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“I will show you fear in a handful of dust.”

~ from T. S. Eliot’s poem “The Waste Land” (1922)

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“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelly (1818)

I met a traveler from an antique land

Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:

And on the pedestal these words appear:

“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Poem retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozymandias, 2011.

Images from Google Images 2011

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Table of Contents

1. “Ozymandias” a Poem by Percy Bysshe Shelly (1818)……………….2

2. Interpretation of John Donne‟s poem “The Apparition” by Daniel Magana…4-5

3. Interpretation of Robert Frost‟s poem “The Road Not Taken” by Brenda Acevedo and Brian Rojas…6-7

4. “For My Uncle” a Poem by Erica Orozco……………………………..………..…8

5. “Battle Field of the Mind: An Analysis of Anne Bradstreet‟s Poem „The Flesh and the Spirit‟” by Paul

Laney………9-10

6. Interpretation of William Blake‟s Poems “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” by Rocio Estrada……11-12

7. Idea for a Screenplay: “SarcophaGuy!” by Adam Webb………………………....13-14

8. To The Complications of Love: An Interpretation of Two of Shakespeare‟s Sonnets by Kendra Francis,

Krystal Garcia, Monica Monarrez and Daisy Reyes…….15-16

9. Interpretation of Anne Bradstreet‟s “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House” by Melissa

Echavarria…….17-18

10. Interpretation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe‟s poem “The Country School Master” by Alma

Hernandez and Vince Galvan……….19-20

11. Interpretation of Anne Bradstreet‟s “Upon the Burning of Our House” by Angie Perez and Carmina

Flores………..21

12. “Fear Nothing But Yourself” a Poem by Frank Hernandez…….22

13. Interpretation of Anne Bradstreet‟s “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House” by Yahaira Pakian...23

14. “Black Friday Horror” a Short Story by Mike Perez ………….24-26

15. Interpretation of William Blake‟s “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” by Antonia Aguirre….27

16. Analysis of John Keats‟ “When I Have Fears” by David Armas……28

17. A Close Look at Anne Bradstreet and Her Poem “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House” by Eileen

Lopez and Frank Hernandez………………………………………………29-31

18. Interpretation of “When I have Fears” by John Keats by Adolfo Torres……..32

19. Interpretation of John Donne‟s “The Flea” by Priscilla Cano…….33

20. “Silhouette” a Poem by Cesar Simental………..34

21. “The Second Coming” a Poem by William Butler Yeats (1919)……………..35

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"The Apparition" by John Donne

What I perceived from this reading was that within the first sentence I read, the

author was speaking about the scorn of a woman towards the man thus leaving

him. The abandonment is ultimately what killed his heart due to the rejection of

the woman for not having sex. The author uses the apparition as an epiphany of a

guilty conscious. The male's expressions towards the woman are that he feels so

hurt for the rejection that he is essentially cursing the woman in such that, since

she refused to be with him, the next person she will be, with will be a scumbag.

The author refers to the feigned vestal, which has religious reference to the vestal

virgin. In other words, the man feels that the woman's rejection towards him is her

way of remaining pure, however in the near future, her purity will be tainted by

another man, stemming from her given rejection.

The speaker expresses sorrow in the last part of the poem, to the

point where he fables that she will painfully repent and will wish to come back and

plead with him to come back to her. By this point, his pain will have vanished and

will feel nothing more towards her, so much so that he will simply walk away

without a word and leave her suffering the same way he did.

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The author uses a lot of negativity, sorrow, and pain to

express his emotions towards rejection. The theme to this poem is of curses and

bad wishes. He wishes nothing but bad luck and pain to this woman. I feel the

author is depicting how religion plays a major role in sexuality in this era. This is

the second poem by this author where sex is referenced indirectly. Can men not

enjoy self-pleasure? This is the reason why this man is soliciting the woman.

However, her rejection only means he will not be able to release his stress giving

him another reason to curse her.

Works Cited

www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/apparition.php Jan 2, 2000 – THE APPARITION. By John

Donne.

forcethis.com/articles/poetry.../analysis_john_donne_the_apparition Dec 10, 2008 – THE

APPARITION by John Donne (1572-1631).

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“The Road Not Taken”- Robert Frost

In the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, we are

introduced to a traveler, a traveler whom is walking through the

woods and comes across a divide in his path, a divide in which he

chooses a path merely by impulse and goes on to foreshadow how

he may one day regret his decision.

After the traveler comes upon this path he must decide between

two roads; two roads, that if read carefully, are pretty much the

same in appearance; in the quotes, "both that morning equally lay,

in leaves no step had trodden black". Unlike stated in Yogi Berra’s

analysis of this poem in which he states this poem’s meaning was

“obvious” and that the traveler took the best choice. In his

analysis Berra explains the traveler takes the path “less traveled

by” because it makes him feel more secure as he is traveling the

path. After a closer analysis, we see the traveler’s path is “equally

lay”, both paths had the same look scattered with leaves and no

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steps through them, making him act on impulse. In this section of

the poem, we see the traveler having to come to a decision, having

to reassure himself he is taken the right path, "having perhaps the

better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear". As the

traveler continues on this path that he has chosen we see a form

of self-delusion, “Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted

if I should ever come back” we see the traveler telling himself, he

will take the other road the next day knowing that it will never

happen.

As the traveler continues, we see him looking into the future

with a sad tone in his voice telling this event with a twist, a twist

in which he will regret that, “I took the one less traveled by, and

that has made all the difference” a

contradiction, if the rest of the poem

is taken into consideration. As he tells

this different story, we can see

regret and wonder as he “sighs”

before beginning his story. This does

not seem to be a poem trying to express a deep meaning in which a

traveler went with his best choice; it is more to express an

impulsive choice made by one traveler that would later ponder on

what it could have been.

