Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Analysis of poem

My badge has a Latin motto
Hope for the future
The future is hope
Or something

At times black crows try to interrupt
When we sing the National Anthem

It is difficult to maintain
The whiteness of my shoes
Especially on Wednesdays

I must admit there is something quite special
About the bare thighs of hardworking scouts

The Malay chauffeurs
Who wait for my schoolmates
Sit on the car park kerb
Telling jokes to one another

Seven to the power of five is unreasonable

On Chinese New Year
Mrs Lee dressed up
In a sarong kebaya
And sang Bengawan Solo

The capital of Singapore is Singapore

My best friend did a heroic thing once
Shaded all A’s
For his Chinese Language
Multiple-choice paper

In our annual yearbook
There is a photograph of me

Pushing a wheelchair and smiling
They caught me
At the exact moment

When my eyes were actually closed

Analysis:

I think the writer is trying to be sarcastic to the school's administration right from the start.

In the first stanza, he said that he did not know what the school motto and badge meant, treating it like nothing but something useless.

In the second stanza, he shows himself as a patroitic person as he uses the word 'interrupt'. He really likes the National Anthem, that is why he didn't like the crow interupting him from singing it.

In the third stanza, the writer, though wheel-chair bound, tried to fit into the crowd as he mentioned his shoes got dirty. It is very likely that he plays games in the mud, like soccer, or captain ball with his friends.

In the fourth stanza, he was probably very poor and envied the other rich classmates who had chaeuffers to bring them to school.In the fifth stanza, it was apparent that the writer was envious of scouts who were healthy and strong, compared to himself, as a handicapped person.

In the sixth stanza, the writer's teacher sings a malay song in chinese new year! It shows a harmony between the two races during his time and may also symbolize a harmony between handicapped people and normal people, meaning the writer could fit into the society quite well.

In the seventh stanza,Singapore's capital is Singapore: This is a solid truth, like how the writer wants to express that his handicap is a solid truth and he has already accepted the fact that he is handicapped.

In the eigth stanza, he tries to be sarcastic of less-smart classmates doing things like shading all 'A' by labelling this actions as 'heroic'. He was probably quite smart.


In the last stanza, the truth shocks us: The writer is handicapped. This is not the shocking thing, it is his description of himself that shocks us. He was wheel-chair bound yet could live life normally like any other child.

Bravo!

Rhythm and rhyme
This poem has no obvious rhyme or rhythm. There are some words that rhyme, though. Like 'bengawan solo' and 'actually closed', 'maintain' and 'wednesdays'.

Alliteration
I couldn't find any alliteration in this poem.

Imagery
Appeal to sight - the photograph with the writer pushing a wheelchair, with his eyes closed. This is a description that appeals to sight and to create a mental image.

Appeal to sight - there is another one about his teacher Mrs Lee. It vividly describes her as dressed up in a Sarong Kebaya.

There is also the description of the Malay Chaeuffers teeling jokes to one another on the car park kerb.

Besides these, I couldn't find any more appeals to senses.

Exaggaration
I feel that the line about seven to the power of five is unreasonable is a bit of a exaggeration. Seven to the power of five is quite easy to solve, if hard, not unreasonable. The writer is trying to express his feelings that he didn't like maths or thought that Maths was hard to him.

Simile
There are no similes in the poem.

Metaphor
There are no similes in the poem

Onomatopoiea
There are no Onomatopoieas in this poem.

Personification - Giving human traits to things. There are no personifications in this poem.

Idioms - words that has a group meaning. Eg. Easy as pie. There are no idioms in this poem.

Symbolism - there are some symbolism in the poem, I think.

'Difficult to maintain my white shoes, especially on Wednesdays.'

I think white shoes represent his control of mischeif. It was difficult to maintain his control of mischeif in school, especially on Wednesdays, maybe because there is PE lessons on Wednesdays.

Mood
The mood is generally sad, but with humour in it. The writer feels sad that he has left the school and misses his school a lot, from his vivid description of many things that happen when he was in school.

There is also some humour in the poem, like how his friend put all answers 'A' in the mutiple choice paper, and how his eyes were closed when the school took a picture of him pushing a wheelchair.

