Heroes Poetry Video

This is an original poem by Samantha Vinzon. I had to write a sonnet for Dr. Gen's English 9 Honors class. Then I had turn it into a video as a homework assignment. Hope you enjoy it!! :)

Act V - Scene II of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida

This scene, in which Diomedes woos the faithless Cressida, represents a reinforcement of some of the themes that have already been introduced in the play such as loyalty and betrayal, lust and infection, manipulation, ignorance of public duty, and the major theme of futility. It also represents the beginning of a shift in character in Troilus since this is the event that inspires his redemption as a warrior, although it can be argued that "redemption" is too strong a word since his moral lapse has already caused severe damage.

Cressida appears in this scene, again, as a manipulator in the love game, but Diomedes proves that he will not be as easily "played like a fiddle" as was Troilus. Although Diomedes' infatuation with Cressida has caused him to ignore the code of chivalry by failing to stay and entertain Hector, he, unlike Troilus, has no intention of allowing his amorous aspirations to make him absent from the battlefield. It can be argued that, in this sense, Diomedes has proven himself to be morally superior to Troilus.

Ulysses has orchestrated events so that Troilus may bear witness to his lover's betrayal. Up to this point, Ulysses has been presented as a wise manipulator. One would be justified in questioning Ulysses' intentions in this scene. Was he following the code of chivalry in bringing this matter to Troilus' attention and offering advice, or did he have an underlying motive of playing with the young Trojan's mind? Either way, both objectives are met.

Troilus appears in this scene as the wronged lover who now has visible proof of Cressida's betrayal. He is obviously beside himself and is contained only by efforts of great restraint by Ulysses. The theme of betrayal leaps to the forefront here as we recall Calchas' earlier betrayal of the Trojans, and Helen's betrayal of Menelaus. Troilus runs parallel to his brother Paris in that they have both put their passion ahead of their duty.

Thersites appears as the railing malcontent who underscores the theme of futility. Thersites serves primarily as an obnoxious chorus throughout the play who can find no good in anyone. However, his sarcastic voice echoes a fundamental truth when he says that "all is war and lechery". Indeed, this proves to be a fundamental truth of the play.

As for the staging of this scene, I certainly see it taking place outside at night. The ominous themes that prevail in this scene would not have the same impact if it were staged on a bright sunny day. The mood of the scene, as I see it, is necessarily engulfed by darkness.

The set design should be kept simple, since the action in this scene requires little adornment to make its point. Calchas' tent would be on the left side of the stage (from the perspective of the audience), and there should be a tree to the right of center stage, behind which Troilus, Ulysses, and Thersites can bear witness to the main action with secrecy.

The costumes should reflect, to some degree, the personalities of the characters. I see Diomedes as wearing the normal attire for a Greek soldier who is unarmed since he presents himself as a self-assured man who will not be made a fool of. He requires no special adornment to present himself to Cressida. Cressida, on the other hand, is expecting the visit from Diomedes and has dressed accordingly. In the spirit of playing the coquettish vixen, she will be attired alluringly with the obvious intent of holding her guest's undivided attention. The attire of the other three characters in this scene is less important since they are meant to be hiding from the focal point of the main action. They will simply be dressed in attire appropriate to their positions.

Props and furniture will be kept to a minimum also. Perhaps there could be a table outside the tent with a bowl of fruit of which a few pieces are half-eaten. This could, in a minor way, help to reinforce the theme of waste and decay. Although, this might not be practical since the scene is staged at night. I would also have Ulysses bear a staff as a prop. The reason for this will be explained in a moment. The sleeve which Troilus gave to Cressida as a token of his love would be another prop. In this scene the sleeve should bear a stain, for obvious reasons. There would also be two large torches flanking Calchas' tent.

As for the lighting of the set, the aforementioned torches will flicker and exemplify the fickle nature of the woman who has emerged from the tent to greet Diomedes. There would probably have to be a soft spotlight to highlight the actors for the audience, but the engulfing darkness and the flickering of the torches would set the prevailing mood of the scene. If it were possible, I would have it appear that the lights from Calchas' tent were causing the shadow of Troilus to be cast on the tree that the other three characters are near. Ulysses will stand beside Troilus with his staff in such a manner that the shadow cast by the young prince will appear to have a horn. This would foreshadow, both literally and figuratively, the danger that Troilus will face of becoming a cuckold if he marries Cressida.

For the sound and speech, Diomedes and Cressida will speak in normal voices while the other characters speak in loud whispers to remain undetected by Cressida and Diomedes. Crickets and sounds of the night would add to the flavor of the setting, and in the background, I would add the low rumble of thunder toward the end of the scene. This would be a symbol of the impending storm and destruction that will follow from this moment in the play.

In conclusion, the set design, costume, props, sound, and lighting should all, in some way, contribute to the mood of the play and help to exemplify the themes of the play. Anything that does not serve a specific purpose will be eliminated as this Shakespeare scene requires no crutch.

