Introduction

          This is a blog that I made for my poem anthology, in 7th grade English class. I started by putting my poetry reflection-where I wrote about my favorite writing styles and challenges I have when I write. Then I put 6 poems which I wrote myself, using different styles. My favorite one of those is called: "Hair Dryers," and it's a nonsense poem. After those I have 3 poem analysis's of Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe, The Seal, by William Jay Smith, and finally Dreams, by Langston Hughes. Hope you enjoy!

-Julia Lieberman

Poetry Reflection

          When I am told to simply write a poem I sit down and think, but normally nothing comes into my head. Ideas that don't seem good to write a poem about, like a window or a shoe pop into my brain but I never choose them. I think deciding on what to write about is the most challenging part of poetry for me. However, once I have chosen a topic, I like improvising and letting all of my ideas out onto the paper. Sometimes I'll write two or three poems about the topic and then combine the good parts together. Sometimes I'll notice that one or two lines rhyme so I'll try to change the whole poem to make it rhyme. One of my favorite styles of poetry writing is nonsense poems. I really enjoyed writing, "The Hairdryer," because I was able to get out all of my ideas and not have to change them up so that the poem would seem, "deep." It was a totally random idea, and I didn't have to do very much editing, so that was a pleasant experience.
           I also really like to read poems, and trying to decipher what message the author is trying to get across. I like looking at different styles of writing so that I can have a model to work towards when I sit down to write a poem.

            However another thing that I find challenging is editing poems. Normally when I write a poem I try my best so then when I try to change it up I don't know how, but I normally choose my favorite lines and then edit the rest. I like writing poetry and hope to improve my ability and to continue to try out the different styles.

That Song and The Phoenix

This is a poem about getting carried away into music by Julia Lieberman.

That Song

It took me away from reality

And into the beat

That alternate universe

The feeling was sweet

Oh the voices

The guitar and the drums

Rocking out and swaying

I give it two thumbs

This is my world

I could live here forever

No stress and no worries

Nothing gets better

And after the instruments have stopped

It kept going in my head

It was stuck on repeat

Because like I said

It took me away from reality

And into the beat

That alternate universe

The feeling was sweet

But now as I lay here in bed

Another song

Pops into my head

The Phoenix is another poem that I wrote, based off of my understanding of phoenixes from reading Harry Potter. Phoenixes die but are then reborn from their ashes, and their tears carry healing powers.

http://www.harrypotterforseekers.com/symbols/creatures.php 

The Phoenix

The cry,

Of a baby,

Conceived from it’s own ashes,

It’s fierce beak turns to the open sky

Ready for a new life.

Out of those young

yet somehow old eyes

Tears leak

Each one holding a great deal of power

They heal

They sizzle

Until all wounds are restored

It’s job is finished.

The gentle croak

Emanating from that deep,

Old,

fiery throat

Its intelligent eyes judging

what lies ahead.

Yet somehow it knows what’s ahead,

Ducking its head behind its wing,

It’s the last time.

But again,

the cry

Of the baby

That has sprung from the ashes once again

Pierces the air,

Reborn. 

Ode to Powder

Ode to Powder is an ode by Julia Lieberman.

                                                                  http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/chugach-powder-snowboarder-2747-pictures.htm

Ode to Powder

Oh powder,

You’re a light blanket of fluff

When my French fry-skis cross your powdery wonderland

I feel a bliss

That the best snow in the world

could not but call fair.

Adrenaline courses through my veins

As happy as a 5 year old with a lollipop I will rip it up

Turning through the snorkel pow-pow

My fat skis leaving the first set of tracks to the bottom

of the glorious run

People on the chairlift glance down at me, jealous

That I am able to sit on that royal throne of powder

Back strait

Mouth curved upwards into a smile

And bounce through your majestic clouds.

Powder,

You’re the best thing to ever come into being

Natural

Genuine

Honest

Delightful.

You’re sparkles fly into the air

As I cut through your mysterious

Untracked snow

As it splays out behind me

In a white firework

I laugh aloud,

Thrilled that you are so kind as to treat me to such a show.