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It seems like it was just yesterday when I heard your voice, and saw your

smile

In an instant you were taken away

I‟ll never forget that smile or the laughs we shared

Your voice and your wisdom

Not knowing all that you could have been

Taken away so quick

I regret never saying how much I loved you

I sometimes find myself crying to sleep and praying that God keep your

soul at peace

I will never understand why you left this world so soon

Death is something we have to live with

Until our time comes I keep you in my heart

Now and forever more you will always be the one I adore

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“BATTLE FIELD OF THE MIND”

AN ANALYSIS OF ANNE BRADSTREET’S

“The Flesh and the Spirit”

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,

against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual

forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Anne Bradstreet paints a portrait through poetry as she describes the battle that rages

between the forces of good and evil, about the thoughts and the desires that humanity deals with

on a daily basis. She expresses the mind battle as being two parts of a person‟s mind, as

expressed by using the example of the twin sisters that are in a tug-of-war between ones desire of

the flesh and the others desire of the spiritual connection with God.

The readings that I‟ve chosen to use during my analysis of Anne Bradstreet‟s “The

Flesh and the Spirit” are a book written by renowned Christian author Joyce Meyer called,

“Battlefield of The Mind”, and of course the Holy Bible- New International Version. Meyer

explains that the mind is the leader or forerunner of all actions. Our actions are a direct result of

our thoughts. If we have a negative mind we will have a negative life. If, on the other hand, we

renew our mind according to God‟s Word, we will, as Romans 12:2 promises prove out of our

experience “the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” for our lives.

This poem was written during “The Renaissance Era”, which literally means

“Rebirth”. During this era, the religious movement known as the Reformation took place, where

the Protestants were trying to separate themselves from Catholicism, and from being under the

rule of a Pope and not having the ability to communicate directing with God through the Holy

Spirit. Anne Bradstreet‟s example of the twins reflects the religious world around them. The

Catholic church for example would adorn itself with riches of this world, such as, silver and gold

that could be found on the alters and on the Priests or Archbishops staff or scepter.

The twin, “Flesh” depicts the type of person who desires immediate satisfaction from

the things that are seen on earth and she asks her sister, “Spirit”, if in her times of meditation, she

has dreamed of the space beyond the moon and if she had laid up treasures in the heavens.

“Flesh” exclaims that the Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold; more than eyes can see and

hold. “Spirit” is quick to respond by telling “Flesh” not to disturb her settled heart, for she had

vowed her sister as a foe still to pursue and will combat her until she sees her sister laid in the

dust as she looks on from heaven. She states that they are not from one father. “You are from

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old Adam”, she implies, and she speaks of the Father above whom she loves. She reiterates the

fact that her ambitions lie with her father above and there was nothing on this Earth that her

sister could do by tempting her with sinful pleasures, or riches.

“Spirit” speaks about how she can see what is invisible to “Flesh”, such as, the royal

robes that are more glorious than the glistening Sun that she will wear in heaven. She will not

wear a crown of diamonds, pearls or gold, but a simple halo such as the Angels‟ heads enfold.

She speaks of the need for no light in heaven, of the absence of sickness, walls of Jasper, Gates

of Pearls, streets of gold, and rivers of Crystal. In the very last sentence she tells ”Flesh” that she

can take the world and all she desires, if she herself, can have her fill of heaven.

In my opinion, the Renaissance Era was a free spirited time. People wanted to explore

earthly desires by letting their minds wander. And they did so by ignoring the principles of

discipline in their thought life. In spiritual warfare the mind is the battlefield. That is where the

enemy, even if it‟s your evil twin, makes his or her attack. They know very well that even if a

person attends church, if he or she can‟t keep their mind on the ultimate goal, that they cannot

achieve thought discipline. “Flesh” is constantly trying to tempt “Spirit”, but “Spirit” has her

mind set and will not be deterred. She has a positive mind and her thoughts are full of faith and

hope. “Flesh” on the other hand, asks, “Why bother! There are riches to be desired and enjoyed

on earth that can actually be seen by the eye and touched and felt with the human senses”.

“Spirit” could easily become a victim to negative thoughts, such as, worry, doubt,

confusion, depression, anger, and feelings of condemnation, which are attacks on the mind. And

she could choose to be like “Flesh” and say whatever. Life is life and what happens, happens. So,

while you‟re stuck on this Earth, might as well enjoy the treasures that it has to offer, whether

they are of a sinful nature or not.

Ezekiel 36:26, 27- A new heart I will give to you and a new spirit will I put within you,

and I will take away the stony and fleshy heart. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause

you to walk in my statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.

“Spirit” has chosen and has her mind set neither on the treasures that are not of this

Earth and she trusts in her Father in Heaven to watch over her and supply her needs while she is

on Earth. She doesn‟t worry about money or what she will have to eat when she is hungry. She

looks forward to her heavenly reward even if it means being separated from “Flesh” in the end.

Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” That’s exactly

what Spirit was doing as you read this poem.

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The Lamb and the Tiger

By William Blake

How would anyone know what good is if there was no evil in a person or in the world?

This is exactly what William Blake tried to explain between his two poems. But still he wonders

why would anyone who had the power to create evil, would actually do it? William Blake was

also an artist. So he was very descriptive in his poetry. Such as in the lamb “By the stream and

o‟er the mead.” (Line 4) We can actually see what he would be visualizing while he was writing

it.

“The Lamb” really is what beauty and innocence is in the world. He describes how he

who made the lamb made him with “Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender

voice, making all the vales rejoice?”(Line 6, 7, 8) When on the other hand “The Tiger” explains

how powerful, fearful and fierce it is. For example, when he says, "What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?" I think it referring in a way about how perfect it is, in fact

too perfect for any human to have created it.

In the line that says, "Did he who made the Lamb make thee?" (Line 19) we also find

the astonishment of the writer questioning himself, as in disbelief of how the power of the hand

that created something so gentle has the power to create something so fierce. In other words,

only God is able to create both a gentle lamb and fierce tiger. As he questions of why would the

same hand create something divine and fierce, he asks another. “Did he smile his work to see?”

(Line 20) Was God proud of what he had created even though it was a something not as beautiful

and innocent as the lamb?

