Throughout this course we’ve practiced various reading, writing, critical thinking, and self-evaluation strategies. The final portfolio is your opportunity to 1) show what you have learned and 2) reflect upon your growth as a reader/writer/thinker/student

Han Xiao

English 110

2/15/2020

Imitation Poetry

Poetry is a work of art that is used by literature lovers to communicate different messages, often messages that cannot be discussed openly. Most poems have hidden meanings that are a representation of certain aspects in life, either from the poet’s experiences or from a general point of view. D. Powell is a renowned poet whose works are known to have deep hidden meanings. In his poem “My Life as a Dog” is an example of a poem that he wrote with a hidden meaning. The poem is written to describe the life of a dog, the ideal life of a dog. However, I believe the actual message in the poem is the life that Powell would have liked to live as a gay man in the 1990s. In the 1990s, homosexuality was not condoned, and many gay men and women could not live freely because the rest of the world considered them queer. As a result, gay people were forced to live double lives so that they could fit into society. Powell being a gay man in those years, probably felt like he had to let out what he felt his life should be like. He used the extended metaphor of a dog to represent his life. My poem “My Life as a Bird” is an extended metaphor to represent the life I would like to live as a person who likes to be liberated and not constricted by social norms. A bird is a free being that lives life in his standards and works hard to have a comfortable life. It is in the birds’ nature to want to wander around and soar up high, and taste life differently. Comment by Evan Kaiser: This is a good thesis Comment by Evan Kaiser: Consider moving this part two paragraphs later

My life as a Dog by D.A Powell is a simple poem whereby the writer imagines how he would have lived life if he was a dog. He has most likely studied the way that dogs live and how their owners treat them. He seems to believe that the life of a dog should be different than what it usually is. He insists that if he were a dog, he would have lived differently, and his relationship with human beings would be different. In the first stanza, he says, “If I was a dog, the only things I’d chase; a fire truck, a ball, and my tail.” The statement seems to mean that dogs run after too many things that the poet does not find necessary. He probably thinks that running after criminals should not be a dog’s job, and he would, therefore, not engage in it. Most people who rear dogs rear them for security purposes so that they can keep off security threats such as burglars and other criminals.

In the imitation poem “My Life as a Bird,” the bird would only chase after the sky, its freedom, and its family. Birds are often chasing other things such as food and materials to build their nests. The bird in this poem seems to think that any other duty that would require the bird to be flying around is irrelevant and should not be considered important in the life of a bird.

The message in the poem by Powell is to sensitize dog owners that animals to have innate feelings. They need to feel wanted and respected, and human beings need to identify with the needs of their pets. It is in the nature of a dog to want to do well and to want to play around and make messes. However, most people, even dog owners, do not appreciate the messes made by dogs and believe that a dog has to be trained in a certain way so that it meets the expectations of its owners. The dog in the poem describes what his ideal life would be, playing around in the garden, being free at night, and also playing in cheese. The needs of the dog in the poem are not what the average dog owner would allow his dog to be involved in. Most dog owners need their dogs to obey commands, be peaceful, and well behaved.

The imitation poem about a bird speaks about a bird who would want to roam freely and associate with their families without human interference. Most people treat birds as bothers and do not care to allow them to live their lives. Other human beings keep birds as their pets and keep them caged, restricting them from roaming freely as they were created to do. The poem speaks of a bird that craves freedom has to offer but feels restrained by the lives of human beings. In a broad sense, the poem is inviting people to be sensitive to the needs of human beings.

In the first stanza of my poem, I say, “If I was a bird, the only three things I’d chase: the sky, my family and freedom.” My statement here is to represent the rave for freedom that is persistent in my life. I want be a free and independent person. I also want to chase after my heart’s desires without being limited or judged because of my choices. I want to chase after my dreams, as weird or unreasonable as they might sound. I crave to be allowed the freedom to go after the things that please my heart and be happy, just like a bird. The statement “As a bird, I’d find my own bread. Even not very good bread” means that my choices in life might sound unreasonable or unfamiliar to other people, but they are mine to enjoy. It does not matter what other people think, as long as I enjoy my life and my choices. Comment by Evan Kaiser: It's helpful to get the point early in a paragraph. Comment by Evan Kaiser: This is the point

Powell says, “If I was a dog, I would sneak into the garden and eat the pears off the trees. How would I do that? I’d be a dog, a crafty dog.” I think this is a representation of the kind of life that Powell has been subjected to as a gay man. In the 1990s, gay people had to nurture their orientations secretly because of the fear of judgment and condemnation from society. It was hard for them, and they had to be very crafty about how they met and associated. By admitting to being crafty, Powell indicates that he does not mind being mischievous if it is all he has to do to fulfill his heart’s desires. It indicates that even though the society around him does not approve of his life as a gay man, he would sneak out at night to go and find a gay partner. He seems to indicate that nothing can stop him from enjoying the life he chooses for himself. Comment by Evan Kaiser: This is the point Comment by Evan Kaiser: good A - it clearly and persuasively gives your interpretation of Powell's poem

