Those Winter Sundays

“Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden really impressed me as telling a pretty complicated and important story in a very few words. It also touched me about how children don’t appreciate parents or grandparents very much. Children see most of the world in terms of themselves. In the last four years I have come to think more about this as both of my grandfathers have died. I have realized what a child I have been. Both men gave so many important things to me, but I think that I did not show enough appreciation.

One of my grandfathers was called “Papa,” which is sort of a southern term. He lived in West Virginia. He always showed me his love even though he could be stern. He gave me strong moral values and taught me to be kind. He was very hard working and taught me to be independent and happy. When I would go visit for a month in the summers, he was glad to see me. He told me to be a good boy and if I wasn’t he would “put me in my place.” He will always have a special place in my heart.

The other was called “Grandfather” and lived in Philadelphia. He was very funny and liked to joke around. I felt protected when we were together. He taught me that if you saved your money—no matter what your occupation—you could be wealthy in your old age. He grew up in the Great Depression, so that made a big impression on his thinking about using resources wisely. My Grandfather was very athletic and active. Whenever I exercise, I think of him. In fact, I think of him almost everyday.

My only regret is that I did not share these feelings with the two grandfathers when they were living. I feel sort of like the poem, “what did I know, what did I know” about making sure you share your feelings of appreciation when you can.

So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans

The pattern of the refrain in Jimmy Santiago Baca’s “So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans” is one of the powerful symbols in the poem. This refrain is like a retelling of the same myth or mindless gossip that is repeated by many Americans without thinking about what it really means. Baca uses the refrain to show the irony that Mexicans are NOT taking jobs away from Americans.

Initially, Baca suggests that perhaps the taking is done by force. If this is true, then why don’t the Americans defend themselves from this violence? Or could it be done in a sneaky way and Americans don’t know about it? Baca suggests that it is not either by force or sneaky but that Americans are busy doing many other things—some illegal and can’t be bothered with the work that the Mexicans are “taking.”

Then Baca describes the politicians that continue to perpetuate this myth that Mexicans are taking jobs from Americans. The violence is not done by the Mexicans but rather the whites. This is especially upsetting when the white farmers are actually controlled by big business interests totally unfamiliar with the lives of white farmers or Mexican farmers. The situation divides the world into the “haves” and the “have nots.” The imagery of being underwater is especially powerful suggesting the poor are under pressure from the wealthy and searching for “pearls” in their “dreams” and “holding their breaths” while the poor try to get out of poverty. Baca does a great “job” of helping us understand the problem as a human issue rather than an economic issue.

"Those Winter Sundays"

This is a poem about a father who was a hard working man. Even though it was Sunday, he worked to support his family. The father probably worked a job that involved hard labor. A job where he was not recognized or praised. Hayden writes, "...No one ever thanked him" (line 5). The father had no time for his son so every day seemed mechanical. The father would get his son up and they would start another day. A day without a father and son closeness. There didn't seem to be any interaction in the house. There was no warm family feeling. The son felt alone. The house seemed something to fear. The son spent a lot of time alone in the house. He maybe had a lot of duties around the house. Which this quote at the end implies, "Why did I know, what did I know of love's austere and lonely offices?" (13-14).

"Digging"

Seamus Heaney's poem "Digging" is about a person from a third generation. A person who has a father and a grandfather whose generations were potato farmers. They were both hard working, getting their hands dirty working the land. His grandfather started the hard working tradition. Heaney writes,"...He straightened up/To drink it, then fell to right away" (lines 20-21). This hard working ethic was also instilled in his father. His father also worked hard, which is supported in the quote,"Till his straining rump among the flowerbeds/Bends low, comes up twenty years away" (6-7). The third generation person respects his father and grandfather's hard work, but prefers to write and not dig in the soil. "But I've no spade to follow men like them" (28). His hard work is writing. He will work as hard as his grandfather and father, but not digging potatoes.

