Tuesday, December 18, 2012

American Literature: "I Hear America Singing"

American Literature: "I Hear America Singing": Mash It Up!   We read and discussed Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" as well as Langston Hughes's "I, Too."  Type your modern vers...

   I hear the farmer, running his plow, singing in tune to the beating machine.
I hear the teacher guiding young minds, leading a chorus of youthful exuberance.
I hear the mechanic, doing his work, singing alone, happy and free.
I hear the fireman, saving a life, breathing his words in hopes of survival
I hear the judge, staying true, staying right, sing to America
I hear the daughter, a families reason to be, sing a song quite out of key.
I hear the son, protector and heir, singing his song for all to hear.
I hear the mother, leader and lover, singing and quaint peace.
I hear the father, supporter and true, singing for pride.
I hear the guard, hiding an endangered light, singing in sacrifice.
I hear the policeman, cleaning the street, singing his prisoners to sleep
I hear the star, modeling young lives, singing for cause,
I hear the student, learning for life, singing for a future
  I hear America, strong and true singing her song in different colors and hues.

    The poems each have their own spin, and while I had to use Whit's as a reference mine still has a little bit of Langston's message inside. They all have America included, and they both talk about how the country either sees or shows or speaks her opinion.
    The poems differ by the way they are put together, and the final message behind them. Whit talked about how the country was put together. Langston talked about his treatment and his hope for the future, and I talked about the different personalities inside America and their contribution to the future.

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