Pride and Prejudice ~ wk. 15

     " Miss Bingley made no answer, and soon afterwards for up and walked about the room. her figure was elegant, and she walked well; - but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings, she resolved on one effort more, and, turning to Elizabeth, said - 'Miss Eliza Bennet,  let me persuade to take a turn about he room. - I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.'
       Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up."
                                                   ~from, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, pg. 38 and 39
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  I love the content of this passage - it brings about such an understanding of these characters! {preposition} It correctly presents Mr. Darcy as a book-wormy, seemingly boring sort of man. {preposition} Miss Bingley seems to be a divisive, snobby sort of girl -  who considers every person on the planet to have been created to do her bidding. In the end, though, she seems to always proverbially run off, hurt and disappointed. {adjective} Miss Bennet, on the other hand, is very rightly presented in this passage as a woman who's actions could be thought of as shy, yet precise and thoughtful. {adverb} Overall, this has been my favorite part of the book so far because of how well all the characters are displayed so truly. {adverb}

Poetry, week 14

AN ECHO

by Robert Pack

VOICE:                                                               ECHO:

How from emptiness can I make a start?                   START

And starting must I master joy or grief?                     GRIEF

But is there consolation in the heart?                          ART

Or cold reprieve, where’s natural relief?                    LEAF

Leaf blooms, burns red before delighted eyes.           DIES

Her beauty makes of dying, ecstasy.                         SEE.

Yet what’s the end of our long life’s disease?            EASE

If death is not, who is my enemy?                             ME

Then are you glad that I must end in sleep?               LEAP

I’d leap into the dark if dark were true.                    TRUE

And in that night would you rejoice or weep?           WEEP

What contradiction makes you take this view?          YOU

I feel your calling leads me where I go.                      GO

But whether happiness is there, you know.                NO    
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I love everything about this poem - how it has such a sense of mystery and anxiety. The mystery is in the answer to the questions; even though the author included them, they could be interpreted in so many different ways. The anxiety can be heard in the voice of the 'narrator'. He or she seems to be going through a lot of struggle in life, without their partner there to answer all these nagging questions. I believe the echo to be the quiet, almost unnoticeable answer from the friend to the troubled main character. Overall, I especially love the mystery of the poem...it kind of leaves you hanging - deep in thought.                

Poetry, due wk. 13

                                        As Life Goes Along
                                     By God, through Jacob
                                       As life goes along,
                                       It's filled with our wrong
                                       And in our reflection
                                       We see no perfection
                                        But through it all
                                        Jesus has stood tall
                                        And by His resurrection
                                        Has given us redemption.
                                               ~ From the pocket of my little bro, a 12 year old
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     I almost cried when I read this this morning! It touches me that my little brother is being led by God. He's off to a good future! The poem is totally in the perspective of a child of God, and the simplicity is awesome. Sometimes, words aren't enough - other times just a few are perfect.
     Jacob strikes a lot of people as a simplistic, quiet young man - and he can be, sometimes. But most of the time, he's jabbering endlessly about...nothing at all. He's one of the many comedians in the family. Jacob is shy, sometimes... he just walked by and asked if I was going to put 'Anonymous', but I told him I wasn't planning on it. =)
     Overall, the simplistic realization of God's grace and love vs. our imperfection displayed in this poem is inspiring to me. Especially knowing who the author is behind it.