The second stanza in my poem says, “I’d take a break on the tree in your front yard until you dislodge me. You’d dislodge me. Don’t worry; I wouldn’t destroy your plants. I’m sure I’d think about it. But I just wouldn’t.” In this stanza, I wanted to introduce my reader to the kind of life a free spirit like me enjoys to be involved in. I would probably be the person who drives up your front yard and parks my wagon there to spend a night or two without bothering anyone. But the society is so judgmental and wary of people who live in caravans and do not like to see them around their homes. Most people will call the police on such people, even if they have not caused them any harm. We are treated as criminals and vagabonds who have no place to live when all we want to do is travel and savor the world. Because of the suspicion, people would treat me with; I would be tempted to enter their homes while they were away and destroy a few things just because I can. But I wouldn’t because I am not a bad person; I like to live my life differently from other people. This stanza is my plea to fellow human beings to embrace diversity in the lives of others and to acknowledge that people who live differently are not always criminals. I think it is high time that human beings learned to be tolerant of each other, without tying up people with societal expectations. People should be allowed to live life as they please, as long as they do not cause harm to other people. Comment by Evan Kaiser: Consider moving the point earlier in the paragraph Comment by Evan Kaiser: this might be part of the point too

The last stanza in Powell’s poem takes a rather tragic turn. He speaks about how blue the dog owner would be when he finally puts the dog down. I think this is an imagery of how people behave when gay people die, especially from AIDS. In the 1990s, it was almost a relief for the society when a gay man died, like an abomination had been removed from society. The society will bury them with feigned sorrow and remorse while, in reality, they are happy that the “blemish” is finally gone.

In my last stanza, I talk about how people behave when they finally get a restless and adventurous person to settle down and adhere to societal norms. These people are often seen as social misfits, and their families sometimes go the extent of having them admitted in mental institutions to be stabilized. It is never an easy decision for the families, but they believe that it is something that has to be done to “help” their loved ones. Imagine the pain and sadness the “bird” feels when it is the end of the road for him. N the stanza is most tragic because it is an explanation of the trauma that people who are different in the society have to go through until society finally catches up with them. They are blamed for causing pain to the loved ones, while in the real sense, they are the ones who are most hurt by society’s inability to understand and accept them. Both Powell’s poem and my own are a representation of a special group of people who wish the society would see and love them for who they are without expecting them to conform. Comment by Evan Kaiser: This is a good example of a topic sentence

In his first statement, Powell says, “If I was a dog, the only three things I would chase: a fire truck, a ball, and my own tail.” I think that this is Powell’s way of telling the world that he is not different from another human being because he has a different sexual orientation. Every dog loves to run around and chase after things, and they are not judged because of the things they like to play with. He feels that the same case of ambiguity should be allowed to play in the lives of human beings, and he should not be judged and treated differently just because he has a different sexual orientation. In the second stanza, Powell predicts that after all the running around and chasing after things, the dog owners would not want to pet him. He says, “If I was a dog, you wouldn’t be petting me; I might have rolled in something.” The “something” discussed in this statement is AIDS, which was highly associated with gay people. The world believed that it was a disease reserved for gay people in the community, and people were wary of associating with gay people in the fear that they would contract the disease. Comment by Evan Kaiser: Consider starting with a topic sentence (not being different due to sexual orientation)

The first two stanzas in “My Life as a Dog” have four lines, each with a one-line breaker in between them. The rest of the poem is in four, two-line stanzas that convey small but articulate points. The poet has used short lines all through the poem to help the reader understand the transmitted message easily. The readers can understand the poem because of the simple language used and the rhythm caused by the flow of the stanzas. The flow of the poem is easy, as the reader can connect the points between one verse to the next. The poem is about a dog, an animal that most readers can familiarize with, therefore creating an inclusive allowance for the target audience. The audience is any human being who has a keen interest in petting a dog and may want to understand the innate feelings and needs of dogs. The poem serves as a medium of communication between dogs and human beings. Comment by Evan Kaiser: Write a topic sentence about structure. Briefly describe it.

The imitation poem “My Life as a Bird” is structured the same way as the original poem. It also has two stanzas with four lines and a breaking line between them. The last four verses of the poem are also structured in two lines each. The information about the bird is let out as precisely as the information about the dog in the original poem. The words used in the imitation poem are also straightforward and straight forward and are easy for the reader to understand. The target audience of this poem is also vast as everyone who has a keen interest in birds and their lives might understand the message being conveyed. The flowing structure of the poem enables a reader to internalize every statement and discern the intended meaning of the statement. The words used to flow easily, meaning that even young audiences who cannot comprehend sophisticated vocabulary can understand the poem quite well. Comment by Evan Kaiser: Good topic sentence about structure.

