Analyzing Layers of Meaning in Poetry Answers

Read the poem "‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers -” by Emily Dickinson."Hope” is the thing with feathers -That perches in the soul -And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -And sore must be the storm -That could abash the little BirdThat kept so many warm -I’ve heard it in the chillest land -And on the strangest Sea -Yet - never - in Extremity,It asked a crumb - of me.

Read the poem "February 11th 1990” (for Dennis Brutus) by Wanda Coleman.This year the leaves turn red green blackfreedom colors each leafeach stitch of grass. I am amazedat my sweet harvest. The prison door has openedand a nation’s heart is released. I am full having spent my greediness in a ritual of joy.

Read the excerpt from "Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant. To him who in the love of Nature holdsCommunion with her visible forms, she speaksA various language; for his gayer hoursShe has a voice of gladness, and a smileAnd eloquence of beauty, and she glidesInto his darker musings, with a mildAnd healing sympathy, that steals awayTheir sharpness, ere he is aware.

Read the poem "‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers -” by Emily Dickinson.Line 4"Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -8And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm -That could abash the little BirdThat kept so many warm -12I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity,It asked a crumb - of me.

Read the excerpt from "Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant. Yet not to thine eternal resting-placeShalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wishCouch more magnificent. Thou shalt lie downWith patriarchs of the infant world—with kings,The powerful of the earth—the wise, the good,Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past, All in one mighty sepulchre.

Read the excerpt from "‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers -” by Emily Dickinson."Hope” is the thing with feathers -That perches in the soul -And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -And sore must be the storm -That could abash the little BirdThat kept so many warm -I’ve heard it in the chillest land -And on the strangest Sea -Yet - never - in Extremity,It asked a crumb - of me.

Read the excerpt from "‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers -” by Emily Dickinson."Hope” is the thing with feathers -That perches in the soul -And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -And sore must be the storm -That could abash the little BirdThat kept so many warm -I've heard it in the chillest land -And on the strangest Sea -Yet - never - in Extremity,It asked a crumb - of me.

Read the excerpt from "The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats.The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned

Read the excerpt from "Constantly Risking Absurdity (#15)” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti.Constantly risking absurdity and death whenever he performs above the heads of his audience the poet like an acrobat climbs on rime to a high wire of his own making

Read the excerpt from "Blues on a Box” by Langston Hughes.Play your guitar, boy, Till yesterday’s Black catRuns out tomorrow’sBack door