Cold Mountain is a house – begins a poem of freedom and liberation. This Cold Mountain series subscribe to this idea that the natural world is home to everyone. Though Cold Mountain is said to be a “house,” this poem describes a home. A house “without beams or walls” is the world. There are no limitations to this house. There are no ceilings, but only the sky. The line “at the center of nothing” develops a scenery of vast and open nature, a field maybe. This Cold Mountain is the world, a home. But not only is this home to Gary Snyder, but to me and everyone else as well. Cold Mountain is the natural world to be specific, unaffected by the pollution of urban life.
Friday, December 3, 2010
COLD MOUNTAIN
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Autobiography": An Analysis
Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Autobiography" is a poem of depressing and nostalgic proportions. Beginning with the first line, we are introduced to Ferlinghetti's "quiet life" which carries onto a sad tone. He brings us into his life and then into his past, slowly revealing why he is "leading a quiet life." The way in which he speaks of his past seems like he has lived his life submissively and effortlessly. The line "I had an unhappy childhood" confirms his saddening tone. Then interestingly, he begins each line with one statement and then contradicts his attitude towards life like "I chopped trees for the CCC and sat on them." He also sees garbage men parading which shows strength and pride through difficult times. But as the past progresses, we see that Ferlinghetti is becoming more adventurous through traveling and riding "boxcars boxcars boxcars." My thoughts on the repetition for this word is that he rode a lot of boxcars in his childhood which shows that he was daring as a young adult. His experiences begin to escalate into exciting and interesting incidences and aspects of his life. Then he says "I am the man," a strong tone of confidence strikes the poem. But what becomes confusing is when he starts to refer himself as the most random things like, "I am a bank of a song." Now the reoccurring line "I am leading a quiet life" changes in meaning, revealing a humble attitude and leaving the depressing tone. He concludes his poem almost arrogantly but godly at the same time, generally saying that he can do anything he can. His saying of a "quiet life" is merely his sarcasm speaking.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
found poem.
A determined coffee stains the air
but the overriding heat envelops contents
within the confines of the building.
A bell vibrates my eardrums,
and cuts through the necks of the talkative students
like a samurai sword decapitating a person
thus producing silence.
Outside, the grass in which I am laying on stings the skin.
But a Kodak scenery, nonetheless.
Then a multitude of dark grey cars fill up the parking lot.
Heat builds up into them, ready to take on their first victim,
who ever steps into the car first.
I can almost smell the weather. It is warm. I can taste it.
but the overriding heat envelops contents
within the confines of the building.
A bell vibrates my eardrums,
and cuts through the necks of the talkative students
like a samurai sword decapitating a person
thus producing silence.
Outside, the grass in which I am laying on stings the skin.
But a Kodak scenery, nonetheless.
Then a multitude of dark grey cars fill up the parking lot.
Heat builds up into them, ready to take on their first victim,
who ever steps into the car first.
I can almost smell the weather. It is warm. I can taste it.
Literal&Interpretive.
From: Buddhism and the Possibilities of Planetary Culture & Passage to More Than India (41-51).
Literal Questions:
What does the teaching of Buddhism hold for the universe and all creatures?
- "Buddhism holds that the universe and all creatures in it are intrinsically in a state of complete wisdom, love, and compassion, acting in natural response and mutual interdependence."
What does "one" have to give up in order to begin to come into personal realization according to Buddhism?
- One has to give him or herself "up and away" in order to begin to come into personal realization.
What are the traditional three aspects of the Dharma path?
- The traditional three aspects of the Dharma path are wisdom (prajna), meditiation (dhyama), and morality (shiya).
What are the requirements for the practice of meditation?
- "The ground beneath one's feet."
What is a "Bhagavad-Gita?"
- Hindu mythology.
Interpretive Questions:
Why and how has Gary Snyder changed his writing styles and techniques in these two journals?
- Snyder changed the styles of his poems from profound and informal to formal and structured. The reason why he made a change of style was probably because he is speaking in a more informative and educational tone. He is trying to get his words across more clearly and so he approaches his new journals with simpler language and lucid writing.