"Jump Cabling" Poem # 3

This short poem "Jump Cabling" was written by Linda Pastan. It was a very short poem, but with lots of energy. I believe that the princess she talked about was Sleeping Beauty "When my car like the princess/In the tale woke with a start" (lines 6-7). This was a touching poem. It sounded as if she were in love with the person who was jump starting her car. It sounded as if she did not know the person, but wanted to leave together with him. She is in her own little fantasy, and I believe that this poem is so powerful because they are merely just jump starting her car. She also put more emphasis on the poem by putting breaks between the lines and the last word. On the last line it was powerful because she put it all together as if she was one hundred percent sure that that is what she wanted and felt "I thought why not ride the rest of the way together?" (8). Everything she wrote down on this poem made it all feel like it was very intimate. I love this poem.

"Moving Camp too Far"

“Moving Camp too Far” written by Nila NorthSun. The things she says she can’t do is all apart of her native culture. She can do things that we do in today’s time because technology has gotten so advance that we all forget about the native ways. Nila Northsun is comparing what she can’t do anymore but what she can do now. I looked up the word “travois” (line 3), it is what the Indians use to carry supplies and camp over land. The statement, “i don't know what it/was to hunt buffalo/or do the ghost dance” (lines 8-10), which is stating what the Indians do and she compares that statement with what we do now, “i can eat buffalo meat/at the tourist burger stand/i can dance to Indian music/ rock-n-roll hey-a-hey-o”(Lines 17-20). This is significant to seeing the change to what we do now compare to what they did. The last statement sums it all up with saying, “i can/& unfortunately/ i do” (lines 21-23). This could mean that unfortunately the Indian in her is becoming extinct, to the life of today.

"So Mexicans are taking Jobs from Americans"

"So Mexicans are taking Jobs from Americans", written by jimmy santiago baca. This poem seems to me like it is a reach out to people to tell them that we are accusing Mexicans of taking our jobs. Mexicans taking our jobs is not actually the issue; our issue is that people do not try harder enough to succeed. If we don’t succeed by ourselves we have to blame it on someone else such as the Mexicans, just for the reason that they do not belong here. The sentence "I see the poor marching for a little work"(line 24), to me states that we aren't trying hard enough to succeed, but then we resort to saying it is the Mexicans fault. Also the sentence I find to be very strong is "I hear Mexicans are taking your jobs away./Do they sneak into town at night, and as you’re walking home with a whore,/they mug you, a knife at your throat,/saying, I want your job?"(Lines 7-12). This creates an image as if from a movie of villains robbing the people. Also to use the word "whore" puts out quite an impression, seems to be almost insulting in a way.

"Those Winter Sundays"

"Those winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden, Is a poem that I believe in some we all can relate. The speaker is a child which it is implied by the sentence "Sundays too my father got up early"(line 1). This poem states that the father has cracked hands, "then with cracked hands that ached"(line 3), which implies that he is a hard worker. Although he is a hard worker is not thanked for his work. Yet the speaker’s father works so hard to keep the house warm and their shoes cleaned for the speaker. So the father works to provide even though he is not appreciated. I think he is not so appreciated because the speaker does not know what the father goes through as implied in lines 13-14 "What did I know, what did I know/of love's austere and lonely offices?" I looked up the word "austere"(line 14), which means cold manner. The speaker does not yet know of loves cold manner or the feeling of those long hard working days.

"Jump Cabling"

"Jump cabling" by Linda Paston appears like it is going to be about someone's car not starting and it is getting jump by another car. "Jump Cabling” uses a unique form it. The writer leaves an empty space in between the last word, almost as if it allows you to put your own word in. The words to the right make this poem intement. These words off to the right intensify this feeling. This feeling is as if the cars are imagery for a bigger emotion. The first lines make it appear as if it is just about cars but then the speaker says When my car like the princess/In the tale woke with a start,/I thought why not ride the rest of the way together?"(Lines 6-8). These sentences reveal that not only is it about car but a relationship of intense feelings. The line that stick in my mind is "By a pulse of pure energy,"(line 5), this sentence adds to the poem because the word choice. These words are strong and add an intense feeling of energy.

