Revolution Anthology by Ryan M.
Introduction
Revolution is about a lot more than the war itself. Revolution symbolizes this freedom people seize from the tyrants that control them. The poems in this anthology all focus on the uprisings of the oppressed or the experiences and characteristics of these people and rulers. Two of my poems focus on a specific revolution, while the other two focus on the broader corruption of power. My goal with this anthology is to spark inspiration in yourself to fuel your own revolution on whatever scale suits you.
These fights for freedom can be a large or small as you want it to be, and can range from everyday feats to a life-changing or momentous victry. Wherever the oppression that you are receiving falls on the scale, I hope that these poems can motivate or comfort you. These poems can serve as guidance, or the glimmer of hope that shows the possibility of defeating all powerful tyrants. I hope you take these poems to hear and find the courage to liberate yourself from who or what possesses you and dictate your own revolution.
Revolution is about a lot more than the war itself. Revolution symbolizes this freedom people seize from the tyrants that control them. The poems in this anthology all focus on the uprisings of the oppressed or the experiences and characteristics of these people and rulers. Two of my poems focus on a specific revolution, while the other two focus on the broader corruption of power. My goal with this anthology is to spark inspiration in yourself to fuel your own revolution on whatever scale suits you.
These fights for freedom can be a large or small as you want it to be, and can range from everyday feats to a life-changing or momentous victry. Wherever the oppression that you are receiving falls on the scale, I hope that these poems can motivate or comfort you. These poems can serve as guidance, or the glimmer of hope that shows the possibility of defeating all powerful tyrants. I hope you take these poems to hear and find the courage to liberate yourself from who or what possesses you and dictate your own revolution.
A Nation's Strength
by Ralph Waldo Emerson What makes a nation's pillars high And its foundations strong? What makes it mighty to defy The foes that round it throng? It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand Go down in battle shock; Its shafts are laid on sinking sand, Not on abiding rock. Is it the sword? Ask the red dust Of empires passed away; The blood has turned their stones to rust, Their glory to decay. And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown Has seemed to nations sweet; But God has struck its luster down In ashes at his feet. Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor's sake Stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep, Who dare while others fly... They build a nation's pillars deep And lift them to the sky. |
My interpretationThis poem is a brilliant one, which explores the qualities, features, and possessions that make a country powerful and tyrannical enough to have strength and control over another entity. The writer rhymes every other line in an ABAB pattern. The poet also uses a specific rhythm with syllable balance in every other line and regular 4 line stanzas. The poet also uses several metaphors to convey his points in several stanzas such as in the conclusion. None of these metaphors extend past one stanza. Through the conclusion the poet ends the poem by stating that a nation's strength is derived by the people who are loyal to it. The pride people have in their country give a nation power.
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England in 1819
by Percy Bysshe Shelley An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king,— Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow Through public scorn,—mud from a muddy spring,— Rulers who neither see, nor feel, nor know, But leech-like to their fainting country cling, Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow,— A people starved and stabbed in the untilled field,— An army, which liberticide and prey Makes as a two-edged sword to all who wield Golden and sanguine laws which tempt and slay; Religion Christless, Godless—a book sealed; A Senate,—Time's worst statute unrepealed,— Are graves, from which a glorious Phantom may Burst, to illumine our tempestous day. |
My interpretation
This poem describes the difficult time that plagued England in 1819. This poet Percy Bysshe Shelley also wrote the poem Ozymandias, which displays that Percy Bysshe Shelley is often unhappy with political power abuse and the arrogance of tyranny. Percy B. Shelley uses powerful and descriptive words to describe the hopelessness and despair that the people of England experienced in 1819 because of the terrible monarchy leadership and social fabric. This is displayed by the poet’s powerful and descriptive words that show the metaphor she decides to use to show the misery of these people. |
I Hear America Singing
by Walt Whitman I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong, The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands, The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown, The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs. |
My interpretation
This poem focuses on representing and showing the essence and ideals that were created through the revolution. These ideas are mainly centered on the freedom that America was founded. The poet Walt Whitman uses the ideas of many different manual laborers in the American working class that prides itself with the freedoms entitled to all Americans. Walt Whitman uses the metaphor of a song that all of the characters sing to create a symbol of unity between these otherwise fractured people. |
On Seeing Larry Rivers' Washington Crossing the Delaware at the Museum of Modern Art
by Frank O'Hara Now that our hero has come back to us in his white pants and we know his nose trembling like a flag under fire, we see the calm cold river is supporting our forces, the beautiful history. To be more revolutionary than a nun is our desire, to be secular and intimate as, when sighting a redcoat, you smile and pull the trigger. Anxieties and animosities, flaming and feeding on theoretical considerations and the jealous spiritualities of the abstract the robot? they're smoke, billows above the physical event. They have burned up. See how free we are! as a nation of persons. Dear father of our country, so alive you must have lied incessantly to be immediate, here are your bones crossed on my breast like a rusty flintlock, a pirate's flag, bravely specific and ever so light in the misty glare of a crossing by water in winter to a shore other than that the bridge reaches for. Don't shoot until, the white of freedom glinting on your gun barrel, you see the general fear. |
My interpretation
This poem is a description of the historic event where George Washington crossed the Delaware. This poem uses comparisons and metaphors to describe how this painting of the historic event looks. Further than the simple appearance of the painting, the poem also explores how it impacted a generation and a country. This poet uses the metaphor of a father to explain the impact this event had and how it made Washington one of the forefathers of the nation. Finally, there is a powerful presence of rhythm in this poem but there is no rhyme. |