Response to Sonnet 29

SONNET 29

1.       When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,

2.       I all alone beweep my outcast state 

3.       And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries

4.       And look upon myself and curse my fate, 

5.       Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, 

6.       Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,

7.       Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, 

8.       With what I most enjoy contented least; 

9.       Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

10.   Haply I think on thee, and then my state, 

11.   Like to the lark at break of day arising 

12.   From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;

13.   For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings

14.   That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Sara and I read this sonnet in class and we thought it was about how Shakespeare imagined himself as someone else and wanted to that person, but when he remembers and thinks about his love he wants to stay who he is for her.

“Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope” (Line 5-7)

In the first 8 lines from the sonnet Shakespeare wrote how he wanted to become someone else.  The best example for this is in line 5-7 where he writes that he wants more hope, art and abilities.

“Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;

For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings” (Lines 11-13)

These lines near the end he starts writing about the love and memories of his love. He compares her to a lark (which is a bird) and how whenever he remembers of the memories it’s like his riches.

“That then I scorn to change my state with kings.” (Line 14)

In the last line he writes how he wants to stay who he is. Not wanting to change who he is because of his love for her. Also if he was someone else he would lose her.


          This poem taught me that even though sometimes you want to change yourself, you can't because then you remember those memories that you wouldn't have if you weren't yourself. I have those moments where I wish I could just "step" out of my body and become someone else. But then I can't cause then I'll be leaving behind all the memories I had of my own. Even if some are the worst and I want to forget those moments, but they make me who I am
          I wonder when Shakespeare wrote this poem who did he want to become. He left clues along the way like "man's art" did he want to become an artist? and when he said "...and that man's scope" did he want to become an astronomer that looks at the stars with a telescope? and who was the love that he was talking about? his wife? or his mistress?

You were here then you were gone (1st sonnet but didn't work out)

It rained when you’re here and rained when you’re gone

When I see you my heart would skip a beat

I remember when you told me you loved me

I miss your smile, your laugh and tight hold

In March you had that sparkle in your eyes

You’re not the same as I remember you

Your brown eyes no longer have that sparkle

My love wasn’t something you can play with

The mask I wear to hide my true feelings

Like a window shade to keep out the sun

Like glue once stuck stay stuck or get ripped part

Take back the broken pieces of our love

I shouldn’t have let you get too close to me

But maybe I’m better off without you

A day gone wrong (2nd sonnet and final one)

I just woke up it was sunny outside

I opened the refrigerator door

To find a big alligator inside

It was as big as the living room floor

I screamed and the alligator jumped back

Filled 2 bowls and ate breakfast together

It was all fine til I heard a loud crack

But it was just a big broken cracker

I opened the door it started to pour

We stayed until the sky was blue like trout

I stepped onto something I don’t adore

My shoe was stuck in mud and can’t pull out

This day hasn’t gone how I wanted to (be)

First an alligator, rain then lost shoe

3 poems due on 2/7/12

1. Artwork poem:

*Written from what I think Edgar Degas was thinking when painting Conclusion of an Arabesque (in post before)

When I imagine a ballerina
Thump Thump

Against the wooden planks of the stage

Swoosh Swoosh

Her hands moved across the stage

The other girls in the back whispering quietly

Like a team getting ready to get on the field

Her dress is a beautiful yellow

While my clothes are just a plain grey

The crowd is at awe by her perfect arabesques

And her hair done in a neat braid

She’s what comes in my mind

When I imagine a ballerina.

2. What is _________?

What is poetry?
Poetry could be something shared or something kept to themsleves.
It can make someone laugh
Cry
Or
Die inside.

Poetry could be written or spoken.
Poetry is a story that your heart writes.
Poetry has no rules or boundaries, unless you make them yourself.

Poetry could make people fall in love or fall apart.
It can show sides of people that you never seen before,
A shy side
Or
Outgoing side.

Poetry could be shown in a song,
It can be short
Or
Long.

It can be about something you truly care about or something really random.

3. What happens to__________?

What happens to a dream?
Does it flourish and blossom like a sunflower in the sun?
Or
Does it die and wither away like a sunflower without the sun?

Does it grow to be an adult giraffe?
Or
Does it shrink to be a shirt washed in cold water?

Or maybe in the end it’s something not worth fighting for.

Artist: Edgar Degas

This artwork is called Conclusion of an arabesque and it was finished in 1877. I picked this artwork because I think it’s a good example of his work. In this piece he used oil and pastels. I noticed when looking closer at this picture that the lines that make up the bottom of the ballerina’s tutu was not strokes they look more like scratch marks. I also liked how he blurred out the background and made the main focus of the picture just the ballerina doing her arabesque on stage and her bouquet of flowers- most likely a prop.

*All the background information is from the book Degas- the painted gesture by: Jacquelyn Laumaye

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar de Gas or Edgar Degas as short was born on July 19, 1834, in Paris, France. His father, Auguste, was a banker, and his mother, Celestine, an American from New Orleans. His mother died in 1847, when Edgar was only 13. His father wanting him to one day take over the family’s legacy and wanted Edgar to become a banker like him. So Edgar was sent off to law school where he was supposed to learn how to become a banker, but instead he was more fascinated by art. Edgar Degas had many people who inspired him along the way like Louis Lamothe from the school of fine arts. Soon after his father found out and let his son follow what he wanted to do and that was art. He also got inspiration from Valpincon who was a trader that Edgar met from his father.

“But make lines. Many lines both from memory and nature.” (p.40)

This quote was given to Edgar by Ingres. Who was another person who inspired Edgar.

Edgar also signed his artworks with just his last name Degas and the invention of the camera helped him too. He took pictures of things he saw interesting then used the photographs as an example for his work. He also liked to use colors that would blend together to create a smooth feeling to the piece and he used different types of ways to make his art like pastel, sculpting with clay, and oils. His father died in 1874, when Edgar was 40. His best friend died in 1912 and soon after Edgar Degas died on September, 27, 1917, when he was 83.