A Book by Emily Dickinson

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!


This poem by Emily DIckinson perfectly describes the power of a good book.  A good book should be able to take your mind away from everything and take you to wherever the setting of the book is.       Dickinson compares a book to a frigate and a horse.  At the end of the poem, Dickinson compares the human body to a "frugal chariot."  This says that the body confines and limits the soul, and books are the only way our souls can drift away into our imaginations.

Wealth by Langston Hughes

From Christ to Ghandi Appears this truth- St. Francis of Assisi Proves it, too: Goodness becomes grandeur Surpassing might of kings. Halos of kindness Brighter shine Than crowns of gold, And brighter Than rich diamonds Sparkles The simple dew Of love. In this poem, Langston Hughes explains that love and kindness are greater than any material wealth possessed by any person.  Hughes reveals this through his faith and inspirational people present in his life.  Hughes compares "goodness," "kindness," and "love" to different material riches through metaphor to express the idea that having these qualities is much more valuable than have money or power.

To the River by Edgar Allan Poe

Fair river! in thy bright, clear flow
    Of crystal, wandering water,
Thou art an emblem of the glow
       Of beauty -- the unhidden heart --
       The playful maziness of art
In old Alberto's daughter;

But when within thy wave she looks --
       Which glistens then, and trembles --
Why, then, the prettiest of brooks
       Her worshipper resembles;
For in my heart, as in thy stream,
    Her image deeply lies --
The heart which trembles at the beam
    Of her soul-searching eyes.


In this poem, I think Poe is showing his love for a woman.  He speaks of "Alberto's daughter and compares her to a river.  The river is the "emblem of the glow of beauty" and "her image deeply lies" in his heart.  This poem by Edgar Allan Poe is not as dark and gloomy as some of his others.

Time to Rise by Robert Louis Stevenson

A birdie with a yellow bill
Hopped upon my window sill,
Cocked his shining eye and said:
"Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy-head!"

This poem is a short and funny poem that applies to all of us.  We always want to sleep in and this poem reminds us that we     should be ashamed of ourselves.  In this poem, Stevenson uses personification and imagery to express his feelings towards the   idea of waking up late.  I can relate to this poem because my dad gets on my case every time I wake up late.

Children's Rhymes by Langston Hughes

By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President.
What don't bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain't free.

Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice--
Huh!--For All? 





This poem by Langston Hughes is about the discrimination against African-Americans in the early and mid 1900s.  He questions the phrase "Liberty And Justice For All" and says that he is bothered by things that white children take for granted.  Hughes writes his opinion on the racial discrimination going on at the time through this poem.

Where is the Love - Black Eyed Peas

What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'
in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)




This song brings into view all the hate going on in this world.  Included in the lyrics are problems like terrorism, gangs, racism, violence, and selfishness.  We are losing our values to greed, we are making wrong decisions, and we are losing respect for each other.  The Black Eyed Peas question where the love is, saying that all of these problems can be solved through love.  The tone throughout the passage is an angry tone, suggesting that we need to fix our world and get rid of these problems by spreading peace and love.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice. 

In this short poem, Robert Frost tells us that if the world is to end, he would rather have it end in fire.  Frost compares the fire with desire and ice to hate, implying that the downfall of the human race could be caused by desire and hatred.  That, or Frost could have known about the 2012 end of the world situation, and he wants the world to end in fire.