bittersweet Reality

That day I was awakened from the naive dream of my childish world. With the vociferous voices crying out like thunder pounding through the whirling gray clouds, I realized the imbroglio that soon broke out into a violent pandemonium. It was like a fight between two dogs, heightening and seemingly never ending. And the biting, growling, screaming, and yelling. My young mind poured over with timorous thoughts like flood waters breaking over a weakened levy. Like debris swept up by a catastrophic tornado, rocking chairs once used to rock infants to sleep were whirled across the room, along with random helpless objects. That day, my life that once seemed comforting and safe, despite the servility that I was ignorant to, reached an illation that seemed like a dead end in the road with no outlet. That day represents more than just this natural disaster that capsized my life. That day created my kaleidoscopic life. My life would become a mosaic of experiences, never prosaic or lacking in color or contrast. The tesselation of comforts and struggles that would inhabit my life would become who I am. That day, though painful and violent, led to the pastoral comfort like a soft breeze after a storm.

Defending America's Rock Tradition: Not A Petty Thing (Hilburn)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsn7Ig8KCCM
In 1970, four average teenage boys living in Gainesville, Florida formed a band called Mudcrutch. Mudcrutch began performing in local bars and clubs in the Gainesville area. Four years later, the young men of this band begged their lead guitarist’s father to allow his son to drop out of the University of Florida. After a bit of a struggle, he finally consented. The band quickly signed with Shelter Records and relocated to Los Angeles, California. This band which would become Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers could never have predicted the events to come in their very successful future and their lives would never again be the same. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have been nominated for and winners of numerous Grammy Awards, recipients of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band’s great talent, creativity, and determination has brought them their huge success.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have left an impact on the complicated music industry, their countless fans throughout the world, and a myriad of other musicians. This band captured listeners everywhere with its unique and sincere music and lyrics. They have motivated many young aspiring musical artists, and even well-established musicians. One of their greatest contributions to the world, however, has been their persistence to dispute any injustices, especially in the music industry, and their willingness to not back down on what they know is right.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers defines and embraces rock and roll music, though Tom Petty occasionally has a country sound because of his Southern roots. Their unique and original instrumental sound and emphasis on the guitar and drums, together with Tom Petty’s very distinct vocals, characterizes rock music. The whiney and almost imperfect sound of Petty’s voice, similarly to many other rock musicians, creates the flawed perfection of their rock and roll music.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers honored and followed in the footsteps of their musical idols, while at the same time creating a sound and success of their own that many musicians would later strive to attain. The brilliant musical deities of Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash have influenced the passionate music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. While they admired these great musicians, the band always managed to create their own unique lyrics and music full of passion and sincerity. The tradition of talent and success of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have influenced numerous younger artists, such as Pearl Jam, Stevie Nicks, John Mayer, and many more.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are a band with a drive and force incomparable to anyone else. This ambition, especially within the leader, Tom Petty, is a result of struggles and anger. In the recently released documentary, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ Down A Dream, Tom Petty discusses his troubled childhood. As expressed in the documentary, “the untold story of great rock musicians is you either lost your mother or your father hated you.” Bono from the band U2 said, “ If you were like me and you were lucky enough to have both, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.” Tom Petty was another one who had this same situation. Petty’s mother, who he adored dearly, died early in his blossoming career. His father verbally and physically abused him from an early age because Petty was interested in music and art. When Petty became successful, his father relished in his son’s success and enjoyed the title of “Tom Petty’s Father.” Tom Petty turns the anger that he experiences within him into the ambition that has brought himself and his band their achievements.

As Admiral David Farragut declared at the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War, “Damn the torpedoes!,” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers also adopted this “full speed ahead” mentality in 1979 when MCA Records acquired Shelter Records without the band’s consent. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers then realized that, out of naiveté and inexperience in the music business, they had signed a contract giving up their publishing rights to the record company. The record companies told them that they were in no financial position to fight a lawsuit, but the unwavering Petty was only angered more and filed the lawsuit, as well as, for bankruptcy and rendered all previous contracts null and void, a first for anyone in the music business. Finally, MCA Records settled and gave the band their own label under Backstreet Records, let them set their own deal, and gave them the right to their songs. Through this whole process, Tom Petty’s persistence was constantly evident. Even faced by a powerful attorneys, Petty quoted, “ I will sell !@#$%^& peanuts before I give into you. I refuse to give into you. You can break me, but you can’t sell records.”

