Creative Nonfiction

I was very intrigued by the creative nonfiction post titled "Candy" by Diane Seuss. From beginning to end, Seuss's way of approaching the subject of love and loss was at times charming. Her use of literary devices were very compelling and captivating along with the story. Some of the literary devices I was absorbed in were, the metaphor defining her memory as a "mute swan." Also her use of metonymy to relate her bedroom closet to the "Museum of  Love" was amusing. Mostly, I enjoyed Seuss's humor approach with her experience of this discovery and loss of love. She really made me smile and look at things at a different perspective.

"A Small, Good Thing" - Raymond Carver

I enjoyed reading Raymond Carver's "A Small, Good Thing" because of many the many small, good things he builds up the story with. The way Carver writes seems to add a great importance to each storyline and sequence in the story. One detail I noticed is that each entailed plot seemed to set up the next and the next after that, a very good way of suspense and hook. Carver also emphasized a lot of repetition of certain lines and scenery evoke a deeper importance. Moreover, one of the literary devices I came across Carver's writing was more of senses and imagery. I could picture Ann, Howard, the patients, and the doctors very well to fine detail. Carver also presented some similes, one particular that I remember was Ann's aptitude compared with the men. Overall, I enjoyed the stories plot, although tragic, the ending speaks the truth about going on with life, even if it's in small, good fractions.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez Inspiration

This photograph of the beach, I love to go to, reminds me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's short story, "The Handsomest Drowned Man." The way the picture is depicted, almost shows as if something or someone was dragged, maybe someone handsome? I don't know. Relative in other of his short stories though, the beach is a very fascinating aspect of life and death as well. It contains this aura that connects all kinds of life forms, it's a place of beginnings, yet a place of endings too.

Rhinoceric Berenger

If I can remember an instance when I acted like a Rhinoceros and commuted with the crowd, I'd say it would be most of my elementary and adolescent years. As a kid growing up, everyone in one point of their life has been situated and confronted peer-pressure. Some of my peer-pressure experiences that I can remember dealt with having the next big thing, whether it was new shoes, trading cards, toys, cool pencils, etc. I had to have it all. And to keep up, I had to follow the crowd to keep up, even if it meant becoming a rhinoceros.

However, the times I felt closest to my inner-self was when I would become a Berenger. Some of the instances where my inner Berenger escaped, were the instances that helped me most disconnect and dissociate from other rhinoceroses. One particular situation where I stood as a Berenger was in choosing my elective classes in high school. Most of the students and friends' I knew would take easy classes for their advantage in order to get a easy grade. In this circumstance though, I would deny to have followed the crowd. I took classes that interested me the most, challenging, out of the norm classes which I have no regret on taking because they have expanded my personal growth and made me very proud and happy to take.

Lyrical Song Poem

Alex Turner's "Glass in the Park" speaks lyrical poetry to my ears. Off the bat, the lyric and title itself "Glass in the Park" contains ambiguous meanings, which may detail multiple connected ideas. The lyrics contain numerous visual imagery as well, "the white parts of my eyeballs illuminate, the sun, the night sky.". Additionally, Turner, as well, uses symbolism in the song. The "glass" can be a concrete symbol of a hidden idea or emotion to the park. He mentions a "Death Balloon" which is vague in itself to represent alternate meanings. Another strong lyric that uses a literary device is an allusion to a "paraselene woman" and "your man on the moon" with the follow up of a beautiful simile, like a grain of diamond dust you float and my devotions outer crust cracks. By the use of these literary techniques, the song lyrics "Glass in the Park" can be classified as a poetic work.


Alex Turner

Glass In The Park

There's glass in the park
Darling, I can't help
but keep making appointments
To sweep beneath the climbing frame

If the sun's in your eyes,
I'll tighten your blindfold, baby
Don't worry your foot won't get cut
Strut carelessly

And when you say that you need me tonight
I can't keep my feelings in disguise
The white parts of my eyeballs illuminate

And I'll wait for you
As if I'm waiting for a storm to stop
I've heard them talking
About how I'm gonna put you off

There's glass in the park
And now that I'm up off my knees
I've picked up the speed
To jump your palisades

And I shoot through the night
And suddenly all those once lost concoctions froth
And chase the day away

When you say that you need me tonight
I can't keep my feelings in disguise
The white part of my eyeballs illuminate

And I'll wait for you
As if I'm waiting for the storm to stop
I've heard them talking
About how I'm gonna put you off

You tell me, "how can I put you off when you're a matter of urgency?"
I've got a million things that I need to do, but they're all secondary
Make sure you're not followed
Meet me by the Death Balloon
Paraselene woman, I'm your man on the moon
And like a grain of diamond dust, you float
And my devotion's outer crust' crack.

April Rain Song by Langston Hughes

April Rain Song 

by Langston Hughes

 

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.

The rain makes running pools in the gutter.

The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night—

And I love the rain.

The spring poem I selected was Langston Hughes' "April Rain Song." I admired the way Hughes depicted rain on an April spring day and how rain carries with it this energy that transgresses to other living things. And reasonably more, the love I have for rain.

Pablo Neruda's Fanciful Ode to Clothes

One of the first major details that struck me of Pablo Neruda's work "Ode to Clothes" is the establishing tone of devotion he has for clothing. I'm quite a fanatic when it comes to clothes. It seems as if my closet is close to bursting any minute now like a street hit fire hydrant. We are born and clothes are the first latching rough skin we are exposed to. Pablo Neruda speaks to clothes with such a humbling voice, as if he could not pass a day without, which to an extent is true. His clothing fill his vanity, his love, his hope and eventually his body. Maybe it's the endless accessibility we have for clothes that makes us lose sense of what's in our closets. After all, they are just clothes. But they're the clothes that part with us; they're a large part of our character and they tell the world a bit of our story without saying a word.