Hanging Fire Reflection...

When my professor first handed out the poem "Hanging Fire" I would of never thought in a million years that it would consist of what it turned out to be. Hanging Fire is an incredible poem who was written by the writer, Audre Lorde. I personally have never heard of her until this very poem but since reading this poem I would totally consider reading more of her stuff. My thoughts on this poem are mixed. When I first read this poem I really thought that it was a suicide note and that this girl was going to commit suicide at the end but I do not believe that happened. The ending really has more of a cliffhanger feel to it and we really don't know what happens in the end. The final stanza is,

I have nothing to wear tomorrow

will I live long enough

to grow up

and momma's in the bedroom with the door closed

This was how the poem ended. Now you tell me what you think? What do you think the author meant by saying that, " I have nothing to wear tomorrow will I live long enough?" In my opinion, I believe that this child was and is suffering from severe neglect and from sever loneliness. I think that she at such a young age is the outcast of the family. It really seems like she is saying that she has not had a role model or even a parent in her life that she can truly look up to and truly call friend. When she says, 

I have to learn to dance 

in time for the next party

my room is too small for me

suppose I die before graduation

they will sing sad melodies 

but finally

tell the truth about me...

I was really challenged by this poem it makes me think really about my life and how blessed I am to have loving parents that take care of me and that love me unconditionally. It makes me think of all the homeless people even here in Lakeland, FL that a lot of times myself included, we shrug them off thinking they just want to buy drugs or alcohol. This poem whether this is what Audre meant by it still spoke to my life personally and really showed me that there are a lot of fourteen year old boys and girls that are crying out to us for help. They are asking that we just care, that we just give a simple smile, that we just give a simple hug. So along with me lets go out and think of what we can do better to help those who are really in need not only in Lakeland, FL but to the ends of the earth.

Getting Lost in Music

Within "Sunny's Blues" one main theme that I loved was how he used Music to be a getaway. When he was facing a problem or when he was in pain emotionally, he always went to music. I can really and strongly relate to this because when I am facing a problem or difficulty, I love to go sit down and play piano. I go write a song or even when I am angry, I go play drums and really take my anger out on them because honestly no one knows. I think music is a big part of this story because it really brought the brothers together in the end. As I read this story it really clicked with me that I am not the only who goes to music to get away from problems such as family problems, relationship problems, school problems, the list could go on and on. In this lifetime we as Christians and even non Christians face so many problems growing up. Not many people are blessed with a good family or even blessed financially and as they go those tough times in life God should be the only get away but for some unsaved people and even saved people; music is a great way to get a away from your problems and just sit down, relax, and just listen to good music that will calm you in your time of struggle. I looked up music on dictionary.com and the definition of music is, an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color. As I read this it really confirmed what I am trying to convey here in this blog. As we live our lives my prayer is that we never forget how important music is to us as humans. Even within "Sunnys Blues" it really brought the brothers together and as they bonded through music maybe this could even work for us. Maybe music will be the bonding point for brothers to become friends again, for relationships to be mended again, just for life to become one. Music is a very important tool that sometimes we take advantage of. Maybe it is time we begin to show our love for music and begin to apply it to our every day lives beginning today?