Shakespeare, Poetry, and the Power of Art

Poetry can have an incredibly polarizing effect: people tend to either swear by at or swear at it. What gives? Well, aside from the fact that good poetry can be dauntingly elitist while bad poetry is, as a rule, truly god-awful, art in general is a very powerful medium - and poetry is one particularly artsy and inaccessible form of art. In fact, poetry is so powerful that it can be wielded against other people. Not just in the sense of intimidating your classmates with a spiffy beret, or holding your book of Keats a foot away from your face so that everyone in the coffee shop can see how brilliant you are; we're talking immortality, manipulation, and objectification here. Shakespeare, that means you.

Just about everybody is familiar with the opening lines of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 18," which read, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate." Pretty romantic stuff. Until you read the next 14 lines. Shakespeare goes on to describe the fleetingness of natural beauty in comparison to the subject of the poem, yadda yadda yadda, and ultimately decides that death could never claim his beloved "When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st." Whaa?! Lines of what, exactly? Well, considering that this is poetry, it's pretty safe to assume that the "eternal lines to time" in which the subject grow'st are referring to the lines of Shakespeare's own poem. Roughly translated: "death can't touch you so long as you're in my poem, Sweetcheeks." Or something to that effect. In other words, there's nothing inherently wonderful or eternal about the beloved of this poem (whom we've learned absolutely nothing about, by the way); it's merely the fact that (s)he happens to be in the poem that gives Shakespeare's beloved any greatness.

In case he wasn't being clear enough, Shakespeare closes the poem with: "So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, / So long lives this, and this gives life to thee." Kind of presumptuous to declare that your poetry will exist "so long as men can breathe," but that's Shakespeare for you. If you still aren't convinced, stop and think about the fact that "Sonnet 18" ends in the word "thee." The significance? Sonnets are written in iambic pentameter with alternating stresses (shall I compare thee TO a Summer's DAY / thou ART more Lovely AND more Temperate), meaning certain syllables are given importance while others are not. You might have noticed that, already in the first two lines, "I" is stressed while "thee" and "thou" are not. Who's the subject of this poem again? In fact, "thee" and "thou" appear in the sonnet a total four times, but only one of these - the final "thee" - falls on a stressed syllable. Long story short, the person to whom "Sonnet 18" is addressed only receives any special importance at the very culmination of the poem - i.e., when Shakespeare's mad poetry skills have had a chance to work their trans formative magic. Throw all this on top of the fact that Shakespeare is writing a supposedly intimate love poem... but fully expects it to be read the whole world over for, you know, the rest of eternity, and you've got yourself one hell of a power trip.

Moral of the story? Skip the beret and write yourself some poetry. Ya arrogant jerk.

a sonnet for andymcgaffigan

AndyMcGaffigan: youtube.com ...said if I wanted a shot at the YouTuber's "Foundation Award" from the International Radio and Television Society Foundation, that I had to write him a sonnet about his "greatness". So I went with the English form, a,b,a,b,c,d,c,d,e,f,e,f,g,g... andymcgaffigan taught me to love, with a cute-o-lution vid and its responses, he handed out resolutions from above, to make other 'tubers' new years eves worryless, his greatness is unmeasurable, by any tool known to man or God, so I guess we'll go by views for now, which means I'm kicking his ass by a lot, but I'd better be nice and kiss some booty, because playing to Andy's vanity works, and I really want that stupid trophy, it shouldn't go to someone who just lurks, so today EDiots will say I hit a new low, as I quietly utter, "Trophy, or GTFO" PS. Sorry to my new subs for all the inside jokes in this one.

McFly - Home Is Where The Heart Is Lyrics

McFly Home Is Where The Heart Is Lyrics I'm a lover not a fighter Hold me close and I'll take you higher than you've ever been Raise your hands and lay down your weapons We could turn this around in seconds flat if you believe Home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong Singing home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong We'll light a fire and write a sonnet Pin your hopes and your dreams upon it now and come and sing with us Calling out to your children's children Let there be love and let them scream it loud before we bite the dust So come on Home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong Oh We're singing home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong In these troubled days of anger We're afraid of every stranger But today we're changing history It's okay Just sing it with me Now's your chance Think of your lovers We are all sisters and brothers Now's your chance Think of your lovers We are all sisters and brothers Home Whoa Yeah Whoa Yeah Home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong Home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong Oh We're singing home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong Oh We're singing home is where the heart is It's where we started Where we belong Where we belong (Where we belong) Where we belong (Where we belong) Where we belong

Songs of Love - A Celebration (Part - I)

Wings of aspiration
Muse the music of shyness
Collecting vibrations of
Meandering rhymes.
Our amazed maiden meet
Manuscripts sonnets of
Different verse
Back in our mind
As time glances each others poetry.
The thread of tie weaves
A different spreads of mosaic
Reaching our kite at another sky
Where cloud narrates
The meaning of whiteness
And rain sketches a season
Of unique world of living.