What does the chapter "Buddhism and the Possibilities of Planetary Culture" show about Gary Snyder?
- This chapter shows that Gary Snyder is very fond of the Buddhist religion by taking great consideration of the teachings and history of Buddhism. The Buddhist religion is a religion that takes years of dedication and motivation in order to learn and understand the teachings. This reveals how dedicated and motivated Gary Snyder can be.
What does the title "Passage to More Than India" signify?
- "Passage to More Than India" does not refer to the country India, but instead the country that Colombus had misinterpreted India as, America. "More Than" mentions how America came to be more than what Colombus had expected.
Why does Snyder refer to a lot of drugs?
- Snyder refers to drugs throughout the second journal because drugs were a very important aspect to the beat generation. Drugs influenced everything, from hippies to even politics at that time. Marijuana and LSD were one of the most essential drugs during that time. Drugs were also an important part to religions.
Why does Gary Snyder write about the beat generation so much?
He writes about the beat generation because that is the time in which he leaved and was active in his art. It is best for him to write about the beat generation because it was the generation in which he knew best of.
Literal Questions:
What does the teaching of Buddhism hold for the universe and all creatures?
- "Buddhism holds that the universe and all creatures in it are intrinsically in a state of complete wisdom, love, and compassion, acting in natural response and mutual interdependence."
What does "one" have to give up in order to begin to come into personal realization according to Buddhism?
- One has to give him or herself "up and away" in order to begin to come into personal realization.
What are the traditional three aspects of the Dharma path?
- The traditional three aspects of the Dharma path are wisdom (prajna), meditiation (dhyama), and morality (shiya).
What are the requirements for the practice of meditation?
- "The ground beneath one's feet."
What is a "Bhagavad-Gita?"
- Hindu mythology.
Interpretive Questions:
Why and how has Gary Snyder changed his writing styles and techniques in these two journals?
- Snyder changed the styles of his poems from profound and informal to formal and structured. The reason why he made a change of style was probably because he is speaking in a more informative and educational tone. He is trying to get his words across more clearly and so he approaches his new journals with simpler language and lucid writing.
What does the chapter "Buddhism and the Possibilities of Planetary Culture" show about Gary Snyder?
- This chapter shows that Gary Snyder is very fond of the Buddhist religion by taking great consideration of the teachings and history of Buddhism. The Buddhist religion is a religion that takes years of dedication and motivation in order to learn and understand the teachings. This reveals how dedicated and motivated Gary Snyder can be.
What does the title "Passage to More Than India" signify?
- "Passage to More Than India" does not refer to the country India, but instead the country that Colombus had misinterpreted India as, America. "More Than" mentions how America came to be more than what Colombus had expected.
Why does Snyder refer to a lot of drugs?
- Snyder refers to drugs throughout the second journal because drugs were a very important aspect to the beat generation. Drugs influenced everything, from hippies to even politics at that time. Marijuana and LSD were one of the most essential drugs during that time. Drugs were also an important part to religions.
Why does Gary Snyder write about the beat generation so much?
He writes about the beat generation because that is the time in which he leaved and was active in his art. It is best for him to write about the beat generation because it was the generation in which he knew best of.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
BLOG #2 cont.
B.
Simple thoughts/reactions to his journal
Snyder's journals from pages 24 through 33 show the episodes he has during his first time around Japan. It becomes obvious that he is in Japanese territory because he speaks a lot about Japanese culture, including Buddhist temples and Japanese plays. I noticed that Snyder's journals are becoming more like paragraphs because he doesn't use stanzas and lines as much as he did in his previous journals. But his improvement in structure doesn't make up for Snyder's perplexing and confusing language. I am still puzzled by his journals, which make it very hard to interpret his episodes.
With an overall idea of Gary Snyder, I have concluded that this man lives and breathes poetry with respect to his journals. Seeing that his journals are written for every day and also seeing the contents of the journals, I can tell that Snyder is constantly thinking about his poetry and honing his poetic skills.