Between "The Lamb" and "The Tiger" both share the same theme in our perspective. The

theme would be that both have to do with creation. Creation created by only one being which in

this case would be God. The theme might be the same but both poems speak of different types of

creations. "The tiger" is experienced which ironically was published in 1794 in the book of

Songs of Experience. "The Lamb" is innocent which was published in the book of Songs of

Innocence in 1789. The fact that the book of innocence was written first the book of

experience relates to us as a person, such as when we are born we are innocent in every aspect

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because we do not know any better and too young to understand. Later in life as we get older we

get to understand the opposite with experience.

The message that we got from the writer to us the reader between the two poems

explains how one cannot exist without the other. It is the same as sweet and sour. One must

know what pain is before one truly know how happy one is. And it is vice and versa. Good only

exists because evil came to be.

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Idea for a screenplay: “SarcophaGuy!”

Starring: Adam Sandler, Lindsay Lohan and Sylvester Stallone as the Pharaoh‟s mummified

corpse, Professor Andre Woodington and as himself

Samuel Seifret, played by Adam Sandler, is a world-renowned art critic. One day, while strolling

through the storage rooms at the Louvre, he stumbles upon this old, dusty sarcophagus. Inscribed

on the side of the sarcophagus is "Who lies within me will rise as a powerful god..." Sandler

ponders this phrase, kind of giggling, smirking about it, but then decides to try it out for laughs.

He accidentally falls asleep in it and the night security locks him in the storage room,

unknowingly. Sandler awakens with a start in the morning and rushes off to his office. Later that

day, he is having coffee with his fiancé, Lohan, who is named Monica Bilge, a wealthy socialite

from a prestigious European family, when he notices that he can make her coffee hotter just by

looking at it. Puzzled, he rushes back to his office and tests some of his new powers out. He

finally makes the connection his newfound powers to the sarcophagus' inscription. Sandler has

many adventures with his newfound powers, which includes saving a baby from getting hit by a

city bus, bringing all the troops home from Iraq and traveling into the future and preventing an

asteroid from destroying the earth. However, later that night he notices his powers waning and he

hurries back to storage room at the Louvre where the sarcophagus is kept. Lohan suspects that

Sandler is cheating on her and she follows him. After breaking into the Lourve's storage room,

Sandler seals himself back up into the sarcophagus and waits for his powers to be restored.

While in the sarcophagus, Sandler dreams of ancient Egypt. As scenes flash around, he focuses

on one that portrays a great pharaoh, Stallone, and his sudden death at the hands of his best

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friends, mainly because he has been practicing magic and has become ruthless toward his people.

He sees the pharaoh seal himself into the sarcophagus and reciting an incantation that will give

him the powers of the god Set and eternal life. However, the incantation backfires when his

friends realize what he is doing and seal him in the sarcophagus for good. The pharaoh's essence

becomes absorbed into the sarcophagus itself and his body becomes a zombified mummy that

wonders the catacombs of the Great Pyramid for eternity. Having followed Sandler to the

Louvre, Lohan meets Professor Andre Woodington, portrayed by Stallone, who offers her a late

night tour of the museum once she identifies herself as Seifret‟s fiancé and claims to be waiting

for him there. While on the tour, Woodington gets a call that Sylvester Stallone is requesting a

tour of facility that night. After a brief argument ensues over the phone, Stallone shows up at the

main entrance and Lohan slips away to find Sandler. While searching for Sandler, Lohan is

abducted by a mysterious dark figure, which is the Pharaoh's mummified corpse who has come

looking for the sarcophagus. Finally, Sandler rises out of the sarcophagus with his powers fully

restored. Sandler, the Pharaoh's mummified corpse with Lohan, Professor Woodington and

Stallone all meet in the middle of the Louvre. The Pharaoh's mummified corpse reveals that

Sandler's contact with the sarcophagus alerted him to where it was hidden and now he wants it

and his powers back. Professor Woodington claims to have known about the legend and that is

why he kept it hidden away, so that the Pharaoh could never find it. Stallone also claims to have

known about the legend and that he has been hunting down the sarcophagus himself so that he

could gain immortality. A battle ensues shortly afterward between Sandler, the Pharaoh's

mummified corpse and Stallone. Professor Woodington and Lohan escape to the storage room

where the sarcophagus is kept. The professor elaborates on the legend to Lohan, and decides to

enter the sarcophagus as well in order to cancel out Sandler's powers, which would also

essentially destroy the Pharaoh's mummified corpse. Lohan, feeling guilty for suspecting that

Sandler was cheating on her, knocks the professor unconscious and enters the sarcophagus

herself. Once Lohan is inside the sarcophagus, Sandler's powers slowly start to fade, the

Pharaoh‟s mummified corpse crumbles to dust and Stallone breaks down, shouting and crying

that he almost had immortality. Professor Woodington emerges from the storage room and

explains what has happened. He also tells Sandler what Lohan did and that the sarcophagus was

destroyed with her in it, thus saving the world from the evil Pharaoh‟s wrath. Sandler runs to the

storage room only to find the demolished remains of the sarcophagus. He breaks down into tears,

as Professor Woodington consoles him. Sandler, Professor Woodington and Stallone all leave the

Louvre. As they are walking outside, they notice that their world had been altered after the image

of Lohan.

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To The Complications of Love: An Analysis of Shakespeare‟s Sonnets

18 and 130

In the comparison of the two Shakespeare sonnets chosen, love in its many forms will be

discussed and love in the eye of the beholder will be introduced in a way that many from the

outside may never completely understand as true or sincere. There are many ways to interpret

the idea of love and misunderstand the views others may have on the subject. In the sonnets

discussed there are two different outlooks on understanding what one person sees about his

lover. There is the never ending beauty and perfection in Sonnet 18 and the beauty that lies

within the beholder Sonnet 130 that many without love fail to see and that comes from the

beauty found within the person.

In Sonnet 18 “Shall I compare Thee to a Summers Day” and Sonnet 130 “ My Mistresses

Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun” by William Shakespeare are two of the most well known

sonnets he has written. Both are similar in theme, however, the two sonnets are very different in

style. As you notice the purpose and love he is writing of would also be another difference

between the two, as one sonnet is showing his mistress as this goddess whom is so beautiful

nothing can take that away, the other sonnet there is this mistress whom everyone else pictures as

this person with no beauty, but Shakespeare overlooks the negative opinion for his love and his

mistress as much stronger than the words of others.