Digging # 2

The poem "Digging" was okay. I think that it is about a boy and his father and grandfather and how they are digging. It talks about how the son would not be as good of a digger as his father and his grandfather are. I think that they are working in a field with potaoes and that is there job. Maybe they are emigrated from another country and moved somewhere to get a better job to help support the family or maybe it is their own farm land that they are working in to get food ready for the winters months to come.

Those Winter Sundays #1

The poem "Those Winter Sundays" was an okay poem to read. When i first read the poem I was not sure what the son was talking about but when I read it again I thought that he was talking about how his father had to get up on Sunday and work even though it was not a normal work day and that the father had to cut wood to heat the house or the house would get angry with them. But when I read it again I got that a son was talking about what a hard working father he had and that no one thanked him. The setting of the poem reminds me of the olden days when there was no electricity and running water.

Jump Cabling

This poem was extremely passionate in a discrete way. I liked the fact that it was straight and to the point. I can't really connect to this one persay, because i'm not much of a car person, but I get what the author was going for in this one. The metaphors worked really well and Linda Pastan made them relate great. It didn't take me long to figure out what was happening, with most poetry I get confused but this one was quick and strong. I feel poetry has to come from the heart and need some emotion or passion and this one by far had the most i've ever seen in a poem. Love is a strong emotion and Linda definitley incorparated that in this.

So Mexicans Are Stealing Jobs From Americans

I agreed with this poem One hundred percent. I loved the authors views and his basis for his arguments. I never understood why people were so hostile against other races and genders. I was brought up with the understanding that you treat people equally no matter how they are or where they came from. I never disagreed with the fact that hispanics come to the U.S to make more money and provide better for thier family. This just shows that many people make excuses and are basically lazy and try to pin the blame on others. I loved the parts where the author said "do they come into town at night and mug you at knife point and say I want your job?" It's very true in my eyes because managers don't discriminate for the most part and give the job to the most qualified person. It just goes to show that many individuals have sick and twisted view and perspective on others, I believe they need to live in others shoes for a day.

"Jump Cabling"

Unless I was a mechanic, I wouldn't find this poem to be that romantic. To me, when the two car-esque bodies are enamored, it seems so much more mechanical than what love actually is, and that's probably because I'm not a car person. It seems cold and distant and not very heart warming
In the ending phrase , "Why not ride the rest of the way together?" Linda Pastan seems to be almost passive aggressive about the relationship, but what's to say that after the union all of that is never going to happen. After this one little fling everything falls apart and the car breaks down? "When you lifted the hood of mine, to see the intimate workings underneath" , shows that there was atleast some depth there in the relationship, however long it lasted, but to really understand the intimate workings underneath I think requires more than just being "woke with a start". Many things can make you take notice or make you appreciate things about yourself, but that definitely doesn't mean that you have to spend the rest of your life devoted to it, even if at the time it seems like it may be the right thing to do.

"So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans"

This poem seemed to me to be the most passionate. It wasn't about family or love, or lust like some of the other poems may have been but it was definitely the most passionate. And the passion that it turns towards to is the ignorance that people have and how they love to blame something and everyone else. People are losing jobs so instead of looking at the reason why they aren't eager enough to hold on to them is invalid, they want to focus on someone stealing them away from them. Of course, it isn't possible that the people that now earned these jobs are by any means worthy of them because then the people would have nothing to complain about. The line that had the most impact on me had to have been,

"The children are dead already. We are killing them,
that is what America should be saying;
on TV, in the streets, in offices, should be saying,
“We aren’t giving the children a chance to live."




Obviously they aren't killing the children, but on the inside they are. They are forcing the children to be working and to mature at an age much earlier than they really should. So they aren't killing the children, because they aren't really children to begin with. Their childhood was stolen from them. These people that think this is what is really happenings are the ones that live with all of the wealth. But,

" Below that cool green sea of money,
millions and millions of people fight to live,
search for pearls in the darkest depths
of their dreams, hold their breath for years
trying to cross poverty to just having something."

