"Two Paintings by Gustav Klimt"

Jorie Graham uses ekphrasis poetry to describe the works of Gustav Klimt.  Graham describes two Klimt paintings, one that is incomplete that Klimt will never be able to share his finished product with the world and a Klimt painting of beech trees and compares the nature of the painting to Buchenwald, a German concentration camp where millions of Jews were slaughtered.  In this painting, Graham describes the glittering on the trees as "the injustice of the world" and again compares "the chips on the bark of each beech tree" to the millions slaughtered.  Graham describes the scene at a concentration camp where Jews would "stand in rows, anonymous" and "in gaseous light..."  This painting is absolutely beautiful.  You can see how the light is trying to get through the trees.  The colors are outstanding.  What a wonderful talent Klimt possessed.

"One Train May Hide Another" - A Life Lesson by Kenneth Koch

In “One Train May Hide Another”, Kenneth Koch gives us insight on how easy it is to miss something that may be very significant in our lives.  Kenneth Koch was inspired by a sign that he saw in a railroad crossing in Kenya and in turn wrote an insightful “list” of situations that we may find ourselves in and reminds us to stop and wait to make sure we didn’t miss anything significant before moving on.  Koch begins his poem by relating it to himself by saying “In a poem, one line may hide another line” (1) and shows how important it is to stop and ponder the line you have just read.  He compares this importance to “As at a crossing, one train may hide another train.” (2)  To Koch, a poem must be read slowly and digested line by line so that you do not miss any of the meaning.  In life, Koch shows us that if we do not stop and understand what we have just been through, then we will certainly miss the meaning and possible beauty of where we were.  “One dog may conceal another on a lawn, so if you escape the first one you’re not necessarily safe” (16, 17) shows us how we may be in danger if we do not look at the whole situation.  “One idea may hide another:  Life is simple / Hide Life is incredibly complex, as in the prose of Gertrude Stein one sentence hides another and is another as well.” (26, 27, 28)  Life is not simple and is extremely complex and consists of many ideas that need to be thought out one by one.  We may skip over one idea and miss something that could change our lives.

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15592

Langston Hughes "The Weary Blues"

What an incredible video.  Hearing Langston Hughes' words set to this wonderful blues music was incredible.  Seeing an icon such as Cab Calloway and listening to "The Weary Blues" describing him puts you back in the 1920's in Harlem.  Just listening to this puts you in such a calm mood.  Langston Hughes paints such a clear picture of what he was seeing on Lexington Avenue.  I think I am going to watch as much Cab Calloway as I can on YouTube.  So far the Harlem Renaissance is my favorite poetry.  I love the blues!!!

Christopher Walken's version of The Raven

The Raven

I prefer Christopher Walken's version of "The Raven" rather than James Earl Jones.  Christopher Walken keeps us on our toes and if you are a Chritopher Walken fan it is entertaining picturing him recite this poem.



The Simpsons version is awesome.  It adds just the right amount of humor.

Amy's Eng. 265 poetry: Emily Dickinson Video

Amy's Eng. 265 poetry: Emily Dickinson Video: "I truly enjoyed this humerous, but brief biography about Emily Dickinson. I would have loved to have seen more."