The Grapplers

The Grapplers is an extended metaphor poem by Julia Lieberman.

The Grapplers

The spindly aspen tree roots

are bony

fleshless hands

just waiting to reach out with their ice-cold grip

and trip a passer-by in the penetrating darkness.

Popping out of the earthy

Wormy dirt,

They twist and bump,

generously donating a stubbed toe.

Though they hide underneath the dark

They make themselves known.

Holding these Moments Dear

This is a poem about skiing with friends by Julia Lieberman.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=volkl+kenja&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=1oc-T83bO-iSiALh9djCAQ&biw=1092&bih=662&sei=2Ic-T5r6IYThiAKSq6S9AQ 

Holding These Moments Dear

We throw back our heads and laugh with glee

We can’t wait to try out our rental skis

We’re delighted to be in the gentle breeze

Nobody is there

Nobody can judge or stare

As we fall through the dust-covered trees

Into the out-of-bounds

We must stand our own grounds

We are responsible alone

For the cold winter wonderland

Adventures are unplanned

And from our experiences we grow

The fresh air blows

A white firework show

As free styled and daring we go

On light fluffy clouds filled with a treat

Run after run we complete

The first tracks in the marvelous, care-free snow

We bounce down the sparkling run

Underneath the cold shining sun

For miles and miles it’s clear

Snow covered mountains wink

In the bright sun we grin and blink

Holding these precious moments dear

I am From

This is an I am From poem by Julia Lieberman

I am From

I am from the strewn papers

All across the floor

I am from the not yet put away clothes

In a line from the closet to the sticker-covered door

I am from the small talk parties

For relatives and different foods

From grandma giving the evil eye

http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/4034-27092

To those that are not the Jews

I am from my secret diary

Hidden where it won’t be found

Full of memories and ideas

And places to which we got around

I am from walks back from the park

To that familiar “popcorn” cherry tree

My friendly doggy stuck to my side

Playing with the soccer ball, just him and me.

I am from endless packs of gum

And old photos that I’m too lazy to take down

I am from my Jewish culture

And my plastic 5-year old trophy crown

I am from my writing

As I express my thoughts freely

I am from my choices

Yes, this is me.

Hair Dryers

This is a nonsense poem written by Julia Lieberman.

http://www.voltage-converter-transformers.com/hair-dryers-dual-voltage-110V-240V.html

Hair Dryers

Blowing

Showing

Drying

Lying

Trying

But defying

Is it working?

Or is it smirking?

Is it lurking

In a corner now that my wet hair made me mad?

That makes me sad

Come back hair dryer!                                                                

Ouch that’s too hot!

Ohh that hits the spot

I think I’ll take you on my yacht

You can always get that wet spot.

You cannot

Fail to dry my hair

Your warmth you do share

I use you when I sit in a chair

I use you as I say my prayers

I burn myself with you and I swear

I’ll use you on my mare

I use you when I eat a pear

Your kind is truly, quite rare

But how dare

You take so long?

I hit myself in the head with you-DONG!

So as it turns out I was wrong

You’re a waste of time

You’re a piece of slime

Go back to your cheap slot in the drug store

And I’ll be thinking SCORE!

Demo Page

These are some types of techniques that are often used in poetry.
Metaphor: A metaphor is a form of figurative language that says something is something else.
For example: Love is a rose, it looks pretty on top but it always has its thorns.

Simile: a simile is another form of figurative language. It is when you compare something to another thing using words such as "like," or "as."
For example: School is like a grapefruit, sometimes it's sweet, sometimes it's sour.

Personification: personification is another form of figurative language, when you describe an inanimate object with human characteristics.
For example: the first rays of morning sunshine tiptoed through the damp meadow.

Alliteration: alliteration is when a letter, sound or beginning of a word occurs in a string of words or a line.
For example: This morning my moose made my mom mad/she made the moose make marmalade to make up for his mistake.