While they sit there and complain about what is happening around them they don't really comprehend what struggle is, nor do they really care.
That is why this poem is the most passionate. Jimmy Santiago Baca clearly thought that thisw was a subject that needed to be noted.

"Those Winter Sundays" Poem # 2

"Those Winter Sundays" is a poem by Robert Hayden. The father in this poem is not given any thanks for his hard work. I looked up the word "austere"(line 14). Austere means to be severe or stern in disposition, and somber and grave. I think that the father in this story did his duty, but the fact that he never got any thanks or gratefullness made him become stern in appearance and also somber. I believe that "in the blueblack cold" (2) referred to how he got up when it was still dark outside and also freezing just to start the fire and would not have anyone get out of bed until the house was warmed up "When the rooms were warm, he'd call" (7). This father would work all week long, only to take care of the family on the weekend also. I believe that the family was grateful of him, but nobody would ever come out to say it. It is hard on a person when you do something for someone day after day, and never get no thanks. I can only imagine how he felt, and it must have been hard on him.

"Digging" Poem #1

This poem was very interesting because the narrator talked of wanting to be a writer instead of a potato farmer like the family, his father and grandfather. He is going against the flow of those days, which was trying to survive and being able to support the family. He makes the fact of potato farming seem like an art his father does "Nicking and slicing neatly, heaving sods" (Line 22). The fact that he sees a beauty in writing, and has no interest in farming amuses me. It must have been really hard back than to go against what everyone else was doing, and instead wanting to write. I am sure that the father did not approve nor the society. We need people like him in this world, for if there were not those people to against the norms of daily life, than how would we be able to experience the beauty of these poems or short stories?

Those Winter Sundays

In the poem "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden, the father works hard to keep his family warm and comfortable. "Then with cracked hands that ached" (line 3) sounds like many days of labor upon those hands. Even though father works so hard, he makes time to do favors too. "Who had driven out the cold/and polished my good shoes as well" (11-12). Sometimes we depend on our fathers too much. The narrator states "...No one ever thanked him" (5). Dont wait until it's to late, appreciate the things your father does for you and let him know you care. When you have a family of your own, you will know what your father meant when he said he gets no thanks.

Digging

In the poem "Digging" by Seamus Heaney, it reminds me of the so-called (olden days) when the farmers worked days and nights so very hard. "Bends low, comes up twenty years away" (line 7). The work takes it's toll on the body making it feel twenty years older than it really is. Most farmers passed the farm off to the next generation. "Loving their cool hardness in our hands" (14). Then they could feel the potatoes in their hands after all the hard work, that bares good food. The hard work pays off in the end.

"Digging"

In the poem “Digging”, the narrator talks about his father and grandfather working hard in a potato field. I liked how when reading this poem you could actually envision them working hard in the fields. “When the spade sinks into the gravelly ground” (line 4) “The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft/Against the inside knee was levered firmly.” (lines 10 &11) The narrator seems to really admire his father and grandfather and respect all the hard work that they endured. Even though working in the potato fields seemed to be a "family" job, he will not be following in their footsteps. I think that reason is, because he saw the toll that the hard labor took on them (physically), and choose a different career path to follow instead. “But I’ve no spade to follow men like them/Between my finger and my thumb/The squat pen rests” (lines 28,29, & 30).

"Moving Camp too Far"

When I started reading the poem “Moving Camp too Far” I was excited to see it was about Native Americans because I’m actually taking a Native American class. She talks about how she doesn’t know as much about her culture as she should or would like to. “I can’t speak of many moons moving camp on travois” (line 1,2 & 3) She explains how she doesn’t live like her ancestors may have, but is trying to keep her culture alive. “I can travel to powwows” (line 14) It would obliviously be really hard to live the same way as pervious Native Americans did, especially with all the new technologies. But I think she is trying to keep her culture a part of her, as best as she can. This poem really reminded me of what I have been learning in my class. I found this poem very interesting.