Tone
The writer attitude towards the school was not really appreciative of their efforts to educate him. He said that 'seven to the power of five is unreasonable', meaning he did not like the subject of Maths and feel that the school is too unreasonable in giving question to them (in terms of difficulty)

However, the writer seemed to be more "friendly" and towards his friends as can be seen from how he chose to write something humorous about his friend, instead of something they did wrongly to him.

He labelled it as "heroric"!

Monday, June 29, 2009

A poet I like

"One needs to register in general that Cummings' poetry reflects an advanced awareness of the potential significance of boundaries: his poetry frequently gravitates towards the boundaries between self and other, lover, nature, or God, as if the poet is intuitively aware that it is here, in these areas and around these boundaries, that significance and beauty become possible. The sonnet to be studied against this background, reads as follows" - McGinnis, Misty

Personally, I like E.E. Cummings because he is a man who regards friendship very highly and importantly. When his travelling companion, Brown was arrested for writing incriminating letters home, E.E. Cummings did not just run away in fear of being arrested too. However, he refused to separate with his friend. This shows that he really treated friendship very importantly.

I feel that his works mainly focuses on simple yet pleasurable things in life. Like in his very famous poem In Just-, he just writes about spring, where a ballon-man whistles and the bettyandisbel dances and this simple things that happens in life, he is able to so vividly and lively describe them with poetric rythm and rhyme.

Here's a short biography of his life:

Edward Estlin Cummings was born October 14, 1894 in the town of Cambridge Massachusetts. His father, and most constant source of awe, Edward Cummings, was a professor of Sociology and Political Science at Harvard University. In 1900, Edward left Harvard to become the ordained minister of the South Congregational Church, in Boston. As a child, E.E. attended Cambridge public schools and lived during the summer with his family in their summer home in Silver Lake, New Hampshire. (Kennedy 8-9)

E.E. loved his childhood in Cambridge so much that he was inspired to write disputably his most famous poem, "In Just-" (Lane pp. 26-27) Not so much in, "In Just-" but Cummings took his father's pastoral background and used it to preach in many of his other poems. In "you shall above all things be glad and young,"

Cummings preaches to the reader in verse telling them to love with naivete and innocence, rather than listen to the world and depend on their mind. Attending Harvard, Cummings studied Greek and other languages (p. 62). In college, Cummings was introduced to the writing and artistry of Ezra Pound, who was a large influence on E.E. and many other artists in his time (pp. 105-107).

After graduation, Cummings volunteered for the Norton-Haries Ambulance Corps. En-route to France, Cummings met another recruit, William Slater Brown. The two became close friends, and as Brown was arrested for writing incriminating letters home, Cummings refused to separate from his friend and the two were sent to the La Ferte Mace concentration camp. The two friends were finally freed, only due to the persuasion of Cummings' father. This experience proved quite instrumental to Cummings writing; The Enormous Room is Cummings' autobiographical account of his time in the internment camp. E.E. was extremely cautious to attempt to publish The Enormous Room, however after great persuasion by his father, Cummings finally had a copy of the manuscript sent to Boston to be read. (Kennedy p. 213)

Cummings greatest fan, Edward wrote after reading his son's manuscript, "I am sure now that you [E.E] are a great writer, and as proud of it now, as I shall be when the world finds out."

Here are three of his poems:

in Just-

in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little lame baloonman
whistles far and wee
and eddyandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old baloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it's
spring
and
the
goat-footed
baloonMan
whistles
far
and
wee

i am so glad and very by E. E. Cummings
i am so glad and very
merely my fourth will cure
the laziest self of weary
the hugest sea of shore
so far your nearness reaches
a lucky fifth of you
turns people into each
sand cowards into grow
our can'ts were born to happen
our mosts have died in more
our twentieth will open
wide a wide open door
we are so both and oneful
night cannot be so sky
sky cannot be so sunful
i am through you so i

i shall imagine life by E. E. Cummings

i shall imagine life
is not worth dying,
if(and when)roses complain
their beauties are in vain
but though mankind persuades
itself that every weed's
a rose,roses(you feel
certain)will only smile

I feel that these three poems best expresses that his poetry frequently gravitates towards the boundaries between self and other, lover, nature, or God. He has a very free styled of writing, and his poems are usually shaped in very fitting rhyme and rhythm.