In Sonnet 18 “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day” is introducing his lover in a

delightful way. Shakespeare uses summer to compare his lover in which summer itself has its

own beauty, but the lover he is comparing is more beautiful that winter couldn‟t take this beauty

away. In the Sonnet he is letting the readers know his mistress is so beautiful that summer can be

so hot and his mistress‟ golden skin can be touched by the sun, but that couldn‟t take his lovers

eternal beauty away. The sonnet makes understanding very easy how gorgeous this person is as

Shakespeare goes into detail that death couldn‟t take the beauty away from his lover. He points

out in the Sonnet as he states “nor shall death brag thou wonderest in his shade”.

When you look at Sonnet 130 “My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun”, Shakespeare

is speaking of his mistress who has faults but his feeling are not moved even thou she isn‟t the

goddess everyone is making her out to be. This sonnet is mostly spent pointing out faults of a

women who others wouldn‟t be impressed with. In this sonnet the women is made to have breath

that isn‟t very pleasant. Take for instance in the sonnet Shakespeare goes on stating that “and

some perfumes is more delight, than in the breath that my mistress reeks”. He also goes on

stating “I love to hear her speak yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasant sound”.

Between the two sonnets Shakespeare in depth is pleased with both subjects. As he in

Sonnet 18 is overwhelmed with the beauty of his lover, he is trying to keep his lovers beauty

immortal. By him doing so, he wants the poem to continue on forever as he points out in the last

lines “ So long as men can breath or eyes can see, so long lives this and this gives life to thee”. In

sonnet 130 no matter how many faults his mistress is sought to have, Shakespeare overlooks all

of them. As he goes on at the end of the sonnet stating “ And yet by heaven I think my love as

rare as any she belied with false compare”. In the sonnet he also points out that even though she

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does not have the voice of an angel, he is not moved for he still loves to hear his mistress speak.

The two sonnets are shown to be similar in theme but in styles they are made to be very

different. The purpose and the love for the two subject have its similarities, but it also has it‟s

differences. As in Sonnet 18 he is so delighted with the beauty of his lover, nothing can take that

beauty away. It is also made known that summer is one of the beautiful and brightest seasons

and his lover is much more gorgeous that as summer will fade away but the beauty of his lover

could never pass. In Sonnet 130, Shakespeare had this love for his mistress, but everyone else

doesn‟t view her as this beautiful goddess, but as someone with bad breath and very little beauty.

No matter how others see his mistress Shakespeare makes known that he can overlook her faults

because his feeling are much stronger than the words of others.

There are many ways love, beauty can be introduced, and there are many ways it can be

compared. In the comparison of the two sonnets love and beauty is sought to be within the

beholder and also to be more physical, Shakespeare contradicts one sonnet from the other by

comparing love as beauty and beauty as love. In the two sonnets beauty has been described as

never changing and undying and has also been described as being unnoticed and absent of

anything pleasant. Although each has expressed the idea of unconditional love they are outlining

the definition of the different forms of love. Love can both are found in the inside as well as the

outside, but can be undetermined from those who choose not to look within.

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Interpretation of Anne Bradstreet‟s “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House”

Section 1

Anne speaks of "I blest his grace that gave and took" because of everything that was

happening during the time her house was on fire, As well as "Vanity". (Anne line 14 and

36)

She was raised as a Puritan. She was heavily influenced from the bible as she was

growing up.

"Far be it that I should repine" she knows that has to accept what has been done with no

questioning.

(Anne line 18)

God does things in mysterious ways but "He might of all justly bereft, but yet sufficient

for us left."

Section 2

"That gave and took" comes from the quote on the bible Job 1:21 "Naked came I out of

my mother's womb, and naked shall I return to thither: the LORD gave, and the

LORD hath taken away; blessed the name of the Lord." With this quote she understands

why everything should happen for a reason especially since God is the only who knows

why he does what he does. (Anne line 14)

Anne used the word "Vanity" about all her belongings as they turned to

ashes. Simple mere things who can be replaced but explains how everyone of us has

even a small hint of this in us with our possessions. (Anne line 36)

Anne knows that she is no one to question or "repine" the doings of God.

Section 3

God does things in mysterious ways but "He might of all justly bereft, But yet sufficient

for us left." (Anne line 19)

As everything is burning for a second Anne asks herself what she has done to deserve

this.

When everything is turned to "ashes" she realizes that possessions are nothing

compared to what she quotes "My hope and Treasure lies above" in heaven. (Anne line

27)

The message that I got from Anne Bradstreet through the poem was that no matter how beautiful

or expensive our possessions are on earth, they are merely nothing to what awaits us in heaven.

Our real treasure lies after we pass and join God. Vanity is one of sins that most people don't

realize they have until it's too late.

Anne Bradstreet wrote this poem in the 1600's. Around the time when Puritans were raised in a

very strict way about the church. At the very end when she says that her real treasure lies above

her shows how her beliefs were in play while writing this poem.

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The theme from this poem would be to be happy with what God has given them without

question. "Live while you're alive" and know that every single day is a gift not a privilege. We

need to realize that there are more things to life than to have a fancy car or beautiful huge home.

No matter in what situation we may be in we should make the best of it and disregard for

possessions.

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Interpretation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe‟s poem “The Country School

Master”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe‟s poem “The Country School Master” could be defined as

an epic journey of a man that happens to be a school teacher in a small town; who has a very

introvert personality and might feel lonely. Who in an attempt to trigger his curiosity and tired

of his humdrum life, decides to explore and compromised himself in a very different

environment from where he is used to and confident in. Although in this new adventure he is

clueless of what might he encounter he is determined to break from his isolation and seek

companionship from his peers. He is willing to leave his comfort zone, in which children

ignorant of what a life itself it is about surround him; he is seen as a man with power and of the

world in the view of the small children. As we mention every person at one time or another gets

to a point in their lives where they or he in this case realizes that there is more to life than a

classroom. We have considered that this could have been the case of the schoolmaster. He

decides to change his perspective of the world by the phrase “Jumpd up one day from off his

stool, Inspired with firm resolved to try to gain the best society”. By this he gets courage and

goes by himself to a saloon.