Rhyme Scheme: rhyme scheme is the order or pattern of rhymes. For example:
The fat brown cat                        (a)
had a very nice chair                   (b)
that would brag about as he sat   (a)
but he would not share                (b)


Another example:
there once was a cat                     (a)
who sat on a mat                          (a)
and there once was a bug             (b)
who sat on a bath rug                   (b)
they became good friends             (c)
but to all good ends                       (c)
the bug was killed                         (d)
when the bath water was spilled   (d)

Imagery: Imagery is when you describe something using vivid words that paint an image in the reader's head.
For example: the waves crashed on the beach's jagged rocks jutting out into the salty night air. Even the stars hid their twinkling faces behind the angry grey clouds up in the sky. A fork of lightning flashed, illuminating the darkness for a second, before disappearing as quickly as it had come. Rain thudded onto rooftops, and wind howled a long, sad, tune that carried up the peninsula.

Pun: a play on words, using two different meanings of the same word humorously.
For example: Lettuce say thanks for this delicious salad!

Hyperbole: a hyperbole is a huge exaggeration
For example: That joke is so old, last time I heard it I laughed so hard I fell of my dinosaur!

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe poetry analysis

Annabel Lee

It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of ANNABEL LEE; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea; But we loved with a love that was more than love- I and my Annabel Lee; With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven Coveted her and me. And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsman came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea. The angels, not half so happy in heaven, Went envying her and me- Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee. But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we- Of many far wiser than we- And neither the angels in heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee. For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea, In her tomb by the sounding sea. By Edgar Allan Poe           This is a poem about how the author and Annabel Lee had a strong love, a love so strong that death couldn't tear them apart-they would always love each other. It was a love so strong and pure that the heavens were jealous, as the author describes. It's a sweet poem with rhyming and rhythmic wording, that sounds good together. It makes me think of a castle made of rocks by a sea, where a beautiful girl lays in a stormy wind. The love that this poem describes is the type of love that everyone wishes for, including me. The love is for one person that once you get hold of, you never let them go. The author seems to be begging the reader to believe him, he seems rather desperate for everyone to know about the beautiful Annabel Lee. I would recommend this poem to anybody that's looking for a sweet love poem, or somebody who has a strong love for someone.

Seal by William Jay Smith poetry analysis

                                   .             This is an entertaining little poem, that describes a seal's life as it frolics around in the sea. It is a shape poem, meaning that it takes on the form of something. This poem doesn't seem to be assuming the physical shape of anything, but it's a squiggly line which makes it seem like a seal-carefree and random. My favorite lines are: "Before you can think,/ Before you can utter/ Words like "Dill pickle"/Or "Apple butter,"/Back up he swims" I really like this because it's creative, bubbly vocabulary that adds to the idea that the seal is relaxed and joyful in its home. 

             The lines are all about the same length, and the poem rhymes so it flows smoothly and it's pleasant to read aloud. When I read it I can clearly visualize a seal jumping out of the water with "A flip of the flipper!" and diving back into the salty ocean. I would recommend this poem to everyone that likes animals and the sea.

Dreams by Langston Hughes poetry analysis

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. by Langston Hughes              I like this poem for its strong vocabulary and imagery through metaphors. Though it's only one stanza, its two groupings of four lines make it run smoothly and it's very rhythmic. The author has communicated a strong message-if you really want something, all you have to do is go out and get it. Not reaching for your dreams is not a good way to live if you're doing something that you've lowered your expectations to, when you know that if you really tried you could make your dreams come true. Dreams are our souls most desperate, genuine desires, and if we really try to hold on to them then we will be satisfied with ourselves, and life won't be as the author describes it, "a barren field/ Frozen with snow."                This poem paints a strong image in my mind of a hopping bird, that fails to accomplish anything, in the middle of a deserted, frozen field, while the bird's dreams are floating away, up in the clouds. It also paints an image of a bird flying through the air, on a sunny day, when all of it's dreams have come true.               I would recommend this poem to anybody who has a dream that they want to chase, one that they're too nervous or scared to go for, because though it's not an inspiring poem, or encouraging for that matter, it shows what life will be like if you don't go for it. This poem makes me want to go reach for my dreams before it's too late.