He seemed to be not restricted by language boundaries, and expresses his complicated thoughts in any way he likes. For me, I like poems which are in this manner.. There are beautiful and free, and combine many meanings and thoughts in it.

References:
http://www.literaryhistory.com/20thC/Cummings.htm
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/e__e__cummings/poems/14259
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/e__e__cummings/poems/14206
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._E._Cummings

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Figurative Language

A poem I like : A Winter Sunday by Robert Hayden

Sundays too my father got up early
And put his clothes on in the blueback cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he'd call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices?

Figurative Language used

Cold splintering, breaking – a metaphor. Giving the cold a trait of wood, this can splinter and break. It describes the cold slowly fading off and the house warming up.
lonely offices – personification. Giving the office a human trait of loneliness. Describing the father’s loneliness at work.
Love’s austere – personification. Giving love a human trait of austere. Describing his father’s love as one-sided, grave and sober.
Chronic angers of that house – personification. Giving the house a human trait, that is anger. Shows that the writer was afraid of the house as it gave him a sense of hostility and displeasure.
Gradual warming of house - symbolism. Symbolism of the father's love, warm and sustainable.
Polished shoes in the cabinet - symbolism. Symbolises the father's love so subtle.

Why I like this poem?

When I read this poem, it gave me a great sense of guilt. The writer feels guilty that he had been indifferent to his father’s when he was young and express his guilt through this poem of his father’s actions and his reactions on a winter Sunday. Although his father loved him and did things like polishing his shoes for him and making the house warm by lighting up a fire, the writer did not treasure his love at all. Instead, he returns his father with a indifferent attitude, which made the father feel heart-broken and lonely.
Sadly, I have been that way to my own father too when I was young. I used to think that he was too old-fashioned and did not respect him. However only recently did I realized that his love for me was so great; everything he did for me was for my good. I should learn to cherish his priceless love.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

What is Happiness? (2)

What is happiness? My other post, (What is Happiness (1)?) answered this question by arguing that happiness is setting a goal for ourselves and pursuing that goal no matter the setbacks.

However after this almost-finished holiday, I have learnt much more about happiness and found out that happiness is not pursuing our own personal goal, but pursuing God's will for us.

As a christian, I feel very guilty that most of the time, I have been pursuing my own goal and fufilling my selfish needs. In the Bible, this is regarded as being dependent on the flesh, not on God.

However, after a recent church camp, I was touched to start pursuing God's will for me.

At the church camp, there were many brothers and sisters in Christ, only two years older than me, who were serving full-time in the Teens Ministry. When I asked them how many years they have received Christ as their saviour, I was shocked to hear that most only became a christian last year. I, as a believer for ten whole years, have not really pursued God's will for me and done something for God. So what am I to compare with a believer of only a year?

I shared my thoughts with a very passionate brother in Christ. I was shocked when I learnt that he led an entire group of teens 16 to 18 years old when he was barely twelve years old!

God can use people, no matter their age! God does not look at the surface, but the heart.

These were the words he told me with a spirit that really touched me! I am already thirteen, what I am waiting for?

I am now already playing the piano regularly for the Chinese Service in my church, but is my heart really there for God? I do not dare to answer this question. What am I worth as a tiny creation of his, to receive his magnanimous love? Whatever I can do for him, I have decided, though not a worthy sacrifice, I am going to give my heart and life to him.

To God be the glory!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Book Review 2

Book Read: A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park



Application:



When I read this book, a sense of guilt engulfed me. It reminded me of something that happened three years ago.


The main character, Tree-ear, did not give up when the pottery pieces he was supposed to pass to the royal court was smashed into pieces. He gave serious and calculated consideration about the matter; and with his determination, brought a single shard of pottery to show the royal court as a sample to let them decide whether to use his master’s pottery for trade.

A couple of years ago, our church held a soccer friendly game. The objective of this competiton is to foster fellowship within and across the various ministries. Being a soccer enthuiasts, I practised hard and look forward to the 'showing off 'my skills during the game. My hope 'shattered' when I accidentally injured my knee a day before the game. I got frustrated, angry and refused to show up ont the day of the game.

