IV. 11th
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
In case you hadn’t noticed,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you’re talking about?
Or believe strongly in what you’re saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)’s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?
Even when those sentences aren’t, like, questions? You know?
Declarative sentences – so-called
because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true
as opposed to other things which were, like, not -
have been infected by a totally hip
and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?
Like, don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this;
this is just like the word on the street, you know?
It’s like what I’ve heard?
I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?
I’m just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty?
What has happened to our conviction?
Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?
Have they been, like, chopped down
with the rest of the rain forest?
Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society become so, like, totally . . .
I mean absolutely . . . You know?
That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like . . .
whatever!
And so actually our disarticulation . . . ness
is just a clever sort of . . . thing
to disguise the fact that we’ve become
the most aggressively inarticulate generation
to come along since . . .
you know, a long, long time ago!
I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you,
I challenge you: To speak with conviction.
To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Alice Walker
Be nobody’s darling;
Be an outcast.
Take the contradictions
Of your life
And wrap around
You like a shawl,
To parry stones
To keep you warm.
Watch the people succumb
To madness
With ample cheer;
Let them look askance at you
And you askance reply.
Be an outcast;
Be pleased to walk alone
(Uncool)
Or line the crowded
River beds
With other impetuous
Fools.
Make a merry gathering
On the bank
Where thousands perished
For brave hurt words
They said.
Be nobody’s darling;
Be an outcast.
Qualified to live
Among your dead.
“in just”
e.e. cummings
in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame baloonman
whistles far and wee
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s
spring
when the world is puddle-wonderful
the queer
old baloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it’s
spring
and
the
goat-footed
baloonMan whistles
far
and
we
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April 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know”
This poem although humorous, also teaches the reader a lesson. That lesson is to speak for what you believe in, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. While reading the poem, I didn’t quite understand which words to emphasize, which made it harder for me to understand it. Listening to the man recite the poem on youtube allowed me to understand the poem much better than if I only read it. This poem is not written in proper English, and I enjoy this kind of writing more because when I speak out loud, I do not use proper English. The use of rhetorical questions in this poem also catches my eye. It causes me to think about the questions and try to answer the questions myself. Even though I will never find out the correct answer, I enjoy thinking about the many different answers. I find the poem humorous because it is not written in proper English, and it also talks about how the English language is changing. I really enjoyed this poem because it was just as if I was reading a short, humorous story. It entertained me and also taught me a lesson that I should sometimes question authority, but at the same time speak with authority as well.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:06 am
Taylor believes that people do not know what they are talking about. People just say things to say them, but they do not make any sense.
“or do we have like nothing to say” Mali is stating that since people do not know what they are talking about it is though they have nothing to say.
In the performence, Mail’s body language helps him get his message across.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:06 am
“Totally, Like Whatever, You Know”
After reading and seeing a performance of this poem, I have come to the conclusion that even when I try to say something with conviction, I garble my words, and end up saying something with near to none of the original conviction that it had in my head. The performance in the video was very strong and declaritive. Even when he was like, “totally man,” he still spoke with conviction. The line, “What has happened to our conviction? Where are the limbs on which we once walked?” People of our generation have alot of opinions, but when they relay these opinions in the way Taylor Mali described, they just sound stupid. People of previous generations did not have this issue. They spoke like they knew what they were talking about, instead of sounding unsure of what they were saying.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:10 am
By far my favorite poem is “totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali. It is funny how Mali points out how our generation talks because we really don’t think about the words we add anymore. We no longer use proper grammar and think it is weird sounding when someone does. The line “I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you, I challenge you: To speak with conviction.” is the strongest in the poem. It calls the reader to action. Taylor is asking us to speak with meaning and purpose. The video performance was very well done. It was read with the right tones which is difficult (I know because I had to read it in class) because of the random question marks and declarations.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:11 am
The poem by Taylor Mali I think is about how the generation today lacks the knowing of word choice. I agree that everybody now uses “like” way to much. It seems to me that if “like” was not in the English vocabulary everyone would be lost because they would not know how to speak there mind. A quote from the poem says “What has happened to our conviction?” which is exactly what we need to convey. It just reiterates how todays generation lacks a knowing of word choice and conviction in what we are saying.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:12 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali
I really like Taylor Mali you know. I enjoy how Taylor spoke with his peom with compassion which really made this piece over the top you know. I also enjoyed like how he used his hands and body to show emotions in the piece. Taylor’s piece means that today people don’t speak their minds or if they do they don’t have any information to base on or back up from. In the sentence “it is not enough these days to simply QUESTON AUTHORITY”, it helps my interpretation that the world is not what it used to be and it changed for the worse. Kids these days don’t speak thier minds, they just go with what everyone else says like the phrases “Fight the man” or “Stop global warming”. They don’t have the backround info or opinion anymore you know.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:13 am
In response to Taylor Mali’s video,
Mali performs his poem perfectly to express the point he’s trying to make about the way people express themselves and talk. He explains the issue people of this generation being inarticulate and unable to speak their minds.
“I challenge you: To speak with conviction,” Mali is explaining that “questioning authority” isn’t enough you have to express yourself and opinions as well.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:13 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
In this poem Taylor Mali is challenging his readers to speak with authority not “question it”. He mentions how this generation is more inarticulate than past ones. When Taylor Mali says, “Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?” he is talking about how this generation has lost its confidence and has stopped declaring their points.
His performance is passionate and humorous. He shows that he cares about what is talking about while maintaining an interesting and funny tone.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:14 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?” -Taylor Mali
Taylor’s poem is very interesting and delivers his message through humor. Many people do not speak with proper English, including the speaker. By using that particular dialect in the poem, the readers can easily understand the hidden message through all the “totally’s” and “you know’s”. The speaker wants its readers to say what they believe, and not just say it, but to be firm and deliver their point strongly. For example the line “To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks the determination with which you believe it.” supports that interpretation of standing up for beliefs. Taylor’s performance on youtube helps bring out the humor and seriousness of the poem. In the beginning of his performance he exaggerates words at the end of the lines to make them seem like questions and includes hand movements that add to the humor. However, at the end of the performance, Taylor eliminates all the “you know’s” etc. and speaks with an intelligent, clearer tone, that delivers the serious message at the end.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:17 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali
This poem is a clear definate example of how a majority of this generation speaks. Although the poet doesn’t seem to be a fan of this type of speaking it is a part of modern culture. I do use this way of speaking on a daily basis, I do it on purpose. I do sometimes want the person I’m speaking to to “join me in my uncertainty” because I’m not sure of everything I say and sometimes I can leave open the window for someone else to either disagree with me or join me in not knowing. Proper english does of course have its place and if i was a business man and somebody i was looking to invest in spoke in that manner it would surely be a bad sign. I do however not want my everyday speech to sound like a business meeting. Things change and the English language is no exception and one day the way of using like and asking questions could be looked up upon.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:17 am
“Totally like whatever, you know”
This poem discusses the idea of speaking with authority. The author describes how our generation has lost it’s will to speak with authority. By speaking with question marks and typical phrases like “you know” and “totally like whatever” our generation contradicts ourself when trying to speak with authority. The speaker uses a questioning tone in his passage to show the listeners and readers how we talk and how our way os speaking is no where near as authoritative or strong as it was in past generations. The speaker in the performance Taylor Mali does a great job at this, he emphasizes the question marks to add a sound and taste of how people talk in our generation. “I challenge you to speak with conviction”, The author wants this poem to open peoples eyes to the way we speak and that it is just plain stupid and that we should change it. By using a more aggresive and authoritative tone our generation may be taken more seriously. The only way for our generation to save itslef from this uncertain tone of speaking is to begin speaking authoritative.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:17 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?” a poem written by Taylor Mali excentuates the most common dielect that the young generation uses everyday. He points out the obvious that no one really thinks about when they are talking. It’s like when a bad habit is shown to a person. From that point on the person is aware when he or she says or does that habit. In the poem Taylor writes ” it has somehow become uncool to sound like you know what you’re talking about?” In today’s society when a person sounds actually intelligent it will sometimes come across as snotty or stuck up. “Invisable question marks and parenhtetical (you know)’s” are attached at the end of most sentences because of a insecurity of not being right and being reassured of your statement by someone else rather than your own reassurance. In the video Taylor Mali really got into his character by acting the part of a young speaker and adjusting his voice to give the listener a real picture of his poem without an actual visual.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:18 am
Taylor Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know?” performance was excellent and creative. The way he emphasized the questions and inserted humor into it made the poem its own. Most people in our generation would enjoy this poem because of its corky humor and of its easy comprehension, unlike poems that are complicated to understand and take time to interpret. Taylor Mali’s truth i believe assentuates more humor. He points out the obvious that most people do not think about. How in todays society in some cases you look bad when you know what your talkin about and how like is a main word included in most of our sentences. This poem is an example that flowery words and rhetoric is not necessary to have a professional, great poem.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:18 am
This poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?” was a very interesting poem that I thought was funny, yet at the same time it made light of the speaking habits of todays Americans. Some of the “uncool habits” that he used throughout the poem were, “you know?”, “like”, “okay?”, “totally”, and he used question marks a lot. He did this so he can show his uncertainty and his lack of authority as he read this poem. Plus, I felt that his performance was funny, because the way he worded his sentences is a dead-on impersonation of people these days. Throughout Taylor Mali’s recitation of his poem on youtube, he tried to portray the right emotions by using hand signals, body language, and his voice. Especially when he asked a question, he would lift his hands higher and his body would raise a little bit. It was a good performance, because his set goal was to speak with uncertainty and without authority until the last stanza where he spoke with both certainty and authority. His body signaled firmness, and his hands moved with power. All in all I liked this peom and his performance. I’ve learned that I should pay more attention to the way I speak because people do notice, and its better to speak with authority.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:20 am
Reacting to Taylor Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know?” I feel that is it an excellent poem, speaking a very important messege. The voice of the poem is addressing the fact that some people, mainly teens, are being affected by peer pressure and are unsure of themselves, who they are, and what they believe in.
The last stanza, in my opinion, is the best written and preformed. The last seven lines are direct, and speak an important rule to live by, that one should stand behind what they think. The previous four stanzas were preformed comically, emphasizing the aspect of unsureness in his voice. The terminating stanza was preformed with sureness, no trace of doubt in his voice.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:21 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
This poem, by Taylor Mali is about the way that our generation uses questions and phrases like “you know” when they are inappropriate. He talks about how declarative sentences once used to declare things to be true, but now no one speaks with authority and has no certainty in their own sentences.
:/ 
The poem uses language that is considered uncertain to Mali. By using phrases like “you know?” and adding questions marks throughout the poem, he is trying to emphasis how annoying and informal it makes speech. He clearly states that we need to start speaking with authority.
His performance was really exciting and used the question mark emphasis.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:24 am
The poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali was a humorously clever. I have to admit, when reading this poem at first, I just thought how annoying it was and just immediately stopped reading it half way through. But I think that is was Taylor Mali intended. He was trying to prove how stupid our society sounds when we talk like this. I defiantely preferred his performance over reading the poem myself. He made me laugh a couple times. Taylor Mali did the impression of society talking like this perfectly. I pretty much wanted to scream at him for sounding so stupid. At the end, however it changed. Taylor Mali actually made me want to talk with conviction. My favorite like is “Like don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this; this is just the owrk on the street, you know?” This made me laugh at how much our society trys to sounds cool. Taylor Mali is right, our society should change the way we talk (:
April 21st, 2009 at 8:08 am
In response to Taylor Mali’s video.
I had two different reactions to the poem by reading over it myself and watching Mali preform it. “In case you hadn’t noticed, it has somehow become uncool to sound like you know what you’re talking about?” I disagree with that. When I hear people talking about things that I don’t klnow about I am jealous that I do not know that information and some things come so easy to people. Some people are so greatful to know everything and not have to try. I hate when people use the word “like” a million times in a sentance because it just makes them look dumb. You should not impress others by trying to act dumb. After watching the video, I felt like Mali was making a joke of the poem. It seemed more of a comedy act than a true thought out poem.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:24 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
In response to Taylor’s poem and video, I think he did a very good job with speaking out about what the world has turned in to. I thought his language choice was very appropriate for the way that he wanted to get his point across. Although I hate when people overuse the word “like” but I think it was very appropriate for the tone of his poem. In my opinion, he doesn’t need to change anything about what he has written or the way he presented his poem. After watching the video, I could tell that he wanted to emphasize the word “like”, “whatever”, and “you know” so it made sense for him to use those words more often than others.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:26 pm
All right.
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
This poem explained what I have been thinking since I read this article on how this style of talking should just become the english language: We’re devolving our colloquial speak, and sapping the vocabulary out of our “lingo”. I completely agree with Taylor, because we have reached a stage where if we talked this same way in the Middle Ages, people would take us as slaves because they’d consider us as inferior creatures due to our lack of language and expression. Taylor has done an amazing job at representing the deterioration of our generation’s vernacular, and has explained to me a lot of what I myself believe in.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
This poem was like such a like good poem. haha jk. But really i did like it becuase it really explains todays view on intellegence. Most kids find it hard to show intellegence due to the prejudice of “geeks” and “nerds” etc. Also i loves Taylor’s presentation of his poem. He improvised many lines to fit the theme of the poem and did a great job making the audience laugh due to our inability to speak with AUTHORITY.
The last stanza is my fanorittteeeeeee! It ties together the entire poem and gives a great example of how people should speak. Taylor is an amazing poem and comedian and should continue his poems along the theme of pop culture.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
Taylor Mali’s poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” is a social commentary about the current generation’s speaking habits. He observes that “our” generation does not speak clearly and consicely, instead we make our sentences longer by adding filler words that fluff up our sentences and make them harder to understand. These word such as “like” “you know” “whatever” make us as people seem uncertain of ourselves and not confident in our own opinions. The performance in the video by Taylor Mali mocks people who use these words by him ending all his sentences with an upward infliction and questioning his own statements and using hand gestures to prolong the sentence and use filler words to make the speaker less sure of what they have to say. At the end of the poem Mali states “I challenge you: To speak with conviction” meaning he wants people to stop speaking as though they are uncertain but rather to speak with authority and confidence.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
The speaker of this poem is someone who has become annoyed with the way people speak. The speaker says how everyone always says “like” randomly and how people turn their declarative sentences into questions. The speaker wants people to be confident when they are speaking and wants them to say what they believe, regardless of what others think. I really like the stanza where the speaker talks about how our conviction has been chopped down like the rainforest. Mali uses a strong metaphor to make his point, and it is also funny. However, i did not like the performance. When he made all the declarative sentences into questions I felt he overdid it. I also did not like when he put his arms up to act out the rainforest, i thought it was cheesy. But i really did enjoy this poem and mali does make a great point. People do not realize all the filler words they use when having conversations. People do not sound intelligent because of this and need to speak with more confidence.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
The poem “Totally Lke Whatever, you know?” presented by Taylor Mali
I think the presentation by Taylor Mali was very clean and describtive. To me it explains the way most of us talk these days, and how the language now a days has changed. A line from the poem that i liked is “it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY. you have to speak it.” I really like this line because he explains how we need to speak in authority rather then to question authority. The performance create by Taylor was really good. He used awesome hand gestures, and moved around as he talked; rather then just standing there still.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali is trying to make a point that the youth has put a negative twist on our modern language. He states that the uncertain tone and unnecessary words, such as like and whatever, make people sound much less intelligent and much less sure of themselves and their opinions.