This action of deciding to go to a social place without any type of friends or company

makes us think he is lonely and has no other adults to be with. This leads to him not knowing

how to act among other adults or even dressed for the occasion that could make the people at the

saloon upset by his unintentionally offense. Since probably in those times a saloon as we imagine

were for lower class people and the teacher with a foolish idea of making a good impression and

him being educated and knowing more of the world was much more sophisticated that the rest of

people in the saloon.

In the poem in mentions, “He felt quite. Startled at the door, Neer having seen the like

before”. It makes us think that he got very nervous at a sight he had never seen before even

amazed and might have unconsciously gave a criticizing look at the people. In our theory he

must have looked very different from what the people in the saloon were used too, that the

teacher was very noticeable and people were very suspicious about any expression he made. That

by the time he tried to greet someone “To the first stranger made he now a very low and graceful

bow” this person punched him, “His left-hand neighbors paunch he struck a grievous blow, by

great ill luck;” The teacher repeated the same greeting to the rest and received the same response

and was kicked out of the place. Without a chance to assimilate what happen, since he was

cordial to the people and even asked for forgiveness at some point “And beggd him, too, to

pardon it;” and “These compliments he paid to all,” however “At length one who could stand no

more, Showd him impatiently the door”.

As he left the saloon, we imagine he was saying or thinking that they, referring to the

people in the saloon who greet it him with such aggressive behavior would have in their

conscience the discriminating attitude towards him; by the statement “May many, pondring on

their crimes, A moral draw from this bedtimes!”.

Then as the school teacher began to walk away from the saloon, we interpreted that by

him saying “I was too weak to-a day; To bow Ill neer again be seen, For goats would swallow

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what is green”, that he was upset and disappointed with himself for not being able to defend his

pride and stated that he would not be seen greeting adults; he should learn to live and be happy in

his own surroundings. The schoolteacher was distracted with his own angry thoughts and eager

to get back to his schoolhouse where he feels secure; he walked furiously across cornfields

falling occasionally “Across the fields he now must speed, Not over stumps and stones, indeed,

But over meads and cornfields sweet, Trampling down all with clumsy feet”. However to

aggravate the disappointment he had just experience in the saloon, he is once again punch

without any warning “A farmer met him by-and –by, And didn‟t ask him: how? or why? But

with his fist saluted him”. The teacher describes this blow as a painful awakening “I feel new

life in every limb” to a cruel reality that he did not imagine existed with civilized adults. Maybe

even thinking to himself that ignorant children are better behaved and caring of others without

being judgmental of how others interact or look in certain circumstances.

At the end of the poem the teacher cries in a sarcastic tone to the sky “who art thou who

thus gladdenst me? May Heaven such blessing ever send! Neer may I want a jovial friend!”

Making allusion to heaven why he was treated with such misfortune by his peers, who should

have being his friends in all instants since they are adults and must have if not all, but much in

common. In consequence, to the unpleasant experience deny the teacher had during his journey

his perspective of having a friendship with a fellow adult would forever.

21

Interpretation of Anne Bradstreet‟s “Upon the Burning of Our House”

The sentiments of Anne Bradstreet are poetically expressed with such passiveness and resignation that the reader

can sense a strong degree of faith in her spiritual beliefs that is worthy of admiration. The passages in Upon Burning of

Our House do not describe what problems or burdens overwhelmed the author. It is evident from the first two lines that

Mrs. Bradstreet was cheerful but experiencing a tough and rough episode in her life as she sought to rest after a

troublesome day. In line 2, “For sorrow neer I did not look”, Mrs. Bradstreet does not seek sorrow from anyone, no one

avoids sorrow from others when in a happy mood or when everything is high and great. These first two lines should be

looked at closely because Mrs. Bradstreet is already experiencing a hardship that is about to be complicated more so.

The first verse describes how the author is awoken by a loud sound and upon inspecting her home she learns that

it is being consumed by fire. To some people an event of this magnitude is sufficient to discourage a person’s will to

continue living or to start building all over again. Consider the time in history when this event occurred, the 17th

century. The methods employed to construct and build lacked the motor operated tools and technology known in the 20th

and 21st centuries. Yet, the author gracefully sought strength in her spirituality.

Mrs. Bradstreet appeals to her God, not with a defeated demeanor but one of acceptance to this life’s misfortunes. Line

14, “I blest his Name that gave and took”, is a borrowed expression from the biblical character named “Job” that was

found to be a just and pious man in the eyes of the Lord. The story of Job is found in a book by the same name in the

Old Testament of the Holy Bible. This person lost all of his possessions, cattle, flocks, agriculture and other buildings to

destruction. As he is receiving reports from survivors of these destructions, Job receives a report from an additional

servant that informs him that all of his children have tragically died. Job’s wife was not of strong faith and in her

despair tells Job to curse God and die. However, Job simply blessed God and acknowledged that it is because of God, the

provider, that we “have” and because all creation and material things belong to Him, He can take away just the same as

He can give. Line 17 reinforces this thought, “It was his own: it was not mine.”

Mrs. Bradstreet is hurting, as any human does under such circumstances, as she looks at the ruins and

remembers what she lost and the location where certain belongings and furniture were situated. It seems that she misses

the belongings that were burnt, however she does not lament her losses but views the losses as objects that are nothing

else but vanity compared to the blessing that are forthcoming. Line 36, “Adieu, Adieu; All’s vanity” appears to be the

genesis for a renewed spiritual strength. By accepting such incident with this spiritual grace, Mrs. Bradstreet does not

mutate her trust and faith in her God.

All of the work, the efforts put forth on projects, the financial burdens, material and earthly things will come to

pass. Yet there is hope. In lines 43 and 44 “Thou hast an house on high erect Fram’d by that mighty Architect”, the

author expresses her belief and sentiment reference to seeking to secure a place in heaven where everything will be

eternal and non-destructible. 2 Corinthians 5:1 “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a

building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” And Hebrews 11:10 “For he was looking

forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV Thompson Study Bible).

