Penny Pepper is a writer, poet and disabled rights activist who began her poetry career in the midst of the London punk scene of the 1980s. This era of fanzines and political expression fired up a sense of freedom for Penny to accept herself for … Continue reading Penny Pepper: unleashing creative activism
First, are you our sort of a person? Do you wear A glass eye, false teeth or a crutch, A brace or a hook, Rubber breasts or a rubber crotch, Stitches to show something’s missing? No, no? Then How can we give you a thing? … Continue reading Analysis: The Applicant by Sylvia Plath
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. Dreams by Langston Hughes is as straight to the point as poetry gets. … Continue reading Dreams by Langston Hughes
The theme of life and death is often considered one of the most prevalent ideas explored through the course of the history of literature. Through the more traditional connotations of death, it is often concluded that in order to truly appreciate life, one must inevitably … Continue reading Life and Death in Sylvia Plath’s ‘Tulips’
Throughout her poetic works, Dickinson adopts the flowing organic written style, - which I discussed in my last post dedicated to analysing her grammar and syntax variations - but this naturalistic style takes root in the themes concentrated on by her in her poems. In … Continue reading Thoughts on Emily Dickinson’s Poetry: Theme & Tone
Punctuation is an extremely prolific feature used excessively by Dickinson, particularly dashes to section her poems. A less symbolic or poignant explanation for Dickinson's excessive usage of dashes may be that it was simply a part of her idiosyncratic written style as she used them not only in … Continue reading Thoughts on Emily Dickinson’s Poetry: Punctuation & Syntax
“Why do I love” You, Sir? Because— The Wind does not require the Grass To answer—Wherefore when He pass She cannot keep Her place. Because He knows—and Do not You— And We know not— Enough for Us The Wisdom it be so— The Lightning—never asked … Continue reading Dickinson Week Day Seven: ‘”Why Do I Love” You, Sir?’
Success is counted sweetest By those who ne'er succeed. To comprehend a nectar Requires sorest need. Not one of all the purple Host Who took the Flag today Can tell the definition So clear of Victory As he defeated--dying-- On whose forbidden ear The distant … Continue reading Dickinson Week Day Six: “Success is counted sweetest…”
After great pain, a formal feeling comes -- The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs The stiff Heart questions, was it He, that bore, And Yesterday, or Centuries before? The Feet, mechanical, go round -- Of Ground, or Air, or Ought -- A Wooden way Regardless … Continue reading Dickinson Week Day Five: “After great pain, a formal feeling comes—…”
I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there's a pair of us -- don't tell! They'd banish -- you know! How dreary to be somebody! How public like a frog To tell one's name the livelong day To an admiring bog! Now … Continue reading Dickinson Week Day Four: “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”
All in Good Rhyme 