In last two lines of the poem, “It is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY. You have to speak with it, too,” Taylor Mali is trying to encourage people to speak there minds and have confidence in themselves, because simply “questioning authority” is not enough to make a difference.
Mali does move around quite a bit during his performance, but the movements had nothing much to do with the poem itself. The only time the movement corresponded with the poem was when he gestured that his arms were trees and then tilted them to symbolize trees being torn down in the rainforest.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
The speaker of this poem is a person who is upset about the way this generation speaks. He says they question themselves and are not confident with what they want to say. In the poem, Mali puts question marks at the end of most of his stanzas to mimic the way people talk. He also says “you know?” alot to represent how people do not sound confident about what they say by adding unnecessary question words at the end. Mali encourages the generation to believe in what they say and make other people believe it too. He says that “we’ve become the most aggressively inarticulate generation,” to express how extream it has gotten. The poem is strongly supported by them style of writing since he copies how the generation speaks and has a great influence on it’s readers.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
Taylor Mali’s poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” is a social commentary about the current generation’s speaking habits. He observes that “our” generation does not speak clearly and consicely, instead we make our sentences longer by adding filler words that fluff up our sentences and make them harder to understand. These word such as “like” “you know” “whatever” make us as people seem uncertain of ourselves and not confident in our own opinions. The performance in the video by Taylor Mali mocks people who use these words by him ending all his sentences with an upward infliction and questioning his own statements and using hand gestures to prolong the sentence and use filler words to make the speaker less sure of what they have to say. At the end of the poem Mali states “I challenge you: To speak with conviction” meaning he wants people to stop speaking as though they are uncertain but rather to speak with authority and confidence. The ending is a challenge to all of us to talk with authority instead of questioning our own words.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
I thought Taylor Mali did an excellent job in presenting his poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” Mali used the right tone in each part of the poem to get his point across. Mali wanted to tell the reader that when we speak we use the words “like,” “whatever,” and “you know” way to often. I agree with Mali that we use these words way too often and I thought Mali’s presentation did a good job of showing that. I thought Mali used a serious tone when he was encouraging us to speak with conviction. When Mali says “it is not enough these days to simply question authority,” I think he is saying that when we speak we are not confident in what we are saying so we use the words “like” and “you know” which makes it seems we are questioning ourselves.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali created a poem that was able to set a humorous mood while providing insightful information on the way our generation acts. He repeatedly used the words “like”, “you know”, and “totally” to show how our society talks because of the perception many people have that this is “cool”. His performance of the poem was very good and his body language truly added to the poem. His facial expressions, his tone of voice, and the way he moved his arms helped to show how dumb people look when they speak this way. Although the whole poem is very humorous the ending is a bit different because it motivates us to say what we mean and mean what we say by speaking with conviction!
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:08 am
I really enjoyed reading Alice Walker’s poem. It was short and sweet, yet it carried a powerful message. She told her readers to be outcasts. To be a person who will stand out and go against what other people would consider being “normal”.
The performance in the video was very personal and sincere, just like it should be.
Walker’s use of metephors in this poem helped her get her point across and make it effective. The third and fourth stanza’s showed that to be different is important because you can make a name for yourself and join the many people who were outcasts in the past, present, and future.
I loved this particular poem because I completely agree with it and I feel that more people should take the message of “outcast” to heart. In life, it’s important to be unique. Stand out and be proud! An idea of “personal self” assures personal happiness.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
This poem is addressing the issue of the use of the english language now adays, or lack there of. The use of slang and other colloquial mannerisms, is detracting from the expression of our society through written or spoken word. I agree with Taylor that the people of today use less adequate speech. In the final stanza Taylor is saying to not only speak and write with convition, but to be proud and confident in yourself and what you are saying, or doing. When Taylor recited his poem, his modulation of his voice exaggerated the stresses in the poem to good effect.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
“totally like whatever, you know?”
Any high school student can relate to what taylor mali is saying in his poem. we’ve all heard those kids that over use the words “like” and “you know”, and seem like they dont know what they are talking about. this can be annoying and i think it is a waste of time. i thought the line when he says ” it has somehow become uncool to know what your talking about”is funny because i see a lot of students in our school second guessing themselves about everything, probably because they dont have the confidence to say what they mean. overall, i thought this poem was funny, (not as funny as the studio audience in the video seemed to think) well thought out, and interesting.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
In the poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” was a very intresting poem that was also funny at the same time. I thought the way he used his language to express the poem was appropriate in his own way to get his point across. His hand movements and emotion also made his presentation of the poem alot better. The line “Totally like whatever, you know” is in my opinion a way for Mali to show the reader how teens really talk. It shows that the way we talk now is not as strong or direct as people of the past.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
“Be Nobody’s Darling” Alice Walker
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker is a poem written to encourage others to be themselves and not follow the guidelines of society. Additionally, the speaker, an anonymous voice, is not persuading or suggesting, but rather demanding that people be different. The speaker uses strong affirmative words to stress the need to be different. The speaker not only insists that individual shine their differences and individuality, but to also enjoy their differences and individuality. “Qualified to live/ Among the dead” The speaker, in the end, states that being an outcast is the only way to live one’s life because conform to society is not allowin one to live his/her own life. The performance is well done because she embodies the authoritaive voice needed to read the poem. Overall, good poem.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
Taylor Mali’s poem, “Totally like whatever, you know,” humourously criticizes today’s young generation. The speaker tries to imitate a member of the current generation whose style of talking had been affected by the new way type of speech. He/she mockingly incoorporates excessive use of the words “like” and “you know,” as well as an upward inflection at the end of sentences which would normally be used to end questions. However, at the end of the poem, the poem’s message is clear – that this new style of speech is hindering effective communication and taking away from the persuasive power of the statements. The speaker suddenly shows his/her adeptness at communication by getting rid of the useless “like’s” and “you know’s,” using straightforward, succinct language and using stronger vocabulary like the words “entreat,” “emplore,” “exhort” and “challenge.”
An interesting line is “Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?” The speaker compares conviction to legs which are used for walking. He/She is basically saying that humans can only communicate effectively with conviction and without it, we won’t be able to”walk” anywhere or accomplish anything.
When Taylor Mali performed his poem, he repeatedly changed his poem with different placements of “likes” and “you knows.” This was evident as his performance had additional or missing words from his poem on paper. I think this method is his way demonstrating the unnecessity of these extra words and how they do not really serve any purpose in speaking, yet are still commonly placed in sentences in different places.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
Unlike most of my other classmates, I enjoyed “in just” by e.e. cummings. Similiar to his other poems, this poem deviates from the standard format of poetry. The aspect of the poem I enjoy the most is the fact that the poem can be interpreted more than one way and does not really refer to anything specific. For example, in the video, Mr. Lee said that he thought the poem was set in New York City, where he grew up. Although, I agree that the poem was set in an urban setting, I believe the poem is actually set in Central Park. “when the world is mud-luscious the little lame baloonman whistles far and wee and eddieandbill come running.” This quote helps clarify the setting becuase it describes that Eddie and Bill are playing with marbles and hear the balloon man whistle and run to buy balloons. However, there are not many places that have balloon salesman and New York City (Central Park) is one of those places. The poem itself basically describes the outlook of speaker of the poem, (who could be Cummings himself or an arbitrary narrator). Overall, I thought the performance by Mr. Lee was monotonous and a bit boring, but his interpretation of the poem was very thorough.
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
in just
is a poem about the spring time
mr. lee’s interpretation is alright, but
it isn’t perfect
it is what he took away from it,
which is better than what I can say
because all I can see is what is written
a spring time
with two girls and two boys, playing four games
and a man with a balloon
and nothing else
misterlee at least invented
a background, a time period
an explanation,
a connection to his past and [his life, again] bringing everything cummings was trying to communicate to life [again] decades after the death
all that I did was
read
a
poem,
today
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:25 pm
“Totally Like Whatever, You Know,” by Taylor Mali, is a satiric poem that exposes the irony of today’s society. Mali points out that today’s sentences have turned into questions, as if our assertions need the approval of others. Mali’s sarcastic tone reveals his belief that self-image is now more important than communicating honest ideas. For example, he states “Like, don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this; this is just like the word on the street, you know?” The extraneous words, like ‘like,’ ‘you know’ dilute his ideas of their meaning. In addition, he disqualifies his statements by claiming that they were the “word on the street.” I think this conveys that today’s generation not only fears what others will think of them, but also doubts the validity of their own thoughts and ideas. In becoming preoccupied with trying to please others, or trying to fit in, we have lost our credentials and the words we say mean nothing. In turn, Mali challenged his audience to speak what they believe confidence and without using “like” and “you know” as crutches.
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Since almost everyone wrote about Mali’s poem, I’m going to write about Cummings’ poem, which received very little commentary. I liked the unconventional format of the poem with alternating stanzas of four lines and one line. However, his use of parallelism and repetition is typical of poems. I thought it was interesting how Cummings did not add spaces in between the names of the children who were playing, creating one large, ridiculous word. For instance, he wrote “eddieandbill” and “bettyandisbel.”
The poem sounds whimsical, like when he says the world is “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful.” Cummings seems to have created a character named the “baloonman,” which he describes as “little lame,” “queer old,” and “goat-footed.” Yet, those adjectives criticize the baloonman and juxtapose the joy and the playfulness expressed by the actions of the four children. The poem is reminiscent of childhood due to the appearance of words such as “hop-scotch,” “jump-rope,” and “marbles.”
I agree with Rahul that Mr. Lee’s reading of “In Just” was quite dull. I also enjoyed hatmoose’s frank interpretation of the poem and even the writer’s format of his or her response.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I’m pretty sure almost everyone on this page has written about “Totally Like Whatever, You Know,” and I admit I was going to as well. But like Mali questioned, “What has happened to our conviction?” So I’m going to write, with conviction, about “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker.
When I saw the first line of the poem, “Be nobody’s darling,” I was convinced it was a romantic poem, which, in my case, is a good thing – I enjoy romance poems. However, Walker discusses individuals in general, not in a particular relationship with one person but in a relationship with the world. She urges the reader to “Take the contradictions
of your life” to “keep you warm.” Walker does not mean that contradictions in life will literally make one warm, but she believes that the contradictions give life and warmth to a person. As far as Walker’s rhetoric, Walker’s archaic word choice like “askance” date the poem while her message of individualism keeps it fresh.
Overall, I enjoyed “Be Nobody’s Darling” just as much as I enjoyed my original favorite, “Totally Like Whatever, You Know.”
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
In his poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?”, Taylor Mali shares his unpleasant discovery of an inarticulate and uncertain generation. He observes how people’s dialogues tend to be interrogative as opposed to declarative. Instead of making a simple statement with conviction, people may add a “you know?” or “okay?” to the end. Mali humorously expresses his distaste for this style of talking by employing rhetorical questions, sarcasm, and unfinished sentences in his poem. Mali asks, “What has happened to our conviction?” to communicate his disgust with today’s society’s unsure style of speech. Also, Mali sarcastically states, “I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?” to illustrate the generation’s lack of opinions and authority. By the end of the poem, Mali’s language transforms from questions to declarative sentences. In the last stanza he asserts, “I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you, I challenge you: To speak with conviction.” Instead of wavering in their speech and opinions, Mali insists people to take a stand and speak with authority.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Alice Walker
This poem was written to encourage others to be themselves (an individual) and not follow the guidelines of society. What Walker is trying to get across to her readers is that individuality is the great means of progress; however, individuality comes at the price of isolation, thus it is long sought after but hard to truly achieve. Breaking from societal reigns upon ideas comes difficultly, but to remain passive in the face of conformity is a far worse fate. Alice Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” is in a sense an “order” directed towards the individual to break free of societal molds. Alice Walker’s use of extensive imagery and an assertive tone in her poem enables her to convey this meaning to its full extent. This poem is very inspirational for anyone who is reading it. The poem is about finding your voice, and not being afraid to use it; not fearing what others think about you.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
To be blunt, Alice Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” bothered me in that it made Walker seem hypocritical. Her writing style contradicted the main point she was trying to make in her poem. If an author emphasized the words “be an outcast” three times in her poem, wouldn’t you think she would try to follow her own adjuration and defy the status quo? She wrote “be an outcast,” yet she used complete sentences, impeccable capitalization and punctuation, and multiple-lined stanzas. Additionally, the theme of her poem was repeated multiple times, even in the title. Where was the revolutionary innovation and defiance of convention? I kept waiting for her to be an “outcast.” She remained a “darling.” It was a paradox.
Although Walker did not make an original appeal to ethos, she did employ certain rhetorical strategies that had the effect of giving her credibility and encouraging others to abide by her recommendations for individuality. Walker utilized anaphora with the word “be,” personification with “hurt words,” simile with the “shawl” comparison, paradox with the reference to the living majority as “dead,” metaphor with “stones” to represent the harms of conformity, and metonymy with “words” to represent the conflicts of interest as a whole that led to battle. Aside from repetition, the most prominent of the rhetorical devices was her use of antithesis, as she juxtaposed “darling” with “outcast,” “madness” with “cheer,” “alone” with “crowded,” “merry” with “hurt,” and “living” with “dead.” All of these rhetorical devices enabled Walker to deliver her message with an emphatic, exigent tone.
The fact that Walker had difficulty being an outcast in terms of the overall appearance of her writing proved why most people assimilate to the culture of the status quo. Standing out is a difficult task, and many people conform subconsciously, which perhaps explains the nonsensical pop-culture speech discussed in Taylor Mali’s poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?” However, e.e. cummings portrayed his ideas in a very unique fashion in his poem, “in just.” With idiosyncratic capitalization, organization, extended metaphor, and word choice (such as “far and we”) that can be interpreted in myriad ways, he confidently exemplified his avoidance of the norm. I remember when I read my first e.e. cummings poem, “i carry your heart,” and the reason is because his poems are so unconventional and open to interpretation that they have a lasting impact on me as the reader.
Shame on Alice Walker for being a “darling.”
Kudos to e.e. cummings, for being an “outcast.”