Mrs. Bradstreet’s spiritual strength is founded in her hope and belief that she will forever reside in a peaceful

eternity. So long as she does not have her heart or desires on earthly things, line 53 “The world no longer let me Love”.

In other words, don’t let me love the things of this world over you. By practicing this belief, she will not detract or lose

focus on the heavenly inheritance.

These verses in Upon Burning of Our House are not only worthy of admiration towards the author, but could

also serve as an inspiration to someone in despair that seeks comfort while in distress. Mrs. Bradstreet reinforces the

spiritual exercise of demonstrating and maintaining a strong faith in God by depending on his mercy to love her, and

provide shelter and the basic needs while on earth, but above all things to continue striving to reach that heavenly home,

line 54 “My hope and Treasure lyes Above”.

Based on the verses from Upon Burning of Our House, it is inferred that Mrs. Bradstreet was a highly educated

woman, unusual for her time, as it was not permitted for women to be educated since they were viewed as inferior to men

and in many places as property. The author either educated herself at home or was tutored by someone that was fond of

her. The level of education expressed through her writing indicates that she was not a pauper. Also, she was also a

highly devoted and spiritual person of a Protestant practice in religious matters. Her spiritual beliefs parallel what is

written in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, teachings that are rejected in Judaism. Mrs. Bradstreet did not practice

Catholicism as there is no reference made towards the Catholic Pope or other religious persons of the same belief.

Furthermore, the Catholic Church was against educating women.

22

Fear Nothing But Yourself

Before wealth can be called forward, we need to believe that we can be wealthy, that it is our

birthright.

And I don‟t mean just financially wealthy, but in all aspects of life.

The problem is we are following the wrong path at the present moment, which is the road most walk

through in life.

This is the enslaving 9 to 5 lane, which imprisons us for 40 or more years of our life.

We incarcerate ourselves, while liberating the people we work for.

Like inmates, we are told when to wake up, when it‟s time to work, and when we can go home to

rest.

Few of us will be set free after serving 40 or more years, while the rest will serve a life sentence.

Many will dream of escaping and ending the rat-race, but an irrational fear of the unknown, which

they have made-up in their mind, will disillusion them from any attempt.

Because of fear of who knows what, we hold ourselves back from achieving what we only dream

of. In the last stretch of life, it is only then we realize that we have been our own thief in the night,

that our fears and obstacles were mere mirages fabricated by our own imagination, robbing

ourselves of achieving greatness.

23

"VERSES UPON THE BURNING OF OUR HOUSE"

By Anne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet was a puritan woman with strong religious beliefs so her poems are very religious and morally

based. In the poem "Upon the Burning of Our House", she demonstrates many religious qualities, such as not

loving her personal belongings. Therefore, I think the theme of the reading is religion. At moments, the reading is

dark and sad because she expresses some sort of depression for the loss of her personal belongings. Even though,

she also expressed the love and faith she has for God and the hope of being taken care of by Him.

The author trusts God completely, she quoted "And to my God my heart did cry To strengthen me in my

distress and not to leave me succourless." Even thought her personal stuff and belongings perished in the flames

she seems to understand that God created everything and that he can take it away whenever he pleases. Anne

Bradstreet quoted, "I blest his grace that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, and so

'twas just. It was his own; it was not mine." She seems to not care as if God will eventually make everything right

and she leaves her worries to Him, as shown in her quote "Raise up thy thoughts above the sky That dunghill mists

away may fly." The author seems to show some remorse for her lost possessions. Even though the author is a

puritan. She starts to show some as demonstrated in lines "Here stood that trunk, and there that chest, there lay the

store I counted best, My pleasant things in ashes lie And them behold no more shall I." She also quoted, "When by

the ruins oft I past My sorrowing eyes aside did cast." By saying this, it seems that she is saying the she loves God

but she is depressed that He has taken away her possessions. It seems as if the author only had one unreligious

moment just caught up in the past. In the last lines of the reading, she revert back to her religious beliefs and roots.

Bradstreet expresses she really needs God and that He will provide for her forever. She quoted, " Yet by his gift is

made thine own' There's wealth enough, I need no more." She also quoted, "My hope and Treasure lies above." By

saying that I can see that she believes that material things really mean nothing at all because she will have

everything she needs when she gets to heaven with God. The author seems to miss the memories that occurred in

her house. "Nor at thy Table eat a bit. No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told, Nor things recounted done of old. No

Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee, Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.' This does not go against her puritan

beliefs yet, it is showing remorse for her house which could be related to a material object. I liked how the author

expresses her love for God, and the unbelievable faith she has that she will be fine and taken care of. Comes to

show that some people prefer a good relationship with God, than anything material in the world.

24

Black Friday Horror

Black Friday couldn‟t come any sooner for the retail industry. In fact, many stores will

be opening their doors at midnight on Thanksgiving Day. Corporate America again has figured

out how to draw consumers to their stores with a few discounted items. Have they figured out a

way to send subliminal messages over the air? If so, that would explain the irrational behavior of

people around the holiday season. It seems not long after these commercials are aired that we

start noticing a strange and bizarre human behavior.

It is like that Halloween III movie back in the 80‟s where a large Halloween mask-

making company called Silver Shamrock planned to kill millions of innocent people worldwide

by placing pieces of a stolen boulder from Stonehenge into small tags and attaching them to the

masks. When children all over the world sat down to watch the Silver Shamrock advertisement,

it is then when the terror and panic began to spread. I was frightened the first time I saw this

movie. The thought that a commercial with a catchy jingle can hypnotize a mass amount of

people was completely unheard off. Now in the postmodern era, this horror has become a

reality.

It seems the minute these pre Black Friday commercials began to air, terror and panic

begins to spread. This behavior may explain the massive amount of people mad rushing

frantically to their neighborhood stores.

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Mob scenes of people begin setting campgrounds outside these stores. It feels like a

national emergency, except no one is interested in basic life essentials like food or water.

