poems

“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe – Analysis and Poem

Gary R. Hess 2 Comments

Synopsis

“Annabel Lee” is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous writings. In this work, Poe looks at his love, Annabel Lee. Long ago, in a kingdom by a sea, lived a maiden named Annabel Lee who lived to love and be loved by the speaker. The two of them were so deeply in love that the “the wingèd seraphs of Heaven” coveted it. He says that this is why the “wind blew out of a cloud, chilling / My beautiful Annabel Lee” causing her “highborn kinsmen” to come and take her away from him and put her in a tomb. The angels, being not so happy in heaven, envied them and that is why they caused her to die. He says that their love is stronger than anyone wiser or older than him and that there isn’t any angel or demon that can take it away. He says that every night he dreams of his wife and sees her beautiful eyes in sky and all night long he lies next to his wife inside her tomb. Continue Reading →

“I died for Beauty, but was scarce” by Emily Dickinson – Analysis and Poem

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Synopsis

“I died for Beauty, but was scarce” is a poem in which the speaker is dead. The speaker says she died for her beauty, but that beauty is not common. The speaker then says a man who died for truth is then laid to rest in a room across the way. The man asks the woman why she failed, she replies “for beauty”. The man says they are family. The two then talk until “moss reached [their] lips, / And covered up [their] names.” Continue Reading →

“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou – Analysis and Poem

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Synopsis

Maya Angelou once again writes about racism and slavery in this poem about rising above hatred. The poem simply speaks about people putting her down for various reasons and her getting back up. Essentially she is saying, “Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” She goes on to say that she is proud of the body she was given by her ancestors. Continue Reading →

“Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House” by Billy Collins – Analysis and Poem

Gary R. Hess 1 Comment

Synopsis

“Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House” is the title of the poem, but unlike most writings, the phrase isn’t included within. Instead, the title is meant as a way to show the readers his frustrations which may or may not be obvious to the reader from the writing. Continue Reading →

“That Sure is My Little Dog” by Eleanor Lehman – Analysis and Poem

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Synopsis

This poem is written in the voice of the author, speaking about moving on with life and letting the new generation take control. She carries her house on her like a bullet-proof shell and her dog is even wearing hard boots and has sharp jagged steel teeth that she uses to chomp on the “chains of fate”. But she wants to go now. Next, the author speaks about the differences between her generation and others. She mentions the Cuban Missile Crisis and how her generation is different than her parents. But now the world is “yours”. She wishes good luck and to “Have a nice day” sarcastically. Continue Reading →