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Although Kira makes an excellent point about the writing style Alice Walker used in her poem “Be Nobody’s Darling,” I feel as if her writing style did not effect the message of her piece, or in a negative way. I think that at first glance at her poem it seems a bit conventional, which yes is hypocritical of her message of standing out and being unique, yet when you peer closer into the piece you discover that her writing is anything but conventional. Although she employs the rhetorical strategies that most writers use, her poem stands apart due to her binary comparisons. In her poem, Walker was able to define what an outcast was and meant to her; to be unique and not follow the crowd, but only by defining society around us. I thought her writing was not only effective but extremely creative due to her writing style and the examples she used. Walker’s inspirational tone made me want to go out and make sure i stood far apart from the crowd, which was the point of her piece.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Reading Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling” and e.e. cumming’s “in just” again, I agree with Kira, that ironically, cummings seems to be the outcast moreso than Walker. However, I still found Walker’s poem to be more captivating and filled with emotion. cummings’ poem simply evoked images of a summer day at the park, while Walker really gave me something to think about. Why do we conform so easily? As humans, it is in our nature for most of us to want to be accepted by society, in order to feel acknowledgement. Walker not only tells the reader to be unique, but also suggests that the main goal is to be rejected by society-which pushes further than most literary works. Walker’s meticulous and vivid word choice gave away her anger. She calls those who conform “impetuous fools”, and suggests that they are unqualified to live. I found these last stanzas especially powerful, as Walker uses an extended metaphor to say that those conforming are “dead”, and the only true way to live is outside of sociey’s boundries.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I thought “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker was an extremely powerful and unexpected poem. How many times have we heard that we should not succumb to the pressures of society? to be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks or says? To write a poem on such a topic is a risk because sounding redundant can be very easy. However, Alice Walker was able to redefine the act of “standing out” by proving the way to do so is by not conforming and following blindly . Her word choice and tone have an instant effect on the reader and her comparisons leave haunting images. She IS a rebel…an outcast; she completely transformed a basic concept to fit her personal views. Revolutionary innovation does not have to be seen in words and the way lines are placed on a page, in this poem the revolution happens in the message. Instead of parading the benefits of standing out and being unique, Walker effectively condemns the reader and warns how low we could fall if we stay average.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
In the poem, “totally, like whatever, you know?”, by Taylor Mali, the use of language to convey a point is remarkable. In the beginning of the poem, Mali uses sophisticated language to prove that he is indeed an intellectual man. However, throughout the stanzas, his language slowly degrades to a colloquial tone replete with “you knows?” and ‘whatevers.” Mali highlights this contrast by reverting every few liens to advanced vocabulary. In the next to last stanza, Mali’s language became almost childlike. Finally, in the last stanza, Mali returns to his intellectual ways. By employing this strategy, Mali’s difference in language is emphasized. Thus, his message has been conveyed in a very effective and memorable way.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm
In regards to the comments about Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling,” I believe that Walker is just trying to put the word out to everyone to be themselves. It is perfectly alright to be an outcast to what everybody else is doing. “Be an outcast, be pleased to walk alone. Or line the crowded riverbeds with other impetuous fools.” It is not necessary in life to follow the footsteps of the people around. Be that outcast. Do your own thing. Walker infers that by following the crowd, you will be put among others who walk aimlessly through life, all searching for the same goal at a dead end, unsure where to turn. With Walker’s blunt yet entertaining poem, she depicts the way that she believes you should live your life. She wants you to live your own life and not be anyone’s “darling” or follower.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 pm
After reading Alice Walker’s poem, “Be nobody’s darling”, it took me a while to digest all that was going on in Walker’s mind. At first, I felt that the main theme was individuality and not being afraid of expressing your own ideas, much like Ayn Rand’s protagonist in The Fountainhead, Howard Roarke. However, after I let the poem marinate in my mind, there was an entirely different aspect to what I think Walker tried to relay to her audience. For instance, the poem was very demanding and commanding, especially with the strong use of verbs conjugated in the “you” form, for instance, “Be”, “Take”, “Watch”, and “Make”. All four of these verbs, with the stress on “Be”, as it was repeated throughout the entire poem, almost forced the audience into what Walker described.
I also felt that with her references to nature she juxtaposes the true human life. Nature is thought of as simple beauty: there is such a peaceful essence in the surroundings of a naked Earth. However, human life is thought of as more corrupt and artificial, in handling all of the technology, but as well as those people in the world that want to have all the power.
Because Alice Walker is one of my favorite authors of all time, I couldn’t help but compare it to her Pulitzer-prize winning novel, The Color Purple. One of the major themes in both the poem and the novel is the importance of strength in an individual. In The Color Purple, the strength is stressed within the protagonist, Celie. Although submissive and inferior through much of the novel, Celie becomes a prominent individual. She begins to shun her fears of being heard and deliberately leaves her husband and opens her store, selling pants. The pants are a symbol of equality for both men and women, seeing as “one size fits all”. In Walker’s poem, the strength is seen more in a person’s capability to evaluate and determine who exactly they are. It also tests the ability to stand out from a crowd and be “the outcast”. Only a confident person would be able to abandon the herd and venture off on his own. Walker emphasizes the power of an individual, and with a caustic tone, belittles the “them” portrayed in her writing: “let them look askance at you…or line the crowded river beds with the other impetuous fools…for brave hurts words they said.” What Walker wants her audience to take with them is the knowledge that they shouldn’t be viewed as just one in a society, but should be looked as separate from the rest of humanity.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
In contrast to Andrea, I felt the poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker, to have a completely insignificant point. Walker seems to scold the reader and mock those who choose to have a network of family and friends. Rather than celebratinng the people in your life, Walker’s message seems to be to revel in solitude. While I certainly appreciate Walker’s main theme of not following the crowd, I felt that she makes this goal seem so unappealing no one would wish to partake in it. While Walker’s language is certainly powerful, the life she describes is one that would repel many people.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Alice Walker’s poem, “Be nobody’s darling” was my favorite of the poems. In opposition to Laura’s blog, I don’t feel that her poem was romantic. To me, the poem held a sense of solidarity. Walker focused on the aspect of individuality, using specific the differentiation between the “you” and the “they”. By using these pronouns, I implied that there was a separation between the two groups. With this division of “you” and “they”, Walker stereotypes two categories in which they can’t get along.
Walker uses an authoritative tone in most of her poem, utilizing commands such as “be”, “take”, “watch”, and “make”. Verbs used in this specific active form give life to the meaning behind the poem: don’t be afraid to express your individuality and don’t let society or its members pressure you to “succumb to [the] madness.” Walker also uses a sarcastic tone when referring to the “they”, stating that the “you” should “watch the people succumb to madness with ample cheer…”
By being an outcast, I feel that Walker expressed the necessity to remain true to yourself. In the third stanza, Walker states “Be pleased to walk alone”. For me, the aspect of being alone is reinforced in this text. In juxtaposition, Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved, highlights the pain felt when one of the protagonists is left alone. “I am standing in the rain falling the others are taken I am not taken I am falling like the rain is…there is no one to want me to say me my name…I am gone now I am her face my own face has left me I see me swim away…I am alone” (Morrison 251-2) Both Walker and Morrison are influential African American authors, using their culture and heritage as inspiration for their text. Beloved, depicted in the text, yearns for the companionship her mother could provide her with, while the “you” in Walker’s poem is being told to remain the outcast and live as an individual.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
While Alice Walker’s and Taylor Mali’s style are as divergent as the past and the present, they speak about the same problems in society. Although they are both American, and born during the mid-1900’s, the way the two poets express their subjects are completely different. Alice Walker urges anyone who witnesses popularity and the social “norm” to reject its phony superficiality repeatedly, from the first to the last stanza. Taylor Mali analyzes and summarizes the language of American culture- its questioning tone, uncertain stupidity, and lack of conviction. Only at the end does Mali directly beg the audience to rethink this way of self-expression, rejecting it because it ironically expresses nothing at all. Alice Walker relies on personification and metaphors, as Kira as already mentioned, to illustrate her attitude towards the cool. Never once does Alice Walker include herself in the crowd which she describes. Meanwhile, Mali translates his own thoughts into the “Like… you know?” dialogue, intentionally using horrible word choice, and speaking as if he is standing in front of the reader. Mali’s poem was written with performance in mind; as a slam poet, Mali is dependent on acting his words, making the tone more effective than only reading it. Regardless of their diction, Walker and Mali are both equally frustrated and equally determined to sway their audience. Sounding like poems from two different centuries, the societal identity crisis seems unavoidable.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali exposes in written form the sounds of out generation. However, the main meaning behind the poem is not the language changes that have “spoiled” the English language; it is be different. Mali wants the reader to realize that it’s “totally cool” to be articulate and be different. This is the same message sent in Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling.” Walker preaches that to be an outcast is a good thing because it allows you to be yourself.
The two poems each use specific uses of langauge to drive their points. Mali uses the “everyday” language. He incorporates the extra words that the new generation has slipped into everyday talk. However, to strengthen his point, he switches to proper grammar for emphasis. Walker, however, uses repetition. “Be” followed by some word ensures the reader is getting the message. The brevity of the phrases stick in the reader’s mind. Both “Totally like whatever, you know” and “Be Nobody’s Darling” focus on being yourself and not one of the crowd.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I have noticed that many juniors are commenting on how the balloon man in e.e. cummings’s “In Just” is an outcast and that this balloon man is who Alice Walker in “Be Nobody’s Darling” is speaking about. In this context, being an outcast is being one apart from society and not having a large network of people surrounding you. Therefore, I agree that the balloon man is an outcast. However, I do not think that he is the outcast Walker is talking to. Walker suggests that people need to leave their busy lives behind them and separate themselves. The balloon man has already chosen to become an outcast. He did not have to be told to be become an outcast. He was perfectly happy heralding the coming of spring. I believe that Walker’s purpose was to speak to the busy bee and Cummings’s balloon man did not need to be “spurred to action” like Walker’s poem suggests.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
This poem is very ironic. Throughout the work, the author continually speaks of how she is unhappy with the language of mankind. She claims that it is simply not right for people to speak declarative sentences as interrogatives by adding, “you know?” to the end of them. What makes this ironic is while she bashes those who speak this way, the poem is composed in this manner. Throughout the poem that are question marks, ellipsis, and injunctions, like “you know?” and “okay?” With this, the author is able to convince the reader of the annoyance of this language. Because of these breakups, the poem does not flow as easily as it could and the reader can realize how horrible this type of conversation could be for a listener. The author is successful in the poem because she is able to convince the reader of her point.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:46 pm
“In Just” by E.E. Cummings
After reading Cummings’ “In Just” for the first time, the poem created an image something quite like that of Mr. Lee’s in his commentary. Through the use of games and imagery to describe the weather, I was taken back to years where communities were close-knit and the neighborhood children would play amongst one another in the streets. Cummings strengthened this playfulness through an unusual format of different length stanzas and combining of words such as “eddieandbill”. I read the poem differently than Mr. Lee giving it a more playful tone through what I had imagined from the writing.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
In reading Mali’s poem, “Totally like whatever, you know,” his emphasis on the lack of conviction present in society is stressed by the fact that he didn’t use conviction until the final stanza. While watching the youtube clip, I got an even better sense the meaning behind his words. As slam poetry champion Anis Mojgani so eloquently phrased it,
“It has its origins in being an oral art. My mouth wants the feel of the words inside of it.”
Actually hearing Mali’s words spoken aloud, one truly experiences his urgency to convince people to be articulate and speak with authority rather than semi-meaningful, uneducated, unplanned slurs. His final stanza is the most impacting section of the whole piece because it is in that stanza that he abandons the “likes” and “ya knows?” hence proving that speaking with conviction really is important. The way we speak attests to how much we know, which is heavily conveyed and proved in Mali’s powerful poem.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Grace makes a valid point. Though Walker and Mali are stylistically different, they both challenge the audience to be confident and unconventional. Mali achieves his message through the ironic placement of question marks and phrases such as “you know?” after every sentence. But the juxtaposition of hesitant sentences to firm, declarative sentences, in the last stanza commands the audience’s attention of the distinct contrast. Walker, too, boldly encourages for the audience to “be nobody’s darling; be an outcast.” Kira noted before that Walker advocates individuality yet her poem’s structure is simplistic, almost predictable. I believe Walker intentionally demonstrated the opposite of her message to engage the audience to recognize the glaring difference. Each poet implements the reverse argument into their writing to convince the audience of their original claim.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
After reading E.E. Cummings’ poem “In Just” and hearing Mr. Lee’s response, I too am intrigued by the sense of childhood freedom that it imparts. With the approaching spring at present, and my own journey away from childhood, it is refreshing to look back on what had been a child’s dream: a complete lack of responsibility. Although I did not grow up in New York City like Mr. Lee, I still have fond memories of the spring and summer days, where a good day meant an ice cream cone and grass stains on my knees.
“In Just” also reminded me of one of my favorite children’s books, ROXABOXEN, by Alice McLerran. A unique and reminiscent story, McLerran recalls her grandmother’s experience at Roxaboxen, a town created by children for the sole purpose of fun. Children come running, because any time children are together, it is a good time. This is seen in both the poem, as well as ROXABOXEN. Children have a way of making the best out of any situation, and Alice McLerran and E.E. Cummings are able to capture that. Springtime evokes emotion and a carefree attitude. “In Just” demonstrates just how wonderful the season can be if looked at from the right point of view.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
While “Totally like whatever, you know?” is on the surface a satirical jab at today’s vernacular, its value as slam poetry transcends the silly punch lines that make it fun to read. Taylor Mali is addressing the disappearance of real conviction in our dialogue. According to Mali, English-language speakers everywhere seem to adopt the tone of “I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions.” To Mali, this hesitant manner of speaking is emblematic of society as a whole. Are we becoming so hungry for approval from others that we refuse to stand up for our own convictions?
Did I enjoy Taylor Mali’s poem? Yes, I found it to be witty and well-meaning, if not a bit redundant. After a certain point, the “pauses” (indicated by the ellipsis) got a little too repetitive, especially in the third and fourth stanzas. Nonetheless, Mali’s poem got the message across.
In particular, I found the phrase “aggressively inarticulate” quite interesting. “Aggressively inarticulate” is an oxymoron. When we think of someone inarticulate, we imagine a bumbling fool inclined to keep his mouth shut. Yet, to be “aggressively inarticulate” is to impose your idiocy upon others, to aggressively attack them with stupidity.
I don’t know if I fully agree with Mali’s poem. When we fill the gaps in our conversation with “uhm” and “you know,” are we really selling our souls, as he would lead us to believe? Mali is probably exaggerating the direness of the situation. Yet, for the most part, I agree with Mali’s poetry. As goes the old saying: “Like begets like.” To speak with authority is to command authority.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:36 pm
It is evident that young Americans today speak with a language heavily criticzed by older generations. The frequent “likes” and “you knows?” when not applicable have greatly inhibited the success of the English language. Tony Mali, the author of “Totally, like whatever, you know?” bluntly comments on this issue. His humorous, yet insightful tone call upon the listening audience to heed his advice. Acting as a cultural commentator, Mali delivers an accurate representation of the average young American’s language. One significant rhetorical strategy implemented is repitition. The frequent use of “you know” drills in his point that our constant usage of it is unnecessary and awkard. It is interesting to see that when we speak like this, it does not sound horrible, but when it is read to us, it’s dreadful! Anyone who has been to Watchung Hills or any other high school will hear students speaking like this. The truth is that this style of speaking has become addictive, and has spread from the younger generation into popular culture mediums.