I had missed the point. The game is not about winning , nor about displaying individual skill. It is about fellowship, bonding and team building. I could have just show up and gave my support to the players. I could not contribute as a player , but I could have contributed as a supporter to the game and the event.

After reading this book, I thought, “If it was Tree-ear there, I bet he would have done the right thing; just like him not returning to his village after the pottery pieces broke, instead, continuing his journey with determination just to deliver a single piece of shard.”



Analysis:



Here’s an alternative ending to the book, which I think is more suitable.



Last paragraph:



Tree-ear leaned forward and pushed the cart up the mountain path.



Edited paragraph:



A screech broke the silence. Tree-ear looked up: A young eagle spreaded its broad wings slowly, soaring high into the vast horizon. He smiled.



Synthesis:





Evaluation:



The title, ‘A Single Shard’ is a very good one.



A single shard. A broken piece. This depicts imperfection, incompleteness, and a terrible weakness. Yet through this little piece of broken vase piece, the story brought out the strong will and determination of the main character, Tree-ear, who had overcome all kinds of obstacles to achieve his purpose.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Book Review 1

Book read: Sing to the Dawn by Minfong Ho

When I read this book, I immediately felt very fortunate. The book reminded me of how fortunate I was when I was young. Whatever I want, I could get it easily. Money was not a problem to our family at all. Education to me was a torture instead of a treasure.

However, when I read this book, I realized that many in the world are still living in poverty. Food was so scarce; education was something that did not even need to be mentioned at all.

When I thought of how hungry for education the main character, Dawan, was for education, I felt an overwhelming sense of…guilt. Never had I treasured or even, noticed the effort my parents put in to make sure I received good education. My mother retired when I was Primary 1 just to teach me Chinese and Maths, my two weakest subjects during then.

After reading this book at around the December holidays, I had since learnt to treasure and cherish whatever I have. Games and other things are just bonuses. Education should be not treated as a torture, but instead, a blessing.

If I were to use one word to describe the main character, Kawan, in the book, it will definitely be ‘determined’; 1) she was not afraid yet was very determined to fight for her rights as a woman to get further education, although men were superior in her country, Vietnam.

2) Many people, her Mother, her cousin and the public feels shocked and shows great disgust at the fact that she was only a girl yet could receive such high education. Under such pressure, she still continued to fight for her rights to receive the scholarship.

3) Most of her relatives thought that she did not deserve the higher education and her older brother should get the scholarship for the higher education instead because she was just a female. However, she was not afraid of the future tension between her and her brother, and continued her fight for the scholarship with determination.

4) Her brother also opposes the fact that she, as a female, could receive the scholarship. Under this kind of tension and hatred from her sibling, she was still determined to get the scholarship.

5) Although her father threatened to use brute force to stop Kawan from getting the scholarship, she still talked back to her father out of determination.

Here’s a poster I have designed for the book, Sing to the Dawn >
I think the author's target group of readers should be people like me, people who are very fortunate yet doesn't know how to cherish whatever they have. The author wants to remind us that there still many children living in poverty and education to them is treasure. She wants us to understand not only the importance of education, but also that we should be contented with whatever we have and cherish our possessions, i.e. education.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Singapore-Malaysia Relations - Guarded Optimism

MM Lee In reference to weekend Today June 13, 2009: Singapore-Malaysian Relations - Guarded Optimism

Minister Mentor Lee's recent visit to Kuala Lumpur can be said as "progressively succesful". He stressed the importance of a consistent, sustained relation with fair and balanced rights.

I believe MM Lee's visit to Kualar Lumpur is a positive reciprocation to Malaysian PM Najib Razak's recent stance of future new policies of cooperation between the two countries. It is also one of MM Lee's trip's motives to KL to state Singapore's position in settle past long-standing issues and renew confusing relations between the two countries on a positive note.

Although the Malaysian cabinet is solidly behind PM Najib's stance of renewing bilateral relations, MM Lee's rich experience tells him that it is not enough. Both countries need to be ensured that this policy is a long-term commitment with fair and balanced rights in place. The policy must also apply across the board, not just in specific, selective areas.