"Those Winter Sundays"

Robert Hayden's, "Those Winter Sundays", is a poem of a son's regret for not appreciating his father during his childhood. In this poem, the son remembers that he had a poor relationship with his father when he was a child. But he realizes that he was not able to see things from different perspective because he was just a child. As an adult, he understands now that his father was showing his love in different way. He remembers how hard he worked to support his family and provide it with what is needed for a decent life. What makes him feel worse is that "No one ever thanked him".

The son feels guilty for not appreciating his father’s sacrifice all these years. But he was so young to realize that "cracked hands that ached", implies hard work and a the pain his father went through for his family’s comfort.

I believe that we all go through this stage in life. We appreciate our parents sacrifices for us when we grow up because they need our support and help that as they get older. Each one of us plays his role at certain stage in life.

"So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans" by Jimmy Santiago Baca

This poem really makes me angry. No, Mexican people are not “Taking Jobs from Americans” (Title of Poem) as listed in the poem “with rifles” (line 2) or with “a knife at your throat” (Line 10), but they are taking jobs from Americans and not paying taxes, refusing to learn our language, and collecting welfare money. I ask anyone who has ever been in Mexico, “Was a translator provided to you when you went there?” It is a sad situation no doubt, but if they come to our country to labor and collect a wage that could be given to an American shouldn’t they be treated as an American and not better than an American? I live near a town that employs many people from Mexico. They now cannot even have their summer celebration because of the trouble the Mexicans cause during this event. I know that you cannot judge a race by the actions of a few, but America needs to take care of its own people first. If they want the wages and the perks of America then they need to become Americans – speak our language, pay our unfair taxes, and join our society. Sorry if I offended anyone.

Jump Cabling - Poetry Blog 3

I was intrigued by the poem called "Jump Cabling" by Linda Pastan. At first I thought the poem was kind of an allegory about touch now (and I could be way off here but... I'll just say what I'm thinking) I think the poem is talking about making love.

In the first three lines of the poem could translate, "we touched, and you took off my clothes to see my intricacies underneath." Then this couple is together, and there is a wonderful energy binding them together. (lines 1-5).

Lines 6 and 7, "When my car like the princess, in the tale woke with a start" reads to me of the female being the princess and finding arousal (since it usually takes longer for women).

line 8 seems like her decision to reach the climax together (sorry I'm really not trying to be too crude or base here): "I thought why not ride the rest of the way together?" (line 8).

The spaces between the words about the cars and the other words "touched, of mine, underneath, ect..." I think reflect the lovemaking process and bring this poem about jump starting a car to a level of sharing in this couple's sexual enjoyment.

Now I'm really kind of embarrassed to post this because I could be way off and shouldn't have posted something so "sexual," but really, that's exactly how the poem reads to me.

(I used the link to Jennifer gave us to read the poem, so all of my line citations are cited from the poem located on this website: lebron.msn.com).

*gulp, clicking on "publish post... * (please don't fail me!)

Those Winter Sunday's - Blog 2

The poem "Those Winter Sunday's" actually reminded me of the conflict between Amir and Hassen (from our wiki). This father gets up early, makes a fire to warm up the house "with hands that ached" (line 3) and yet he doesn't get any thanks or credit for doing this. It reminded me of the conflict between Amir and Hassen because after Hassen was raped, he still got up early and ironed, made breakfast, ect... with an aching heart and with no thanks or anything from Amir.

The line 9 puzzled me, "fearing the chronic angers of that house." Chronic angers? I thought maybe house could be a metaphor for father? Was the father chronically angry? That puzzles me that the father would do such a loving thing as he "who had driven out the cold, and polished my good shoes as well" (lines 11, 12) would be chronically angry. If he was angry, maybe it was at this child who seems to live a life of laziness, indifference and unthankfulness. I think the last lines of the poem also attest to this: "What did I know, what did I know, of love's austere and lonely offices?" (lines 13, 14) This child doesn't (didn't?) know anything about sacrificial love.

(I used the link to http://www.poetseers.org/poetry/winter_sundays to read the poem, so all of my line citations are cited from the poem located on this website).