In the first few stanzas, Mali is focused on his point of the awkward language. He has a comical tone that, at first, seems unsophisticated. However, when it is read aloud on the Youtube video, it is evident that Mali is a brilliant and insightful poet. The main idea of his poem is that we should speak with conviction and not our normal feebleness. When we want our voices heard, it should be intelligent formed sentences that are sound in meaning. If the words suggest a weak idea, like using “like” or “you know,” the idea is disregarded. It is not until the last stanza that Mali makes his plead to society to change their ways. He accomplishes this my using strong word choice; for example, “entreat,” “implore,” “exhort,” and “bespeak.” These are a polar opposite of his previous and elementary worded stanzas. He concludes his poem with a reiteration of his before idea that we need to speak with an assuredness in all our conversations.
Lastly and on a side note, this poem reminded me of what my grandparents constantly remind me, but mostly my younger sister of. They criticize and correct this language because both them and Taylor Mali do not want to see this generation or the future generations succumb to an unsophisticated English.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Taylor Mali in his poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” explores the behavior among today’s young generation. Within this humorous poem, lies Mali’s rhetoric. His objective is to convince us to speak with authority, not to just question it. Mali’s language and style imitates that of an adolescent, using words such as “like” and ” you know”. In this way, his tone has become satirical, mimicking and mocking the youth’s speech. This is the first rhetorical strategy employed. The repetitive uses of “you know”’s, “like”’s and questioning tones, impel the audience to realize the ridiculousness within these uses. But what was so memorable about this poem was the sudden change in tone near the end. This was his second rhetorical strategy. His diction in the end such as ” I entreat”, “I implore”, “I exhort” and “I challenge” is meant to influence and incite the readers to show authority as Mali just did.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Taylor Mali, Alice Walker, and E.e. Cummings all hold some common threads if one is to look at the thee respective poems, “Totally like whatever, you know?”, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” and “in just.” Mali’s poem contains many stylistic choices to set it apart from the average poem. The humor is effectively conveyed through Mali’s parody of the audience he addresses. He imitates their “questioning” tone of voice, making people laugh but also making a much more profound point. He shows how this questioning in dialogue directly correlates to our generation’s aversion to certainty and penchant for mindless speculation. He ends the poem on a humorless note, effectively imploring his audience to speak with conviction, implying it has much more serious repercussions than one may think. Alice Walker’s poem was another exhortation of sorts. She asks her audience to “be an outcast” and to “wrap your contradictions around you.” The addressing of contradictions by Walker intrigued me because, as Kira pointed out, she seems to exemplify several herself. Unlike ee cummings’ strange format, structure, and word-choice, Walker’s poem seems somewhat relatively straightforward. She does not utilize the incorrect punctuation or style to prove her individuality to her audience. she embraces that contradiction, and our chagrin at her inconsistency would only serve to amuse Walker, as we’d be exemplifying a key theme of her poem. Walker, like Shakespeare, recognizes human mortality within the immortal medium of writing, bolstering that contradiction theme. She uses the poem to teach as well as to express, and recognizing that this poem will “last forever”, she likes herself to the brave dead that were the epitome of outcasts, and recognizing her fate, leaves us these lessons. Ee cummings’ tale of springtime also deals with the question of identity. Cummings’ use of the names eddieandbill and bettyandisbel, denies his characters separate identities. Cummings does not explore the identities of any of his characters, allowing his poem a “universality”, as if it could be applied to any spring, any childhood. cummings seeks to emulate a child in his style, spring metaphorically referring to the period of childhood as a whole. Cummings’ reminisces on the period endearingly, remembering hopscotch and marbles. The poem does not seem to break into sentences but instead flows as one sentence, the thought changing as the narrator speaks. Once the narrator hits the idea of hopscotch, the word jump down the page as if the speaker were jumping to a game of hopscotch as he spoke the poem, as children often do. The quirky typography of cummings, coupled with the profound message of Walker and the unique style of Mali all call into question the ideas of individuality, as well as touching on divergent subjects specific to their respective texts.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Agreeing with Casey’s point, all three poems share a common theme of being yourself rather than conforming to the trends of society. I’d like to focus specifically on Taylor Mali’s poem. After reading it the first time through, I found the language rather whiny and irritating. The constant rhetorical questions and the tone of Mali’s mocking our society made me wonder if he was guilty of the same crime as well. I felt that the author was trying to sound superior. However, after seeing Mali’s reading of the poem, I changed my mind. This different perspective allowed me to see which words Mali placed more emphasis on and the satirical nature of his poem was much more tasteful when spoken out loud. Mali did not just recite he poem, but acted it out like a slam poet. I felt that Mali conveyed the emotions of his poem and attitude much better in spoken word than written text.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
Mali’s poem, at first, appears as mockery to the present gerneration in America, but once you actually think about the points he has addressed it is clear that like and you knows are you used because people no longer take the time to think of what they actually want to say and express it coherently. I used to think like was just a bad habbit, using it was subconscious and instinctive. Then, this year in us, Mr. Bartlett expressed his hatred for the word and suggested that we should try as hard as we possibly could to eliminate it from our vocabulary. After he brought that up I started to listen to my peers when they spoke in class and the use of like was unbelieveably; you know wasn’t as substantial but still present. When you really narrow in on your listening and wait to spot out the likes, as I did, you realize that using like weakens your argument or statement. The same with the you knows. It seems, as Mali said, that you are not confident enough or know enough about what you’re talking about and that’s where the use of the you knows come in. You are constantly second guessing yourself by using you know, as if you don’t believe yourself. So I began listening to when I spoke to see how many times I used like; I realized that I only really used it when I was at a loss for words or wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to say. If I hadn’t taken time to think about what I was going to say, the likes became more and more apparent in my conversations. mali is completely correct in saying that our generation is becoming inarticulate for using these phrases. It shows our lack of time and conscientiousness when we use these words. If people began to take more effort and thought before they spoke, then the use of likes and you knows would slowly terminatein our conversations.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” radiates with empowering and “feel good” messages to subscribe to the large audience that Walker tries to reach. The poem lends itself to its friendly tone in which the reader feels as if he/she is getting advice from a peer. Through a “one on one” voice, Walker is able to create a more intimate setting between the reader and what he/she is interpreting from each poetic line.
The amicable tone that Walker employs temporarily distracts the reader from the underlying critique of an overly critical society. The analytical society that we live in makes people suffer from poor self esteem because of the conventional structure that humans are to live by. Society forces individuals to conform to the norm through judgmental ways, however Walker hopes to liberate people from the chains of society and “Be an Outcast” (or be someone who is dissimilar). The poems journey through the lives of man, some are picked off, some defy the odds through their uniqueness, and others conform to the standards of society. Through this realistic depiction of the progress of man, Walker uses her non-conformity as an individual as a lens to analyze society. As in her Pulitzer Price winning novel, The Color Purple, her use of the protagonist Celie as women who has realized that she is unique in her own way. Her skin color and her situation (being separated from her sister Nettie at a young age) make Celie an outcast from the traditional white society. Walker’s message of being an individual can attribute to the many kids, teenagers, and adults of the 21st century who stay true to who they really are, as it can be used as advice for those who unnecessarily kowtow to traditional standards.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:00 pm
In my opinion, the poem “in Just” by E. E. Cummings illustrates a child’s view of springtime and the magic and opportunity it holds for all those lucky enough to encounter its beauty. The word choice of the poem is playful, incorporating words and expressions such as “puddle-wonderful” and “hop-skotch.” This works to further emphasize the whimsical nature of the poem and its subject of spring. There is no punctuation, forcing you to read the poem in a steady stream. This may be intended to mirror the inexhaustible energy supply that Cummings assigns to the children in his poem.
I feel like Cummings really works to indicate to his readers that spring changes people. He applies this in a literal sense by dragging Eddie and Bill out of their winter games of marbles and pirates, and dropping them in a world filled with sunshine, mud, and puddles. He also figuratively constructs a renewal of people by means of the balloonman. In the first stanza Cummings mentions that this man is lame, yet throughout the poem repeatedly emphasizes the cheery nature of the balloonman based on his whistling. Cummings’ unique combination of the children’s names (“eddieandbill” and bettyandisbel”) serves to demonstrate the manner in which spring works to excite its onlookers into a frenzy of fused words and thoughts. Cummings’ poem proves how “in Just” spring the world comes alive.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Taylor Mali’s “Totally Like Whatever, You Know?” has to be one of my favorite poems. It directly connects with society today. Many people, probably even in this thread share corollary feelings with Mali.
I realize now that we are surrounded by false and misunderstood language that we just use arbitrarily. It is definitely wrong to use the English language in an incorrect way.
Ultimately, his purpose is to address his problem with how society uses language today. At first he uses humor to in a sense mock society. Later he becomes much more serious and says, “I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you, I challenge you: To speak with conviction. To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.”
The satire included in the poem made the “colloquial language” we use today seem so obscure and silly that it had a greater impact on the audience. Overall the satire was used to lure the audience into the poem as well as emphasize his general meaning.
It was surprising that such a passionate poem ended on a note of “I trust you” he probably wanted the reader to feel secure and unpressurized for the change he clearly believes is crucial.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Holding conviction in the ideas a person seeks to spread is generally considered a necessity to achieving credibility, or so speaks Taylor Mali in a humorous play on the current generation’s insertion of colloquial speech into everyday conversation. Mali’s words echo with a sarcastic tone that uses the very colloquial language he goes against to layout his points, thus offering an appeal to pathos and logos, both in his humorous writing style. The last stanza, as has been said before me, than contains the 180 turning point where elegant words are written, in stark contrast to his colloquial term usage beforehand, so as to persuade the audience that conviction and authority are two qualities needed to be an autonomous being with individual opinions. That humorous writing style carries over into his performance of his piece, with a more dramatic reading of the last stanza in a “scholarly” voice to further cement his point.
Reading this piece offered an interesting parallel to my current reading of the novel “1984,” by George Orwell. Within the novel, a new language called newspeak is in the midst of creation, and as one of Winston’s, the main character, friends at work on the project says, newspeak, with it’s stringent vocabulary of only X number of words, only allows its speakers to think what is within the realm of being able to be expressed through such a limited vocabulary. The way Orwell paints it, with being only able to express limited thoughts through words, it is impossible to go against Big Brother because of the lack of words to express discontent: the feeling may exist, but without the words to define it, it will never be vocalized and expressed. The parallel to Mali becomes clear: Mali speaks of a generation with opinions lacking solidarity while Orwell talks about a limitation of language offering a limiting of feeling. Mali’s point of opinions lacking solidarity presents a slight image of Orwell’s dystopian, where people, being unable to fully achieve personal opinions becomes a stepping stone to being unable to express them. Again this is merely a parallel I saw, and not my personal thoughts on Big Brother coming in the imminent future.
Playing Devil’s Advocate, the use of colloquial phrases in conversation within modern English is not a new trend. Colloquial speech and words are a common function within any language, and though using “you know?” to end a sentence may warp a declarative sentence into an interrogative sentence, it does nothing to degrade the thought behind it. Written literature is still coming out within the present day, just as it did X number of years ago, and the quality of books on the Best Seller List is hardly diminishing, if one does not consider the paperbacks potentially on said list. Comparisons of the number of words used within a day from 1600 to present day are starkly different, but there is a logical reason for that: English spoken in the 1600’s was primarily spoken within the British Isles, a landmass near Continental Europe, a place awash with a variety of languages, and thus leaving Britain subject to an influx of new words. The English language has been in relative isolation within the America’s since, only subject to Spanish and other, minor immigrant languages, leaving a far smaller influx of words. Essentially, or rather in conclusion, the English language is not falling apart, and ideas are not being lost, pointing Mali’s aim more at the social end of the spectrum rather than the linguistic.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
At first when reading “Totally Like Whatever, You Know?” I found it to come off as irritating and pretty annoying to read. When watching the video though I understood the authors point completely and really enjoyed it. He combined humor with sarcasm and was able to portray perfectly his perspective on society today and people’s dialect. The difference between reading the text and watching/listening to it being read aloud was very diverse and provided vastly different impressions on me.
Taylor Mali uses his poem to show how colloquial has evolved into a generation where slang and lingo are subconsciously used. Mali proves to be an intelligent and articulate writer but contrasts his language and diction with an informal tone and am idiomatic topic. Mali seems to be mocking the modern dialect by employing sarcasm and rhetorical questions. He presents the issue by using it himself while at the same time being sardonic about it. “It’s like what I’ve heard? I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?”
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
i completely agree with what Lizzy has inferred. I too have Mr. Bartlet and I was one of those kids saying “like” and “you know”. Mali has a very interesting point here. Though he uses like and you know excessively, it sadly seemed very normal to me, almost like i was speaking to another student attending Watchung Hills. And i agree that uncertainty has plagued the language of this generation. The stereotypical high school student being insecure and self-conscious is actually quite the reality. Like myself, it’s quite obvious that many high school students and younger adults are stuck in somewhat of a limbo between the young world and the adult world. Children actually have not changed that much, its just how they are dealing with it now has changed due to the evolution of pop culture. Back in the sixties and seventies there were hippies who may have truly believed in their self-expression and others who just did it cause that’s what was cool. Now, it’s considered cool to not express yourself at all. However, this is a typical time for maturation and eventually will fade as this generation grows older (hopefully).