MM Lee knew well that this policy is a big commitment. It is not a simple task to take. Though there would be challenges on the way, he was quick to stress the benefits derived from this policy as a motivation.

Examples of benefits include ease to attract private investors to commit into huge Malaysia projects eg. Iskanda Malaysia Economic Zone or the proposed third bridge from Changi to Desaru. Singapore could also be more assured to invest in economic plants in Malaysia as this also make more economic sense to Singapore.

While certain "hiccups" could not be avoided during the long relation bulding and cooperation process, MM Lee felt that this could easily be resolved of ministers and top officials from both countries are 'close' and 'friendly'towards each other. This relationship can build through frequent meetings, informal ways such as telephone calls and combined celebrations for big events and festivals.

As for long-standing bilateral issues, MM Lee feels that they could be easily solved. All issues can be in 'black and white' agreements, and the issues could be easily thrased out between both parties. In the last resort, these can be handed over to third party adjudication.

Kiasuism.

Since my post was so good (as judged by the myself again), I shall write something about Kiasuism today, something very...hilarious.

It started off when I saw something today. My neighbour, a talented giutarist, was playing the guitar when I heard it.

My next-door neighbour, an auntie whispered in a low, gruffly voice(ironic, isn't it), "Quick, go, go...". Then, her son, a slightly plump(giving her face) child of about 10 years old strided out and started positioning his cello on the floor.

Then the Auntie started clearing her throat in an exceptionally loud manner.

Her son started playing the cello. It was a typically loud piece, the cannon in D piece. The auntie smirked and strided over, taking out a portable mike and placing it very near the cello. The whole corridor was instantaneously overwhelmed with the Cannon in D. Loud but without quality.

I was amused, but more came.

The talented guitarist shouted, "Wah!", then swiftly took out his guitar sound amplifier and plugged the wire into this electric guitar and strummed violently a rock song. The result was predictable.

The corrider was now filled with mixed sounds of cello and guitar. I have to admit, it sounded quite impressive. If only they used their talents at performing duets for others to hear or as a career, but not...competing in the corridor?

Kiasuism was initially good; it spurred some positive competition, raising Singapore's copetitiveness as a country, but Kiasuism nowadays, it has reached negative 10,(if there's such a scale).

Why don't the two neighbours be friends and share the same hobby - music? They can compose duets for the guitar and cello. I am sure it will produce a very nice combination.

And I compete with my friends, who knows what key the pieces are being played in?

Absolutely hilarious.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

55 fiction

I would consider Max the best companion I had ever had. I used to spend thrilling and exciting moments with him – exploring the neighbourhood and going on adrenaline pumping adventures. But it was his parents’ move to a city apartment that ended our relationship.

I’m now just an old, rusty bicycle chained to a tree.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Owned vid

Check this out! Owned!!!!!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Name calling

Recently, in my class as well as school, there is big hoo ha about name calling.



Is name calling right? Why or why not? Different people will have different takes on this. Some feels that it is perfectly alright, while some thinks that it is a form of bullying.



Personally, I feel that name calling is good unless to a certain extent where it offends the other party. You may be surprised, but friends can actually be created through name calling. My friendship with many of classmates were actually started by me calling them, "Hi punk."



If one name calls in a friendly or funny manner, the other party will see it as a friendly gesture. A 'just for fun' thing. However, if one says in a serious and offensive tone, the other party will see it as offensive and rude.



This is what recently cropped up in my class. It was once a very peaceful class with friendly classmates but after this name calling, some enemies were created.



It was this term, 'extra'. Everyone started calling each other, "eh, don't be extra lah!" or "wah lau, that guy si bei extra!" *(sorry for the singlish)



I think this name calling thing is very 'extra'. I mean, what can you gain out of it? Ok, maybe something. Congratulations, you earned a lot. You earned a lot of enemies.

I seriously think this namecalling is very silly and this matter is getting out of hand. Many hate each other now all thanks to one term - "extra".

Maybe we should stop this crap and seriously think about something meaningful that can earn friends. Maybe something sincere. Maybe something kind.

My call to classmates out there: Use your talent (since you can go into this school) to do something meaningful.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Next vid up!

I have made some improvement on my video and ta da! This is my second production! (so proud of it :)

Monday, June 1, 2009