Sweet Death

        Emily Dickinson's " Because I could not stop for Death--" has an interesting perspective of death.  Rather than being a grim reaper in the night, it is rather a calling to eternity.  

The carriage did not crash into her home and rip her from bed, but rather it "stopped kindly for [...her]" (2) and took her on a journey through life.  Dickinson's poem bends time constraints; it is eerie and peaceful within Twenty-four lines.  Twenty-four lines--perhaps twenty-four hours.  One last day through all of life.  

Exchanging Cool Hats

     Both Gwendolyn Brook's "We Real Cool" and Elizabeth Bishop's "Exchanging Hats," issues of division are brought to light.  As female writers, and females in general, both authors have struggled with some sort of oppression.  Brook's race and Bishop's sexuality also push them further into the minority.  Reading their works is an honor as they show representation of both homosexuality and African American discrimination.

    "We Real Cool," like all poems, can be interpreted many ways.   One interpretation highlighting discrimination is that the poem represents things forced on African American's as well as taken from them.  From "We real cool [...to] We / Die soon" (1-10) readers are given a narrative of harmful stereotypes and consequences experienced by African Americans.

    Contrary to Brook's poem, Bishop uses a more mock tone to show discontent.  She embraces a humor in her work, even as a more serious message lies beneath.  Brook's states, "are there any / stars inside your black fedora?" (27-28). A phrase I see as parallel would be "do you have any brains inside your head?"  This humous, mocking tone gives just enough light in a poem representing mens unwillingness to walk in women's shoes.  They may wear the hat, masquerade around, yet that is not the same of exchanging shoes and feeling the struggle.

Connections

 In Walt Whitman's "I celebrate myself, and sing myself," connection is a very important theme.  Disconnection between other humans, religions, and political views have caused disputes ranging in severity from petty arguments to genocide.  

This poem pulls the world together because "every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you," no matter the superficial differences.  Regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, we are all atoms from the same earth.  Reminding ourselves regularly through both social interaction and literary analysis could help reduce discord between peoples.