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
One of the most notable aspects of E.E. Cummings’ poem “in Just-” is the sentence structure. There are no periods, making the entire poem a run-on sentence. While this is normally grammatically incorrect, it provides a creative flow to the poem. The poem is mostly written in free verse, which is a style associated with Cummings. In addition, there are natural breaks in the rhythm where a period would suffice. Cummings plays around with spelling and capitalization. In the title, he does not capitalize “in” but does do “Just.” Balloon is consistently spelled incorrectly, as well. The names of the children described, “eddieandbill” and “bettyandisbel” are contracted words, where their individual names should have gone. I feel this was done to fit in with the poem’s flow. The image I received from this poem is springtime in the city. It is easy to imagine the hop scotch games and balloon vendors lining the street on a warm, sunny day in New York City. I feel that Cummings most likely grew up in some large city due to this description. The line “goat-footed baloonMan” puzzled me, and I wanted to know what other people thought of this line.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Immediately after reading Alice Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling”, I already drew connections to The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. In Ayn Rand’s novel, she emphasizes individuality and self-reliance through the main protagonist Howard Roark. Roark has detached himself from society’s norms. Even in architectural college, he was expelled simply because he did not conform to traditional designs. Instead, he created his own style in architecture that balanced function and form. Alice Walker stresses this same notion. “Be an outcast.” Walker also concludes with “Qualified to live/Among your dead.” This exemplifies how a person, such as Roark, rises above and triumphs over a conformed society.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Taylor Mali’s comedic poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” employs a humorous side to the fact that society is starting to become seemingly less intelligent. Word choice has become crucial in seeming “cool” in society. Unsophisticated words such as “like” and “you know?” have been added to the common vocabulary of teenagers. Mali’s poem mimics the sound of teenagers in the world today. By using common, unintelligent phrases that are overly used, Mali has a mocking tone during the poem. Mali over exaggerates the situation to clearly explain the problem to readers. I agree with Mike L. that the poem is quite ironic. The writer address a personal loathing of the language of youth, and then Mali uses the same phrases. This piece of text is used as a call to action to get the younger generation to realize how unintelligent they sound, and to speak out with authoritative meaning. Language is constantly changing through different eras, but right now is on a downturn. Mali sights a problem in society, and provides a simple solution to fixing the problem— one must use more effective, classier sounding words.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Alice Walker sees the loss of individuality from pressures of conformity in today’s world. In reaction, she feels the need to empower those under society’s spell to step outside the cookie cutter molds, surround themselves in their unique thoughts, march only to their own drumbeats–just be themselves. I didn’t interpret her aim as to encourage solidarity but to create a rich community of people who are each an outcast from any norm, people of substance. She tells the readers this with the lines “line the crowded river beds” and “make a merry gathering”. On a personal note, I feel no one is normal. Everyone has quirks and oddities, but I find that it’s those same characteristics that make a person interesting, like a social fingerprint– what makes you, you.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
E.E. Cummings recounts the blissful images of springtime in his poem, “in just.” The conjunction “and” links the brief clauses of the poem, noticeably creating two verbose sentences – the first sentence ending in the 10th line. Perhaps Cummings chose to include choppy phrases to show that one pleasant facet of spring does not equal all the enjoyable facets placed side by side. The metaphor, “when the world is puddle-wonderful,” presents an ecstatic tone, describing the wet treasures found around the neighborhood after a spring rain. Overall, repetition characterizes the piece. For example, “it’s spring” repeats two times as does “far and we.” Also, Cummings merely changes description when he depicts the world as “mud” and then as “puddle wonderful.” Notice the two active elements of the poem – the old man holding balloons and the active young children playing various activities. The “little lame,” “queer old,” and “goat footed” balloonman contrasts with eddieandbill, “running with marbles and piracies” and also with bettyandisbel “dancing with hopscotch and jumprope.” Appropriately, the children exemplify the youthfulness of spring, a rebirth of life. E.E. Cummings poem allures readers to the pleasures of springtime.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
It is understandable why one may think that Alice Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling” made Walker seem hypocritical. Although Walker’s writing style does seem contradictory to the content of the poem, I did not see the contradiction as a hypocritical action but rather as a statement against society. Despite the fact that the main message of the poem is to encourage or even demand the reader to become independent and establish their own identity, Walker chooses to use the “accepted” style of writing. These are the narrator’s hopes and goals, that she may break out of society and that others may do the same. The poem is not hypocritical but instead it is a testimony to the courage and confidence that is needed to establish individualism. To me, this poem was saying how many people can push and encourage you to take on challenges and become an individual, but in the end it comes down to you. You have to find the confidence to branch out and you have to make the decision of who you want to be; it is hard, but nobody else can do it for you.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 pm
To comment on Arielle D’s post, I hoped for it to be a romantic poem, but I was disappointed that it was not. I do agree with Arielle, however, that Walker’s tone is very authoritative – she is ordering the audience to be outcasts – to find individuality and be “true to yourself” as Arielle said.
On a different note, I do not parallel hatmoose’s comment on Mr. Lee’s interpretation and comments after the poem “in just.” I found his comments very interesting – how he was able to connect himself to the poem and therefore used it to his advantage to write papers and whatnot. About the Cummings’ poem itself, I thought its diction and sentence structure was marvelous. He combined words like “eddieandbill” and even spelled “balloon” wrong. The tone was colloquial which paralleled Mali’s “Totally Like Whatever, You Know.” Robert Frost once said, “Poetry is what gets lost in translation.” So maybe the missing ‘l’ in ‘balloon’ and the lack of spacing in between words are what make “in just” sound so beautifully poetic to me.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I particularly enjoyed Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling” because it has practical applicability in today’s society with its increasing pressures to conform to the norm, especially among adolescents. The poem is very effective at relaying Walker’s message that it is acceptable, and perhaps even ideal, to deviate from the standard practices of society and be an individual, an outcast. Walker sways her audience to share her viewpoint by presenting logical reasons in the form of metaphors in a smooth progression from stanza to stanza. The opening few lines that read, “Be an outcast. Take the contradictions of your life and wrap around you like a shawl, to parry stones,” in my opinion, are defining of the poem as a whole. In addition, I connected Walker’s poem to Eric Liu’s essay, “A Chinaman’s Chance.” Liu’s work discusses the confusion he experienced growing up as a Chinese-American trying to find a balance between assimilating into the American way and maintaining his Chinese cultural background. In his writing, he shares anecdotes about his struggle to find his individual identity in the midst of societal pressures to conform, thus exemplifying Walker’s argument that one should not be afraid to be different.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling” differs from the other poems in that Walker repeatedly sends commands out to the reader along with the consequence of following that command. Why should one “be an outcast” if he or she would just be considered “Uncool”? The last two lines of the poem offer the reader this very reason. This being said, I disagree with Kira’s comment which states that Walker seemed hypocritical. Perhaps Walker purposely repeated herself and purposely created such a paradox in order to emphasize the theme of her poem.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali takes an interesting look at our society’s intellectual decline and approach to knowledge. He dissects the current fad among people to act unintelligent in order to “fit in” to society. He stresses the importance of intellect and the need for people to start believing in the causes they associate with, instead of just “questioning authority.” He doesn’t understand why language has changed in conversation and why declarative sentences seem like they are questions. Mali’s argument can be seen within television. On almost every comedy show there is a dumb character who steals the spotlight for being excessively stupid. In children’s comedy shows, the stupid student is portrayed as cool and funny. The messages that these characters send out convince young children that it is “not cool” to be intelligent and actually know what you are talking about. This attitude can stay with a person into adulthood. Mali ends his poem by instructing individuals to begin talking with authority. His poem brings light to a situation in society and causes listeners to see this dull sense of speaking in a confronting manner. It makes the listener understand just how silly conversation and presentation have become. Hopefully listeners can take away some new thoughts from Mali’s poem and question their own line of speaking and assertion.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
In “Be Nobody’s Darling”, Alice Walker explores the distinction between individuality and conformity. Through the use of imperatives, Walker establishes an authoritative tone early on with her opening lines. She orders the audience to “be an outcast”, and this request becomes the poem’s major premise because it is repeated three times. It seems somewhat unconventional to wish to be an “outcast” because of the negative connotations associated with the term. However, Walker does not view outcasts as victims of social ostracism. Instead, outcasts are subject to ample cheer and merry gathering so they are therefore the superior and happier members of society. Those who conform are actually the “impetuous fools” who line the river beds.
Like most poets, Alice Walker uses various rhetoric strategies to emphasize the uniqueness and elegance of “Be Nobody’s Darling”. She personifies the contradictions of life, granting them the ability to “parry stones” and “keep you warm”. Additionally, she compares life’s contradictions to a shawl through the use of simile. Walker adds a parenthetical line “(uncool)” to cite the stereotypical characterization of those walking alone, but later refutes this consensus by demonstrating that solitude may be “cooler” than most people believe. Another prevalent technique is placing contrasting words near each other, creating sharp contrasts between “crowded” and “alone” as well as “live” and “dead”. However, nothing surpasses her effective use of repetition which accentuates the importance of individualism.
Contrary to Walker’s poem, “in just” by e.e. cummings revolves around the theme of spring’s arrival rather than a possible life choice. Cummings does not adhere to traditional English rules. He breaks the laws of capitalization and freely combines compound subjects into single words such as “eddieandbill” and “bettyandisbel”. Cummings’ vivid adjectives including “goat-footed” and “puddle-wonderful” are more descriptive than those used by Walker. Furthermore, Cummings incorporates symbolism with his iconic “baloonman” serving as a harbinger for the upcoming rainy season. “Balloon” may be purposely spelled incorrectly in his character, possibly to employ a sense of unorthodoxy in his invention. The two poets’ greatest overlap is their use of repetition; Cummings’ baloonman “whistles far and wee” three times. Based on his quirky style and rebellious approach to the standards of English, Cummings serves as an example of an “outcast” that Alice Walker would enthusiastically praise.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I agree with katie g when she says that all three poems have to do with individuality and not giving inot society. In Taylor Mali’s poem she explains how proper use of language has decreased and that people are no longer articulate. She then makes a call to action for people to once again command language properly and use it express themsleves in a stronger, more sophisticated way. In doing this she calls for people to be different from the many who have succumed to using language improperly. In Alice Walker’s poem it is quite clear what she is trying to say. She is blatantly explaining how people should not be anyone’s “darling, but rather “outcasts” in society. She is calling for people to be different, When she says darling she makes it seem as if all people are children (as many parents call their children darling) being governed and influenced by their parents, who represent society. She is telling people that they should not give in to the demands and influences from this authority. She wants people to be different and march to the beat of their own drum rather than be just another “darling” who does anything they are told and everything that is expected of them. In E.E. Cummings poem he is also preaching this theme. I agree with many of the posts above me that say the balloonman is an outcast. He seems to do his own thing and acts how he chooses. I feel that Cummings chooses spring as the season of the balloonman to emphasize how this man is different. In spring everything changes. Flowers bloom, trees become green, and the air turns warm. The cold weather and the barren landscape disappear amongst all the new life and changes. Like spring the balloonman symbolizes differnce. Though he is a man he takes place in chilldren’s games and is influenced by the changing seasons. He is obvioulsy not your average person and this emphasizes how people need to be different once again. The theme shown is individulaity, and this is truly a theme and idea that is presented in all three of the poems.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Immediately upon reading, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” by Alice Walker, I was reminded of A MERCY. At the end of, A MERCY, by Toni Morrison, one of the most memorable quotes is, “to give dominion over yourself to another is a wicked thing.” This quote refers to how many of the characters in the novel gave up their freedom by allowing other people control their lives. An example of this would be the character Florens became infatuated with the blacksmith, and set herself up to ultimately be crushed when the blacksmith did not return her love. In the poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” Alice Walker is promoting the same idea that Morrison does. Walker believes that everyone should be themselves, even if that means not having the approval of their peers. Walker is essentially saying that you should not, “give dominion over yourself to another.”
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
I really liked “be nobody’s darling” by Alice Aalker. I think what really appealed to me about the poem was her choice of subject. Walker obviously has a purpose in her poem, and its to be an individual, not succumbing to what others want/expect. Its to not do what is considered “socially acceptable”, but rather to be an outcast as long as one is true to themself. I also really liked walker’s style and method of structuring her poem. It emphasizes what is important, yet also makes the reader think in the chunks she has broken up the lines in. For example, she puts the phrase “for brave hurt words” ona separate line than “they said.” I personally find those particular words, “for brave hurt words” to be extremely powerful, especially since “brave hurt” is somewhat an oxymoron. She urges her readers to qualify themselves to “live among your dead”, aka live up to what your ancestors have left behind – do not disappoint them for all they’ve struggled through in order for your better life. Being an African American woman, it is very likely that Walker’s poem is written from personal experience where she has learned to appreciate her heritage and the fact that no matter how many years pass since blacks have been free of oppression, they will in some ways always be “outcasts”, but this should be a status they are proud of.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?” Reaction
Taylor Mali
Mali’s poem most definitely rings true with most people today. I personally can vouch for the claim he makes throughout the piece. His poem is meant to have a humorous nature while sarcastically mocking society’s way of speaking. Both the assumed tone of his voice and the one he actually utilizes in the video generate the point he is trying to make by criticizing today’s frequently used colloquilisms such as “you know”, “like”, and “whatever”. Further, revealed by his tone is a mix of sadness and frustration, that society has reached such a low point in our communications skills, “Has society become so, like, totally . . . I mean absolutely . . . You know? That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like . . . whatever!” By also adding in the phrases that he complains about, the author establishes his logos. The reader can now lucidly see how ridiculous it sounds to speak like this and is hopefully persuaded by Mali’s argument on convictions.
In addition, to society’s sliding language skills, Mali delves further to express his frustration over how each individual expresses their ideas. As each person begins to mirror the way others commonly speak, they begin to also mirror others values and beliefs. No one is sure what to believe so they bolster their sentences with a “you know” to gain concurrence from their peers. Mali is letting people know the importance of talking with gumption and confidence. As he states here, “Declarative sentences… like, DECLARE things to be true… have been infected by a totally hip and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?” After many stanzas of indicating the absurdity of speaking in such a manner, Mali brings his argument to a close in his last stanza with clear, fluid, and powerful statements. As Mali adamently asks his audience to “question authority” and “speak with it”, all of his points are tied together so both sides of the issue are presented.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
In addition to the comments on Alice Walker’s poem, I must disclose a theme I thought obvious by the title of the poem “Be Nobody’s Darling.” Walker suggests women become nonconformists and become independent. She encourages woman to “Be Nobody’s Darling,” proposing that women define themselves, not be defined by men. Walker has presented this theme to her audience in her novel “The Color Purple,” in which the main character Celie does not reach personal satisfaction until she rejects the norm, remaining in marriage with a suppressive spouse who tries to define her, and embraces her individuality. Walker communicates the same theme to her audience in both texts: women must become self-governing.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know”
I loved Mali’s poem for several reasons. It is a bit satirical, but at the same time the message it puts forth is an extremely important one. Mali is saying that we as human beings have become so petrified of speaking our true opinions in fear of hurting someone or having people disagree with us, that we no longer speak with conviction. I completely agree with Mali on his stance and that hardly anything we say anymore is declarative or definite; everything is debatable. Speaking in interrogatives has become a trend because people, especially teenagers, are so concerned with other peoples’ views on them and how others see them as a person. This is increasingly becoming a huge problem in society, and as sarcastic and humorous as Mali’s tone is, there is a serious undertow that can be felt in the last stanza. He urges the audience to not only “question authority,” but “to speak with it, too.” I especially loved his connection to the destruction of the rainforest in his metaphor, “What has happened to our conviction? Where are the limbs out on which we once walked? Have they been, like, chopped down with the rest of the rain forest?” In comparing our uncertainty of ourselves and destruction of our individuality and authoritativeness to the destruction of our planet’s rainforests, Mali makes a strong and very valid point. Overall, I absolutely loved Mali’s poem and I feel that it very successfully combines jokes about the topic with the sad truth that humans are losing their conviction and authority.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
E.E. Cumming’s poem, “In Just”, reminds me of how I pictured springtime during my childhood. I agree with Nicole H in that it brings back warm feelings. Although it is very simple and not at all wordy, it nevertheless has a significant meaning. To me, that meaning is that the world is a playground – and it becomes most available during springtime. One of the few changes I would like to see in Cumming’s poem is that instead of discussing rain representing springtime – which is implied by the use of mud – there be talk of the sunshine that spring brings as well.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?” is my favorite poem out of the 3. The whole point of the poem is to make us realize the sad truth about the way we talk. Mali expresses that instead of being unsure in what you are saying, have confidence, and say it without questioning. He is telling us not to doubt ourselves or what we have to say, and be firm with your beliefs. Although this poem is funny, it does make us realize the grammar, unnecessary use of words and the way our generation talks.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Arrite, I know everybody is already commenting on Taylor Mali, but I have to add to the list. What can I say, it’s a great spoken word performance. Mali’s piece is part poetry and part standup comedy, mixed together to form a thoroughly enjoyable segment of social commentary. The man is right! Or should I say instead: the man is right? Mali’s words leaves the audience in stitches because of their truth. This poem was a terrific choice for this parent/student forum, and will surely kickstart some discussion. Hopefully parents won’t be poking too much fun at the younger “aggressively inarticulate generation”.