...................

I take you
To different peaks.
Like birds
You wish to fly
Over the hills
And beyond the bounds
Of the sky.
We sketch differently
To measure the love.
It is still deep enough
When you scale
From the top.

..................

Silently I sink myself
Below your neckline.
You surrender
As sea-bed near the shore
Under the roaring tides.
Passionately we search
Each other closing our eyes.

........................

I move my finger tips
Over your sedulous lips
And repose on
Your anxious waves.
You whisper something
In my ear sliding your desire
Over the shadows
Of translucent light.
After a long journey
You relax for a while
Unveiling the curtain
Of your dream.

.......................

Artfully I repose
On the high seas
Of your beauty
The warmth
Of my inner sun
Swims with your
Passionate waves.

...................

Under the helm
Of your shyness
Symphony of love chimes.
Carefully I listen
To the music,
The wishes
Of your nail biting.

...................

On each page of night
You compose the poem of love
Shyly dawn knocks at your door.
As you are still
In the half way of your song,
You request the beauty night
To stay with you
For a little long.

........................

I search the love of light
Over your
Petallic smiles.
Closing my eyes
I kiss craftsman's
Sacred choice.

............

Like swimming cloud
You are soft,
Calm and poesies,
And you wish
Nearness to tender
Feathery breeze.

...........

You always fear
Perhaps
Someone may hear.
Bangles you arm
To make nearly
No sound.
Eyes you wish to slide
Else it may ask
For a share
Of your love
Undivided.

...........

Carefully I unveil
The twinkling
Of your dewy eyes.
You wake me up
In my moist dream
And your soft touch
Lulls me to sleep.

.................

In me
I discover you
So closely
As nudity
Clings
To your body.
You still look fresh
In every new turn
Like the morning
Bright Sun.

............

The waves of warm feeling
Spread over
Slowly on the sands
Of your aspiration.
Smilingly your shyness
Mingles with a new skyline
Murmuring another moment
Of ecstasy of union.

The Blue Collar Scholar by J Elwood Davis is a Book of Poetic Rhyme by a Working Man (Ex Marine)

J Elwood Davis is a much loved and highly respected poet in the world of Poetry today. Known mostly to other poets as "Raindance" having been brought up harshly by drunken parents, lived in children's homes then he became a marine doing service in Vietnam. The experience of all these three facts really did give him a A1 honors degree in life itself. Having found a great love of God and an understanding of others through living life itself now in his later years he has found great release from all his thoughts of experiencing painful neglect, of seeing atrocities of life turning to a great belief in spiritual love and life everlasting which is all reflected in the writing of his poetry.

Jim always says "I am not a Poet I am a rhymer" by thinking of the great Poets past and not wanting to put himself in their esteemed league, But as his publisher, friend and yes one of his greatest fans I call him a POET as all who have read him does. So it is not at all surprising that I can write with utmost sincerity and admiration about him and his 'Words of loving, living and the understanding of life that he has penned in Rhyme' The Blue Collar Scholar is a book that will move and delight even those men who say they are not a lover of poetry...Just by reading a few pages of this book and they will see how their thoughts change to make them want to read more... Anyone and everyone who as ever been involved in hardship, pain and yes! War will find themselves relating to the read and all who have found God through being in despair, lost, frightened and scared will relate deeply too.

It is a book by a working man aimed at touching all other working class people, but their academic peers too I know will find a great release of understanding coming through with the love of God. Everyone of the poems in my opinion as a Poet and publisher... but the one titled 'UNPAID BILLS' about never forgetting to help the vets is one that I was most moved by too always remember.

Another one is just a short little ditty of advise saying that all we have to give our children is as the title says, ROOTS and WINGS' Roots meaning a good steadfast foundation of Parental love on which to build on and Wings to let them have the freedom to fly when ready to leave the nest / home... This wonderful poet of today 'J Elwood Davis' is also a very pronounced member of the Poets World-Wide group having participated in everyone of these charity books Two Butterbee Books and the Lucky Grub book for childrens Charity 'Standing Tall When feeling Small' in support of sufferers of Alzhiemers, A Prayer book titled 'Precious Prayers' to support the Ronald Mc Donald Houses.

An anthology teaching book of poetry styles that we are distributing with the funds out to schools etc. And the latest great book titled 'Passionate Patriotic Poetry for 9 / 11. Plus one that Jim suggested be done in support of the troops all serving men and women titled: 'Poetic Words To Support The Troops' with all revenues being paid to the USO. All great achievements by Jim and all the other members of Poets World-Wide' Jims book can be seen in more detail on his web page here http://www.pfppublishers.com/JED.html