Clear, supported thoughts/reactions to 1 or more poems
"Wave"
At a physical viewpoint, we can already see that the structure of the poem is coexistent with the poem's title; the poem takes on the shape of a wave. As we read, we can understand that the poem compares a wave with a woman, supposedly his wife, as seen on line seven, "wave wife." Snyder says that the waves are like his woman, being that they are both "'veiled; vibrating; [and] vague.'" The scene that he describes is a cold scene, so his wife is "vibrating," or shivering. The line, "Each inch rippld, every grain a wave," shows that Snyder believes the waves are the foundation of the sea. Therefore, he is saying that a woman is also the center and foundation of his "mind." From this poem, we can grasp Snyder's true love and need for his wife, since she is the center of his happiness and the one who "[catches him] and fling[s him] wide."
C.
The answer is now.
The past is now
The future is typing.
thinking.
glancing.
buttons.
screen.
Black keys. white letters.
Air conditioner shivers.
Thinking.
The answer is always
typing.
Simple thoughts/reactions to his journal
Snyder's journals from pages 24 through 33 show the episodes he has during his first time around Japan. It becomes obvious that he is in Japanese territory because he speaks a lot about Japanese culture, including Buddhist temples and Japanese plays. I noticed that Snyder's journals are becoming more like paragraphs because he doesn't use stanzas and lines as much as he did in his previous journals. But his improvement in structure doesn't make up for Snyder's perplexing and confusing language. I am still puzzled by his journals, which make it very hard to interpret his episodes.
With an overall idea of Gary Snyder, I have concluded that this man lives and breathes poetry with respect to his journals. Seeing that his journals are written for every day and also seeing the contents of the journals, I can tell that Snyder is constantly thinking about his poetry and honing his poetic skills.
Clear, supported thoughts/reactions to 1 or more poems
"Wave"
At a physical viewpoint, we can already see that the structure of the poem is coexistent with the poem's title; the poem takes on the shape of a wave. As we read, we can understand that the poem compares a wave with a woman, supposedly his wife, as seen on line seven, "wave wife." Snyder says that the waves are like his woman, being that they are both "'veiled; vibrating; [and] vague.'" The scene that he describes is a cold scene, so his wife is "vibrating," or shivering. The line, "Each inch rippld, every grain a wave," shows that Snyder believes the waves are the foundation of the sea. Therefore, he is saying that a woman is also the center and foundation of his "mind." From this poem, we can grasp Snyder's true love and need for his wife, since she is the center of his happiness and the one who "[catches him] and fling[s him] wide."
C.
The answer is now.
The past is now
The future is typing.
thinking.
glancing.
buttons.
screen.
Black keys. white letters.
Air conditioner shivers.
Thinking.
The answer is always
typing.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
BLOG #2
fresno state. overpopulated by caucasians. the fresno state. not the usual majority.
three hours,
six minutes,
and one hundred seventy -four miles
makes a difference.
sweat resists against the beating heat. not yet adapted to. the fresno state.
"I plan to stay here til I am a senior. I love this school." fresno states.
welcome to fresno state.
an infant bird plunges only when it is not primed.
three hours,
six minutes,
and one hundred seventy -four miles
makes a difference.
sweat resists against the beating heat. not yet adapted to. the fresno state.
"I plan to stay here til I am a senior. I love this school." fresno states.
welcome to fresno state.
an infant bird plunges only when it is not primed.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
CSoriano: On Gary Snyder
A. Simple Thoughts on Snyder's Journal.
These journals were written during his time as a lookout and bring the audience into the everyday life experiences of a lookout. From these notes taken by Snyder, we learn that being a look out takes patience and good observation. The journals written about August 12 & 14 are good examples to show what can happen during a normal day as a lookout. It is very evident that the time Snyder was writing these journals was the same time he was studying Zen Buddhism because buddhist terms and practices are referred to such as words like "zazen." He also took interest in Japanese culture as well, mentioning Japanese words like "shoji" and "zoris."