It was interesting to read the poem in text, and then watch it performed in two different sittings. Mali does a terrific job of placing emphasis on his strongest and most humorous points, well demonstrating the style of conversing he so harshly mocks.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I agree with Lauren B’s analysis of the poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” Taylor Mali clearly attempts to criticize the transformation that has taken place within the English language, and as high school students, we can all relate to the colloquial and over used phrases that Mali addresses. The author primarily uses a humorous mockery of everyday speech, however he is also able to replicate the repetitious style of conversation and apply it to his poem. The main theme of “Totally like whatever, you know?” is to force a realization onto his audience that many of the words and phrases used today, do not serve any purpose and detract from the idea that is being expressed. While Mali’s poem initially comes across as an effort to poke fun at the way many people speak, it is obvious he truly cares about the future of the English language and wishes to preserve it.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
In “Totally like whatever, you know?” Taylor Mali is doing more than making a statement about declarative sentences. He is not only criticizing the tone of citizens these days, he is also commenting on the social trend that Americans are moving towards. This is clearly displayed by his third paragraph, in which he questions “our conviction” and how “society become so, like, totally…whatever!” But, he is not just informing the audience of this trend. No, the audience knows exactly what hes describing. Mali goes further by basically telling people “to speak with conviction.”
A noteworthy feature of Mali’s poem is the way it is delivered. For example, most of the poem is written in the lingo used today until the very end. Here, the audience can detect a serious, and almost domineering tone that summarizes the complete poem. The last paragraph is so detached, that the purpose of those preceding it is mainly for emphasis. Thus, the amusing tone in the beginning becomes a bit ironic due to the problem’s prevalence in society.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Mali’s poem plays off the teenage jargon while also establishing an informative tone. “Totally like whatever, you know?” attempts to make sense of the language for which the younger generation has created. Repetition of words such as totally, whatever, like, and you know highlight the conversational speech of teenagers. The author establishes a point of view as he explains “to disguise the fact that we’ve become the most aggressively inarticulate generation” Mali seems to scrutinize and playfully “make-fun” of how society does not view being intellectual as characteristically “cool.” This is evidenced through the quote “it has become uncool to sounds like you know what you’re talking about?” In addition to addressing the language of teenagers, Mali discusses the tone in which younger generations speak in. He claims “say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks the determination with which you believe it.” Mali’s objective, which may seem ambiguous to many, gains clarity as he recites his poem aloud on “youtube.” The cynical and sarcastic voice for which Mali wrote his poem in transmits through the manner in which he discusses the language and tone of younger generations.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
“Totally Like Whatever You Know”
I wholeheartedly agree with Taylor Mali in “Totally like whatever, you know.” I feel that in contemporary times, everyone speaks as if they are unsure if they are correct or not. People add “like” to the end of sentences or say “you know,” as in they are not sure if they really do know. Taylor discusses the importance of speaking with conviction, even if it may not be the coolest way to articulate a person’s thoughts. He also ends his discussion with an important note that it is not enough to just question authority, we need to be able to communicate with it too and speak to it with conviction.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
The poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali was, in my opinion, a wake-up call to the people that read this poem. It explains how new generations communicate, where these people speak with less intelligence. I believe that the main reason why teenagers and young adults communicate is that it’s the mode to not develop the mind when interacting with one another. The poem hit the nail right on the head when stating that “it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you’re talking about?” Mali conveys that it has apparently become a social protocol to act that one doesn’t understand what’s going on in society today. People are becoming less confident in expressing their opinions and are “dumbing down” their communication skills to fit in with the rest of the crowd. Mali is concerned with the modern society, such that the youth today will have a difficult time saying exactly what is on their minds. He stresses the phrase “like…You know?” to portray that the youth are uncertain of truly expressing their thoughts and assume that the people they talk to understand exactly what they are saying. I feel that Mali’s poem can open up the eyes of the people that follow the social protocol, concerning communication skills, and make them see how following such a trend is not beneficial to themselves, when they want to make an original statement.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
If you just look at the first words in “Be Nobody’s Darling,” by Alice Walker, you can see Walker is telling readers to be independent, to not lean on anyone. She follows this with the bold statement to be an outcast. With only the first two lines, Walker hits the reader with the message of the poem. In past and present, being an outcast insinuates something bad, something taboo. However, Walker goes against the normality, as her message is, and tells readers to be outcasts, to not be concerned of what other people think. Not only that, but she wants readers to be proud of “walking alone.” She wants readers to use the words that are meant to cut deep as a barrier against all the other hurtful things that may litter their path in the future.
Then when Walker uses the word “uncool,” she strikes into every high school student’s life. To be a conformist, to go along with everyone else, makes someone “cool.” However, to be an outcast would make someone uncool, which dissuades students from standing out, from doing something extraordinary. When Walker ends with “Be an outcast. Qualified to live among your dead.,” she is talking about the fact that non-conformists, outcasts, will rise up against the tide and make a great impact. Their lives would have been lived to the fullest, as every life that is “qualified to live” should do. Walker makes a powerful statement with her poem, become someone that relies on themselves.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali highlights the lack of clarity and authority evident in the expressions people utilize, or at least hear, every day. I think Mali’s exaggerated uses all those vague terms we are taught not to use, but still do, strengthens the point that language is greatly hindered by our inability to use it correctly. The last stanza was written in direct, clear phrases which further demonstrates the contrast between educated statements and others that frankly do not even deserve to be classified as statements. Mali’s poem included numerous examples of inarticulate language, which in my opinion made such a striking point to the audience that communication in the world should really improve. The ability for an individual to express ideas is so crucial in society, and I agree with Mali that people should make more of an effort to speak with conviction. The gift of language is a gift that many people with disabilities will never receive, and I think anyone capable of speech must embrace such a gift. Dialects and speech mannerisms evolve over time. Remember all those tricky Elizabethan phrases we learned to comprehend while reading Shakespeare? What if, in two centuries from now, students read journals and novels written by the current population. Will they have to unscramble unnecessary ‘like’s and ‘you know?’s from our dialogue? It is frightening to think about. Can the language used by our peers change for the better, or for the worse? One thing is for certain, anyone who reads “Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali will think twice before bumbling through a sentence that in reality, makes little sense.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Taylor Mali is an absurd idealist. Take a look at his website. Sift through his verse. This guy really thinks he can reform the American people. Good luck, I say. At least if Mali intends to stay the course. A grassroots effort, like the one he envisions through his satirical critique of society, is nowhere in sight. Yes, “Totally like whatever, you know?” is amusing, and modern abuse of the English language is rather disappointing. But what in American history demonstrates our willingness to so dramatically change for such an intellectual aspect of daily life? H.L. Mencken, although spewing similar criticism, had the last laugh. Mali will not.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Just to play devil’s advocate here: I disagree with one of Mali’s main points in “Totally like whatever, you know?”. He makes the claim that people’s have weak convictions due to the unintelligent tone they take. However, I believe that this generation does not use the tone that Mali speaks of. It is true that the word “like” is thrown around more than ever before, but the thought that “it has somehow become uncool to sound like you know what you’re talking about” is completely false. People become popular through the confidence they emit, and the natural ability to lead others. To become “cool”, a person MUST speak with conviction, or else they will be kicked aside.
That being said, I wholeheartedly agree with three of his major themes: one being the effect of a person’s tone on the audience, two being the unreasonable social “fads” that people adhere to, and three being the call to action to have your voice heard.
People often do not realize the impact their tone can have on the person they are talking to. Like Mali was explaining, it is not that the person is unintelligent, their tone is just making them seem unintelligent. You can be the smartest person in the world, but if you display an unfavorable tone, nobody will listen.
Too many people cling to the new social “fad of the month”. Everyone of all intelligence levels can think for themselves, and they do not need to be changing who they are every single time there is a new fad. This goes back to “Be Nobody’s Darling”, where Walker warns against becoming the same as everyone else.
Lastly, people need to speak up. “it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY. You have to speak with it, too.” If that line is taken one step further, you need to speak ALOUD with it, too. Some of the quietest people can have the greatest ideas, they just need to learn how to speak their minds.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I agree with Jacqui when she says that Mali wrote “Totally like whatever, you know?” as a wake-up call to American youth and the people who educate them. Her main goal is to make people aware of the problem that she sees and in turn inspire them to fix the problem, inspire them to become more knowledgeable or not be afraid to show the knowledge that they have.
The repetition of the phrases that Mali is discrediting is extremely effective because she shows how these phrases like “you know?” and “like” dilute and weaken the point that she is trying to make, making her overall message that much stronger. Her main concern could be summed up in these lines, “Has society become so, like, totally . . .
I mean absolutely . . . You know?
That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like . . .
whatever!”
Mali is concerned where America, more specifically this generation is heading, as she explains that path that she sees it going down.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali attacks the lack of clarity and overall confidence evident in the language individuals utilize, or at least overhear, every day. I completely agree with the poet that inadequate and vague phrases are plaguing conversations. For some mysterious reason, the American language has morphed into something that at times, is completely unrecognizable. The exaggerated flaws in communication pave the way for, ironically, a poem that communicates to its audience its point perfectly. Mali’s use of common expressions that litter vocabulary such as “like” and “you know” throughout the piece emphasize the haziness and prove how such expressions detract from the intelligence of the sentences. Mali’s swift transition into the last stanza, which is noticeably direct and more intellectual, provides a sharp contrast between clear statements and phrases that should not be classified as statements at all. The sad truth is that it is a trend among teenagers to act as if they are unimpressed with the world and the wonders it holds, including language. Many teens have this creed that they are simply too cool to use proper language. Well, this is upsetting because we are the future. How can anyone who frequently taints conversations with “like” or “thing” have an iota of a chance at conducting an impressive job interview? Another worry the poem brings to mind is how this trend in communication issues will evolve. Generations are characterized by their dialects or language mannerisms. For example, the Elizabethan period is known for its dialect that most students find challenging yet beautiful to interpret. Will the inadequacies of language evident in 2009 be analyzed by students two hundred years from now? Will they have to struggle to decipher the true meanings hidden underneath a surplus of “like”s? Hopefully, this generation will learn to embrace the gift of communication instead of butchering it. One thing is certain, those who have read “Totally like whatever, you know?” may think twice before expressing thoughts in unintelligent ways.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know”
Taylor Mali’s poem “Totally like whatever, you know” touches upon one of my greatest pet peeves in today’s society, the use of an uncertain and fickle tone. There is nothing more frustrating than to have a discussion or debate with someone who uses such a tone. The phrase “like, you know” allows the speaker to manipulate his or her opinion easily. One can make a point, adding “like, you know” to the end of it and thus leaving the point open for interpretation. When you think you understand what is being said and try to confirm your understanding with him or her, you suddenly hear, “No, I didn’t mean that! I don’t know how to express it, but you know what I mean, right?” The response seems humorous and almost unbelievable when one takes a step back, but it is a response that is heard more and more often especially within the conversations of younger generations.
Mali creatively exhibits how such phrases deprive society of conviction and clearly expressed opinions, concluding with a challenge to avoid such phrases and speak with the very conviction that many lack today. Mali ironically repeats the phrases “like” and “you know” in his own writing in order to exaggerate the effect the phrase has on someone’s speaking or writing. Most of Mali’s poem has a very uncertain tone itself, exhibiting how poorly such phrases affect one’s expression of his or her viewpoints. Mali’s writing for most of the poem consists of “…” and made up words like “disarticulation…ness,” which further create a more uneducated mood. However, Mali’s writing takes a dramatic turn in the final stanza when he begins writing with a much more educated tone, using a stronger vocabulary with words like “entreat” and “exhort.” This transformation allows the reader to completely understand Mali’s point, and this educated tone juxtaposed to the uneducated tone exemplifies the importance of talking with certainty.
Mali creates an interesting comparison between questioning authority and speaking with it, but he fails to analyze these two possible solutions to society’s uncertainty problem sufficiently. Mali is wise to challenge today’s society to avoid uncertainty in speech, but he falls short in identifying the more significant reason for why such uncertainty in speech is growing: society is not questioning it. Mali points out that it is not enough to simply “question authority,” but it may actually be enough to not only question authority, but question the general public as well. Typically, when a point is made with the addition of a “you know?”, the listener may not actually “know,” but his or her frustration with trying to understand the point made and laziness to finally figure it out lets the speaker off the hook. The listener simply gives up, replying, “Yea, I guess.” The listener must push the speaker to speak with conviction and declarative sentences in order to correct the problem. We must respond, “No, I don’t know. Please explain,” when we don’t understand what it is being said, and we must not be afraid or too lazy to keep pushing until we get a straight answer.
As I sit here today, criticizing those guilty of this pet peeve of mine, I must admit to being somewhat of a hypocrite. I too fall back on such uncertainty in my own speech when I hope to avoid being viewed in an extreme way. In the same way that the phrase “like, you know” leaves a point open for interpretation, it also leaves the person who is making the point open for interpretation. For this very reason, I sometimes add uncertainty to my own tone while speaking with those who I know will not take kindly to my opinion or those who I am unfamiliar with. However, my own failure to speak with conviction at times expresses how it is more important to question those around you than to simply rely on yourself to speak with conviction and hope it catches on in society. It is a more fulfilling feeling when I make a point in a declarative way, but often times I need opposition or incitement to do so. Thus, based upon my own personal experiences, I feel it is too idealistic to simply ask people to speak with authority, but it is more realistic to encourage them to question those who don’t speak with it because they will most likely be less intimidated to do so.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
“BE NOBODY’S DARLING” ~Alice Walker
It is my opinion that the most intriguing aspect of Alice Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” is the language she utilizes within the text. As Mrs. Battiloro stated, Walker’s message about being an individual is something most of the junior class can relate to at this age, but by examining the word choice Walker uses, her message is better comprehended on a deeper level.