A transformation creeps in as dawn looms right before the doors open on Black Friday.

It‟s like a mysterious syndrome that seems to affect everyone. It doesn‟t matter if you‟re a

teacher, student or parent. Some symptoms are red bloodshot eyes, bags under the eyes,

belligerent and demented behavior. The horror scene starts immediately when the doors open.

A crowd of screaming, growling and craze creatures barge through the doors stomping over each

other.

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They desperately scour through the store grabbing everything in sight. Violent fights

began to escalate everywhere over merchandise. In a matter of minutes, the store is in complete

chaos. Merchandise is thrown all over the place.

As sunrise begins to shine through the store windows, everyone begins to suddenly

disappear. It‟s unclear what really happened, but conspiracy theorists suspect that the hypnotic

trance that affected everyone has mysteriously wore out. They don‟t know how or why. This

probably explains the rush of people back in the stores the day after Christmas. It appears no one

has any recollection buying any of the items they are returning.

Do not be a victim of this bizarre behavior. Avoid watching these commercials and stay

away from retail stores altogether during the holidays. Instead, gather around with family and

friends and enjoy a good old-fashioned Christmas.

27

Interpretation of William Blake‟s “The Lamb” and “The Tyger”

Little Lamb I’ll tell thee,

Little Lamb I’ll tell thee!

He is called by thy name,

For he calls himself a Lamb:

I believe the Lamb is Jesus and the Tiger is man. Both created by god, But once out in the world, man chooses his way of life.

Evil is in fact the absence of God, just as darkness is the absence of light.

GOD created something so amazing beautiful, yet terrifying as the tiger, but also something as innocent and vulnerable as the lamb and how evil exists among good…

“On what wings” wings of an angel send from Heaven or those of a dragon from Hell? The

comparison of heaven and hell are capture throughout the poem.

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Analysis of When I Have Fears by John Keats

I feel that the author is explaining his feelings about the two hardest things to obtain in

life. “Till love and fame to nothingness do sink”. It seems that he believes they are

finding love and fame. This is something that many people can relate to.

Finding the one person who will love you no matter what and vice versa is a very

difficult task. It is something that people just choose to ignore and feel that when it will

happen is something they cannot control. There are also people who believe that they

need to actively seek out that person in order to find them.

“That I shall never look upon thee more, Never have relish in the faery power Of

unreflecting love”. This shows the author to believe that he will never find his true love

and can only imagine what it might feel like if he did. He seems to believe that fame is

universally known to be difficult to obtain, because he does not speak about it throughout

the poem except for the last line, which was quoted at the beginning of this analysis.

It seems like there are many people who wish that they could become famous but

cope with the fact that it is too difficult to pursue. Who does not want a large amount of

people to like you? There are people who say that they would never want to be famous

and that is easy to understand because of the absence of privacy. Although I believe that

everyone in some part of their life desires to become famous for at least a brief amount of

time.

29

A Close Look at Anne Bradstreet and Her Poem “Verses Upon the Burning of Our

House”

On April 10, 1630 12 ships sailed into the Atlantic Ocean westbound from England

toward the New World. The largest vessel of that fleet was the 350-ton Arabella, on board were

300 English Puritans. The two-month trip was agonizing for the people on board. The high

winds and cold weather caused many to become severely ill. Among the 300 passengers were

Anne Bradstreet and her family. She was only eighteen years old and a wife to Simon

Bradstreet, assistant to Thomas Dudley in the Army, who she‟d married just two years earlier.

Anne was born in 1612 to Thomas Dudley and Dorothy Yorke in Northampton shire, England.

Anne was one of six siblings who received their education with private tutors because of their

father‟s inherited wealth and success. Anne‟s mother, Dorothy was a well-educated

gentlewoman of Puritan beliefs. Anne‟s father, Thomas Dudley was raised with the family of

Lord Compton, Earl of Northampton. At the age of twenty, Thomas became a Captain in the

Army and then went on to fight in France alongside the King of France. After that he came back

to England and converted to the Puritan faith leading to the American Journey in hopes of

expanding their Puritan community away from the Christianity of England.

It was during this journey that Anne Bradstreet became inspired to write about her

experiences on the ship. On June 12, 1630 the ship reached Salem Massachusetts and two years

later they settled in Cambridge where Anne gave birth to her first child. Anne had a difficult

time adjusting to their new lifestyle of having to start from nothing. She had a very strong faith

in God and love for her husband and family. Though acquiring smallpox and later tuberculosis,

Anne kept a positive attitude believing that her suffering was an acceptance of God‟s grace. She

dedicated her time to writing poems learning about religion, science, history and medicine that

she used to educate her eight children. During that time period, women were not seen as

anything more than gentlewomen whose main purpose was to bear children and support their

husbands. However, Anne continued writing but didn‟t publish any of her work, except with

close friends and family, until her brother in law took her writings without permission and

published them in England. No other poems were to be published until after her death on

September 16, 1672 when Anne Bradstreet at the age of 60.

The idea that humans had a natural tendency to depravity, generated tension in the New

England Puritans. They believed that all people were born sinners and would remain like so

throughout their lives unless God's preordained election to Heaven would sanctify them, except

30

for those predestined to damnation, because, according to Puritan belief all humans "are not

created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life [and] others to eternal

damnation." (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1599) This doctrine influenced believers to

lead a rigid, often stressful life of self-mortification, self-discipline and introspection. They

would always be ready to determine if actions, thoughts, desires and ideas in their lives were

genuine signs of true sanctification that they all, at least publicly, strived to live. In colonial

America, Puritans established a form of self-government, with the Bible, as their primary rule of

life. They formed communities in which people covenanting themselves to each other, pledged

to obey the word of God. This lead to hide personal feelings and desires with the fear of being

judged a sinner or unworthy to receive full membership to their church. Puritanism, was based

on the Calvinistic idea that life is a curse, imposed upon man by the wrath of God and, in order

to redeem himself man must do constant penance, must reject every natural impulse, and turn his

back on joy and beauty. This and the protestant doctrine of "sola scriptura," the doctrine that the

Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness.