Through the months of legal battles, the band continued to work on their record. “Damn the Torpedoes” became their artistically greatest work and achieved Platinum status within four months. Petty transformed the anger from his past into the drive that he and his band needed to earn their well-deserved success.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers convey a message throughout all of their songs similar to that of “I Won’t Back Down.” Though there is unmistakable pain in his life, Tom Petty writes very artistic and romantic songs. He ultimately communicates through his music the often sad realities of life: the joys and the disappointments, the triumphs and the battles; and he communicates his determination to overcome the unfortunate aspects of life.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s ambition and determination is clearly defined in their song “I Won’t Back Down.” The title and the first line undoubtedly states his motive. Petty expresses his assertion that whatever the situation and the fear he may have, he will thrust it aside and persevere, “You could stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won’t back down.” Petty, as he proved throughout his life, again confirms that he will fight against the injustices that are evident in this vindictive world, “Well I know what’s right, I got just one life in a world that keeps on pushin’ me around…” Petty plainly explains that there are no simple alternatives to reaching a solution and you just have to face the difficulties, “Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out…”

“I Won’t Back Down”

Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back down

Gonna stand my ground, won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down

Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won’t back down.

Well I know what’s right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down

Hey baby there ain’t no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won’t back down
No, I won’t back down

Hypnopaedia

"One can make a difference." Today, with the growing problems in the world from the energy crisis to poverty and natural disasters, a great number people have developed the mentality that their efforts to make the world a better place are futile. The idea that one man cannot create a change is evident. The world must leave this thought behind and take action. Each person must come to a realization that even though their voice is small, they have the strength to bring about change. There are always people in the world who think like you. So, we must find those people by speaking out about what we believe in, and, together, we can make a difference. Just by letting our small voice be heard, we can join together with others who want to make the world a better place.

Dramatic Monologue

I am alone in this Brave New World.

Why am I different from the rest?
I do not belong to these guidelines and rules.

Do they have to stare at me as I walk by them?

They judge me and why I look different.

They all have their own opinions,

but I hear most say alcohol was mistakenly dropped in my blood-surrogate.

Oh Ford! How dare they say such absurdities.

Cannot one be slightly different from the rest?

Must they comment and remark on my smaller size.

So what if I do not enjoy playing Obstacle Golf!

And so what if I am alone most of the time!

Oh, if only everyone knew what I suffer!

I wish that Lenina would notice me for once.

Henry Foster speaks of her 'as a piece of meat.'

He wants to give her away for his friends to 'try.'

Ford, how I hate them!

I do not want a gramme of soma.

Ford, I should like to kill him!

Their laughs are taunting as they shout,

"A gramme is better than a damn!"

These women that give themselves so freely,

like the ones that follow Helmholtz around constantly.

I disagree with their carelessness, but I must admit I am jealous of him.

They never follow me or beg to go out with me.

Oh, but Lenina will accompany me to the Savage Reservation.

Lenina is different and special.

Different from the rest of this world.

I don't understand what the world is becoming.

The structure and the rules are an annoyance.

I know no other world but I hate these rules.

They are absurd!

The Directors do not allow such differences as myself.

They warn me time and again of my transference to Iceland.

Do they really believe that I will be frightened by that?

Do they think my life will be miserable there?

They really do not know that my life might be easier there,

with no one whom I would be forced to converse with,

with no soma and no feelies and no judgement from others.

Maybe I should go to this desolate island and leave this world behind,

this Brave New World of fear and shame,

this world of soma to mask the pain of reality.

Allusion Paragraph

In All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren utilizes allusions to reveal specific and unique ideas about the characters of Cass Mastern and Jack Burden. Warren alludes to Cassandra from Greek mythology to portray the relationship between Cass and Jack. In Greek mythology, the son god, Apollo granted Cassandra the power to foretell the future, but then she was punished with the curse that no one would believe her. In a way, Cass Mastern represents Cassandra for Jack. As a history student, Jack studies the life of his ancestor Cass, and while struggling to find meaning and understanding, Jack eventually comes to a realization of his own life and each individual’s significance in the world. From Jack’s research of his ancestor’s life, he creates his theory of life: “ He [Cass] learned that the world is like and enormous spider web and if you touch it , however lightly, at any point, the vibration ripples to the remotest perimeter and the drowsy spider feels the tingle…” Warren alludes to Telemachus, from The Odyssey, to show the father and son relationships throughout the novel through the archetypical father figures in Jack’s life. In The Odyssey, Telemachus was left responsible for his mother when his father when on his epic journey. Telemachus conflicted with the many suitors of his mother. Each suitor competed for his mother’s hand in an archery competition. Finally, one man prevailed in the feat and Telemachus did not immediately recognize that the man was, in fact, his father. Like Telemachus, Jack struggles with recognizing and accepting the father figures in his life. Although Judge Irwin was always in his life as a sort of father figure, it wasn’t until halfway through his life that Jack discovered that his father was really the Judge: “All during the meal it had been old times, which was another tribute to me…Old times, just before dessert, worked around how I used to make models with him.”