One of the first analogies Walker makes is that of a comparison between individualism and a “shawl”. I believe it is important to note that Walker used the term ‘shawl’ and not ‘blanket’ or ‘coat’. A shawl adds a bit of elegance to one’s wardrobe; similarly, when one is unique, they walk in a light of sophistication. Instead of being the salt dissolved in the ocean of people, with non-conformity, one becomes a brightly colored fish that stands out in the ocean. This brings me to my next point: Walker’s use of the term “river bed.” What is a “river bed”? A river bed is a conglomeration of the remnants of a river, such as rocks and mud. The actual river flows and ebbs, in a lively fashion, while the river bed is quite dull and static. Walker asks her readers to avoid the “river bed” of “impetuous fools”, to be the living river rather than the rocks and mud. She makes this comparison between dead and living even clearer in the last stanza of her poem. She actually uses the words “dead” and “living” to contrast those without individuality and those with. This is the ultimate comparison which ends the poem on an impacting note.
Another opinion I had about Walker’s poem is that her tone is quite imperative. She structures her sentences as demands rather than requests or words of advice. This finality in her voice also adds to her obvious attempt to veer away from any romanticizing of her request. She basically tells the reader “being different will be hard, but must be done.”
April 25th, 2009 at 5:01 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Just by knowing the title of the poem I could figure that it was going to be ridiculous. The first stanza was easy to follow, just declaring his point but the second stanza was almost annoying. Then I realized that I could watch Mali read the poem to me, so I did that. Watching and listening to him actually made me laugh because I realized how unintelligent people sound when they use the word “like” half a dozen times. The straight forward way Mali criticizes the language used today made me realize how often I sound almost identical to his poem and how ridiculous it must sound. The humorous tone of this poem made it a more enjoyable read than if it had been just a lecture on the poor use of language by our generation. I enjoyed reading his poem because he made his point in a blunt and humorous but also, effective way.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
“Totally like whatever, you know”
Taylor Mali
I found this poem to be of great interest mainly because of the style in which it was written. Had Mali’s point (that our generation’s language skills are not only greatly inadequate but also somewhat laughable) just been stated in the typical well-educated manner that typical theorists write in I would have paid no mind to the lesson that he was trying to teach. In fact, I find it to be rather condescending when older generations look down on my generation and proceed to tell us exactly how we do not measure up to previous generations. Mali, however, has found a clever way to make his point known and to say it in a manner that I can associate and even agree with. I’m not sure when it happened, but it does seem true that it has become almost “cool” to not be smart. This new trend has clearly swept through society, as it can be evidenced in many pop culture outlets such as teen movies and other things of the sort.
One of the most important aspects of any type of writing is having a knowledge of the audience. Mali did a great job at this. His target audience was the generation that was creating this anti-smart epidemic, and he enticed them (us) by using humor and sarcasm to make clear his point. One can see the drastic difference between the declarative stanza and those that are disarticulate so much so that the lesson cannot be missed. Taylor Mali expertly makes his point clear and forces the target audience to reevaluate the current ways of society.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
“Totally, Like Whatever, You Know” by Taylor Mali was very interesting to read. I think the author makes a justifiable observation. However, I don’t necessarily agree. I have noticed a change in the way people speak, sometimes sounding less sure of themselves but I don’t believe that our generation doesn’t speak with conviction. Maybe it’s because of the background I come from and the setting in which I live my life but nearly everyone I know is opinionated to a certain extent. The people I know love to tell others about their opinions and they speak so that they can convince others to believe that they are correct. I personally, don’t agree with Mali at all. I didn’t particularly enjoy the style of this poem either. The constant use of question marks made my head spin. However, the annoying question marks did allow Mali to make a point when he switched to periods more towards the end.
Additionally, after watching the video of Mali speaking I remain utterly unconvinced by him. He portrays the way I have known people to speak quite accurately however, if an individual really desired to make a point they simply wouldn’t speak like that. The English language has evolved and developed colloquial patterns, and I think that’s part of the beauty of language, that it can change and transform. The style of speaking Mali is referring to is in fact, used quite often but only in simple conversation. It is my personal belief that when people are having a conversation that carries meaning they are perfectly capable of being articulate, speaking with conviction, and believing in what they say. It’s just a matter of when they choose to do so.
April 25th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know”
Taylor Mali
This is one of the most powerful poems I have ever read because it makes the reader look inside of them. It makes me look into myself and recall all the times I had no idea what I was talking about and had say “you know?” after my speech to just end the embarrassment. It makes us take a step back and examine how society is falling backwards. One of my greatest pet peeves is when someone says “like” every other word. When they do that I’m not even paying attention to the other words they’re saying, great as they may be, because I’m listening for the next time they will say “like.” I try hard to speak with conviction but today it seems it doesn’t even matter because no one really tries to anymore.
One man who breaks this mold, and came to mind immediately after I read this, is Obama. He speaks with conviction and power. He may not always know what to say, but the way he says it is strong and full of passion so everyone listens and agrees. If we can all speak with the authority of Barack Obama, who knows where we could be in 20 years!
Mali’s style and tone is what makes this poem so enticing and great. He speaks to our generation who has given up articulation and intelligence to become “cool.” His use of sarcasm and cynicism works because his audience, mostly teenagers, responds greatly to humor. His first four stanzas employ a lot of question marks, which creates the humor because he stresses how society molds their statements into questions to lose authority. The last stanza is starkly different in that he asks society blatantly to take some control to not only question authority, but to have authority while doing it.
Two of the most powerful lines to me are, “I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay? I’m just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty?” I believe we all have something to say and a right to say it. However, if we say it with uncertainty, Mali is right in that it seems like we don’t even value our own opinions. Then who else can value them? After reading this poem, I feel like I will make a better effort to not use phrases such as “you know, like, totally…” in fear of sounding inarticulate and ignorant. Although it is my pet peeve, I know I am guilty of it too but if society can all make a better effort to sound knowledgeable I think we will all be more successful. Our president shouldn’t be the only one to speak with authority.
April 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know”
Overall, the poem is satirical and laments the uncertainty and lack of conviction that people speak with. Based on the poem, the two aspects of the English language that Mali is most concerned about is the common use of a fickle tone and the addition of phrases such as “like, you know”.
The poem itself is rather unconventional and occasionally can be difficult to comprehend. However, hearing him recite the poem makes the meaning and purpose of the poem much more obvious. Although the poem is humorous in nature, Mali clearly conveys his criticism of the poor state that the English language is in and the fickle tone that people tend to use.
Throughout the poem, Mali ironically repeats phrases such as “like” and “you know” in order to exaggerate the effect that these phrases have on someone’s language. Furthermore, Mali also uses a fickle/uncertain tone for most of the poem to complement the other problems that he is addressing in the poem. When all of the aspects of his poem are combined, the reader is given a very good sense of how these phrases and the fickle tone detract from an argument or viewpoint. In the final stanza of the poem, Mali makes this extremely clear when he shifts to a more formal tone, uses better vocabulary, and speaks with conviction. The stark contrast ensures that there are no misunderstandings regarding Mali’s point.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Totally Like Whatever, You Know?
The most interesting part of the poem is the style. It allows the speaker to directly connect with the reader. By using informal language, humor, analogies, and rhetorical questions, Taylor Mali is able to hold the attention of his readers and understand his message. This poem especially appeals to youth because of it’s informality. However, the message of disarticulation is intended to be an evaluation of the language our generation is using. This is what makes the poem especially effective. The audience is “attacked” by Mali’s accusations, yet they are captivated and understand Mali’s point of view. The poem was also effective because it made the audience wonder and question the language of today which is the intent of the poem. The last stanza is especially motivating and demanding. Mali sets an example and commands the audience to reconsider their language and make a stand.
I enjoyed this poem because it not only speaks about a subject but also begs the reader to become involved. If the author had left out the last stanza the poem would not have appealed to me as much as it did. Without the stanza the poem lacks power and strength.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Taylor Mali’s “Totally Like Whatever” criticizes the evolving style of communication amongst our generation, and challenges his readers to change. Mali emphasizes the lack of clarity and assertion in the latest “hip” way of speaking by writing his entire poem, save for the last stanza in the new “tragically cool interrogative tone.” His mocking tone, while humorous, serves to question his audience. The repetition of phrases such as “like” and “you know,” along with the question mark reveal the uncertainty and uneducated tone of the latest approach of speaking. Mali use of juxtaposition, by way of his final stanza, serves to reinforce his message- the lack of certainty presented throughout the poem is contrasted to the powerful final stanza. In his final stanza, Mali writes with stronger diction, using words such as “entreat” and “exhort”, along with varied syntax. In an educated tone, he besieges and challenges his audience to speak “normally.”
I found “Totally Like Whatever,” entertaining to read, and even for to hear. Mali captured the style in which our generation speaks, which makes the poem all the more powerful. The poem makes the reader question why people chose to speak in such a manner, when it sounds so foolish. Taylor Mali sucessfully questions his audience why it has become “cool” to sound unintelligent and indecisive.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Alice Walker
Alice Walker, author of “The Color Purple”, is a declared feminist. This poem, written with hortatory speech and imperative language, seems to hone in on the woman audience. As she repeats several times, including the title, “Be Nobody’s Darling” incites the reader to gain an independence and take their lives into their own hands. However, the line that most impacted me was “Let them look askance at you And you askance reply.” Walker emphasizes the importance of disregarding the opinions and stereotypes of others.
Compared to other authors, Walker demonstrates a unique style of persuasion in this piece. She “looks the reader in the eye” and delivers her opinion as a command. Her tone is confident, adding to her theme of self determination. Charlotte Perkins Gilman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” demonstrates how oppression ironically brings the main character to insanity. On the other hand, Zora Neal Hurston uses a narrative tone of Janie telling her story in “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Janie progresses through many stages in which she eventually finds herself and shows the reader how her newfound self-love has given her the confidence to face the people in her town. In fact, Hurston’s novel plays the main theme of Walker’s poem. Janie is “pleased to walk alone” while dependent on no one but herself.
April 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Reflection “Totally like whatever, you know” by Taylor Mali
This commentary on the articulateness of our generation is not only satirical at times, but also serious. There seems to be two major sections in this poem. The satirical approach for the first four stanzas and the serious and entreating approach of the last stanza. The contrast between the diction in the first part and the diction in the second section of the poem clearly show the importance of his message. In the first section of the poem, he uses words, like “cool” and “you know” in order to prove his point of how difficult it becomes to understand such superfluous and unnecessary diction. Furthermore, he shows how inarticulate such word choice really makes us and the detrimental and piercing effects it has on the dignity of the English language. The second part is needed in order to provide a solution for the problems of inarticulateness facing our generation. He uses words, such as “exhort,” “entreat,” and “bespeaks” to show how he can speak with the same conviction that he hopes to see in the current generation. The contrast in diction gives the reader the opportunity to really understand the importance of his message. Through the poem, the language evolves into a felicitous example of “language with conviction” that he so desperately wants to see in our generation.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
“Totally Like Whatever, You Know?”
In his poem, Taylor Mali is able to successfully portray the style and tone younger generations in America use when they communicate with each other. In today’s world, we speak with a tone of uncertainty and inquiry, as if none of us are sure whether what we’re saying is legit or not. Children, teenagers, and even adults add in an invisible question mark when they speak. Mali derides this insecurity by adding question marks and “you know?”s at the end of some of the sentences. In my opinion, a myriad of people talk this way today — we all use “you know?” when we are not sure how to put our thoughts into words or if we just become flustered over what we are trying to convey. The poem uses a reasonable amount of verbal irony in order to display Mali’s disdain over the way people converse. His satirical tone thoroughly expresses today’s muddled words and judgmental attitudes. “Like, don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this; this is just like the word on the street, you know?” By asking his audience not to think of him as “uncool,” Mali is able to show how people are judged by the way they speak. Therefore, we should all speak with clarity and enunciation in order to prove that we are intelligent human beings with our own thoughts and expressions. He continues to address this problem by mocking the way younger generations today share their feelings. “Has society become so, like, totally . . .I mean absolutely . . . You know?” It is true that many obliviously use “like,” “totally,” and “you know?” as words of crucial expression. Maybe we are just too lazy to fully convey our opinions, and absentmindedly end our sentences with these muddled words as an attempt to allow others to finish our thoughts for us. The English language has existed for so long that its speakers cannot keep up with its timeless eloquence and passion. At the end of his poem, Mali unexpectedly reaches out to his audience by challenging them to speak clearly and intellectually, and with the degree of determination that they wish to reveal.
April 25th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
“Totally, like whatever ya know?”
Surprisingly, I actually have something positive to say about poetry. I don’t normally like poetry but this one was pretty good. The translation, however, is completely lost in the written form, you must see it performed. The language in theis poem is completely informal but works well and lends itself to the material. I also, very much like the message of th e poem. Conviction is an important part of life and without out it, one simply becomes a slave to the machine droning on through a meaningless existence forever lost in conformity.This presented that serious message in a surprisingly entertyaining fashion. Hat’s off to the author for passionately writing and presenting an amazing work of poetry.
April 25th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
“Totally Like whatever, you know”
The poem criticizes how our present generation communicates. Mali stresses how people use the word “like” and “you know” in almost every sentence. The use of these words deter our communication skills. Our dialogue today is not as effective as the dialogue in the past. People use these phrases to fit in and sound cool. Mali challenges the audience to communicate with conviction. In the video, the author uses hand gestures to express his emotions and his belief on the idea. Mali shows his opinion by using the words “like” and “you know” in his poem to point out the uselessness of the words. Then at the end of the poem, he gives an example on how people should be talking. The style and the message of the poem forces people to examine and question their own diction and speech.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Although Taylor Mali’s poem “Totally Like Whatever, You Know?” makes interesting points regarding spoken English in the present day, his failure to recognize the motives for such seemingly broken English casts a shadow on his previously glimmering poem. No one can doubt the power that Mali generates with his satire, but the strength of the delivery of the points does not eliminate the flaws in Mali’s basic argument. Human society today is one of sympathy and compassion between friends; accordingly, English has evolved with society in order to maintain those very relationships that hold the human society together. In this “universe,” modesty is the key. Hence, statements and declarations have evolved into slight questions, providing a safety net for the declarer if his or her declaration turns out to be inaccurate. Although I only specifically addressed one of the numerous aspects of colloquial English that Mali jokes about, the ultraimportant point here is the idea of the evolution of language based on the needs of the constantly evolving human society.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Reading Taylor Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know?” the first time through immediately invoked frustration, not because of the poem, but because of the assignment. I have to write a reaction to a poem on a Saturday night?…Online?…On a blog? Ridiculous. I logged onto AIM and decided to continue my rant by IMing my friends. But before I could, the youtube video underneath the written poem caught my attention. And as soon as I heard Mail speaking his own poem, in his own voice, a completely different feeling overtook me: self-consciousness.
Sure, we have read multiple works of literature that relied on the use of satire, but never has a work used satire to reflect my own behavior. The epiphany, that I too speak using such inarticulate language (particularly “like”), still makes me feel uncomfortable as I am writing this post.
Its not that I use “like” intentionally; like, I have concluded, is a word I rely on to stall as I am processing my thoughts to speech. The little “sand clock” icon that shows up on computers, if you will, for my mind. I guess I am either too brilliant to relay the tremendous amount of thoughts in my head, or too incompetent to speak effectively.