As an author writes, unless it‟s a complete fallacy, their psychological signature is laid

down as their thoughts flow rapidly like a torrent of water through hand and onto paper. Life

experiences, beliefs, and upbringing, play an enormous role into how they portray their story to

the reader. Upon learning about Anne Bradstreet as mentioned previously and later reading her

poem “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House,” we clearly see demonstrated in that poem the

strength of her Puritan beliefs and values which she grew up with. In lines 7 though 10 in which

she states;

"I starting up, the light did spy,

And to my God my heart did cry

To straighten me in my Distress

And not to leave me succourless."

We see her first mentioning of God, to which she cries out to help her in her distress. In those

times anything that happened to an individual was a lesson from God. In these verses she directs

herself to Him to seek for an answer, as to why this is happening to her. She follows, further

down in the poem and says,

"And when I could no longer look,

I blest his grace that gave and took,

That laid my goods now in the dust."

From these verses, we can see that her seeking to be straightened in her distress, is being

answered. She begins to see the "good" in losing her personal belongings which are to be no

more than earthly objects in puritan life. In the following verse in which she states,

"Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.

It was his own; it was not mine.

Far be it that I should repine,

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He might of all justly bereft

But yet sufficient for us left."

She makes a realization that all that she had was given to her by God, and as easy as he could

have left her with absolutely nothing, she is thankful that He left them with sufficient. In those

times, anything you had was given to you by God, and all puritans knew that He would never

leave them in complete despair. In the verse:

"Thou hast a house on high erect Fram'd by that mighty Architect, With glory richly furnished

Stands permanent, though this be fled.”

One can see that she is returning to her devout ways to God. In the early ages of the United

States, migrants, especially Puritans, were deeply involved in religion and righteous ways which

greatly influenced the way they behaved and lived. In these final lines which she writes;

“There's wealth enough; I need no more. Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store. The world no

longer let me love; My hope and Treasure lies above."

It can be seen that she is bidding farewell to all that is materialistic which had guided astray from

the truth and values of puritan life, which to her are the most important. In the times of early

settlement, migrants were deeply devoted to God and nothing was to come between them and

Him, if anything did come between, it would be considered unholy and sinful. Puritan

upbringing was really embedded into Anne Bradstreet and simply, by learning about who she

and later reading this poem, not only will one be able to see into her ways and beliefs, but into

her soul.

Anne Bradstreet a Puritan poet of the seventeenth century found comfort in the promise of

heavenly reward. She also shared this belief subtly with her family through her private writings.

Bradstreet‟s strong Puritan background was often a reflection of her writing, which is obvious in

this poem. Even though she often questioned the concept of a judgmental God, Bradstreet never

doubted the existence of a higher being. Her acknowledgement of God throughout this poem

indicates her respect and devotion to her Puritan beliefs as well as her love for the spiritual

world. Her poems were inspired by her everyday life experiences and her love for her husband

and family. Her love of nature and the physical world often caused creative conflict in her

poetry. Most of Anne‟s poetry was kept private and never published until after her passing.

Despite being frequently ill and anticipating death, she lived to be 60 years old. Anne died on

September 16, 1672 after a long continuous struggle with tuberculosis.

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Interpretation of “When I have Fears” by John Keats

John Keats gives expression to his fear that his young life may be cut off before he has a

chance to experience the love of a woman and to develop and complete his calling as a poet.

These feelings leave him with a forsaken sense of the vanity of love and fame. The very first

line, “When I have fears that I may cease to be,” captures the reader‟s attention at once, for the

fear of premature death is universal. Especially when the potential of a productive and rewarding

life is anticipated so intensely. Reflecting upon his feelings, Keats achieves some distancing

from his own feelings and ordinary life, this distancing enables him to reach a resolution. He

thinks about the human solitariness (“I stand alone”) and human insignificance the implicit

contrast between his lone self and the wide world. The shore is a point of contact, the threshold

between two worlds or conditions, land and sea, so Keats is crossing a threshold, from his desire

for fame and love to accepting their unimportance and ceasing to fear and yearn.

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Interpretation of John Donne‟s “The Flea”

John Donne known as the best poet writer not only was he a writer he was

also a lawyer, satirist and a priest. He has written many poems but one of his

famous poems that he wrote was “The Flea”, which I will be talking about this

poem it is about a love romance.

The line, “it suck‟ed me first, and now sucks thee” represents the flea

sucking his blood and the women that he loves. In this line, Donne says, “in this

flea OUR bloods mingled” both his blood and the women which is carried inside

the flea united as one for once. Donne writes, “sin, nor shame. nor loss of

maidenhead” A sin which either she or him can't be allowed to be together but still

have a strong feeling for each other which they don‟t have no shame in their love.

"In this, alas is more than we would do,' But in this pity that they both have is more

than they would ever do such as being in love with one another. Donne writes, “O

stay, three lives in one flea spare,” Three lives in one which his, her, and the flea.

They can work out the love either that they have for each other or just destroy their

love. Donne says, “Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?” She just bam easily

killed the flea which represents there love which she just gave up on it.

34

“Silhouette” a Poem by Cesar Simental

An illusion that makes any man wonder,

what glorious wonders could it bring,

a beautiful silhouette that can be portrait.

The figure that can make any person‟s

imagination fly away, taking them to

gorgeous dreams.

Hearing her voice, that voice with magnificent

tune, that will soften the heart of any being that is

around, and steal at least an eye drop.

The perfect figure of a woman, that woman with

beautiful voice that will help melt the darkest heart

with or without any help.

The sounds of the angels comes out of her mouth,

making the tunes that takes you to wonderful dreams

that can make you melt in an instant with the tunes

vibrating from her strings, with soft touch of those strings.

The Silhouette of that guitar, the guitar that like the

most faithful of friends always is by my side, helping

with my life, always by my side for better or worse,

always stilling one of my smiles, always singing her song.

35

“The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats (1919)

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The darkness drops again but now I know

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Poem retrieved from: http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html, 2011.

Image retrieved from: http://michael90.files.wordpress.com, 2011.