The punctuation used in the poem “My Life as a Dog” is consistent and straightforward to keep the reader attentive all through the poem. The poet has ensured to use full stops, commas, and other punctuation marks well to allow a logical flow of ideas. The punctuation ensures that the reader does not get tired, trying to make sense of the statements. They also offer breaks in between the reads to meet the needs of the reader. It is easier to understand a poem that is well punctuated than to read a poem with poor or no punctuation. Comment by Evan Kaiser: Good TS!

The punctuation used in the poem “My Life as a Bird” is also captivating and allows the reader to understand the points that the poet puts across. The poet uses short sentences with the commas, full stops, and other punctuation marks, just as in the original poem. The poem is, therefore, easy and more captivating for the reader to understand and enjoy, as compared to a poem with poor or no punctuation. The breaks between the stanzas offer the reader rests from a continuous reading, allowing their minds to internalize a point after the other. The reading is captivating and is easy to comprehend. Comment by Evan Kaiser: Good TS!

A poem should have hidden meanings for it to be captivating to the reader, but it should not be so complicated that the reader loses their interest in the reading. It should be captivating enough, with the right punctuations and structure to ensure grammatical flow for the reader. Both “My Life as a Dog” and “My Life as a Bird” are poems whose ideas are hidden but are made understandable by the easy language used. They are both about animals who crave to live their lives as designed, not as orchestrated by human beings.

My Life as a Dog

If I was a dog, the only three things I’d chase:

a firetruck, a ball, and my own tail.

If I was a dog, you wouldn’t be petting me

I might have rolled in something.

As a dog, I’d roll over for cheese. Not very good cheese.

I’d bark all night until you let me out.

You’d have to let me out.

Don’t worry, I wouldn’t chase anyone’s cat.

I’m sure I’d think about it. But I just wouldn’t.

Someone would have to hold me when I got my shots .

1

Would you hold me when I got my shots?

I’d sneak into the garden and eat the pears off the trees.

How would I do that? I’d be a dog. A crafty dog.

If I was a dog, I’d have run away by now.

I’d be a runaway. You’d think bad dog.

And when it was time to put me down, you’d be

a little blue. Then put me down.

–D. A. Powell

My life as a bird

If I was a bird, the only three things I’d chase:

The Sky, my family, and freedom.

If I was a bird, you wouldn’t be feeding me

I might find food by myself.

As a bird, I’d find my own bread. Even not very good bread.

I’d take a break on the tree in your front yard until you dislodge me.

You’d dislodge me.

Don’t worry, I wouldn’t destroy your plants.

I’m sure I’d think about it. But I just wouldn’t.

Someone would allow me to build my nest on their house.

Would you allow me to build my nest?

I’d look for broken branches in your garden.

How would I do that? I’d be a bird. A weak bird.

If I was a bird, I’d have fly away by now.

I’d fly away. You’d think clever bird.

And when it was time to catch me down, you’d not

bear to. Then catch me down.

Extra-Labor Options:

Remember that as part of the grading contract, we negotiated certain “extra-labor” practices that can earn you a higher +/- letter grade for your final grade. One of the ways we negotiated is to simply turn in a larger essay project that requires more reading and writing. I’m listing a few options below, but if you have an idea not included on the list we can negotiate it as a class. If you are thinking about doing an extra-labor task for this essay, you must let me know as early as possible. I would ask that you remain in contact with me throughout the unit as a way to consult with me about your ideas. In general, I want to make sure you have enough support to qualify for the extra-labor grade bump.

· Option 1: Do a longer essay with outside sources. In essence, you will be doing the same task for this as for the regular length essay but expanding your ideas. The minimum word count would now be 2,400 words (at least 7 full pages). However, you must also use the library databases to find an academic article to read and use quotes from, either about D.A. Powell, the specific poem, or something about extended metaphor in general. This article must be approved by me.

· Option 2: Read HALF (or about 40 pages) of D.A. Powell’s book, Chronic (often considered to be his best book). How is he also using extended metaphor in this book? Choose at least 3 poems from the book to analyze at length and discuss with the lens of extended metaphor. Doing this option is not an extension of the regular essay. Keep in mind that you would still need to write an imitation poem of “My Life as a Dog” in order to be helpful for your classmates, but your essay will not incorporate it. The minimum word count for this essay is 1,500 words in addition to one double-entry journal (3 quotes/responses) for the entire book.

· Option 3: Complete the minimum requirements for the regular essay, but read half of an additional short collection of poetry and write an additional short essay. Preferably, the additional book should be authored by one of the poets we read in class, such as, Garden Time, by W.S. Merwin, Fall Higher, by Dean Young, or The Dead and the Living, by Sharon Olds. In addition to reading half of the book, write a short analytical essay that is at least 800 words in which you analyze the metaphors in at least 3 different poems in your book. In addition, you must provide evidence for your reading labor. The simplest way to do this is to include a double-entry journal with 3 quotes/responses.