Digging - Poetry Blog 1

I really enjoyed the poem Digging by Seamus Heaney. In it, Seamus shows how he respects both his father and grandfather for all the hard work they did, and yet at the same time he is saying that he has no interest in following in their footsteps. "But I've no spade to follow men like them." (Line 28) In the way that the spade was his father and grandfather's tools of trade, so the author chose his pen to be his tool of the trade, "I'll dig with it." (line 31). I particularly liked the first line I quoted: "But I've no spade to follow men like them." (Line 28) I think he cleverly used the word "spade" in place of the word "interest" or "desire." By using the word "spade" to make his point in this line, he tied in his whole poem and the "Irish" theme running through it (potatoes, ect...). Even though he did not want to follow his father or grandfather, I think he still showed his respect for them, "By God, the old man could handle a spade, just like his old man." (lines 15, 16). This poem reminded me of my own situation, where none of my parents or grandparents have went to college, and here I am going to college to be a nurse and get a degree. I think of it as kind of stepping out from the line of simply "digging" to "digging with a pen."

(I used the link to http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/digging/ to read the poem, so all of my line citations are cited from the poem located on this website).

“Where Are You Going, Where Have you Been?”

I found this story very disturbing. Connie is introduced like most fifteen years old; self absorbed and thinking they are much more mature then they are. Connie is still a child and does not have the skills of an older adult that she wants to be. This innocence is taken from Connie. Many young girls get in trouble at this age. They are curious and want to explore their sexuality but because of their lack of experience they end up getting taken advantage of. As a mother of a daughter I found myself thinking about how it is that I can protect her in the future. Connie instinctually knew that what was going on was wrong but did not have the confidence in herself to trust her gut. Her desire to experience new things and the manipulation of others got her in trouble. I just wish I knew what in our society has created this situation to occur over and over. Clearly it is in the parenting of both our daughter and sons. I will try to build my daughter’s self-esteem while empowering her and if I have a son teach them how to respect women.

"Moving Camp Too Far" by Nila Northsun

After reading some of Nila Northsun's background this poem has even more meaning than it does if you just read it. She was active in the 70's and 80's in the Indian Movements. She wrote about how she was sad about losing the heritage known by her people in the past, how she still lives it in a way, the nomadic traveling from pow wow to pow wow in the campers and Winnebagos, and how unfortunate she feels because of this.
"Moving Camp Too Far" could also mean that Native Americans have truly moved their camps too far from their culture and it may be lost. Traveling to the pow wows is a way to keep their culture alive, but stopping "to eat buffalo meat at the tourist stand" (cyber-learning.com, Ln 17-18)is a long way from hunting the buffalo to live to survive.

"Jump Cabling" by Linda Pastan

This poem is full of imagery and double meaning. We are all familiar with having to have our car jump started or helping someone jumpstart their car. Especially living in Minnesota. It is a way for two strangers to meet and sometimes that takes two people to a totally new place. I like the way she calls her car "Princess." (Unit 8 Readings, Ln 6) I believe she is referring to it being temperamental and not choosing to start; like the world will happen at her own sweet time. Forcing the "Princess" to start may make you regret it, or not, it is her choosing not yours. I have had cars like this, but I didn't call them "Princess!"
There are many double meanings such as "When our cars touched," (Unit 8 Readings, Ln 1). The space between cars and touched leads you into this other meaning. She could also be saying that "when we touched." The whole poem could be taken into the realm of two people touching.

"Digging" by Seamus Heaney

There is a lot of meaning in this poem. The speaker is praising all of the qualities of his father and grandfather, but at the same time is vowing that he will not work in the same manner that they have. He will work hard at writing. He will not work himself into the very ground which has fed him and yet taken the energy of his father and grandfather. His statement "But I've no spade to follow men like them," (P 679 Ln 28) also makes it seem like he feels he is not of the same caliber as they were.
I can relate to his feelings, my stepfather and grandfather were real "slave drivers." I grew up working for both of them on the farm. I like the country, but I do not want to work 24/7 like is required on a farm. I like the 40 hour weeks which allow you to still enjoy life.