Writing with a purpose

This weekend, I have to read 15 poems, and two theoretical essays about literacy theory. I also have to write two papers, plus a theoretical response to the essays that I read. In fact, all of the writings have to do with what I read. Despite the mounting workload, I am struggling. Sometimes it is just tough to write because you have a purpose.

Much like what I mentioned in my last blog entry, I have decided to write myself through it. I am trying a new tact in my poetry work. I am reading the poems and then immediately writing what I thought of that poem. It is mildly free flowing, but does still have a purpose. I thought I might share the poem, plus what I wrote about it. Be warned, it is a Thomas Hardy poem and it is war related, so it is depressing. Here is the poem:

The Pity of It
I walked in loamy Wessex lanes, afar
From rail-track and from highway, and I heard
In field and farmstead many an ancient word
Of local lineage like "Thu bist," "Er war,"

"Ich woll," "Er sholl," and by-talk similar,
Nigh as they speak who in this month's moon gird
At England's very loins, thereunto spurred
By gangs whose glory threats and slaughters are.

Then seemed a Heart crying: "Whosoever they be
At root and bottom of this, who flung this flame
Between kin folk kin tongued even as are we,
Sinister, ugly, lurid, be their fame;
May their familiars grow to shun their name,
And their brood perish everlastingly." 

Here is what I wrote:

The first stanza feels as war is being discussed throughout the country, or at least throughout Wessex. At the end of this stanza, he uses German phrases “‘Thu Bist’, ‘Er war’,/‘Ich Woll’,”, ‘Er sholl’.” which, according to the footnote mean “‘You are’, ‘He was’, ‘I will’, ‘He shall’”. It seems like a simple explanation, but Hardy seems to use these German words to express the Germans involvement in the war. Interestingly, the footnote says that they “point to the English language’s Anglo-Saxo root. Dialects of English often preserve archaisms.” So, it is using the German language, but connecting it to the roots of the English language. It is almost as if Hardy is intentionally pointing out the connection between the two countries. Especially in the next lines “nigh as they speak who in this month’s moon gird/At England’s very loins, thereunto spurred/By gangs whose glory threats and slaughters are.” So, despite the connection, the words (in German) are striking at the very heart of England. The Germans are prepared to attack. From here the poem takes and interesting turn. While the first two stanzas seem to indicate a widespread knowledge of the conflict, the final two graphs seem to be promoting a more peaceful solution. It suggests that something came between the two countries which share a connection and those countries need to return to that connection. “Then seemed a Heart crying: ‘Whosoever they be/At root and bottom of this, who flung this flame/Between kin folk kin tongued even as we are.” Hardy is pointing out the connection between the two countries and their tongues (languages). In the last stanza suggests that those who start the conflict should die. “‘Sinister, ugly, lurid, be their fame: May their familiars grow to shun their name,/And their brood perish everlastingly.’”

It is quasi-free flowing, but I think something I will be able to work into my paper, which is really a response journal about the poems I read. The professor wants to make sure we are reading the poems, but I want to make sure that I am thinking about the poems. By the way, Thomas Hardy is old-school and I am not breaking any copyrights by posting it online. As my semester moves on to the later part of the 20th Century, I will not have the luxury.