Thursday, March 24, 2011

Reflective

Blog
The poem that stuck out to me most this week out of all of the groups presenting, was “God, a Poem.” Not only did I ponder about this throughout the week; it actually came to really bother me. I knew people would feel this way about God, but to actually hear it verbalized- hurt a little. I suppose one can relate it to someone talking badly about your family, or a person you care deeply about and love. He spoke this way about my heavenly Father. I suppose that is how we should feel as Christians; offended, hurt, wronged. I really would have preferred to have the initial reaction of showing this man love, or trying to witness to him, conveying to him that he has been told all lies. Instead, I just wanted to be angry with him, for talking about my Lord in such a way. While my first instinct was to yell at this man; the tender part of my heart ached for him. It seemed as though he knew it all. Lethargically telling this poem as if nothing mattered at all.

It is somewhat interesting to me, that he acknowledged there is a God. But made Him out to be this vindictive spirit that gave no thought or concern for the creation he had set upon this earth.
‘You're a serious mistake in a nightie,
You're a grave disappointment all round-
That's all you are, ' says th'Almighty,
'And that's all that you'll be underground.'
I know nothing could be further than the truth. It’s sad. God’s character is love; unfailing, eduring love for each and everyone of us; even when it is sadly unaccepted. “This is what the Lord is saying, I am these things, I am love, this is my nature, my character, this is what I created man to be, this is the height that man fell from, and to which he is to be restored”

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

annotation


Nicole Stevens
 “Dream Boogie” by Langston Hughes
For one to have a thorough understanding of “Dream Boogie,” by Langston Hughes, I believe readers must first be able to identify with two main concepts: the movement during this time period, as well as the musical term Bebop. Bebop was a new style of African American music that became popular during a movement from the 1940’s. Music critic Russel said that, “Bebop music was a music of revolt.”  (Poetic Interpretations of Urban Black Folk Culture, 57). A later critic concluded that this was a means for them to rebel and for musicians to express their refusal to conform to the conditions that had been tolerated for years. This form of jazz music served as a way to dispute the oppression of African Americans. Author, Rout reflects in her essay that beboppers were merely attempting to advance compositions so that only black musicians could achieve the level of difficulty each piece called for. Simply put, “Black musicians hoped to invent a jazz that white musicians could not play.” (Poetic Interpretations of Urban Black Folk Culture, 57-58).
Bebop emerged in a period when the African American working class people were extremely oppressed. Bebop expressed the anguish, frustration, and ultimately a tactic for their voices to be heard. Russel notes, “Bebop rhythm differs formally from swing rhythms, because it is more complex and places greater emphasis upon polyrhythmics. It differs emotionally from swing rhythm, creating greater tension, thereby reflecting more accurately the spirit and temper of contemporary emotions.” (Poetic Interpretations of Urban Black Folk Culture, 59). Hughes writes, “be-bop, is marked by conflicting changes, sudden nuances, sharp and impudent interjections, broken rhythms, and passages sometimes in the manner of the jam session, sometimes the popular song punctuated by the riffs, runs, breaks, and distortions of the music of a community in transition.” (Poetic Interpretations of Urban Black Folk Culture, 60).
With a thorough understanding of bebop, the poem “Dream Boogie,” will to a large extent gain meaning. Hughes begins by asking “daddy,” if he has heard the boogie-woogie rumble of a dream deferred? Boogie-woogie refers to a style of blues and rumble can be identified as a grumble or roar. Music is a large part of the African American society, and I believe the echo of the boogie woogie music can signify the turmoil their community felt. This musical description creates this fierce cry of the rumbling cadences of bebop and boogie woogie music. The rumbling music, in turn, is contrasted with the dream deferred. Deferred in this context can mean overdue, or perhaps not accomplished. Their dreams cannot be achieved because of the affliction they endured. Hughes speaks about their feet beating out and beating out, questioning if it is a happy beat. I believe this is almost like a satirical, mocking question he presents. He goes on to say, “What did I say? Sure, I’m happy. Take it away!” One can assume, “I’m happy,” is very much so sarcastic due to their circumstances. When he says “Take it away,” I believe, that through music he finds one way in which he is allowed to express himself. “Hey pop!, Re-bop!, mop!,” is an example of musical imagery, and is perhaps the only way to convey their feelings. The theme of this poem is one that encompasses racial discrimination, inequality, and finally dreams that are impossible because of one’s race. Their beat is not happy, but rather something that is hidden amongst their dreams.



Wednesday, March 2, 2011

creative...

To the lyric writer of It Is Well With My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
                When sorrows like sea billows roll;
                Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
                It is well, it is well, with my soul.
How do you do it? How do you go on with your life after the suffering you have experienced? Not only go on with life, but live it with peace and understanding that the Lord had a purpose in all of it. The shock and distress you must have felt is completely covered by the stillness that flows through the words It Is Well With My Soul. I have heard this song over and over in church. I must have sung it a hundred times.  However, for you, this song tells a story- it tells of your life that dramatically changed in a split second. You lost your son. Then you lost your four daughters on a ship accident. It astounds me that you did not focus on the sorrows that this life offered you. Instead, you turned to the Lord. It truly is inspirational.