B. reaction to 1 or more poems.
"Hay For the Horses" is a poem that stands from all the other poems in my opinion. It speaks of a night in which a hay bucker, one who delivers hay, comes to rest after a long day of driving through dangerous terrain. The mood is quite regretful, in the idea that the hay bucker comes to a realization that he never wanted to be the person he is now, a hay bucker. The reason why this poem stands out from all the others is because it seems to have a meaning out of all the other poems in the chapter. Also, "Hay For the Horses" doesn't seem to fit the chapter title, "Riprap," which can metaphorically mean "to strengthen a structure." But maybe it was the hay bucker's realization that he never wanted to be a hay bucker that strengthened him as a person, and this understanding was his "riprap." A simple reflection can reveal a lot about one's self.
C. includes 1 or more of your poems
Trees fluctuating,
But the wind flows constantly
In one direction.
Blinded by sunlight,
I cannot see anything
Oh, how ironic.
D. Include a journal of your own (Aka Snyder) for two days of your life.
12 August
sip recommended dosage of coke,
unfortunately warm
do not recommend, personally
enter high school courtyard around 7:41
last night studied until
one.
warm coke takes effect during
science portion, attention divided.
complete in utter dismay
Mission San Jose High School Gym 13 August
"Caveat Evan, Carlo, Tony, Trevor..." points coach dan.
mind responds undaunted after
attempt to be daunted
unfortunate size leads to unfortune
in the sport of barēbōru (volleyball).
pass pass pass
http://endlinevolleyball.com/
These journals were written during his time as a lookout and bring the audience into the everyday life experiences of a lookout. From these notes taken by Snyder, we learn that being a look out takes patience and good observation. The journals written about August 12 & 14 are good examples to show what can happen during a normal day as a lookout. It is very evident that the time Snyder was writing these journals was the same time he was studying Zen Buddhism because buddhist terms and practices are referred to such as words like "zazen." He also took interest in Japanese culture as well, mentioning Japanese words like "shoji" and "zoris."
B. reaction to 1 or more poems.
C. includes 1 or more of your poems
Trees fluctuating,
But the wind flows constantly
In one direction.
Blinded by sunlight,
I cannot see anything
Oh, how ironic.
D. Include a journal of your own (Aka Snyder) for two days of your life.
12 August
sip recommended dosage of coke,
unfortunately warm
do not recommend, personally
enter high school courtyard around 7:41
last night studied until
one.
warm coke takes effect during
science portion, attention divided.
complete in utter dismay
Mission San Jose High School Gym 13 August
"Caveat Evan, Carlo, Tony, Trevor..." points coach dan.
mind responds undaunted after
attempt to be daunted
unfortunate size leads to unfortune
in the sport of barēbōru (volleyball).
pass pass pass
http://endlinevolleyball.com/
Thursday, September 2, 2010
CSoriano: On Gary Snyder
One thought I have on Gary Snyder is that he is not as well-acclaimed as he should be. The sole idea that there is a whole high school class that is focused on a poet that I have never even heard of leads me to questioning why Snyder is so underrated, yet so essential to the history of poetry. Snyder's background as a Buddhist-monk-in-training could possibly be an explanation as to why he has been so humble and modest about his poetry. Beat poetry was a popular aspect of the 1950s, and Snyder disregards himself as a beat poet, when he really was a part of the movement, which shows how he could have been so underrated due to his modesty.
Another thought I have on Gary Snyder is that he is an interesting and extraordinary man, who has lived through a lot, and is surprisingly still alive at eighty years old. He is an intellectual with the hundreds of poems and stories that he has composed over time. Snyder is a courageous handyman as a lumberjack when he was twenty years old. He is also a fearless explorer, hiking mountains since he was fifteen and still climbing at the age of eighty. Gary Snyder is, without a question, a person that one can look up to and become inspired by, whether it is through his writing or through his accomplishments in his life.
Another thought I have on Gary Snyder is that he is an interesting and extraordinary man, who has lived through a lot, and is surprisingly still alive at eighty years old. He is an intellectual with the hundreds of poems and stories that he has composed over time. Snyder is a courageous handyman as a lumberjack when he was twenty years old. He is also a fearless explorer, hiking mountains since he was fifteen and still climbing at the age of eighty. Gary Snyder is, without a question, a person that one can look up to and become inspired by, whether it is through his writing or through his accomplishments in his life.
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