Thus, on my own terms, Mail is only partially correct. Yes, my “disarticulation” has caused me to unintentionally prove that we are, in fact, an inarticulate generation. No, I have not convinced myself to be inarticulate to prevent myself from looking uncool or like a nerd. And yes, I realize that I have no idea how to speak with conviction.
So, Mr. Mali, thank you for writing such a thought-provoking poem and for revealing my oratorical deficiencies. I will try my best to speak with conviction from now on.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know” -Taylor Mali
This poem strikes me as one person’s interesting and calculated view on present day society. The author goes as far as to insult the way people converse, as they have no “conviction.” Mali’s poem psychoanalyzes the common person, reporting that they have no clue what a declarative sentence is. He presents this problem of how people are always questioning themselves and cannot stand up for what they believe in because it may not be the coolest or most hip thing to do. As the work progresses, Mali presents a solution, a solution that will save the current problem. Mali challenges all people to speak with authority, something the common person lacks.
I feel that this view on present society is valid to an extent, but the author’s idea reaches too far. I do believe our generation is up among the top ranked inarticulate eras. But, not all hope is lost and Mali desperation at the end of the poem may hit home for some readers, but for some readers, including myself, I take his point of view as another idea to consider in the grand scheme of society.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
“Totally Like Whatever, You Know?” by Taylor Mali
Mali’s poem reflects the perspective of an individual’s belief on modern society. His colloquial style establishes a somewhat laid-back tone which is ironic in that it represents his view on the language of current day people. We seem to constantly inquire rather than declare. The surplus of question marks in wrong places supports Mali’s point of uncertainty in society. For example, “Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)’s have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?” As well, Mali presents the idea of using ambiguity rather than clarification. His usage of the word, “thing” and “ness” show how society is using ambiguous suffixes, prefixes, and nouns, which dilutes the intelligence, or potential intelligence man has. Mali’s satirical style helps make his point relatable to his audience – we all use such colloquial language as if it were second nature. However, Mali uses the final stanza of his poem to show the proper conviction or execution of language that is necessary in order to maintain the ethics of society: “it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY. You have to speak with it, too.” Mali answers his own question (as ironic as it may be) and proves that in order to correct this flaw in society, we must speak with authority, rather than question it. Overall, Taylor Mali’s poem presents an interesting perspective of the usage of language in modern society.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:48 am
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali
Right before spring break, my french class was able to speak with some foreign exchange students from France. I tried to use words that I figured would be easy for them to understand, and thought I was doing a fairly good job with it. However, as I focused on my speech, I noticed an excessive use of the word “like.” Even though I was aware of it, the more I focused on it, the harder it was to eradicate it- the word continued to make unwanted appearances. The poor french students were probably so puzzled by my invariant use of this word that is supposed to mean either “enjoy” or “similar to.” It made me wonder: do other cultures misuse and overuse words as much as we do this one? And if so, why do we do it? How did it come about? It was then that I began to recognize the laziness, the insecurity, the lack of confidence that has somehow engrained itself into our culture. Perhaps it comes from our insecurities, our need to fit in and be a part of something larger than ourselves. Being “part of the crowd” isn’t a bad thing- it’s losing ourselves that is the trouble. And unfortunately, “the crowd” encourages people to forsake individuality in order to gain acceptance in society. It’s so sad that we can’t be both- it just goes to show that the U.S. is indeed a melting pot… blurring everyone together into one big blob. Mali made an excellent point: what HAS happened to our conviction? “That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like… whatever!” There are so many words that we can use to enhance our vocabulary. So many words that are available for use. And yet we constantly struggle to find words to sufficiently convey what we are trying to say. We continue to use the word “like” so often that we have completely obliterated its true value. And more than that, I feel that some people do not even understand what they are trying to say anymore. I notice during class that many people, myself included, answer questions with an interrogative tone. No matter if we are certain that our answer is correct… that “invisible question mark” is almost always there. If we do not put more of the enormous array of words in the dictionary to use, how will they survive the trials of time? And if we do not have the words or the authority to speak our thoughts, how can we communicate with one another? All of our questions and our answers blur together as one, our words lose their value and their meaning… and we are left with nothing but confusion, and in some cases, apathy. Perhaps I am being over dramatic. After all, many people I know have a wonderful vocabulary and say things with plenty of conviction. But perhaps this poem affected me so deeply because I know an equal number of people that have a poor vocabulary (or do not use the vocabulary they assimilate), and say “like” and “you know?” much too often, and that really scares me. I enjoyed listening to his poem, because it really emphasized his words and gave me significant insight. However, seeing it in writing also had a powerful affect on me because it heightened the ridiculousness of these empty, meaningless words. Personally, I have been very inspired by this poem, and it has made me want to rebel against these social boundaries, plant some trees in the rain forest, and walk out on my very own limb of conviction!
April 26th, 2009 at 9:16 am
In the poem, “Totally Like Whatever, You Know,” Taylor Mali focuses on the ways people in today’s society act. The premise of the poem seems to be how people speak and act with ambiguity. As the poem moves forward certain phrases convey unfinished thoughts. The two lines, “Has society become so, like, totally . . . I mean absolutely . . . You know?” really stand out to me in this manner. Both lines clearly depict a certain amount of uncertainty and allow for the reader to determine what is meant. This reminds me a lot of they way things tick in the world today, where people remain wishy washy on key convictions. Mali uses language with great skill to convey this feeling of general uncertainty. At first she starts off with a strong, convincing language. However, as the time poem moves on, the language becomes unclear. This relates to people because they set out a definite stance on a topic, but then have a difficult time supporting that statement. What sets this poem apart, atleast for me, is the return Mali makes by using strong language at the end. It finalizes the opinion that the reader has about the meaning of the poem. Overall, this poem is clear in its purpose.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
The poem “Totally Like Whatever, You Know,” is an attack on new ways people are communicating. The author, Taylor Mali, despises how messages are not communicated with conviction and certainty. Although he has the right to his own opinion, I honestly do not agree with his viewpoint. I think that, in today’s world, evolving communication is natural as it has been forever. On top of that, conviction in one’s statements is not necessary in all conversations, but has not been totally eradicated from our conversations today. People still hold confidence in our ideas, and express this when it is relevant, but people also do not overuse this and destroy conviction’s integrity through misuse. It’s really a balance between new, evolving forms of communication and old methods of communication. Taylor Mali is still thinking in the past when he should be progressing towards the future.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
“Totally like Whatever You Know” expresses the way the English language is manipulated in modern society. Teenagers add phrases in speech and writing because they have adapted to a grammatically incorrect and damaged colloquial and means of communication. The formal means of speech used by writers in the past centuries used eloquence and language that was flowery and delicate. In speech and in use of rhetoric, today’s youth fails writing destroyed pieces that started broken and weak by multiple means. The author, Taylor Mali, is expressing his annoyance with those who disrespect and misuse the English language in a creative and powerful way: through poetry. He shows examples: we use like in almost every sentence and changes his voice and the tone of the poem to show readers his message.
April 26th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
In the poem “Totally like whatever, you know,” Mali uses irony to attack language and communication in today’s society. Many rhetorical questions are used to show his audience that conviction and confidence are being demoralized by ambiguity. He encourages his audience to “say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.” If one does not speak with conviction, then they must not believe in or agree with what they are saying. Mali comments on how declarative sentences have been lost by the insecurity and the “you knows” that are attached to the end of many statements. This poem loses its affect on the audience when read without a visual performance, although the message is still clearly understood. Contrary to what Mali so adamantly believes about society, I do not agree that we have lost all certainty in our statements. Although the words “like” and “you know” may be used more than necessary, they are only used colloquially, and never in well-written essays.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
In “Totally Like Whatever, You Know,” Taylor Mali comments on the popular language of today. While initially keeping the tone lighthearted and clever, Mali quickly changes it to serious and domineering. Throughout the poem, he expresses his belief that people do not speak with certainty or exact thoughts, and speech is riddled with false interrogative tones. However, I believe that this dislike of the changing language is pointless. Spoken language has always had one main reason for existing: communicating thoughts from one person to another. As long as this requirement is fulfilled, how does the delivery matter? Sure, people do not speak with flawless grammar, but this new phenomenon in language is nothing to be up in arms about. Spoken language has always changed generation to generation, and is currently doing exactly that. Everyone thinks the language of their parents and grandparents is outdated, and that is because it is constantly changing.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
In the poem, “Totally Like Whatever, You Know”, Taylor Mali is able to bring up a relative and surprisingly accurate judgment of how our syntax is inappropriately spoken. I believe that in this day and age, kids would rather sound like a confused and bumbling idiot rather than an intellectual pariah. We conform to a lower intelligence level because we are afraid of the critical words we would get from our peers for being a smart-ass. Jimi Hendrix once said, “Knowledge Speaks. Wisdom Listens.” Now, everyone would choose being wise over being knowledgeable. So when we spit out information, our inner-conscious tells us to shut up and let someone else say it. Let them teach; and you can learn if they are right or you can make fun of them if they are wrong. For once, the smart kid does not get bullied for his ridiculed know-it-all-ism, but rather, takes advantage of the even smarter kid who wants to boasts his knowledge of the world.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Alice Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” discusses the importance of nonconformity, a somewhat common theme in literature. Personally, I valued nonconformity very highly in my own life as I try to stay true to my religion and myself but I find Alice Walker’s call for nonconformity much too extreme. Walker not only says, “Be nobody’s darling,” but she adds on, “be an outcast.” The first time I read the line, I felt as if it was bold and admirable, but this feeling of admiration quickly wore off. Literature and writing is meant to help people analyze their own lives based upon what is being written in hopes of improving of them. However, I feel as if people get too caught up emotionally in Walker’s dramatic writing, they would be impacted negatively. The idea of being “nobody’s darling” alone is a positive image, portraying individualism. This should be as far as Walker goes. No one should ever view himself or herself as another’s possession. Everyone should define himself or herself individually, identifying what makes him or her different from the rest. However, Walker’s desire that one “be an outcast” asks for something too great and too idealistic. No one should strive to be an outcast because it is less likely that he or she will ever be able to impact and persuade others to change their behavior or beliefs. The development bonds and friendships is what allows us to create credibility for ourselves, and such credibility opens others up to our differenced in opinion.
Similarly, Walker says, “Watch the people succumb to madness with ample cheer: Let them look askance at you and you askance reply.” With the image, Walker portrays a feeling of moral superiority as an outcast, which is understandable based upon when she wrote the poem, but once again, the readers should not idolize this image. Looking upon one another with disapproval is not productive, and by striving to be an outcast, one may come across this situation quite often. For this reason, it is more important to keep strong bonds with the people around you so they will be more receptive when you try to change their opinion or redirect their actions. Moreover, being an outcast prevents you from realizing when you are wrong because you are in a constant grind to be different from the group. It is nice to believe in yourself, but avoiding others criticisms of you will only prevent your own growth and development. Walker’s poem would clearly play a more significant role in a time period like the Civil Rights Movement when bold outcasts are needed. However, I feel as is if her poem should not be used as a guide for our general lives.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling”, is perfectly suited for high school students to read. For me, it represents the idea that each boy and girl should stay true to themselves, instead of submitting into becoming what others wish they should be. This can be compared to the German poet, Goethe’s, idea that people become what others say they are. Walker proves the opposite of this within her text. She describes that life is better when you are different from the crowd. For anyone feeling trapped in a clique they do not belong in, or anyone who feels like an outcast, Walker’s poem is inspiration for them. She makes the life of someone who is “uncool” seem very cool indeed.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
“Totally Like Whatever, You Know?”
This poem is incredibly clever in the way it portrays a large part of our society clinging to a standard of stupidity and lack of confidence. The overall tone of his performance is lighthearted with a serious undertone begging the audience to look inside themselves and their means of communication. This poem is defining the difference between slang and the slaughter of a language, but does so in a very joking way. Clearly, Mali is stating that content doesn’t matter, but how you present it. Speaking with conviction is the most important aspect of your speech and how it is received. It is made obvious when he changes his town as he conveyed this message to one of auhtority, and one can’t help but listen and be drawn in by his confidence and understand the weight that confident speaking has.
April 26th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I agree with Jacqui while talking about the poem “Totally like whatever, you know.” by Taylor Mali when he says that this generation feels the need to at least act like they don’t know what they are talking about to fit in. Mali’s main idea while writing this poem is that he wants others to see what hear is hearing and realize what is going on. Inevitably, he hopes to inspire change in the way that this generation sees “cool.” Throughout the poem, his point that the way that young adults converse makes them at least sound unintelligent. This is best exemplified here:
“Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society become so, like, totally . . .
I mean absolutely . . . You know?
That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like . . .
whatever!”
He proves his argument by overusing phrases such as “you know?” and “like” to the point where it almost makes the poem harder to understand, but this only helps his larger point.
April 26th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
“Totally like, whatever, you know?” is a poem that mocks the language skills of teenagers today. I think everything there needs to be said about this poem has been said by everyone else; that most teenagers today cannot speak properly is a sign of society’s deterioration, and despite all warnings about global warming, a failing economy, teenagers only care about one thing- themselves.
But unlike most people who have commented on this blog, I do not believe that “Totally like, whatever, you know?” has a deep, implicit message. I don’t think Taylor Mali is urging teenagers to articulate more clearly. I think he’s just mocking us. Most adults I know look down on teenagers. The word “teenager” never has a positive connotation. Even at the end of this poem, when Mali says, “I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you, I challenge you: To speak with conviction” he seems to be stating the obvious, as if we don’t know this already. Either that or begging us to speak clearly because it just annoys him that he cannot understand what teenagers are saying. Teenagers obviously understand what they are saying to each other, or they wouldn’t continue to talk in the manner that they do. So what if adults don’t know what they are saying? Maybe that is the point. I know how to articulate myself clearly. But it is nice to be around people every once in a while with whom you don’t have to worry about sounding intelligent. After all, sounding intelligent can be very tiresome.
April 26th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
“In Just”
“In Just” is a spiritually fulfilling poem as E. E. Cummings portrays a strong love and appreciation for nature and the simple activities that people enjoy during the spring. After analyzing the more serious poems of “Be Nobody’s Darling” and “Totally like whatever, you know,” Cummings’s poem seems very light-hearted and cheerful to read. The poem simply reminds me of the beauty of life and the importance of not wishing it away. Cummings is able to portray the joy and feeling of rebirth that comes with spring in a few, simple images. For example, the image of children playing “hop-scotch and jump rope” expresses feelings of joy, relaxation, and simplicity. Such activities remind the reader to take a step back when things get overwhelming and partake in something simply to regain the perspective that God gave him or her life in order for it to be lived and enjoyed. Analyzing such a simple poem feels weird and difficult in the midst of a chaotic day doing assignments that require great thought and meditation. Cummings’s simple images allow the reader’s mind to escape his or her worries or problems briefly and reflect on the simple things that make life so enjoyable.
Cummings not only expresses light-heartedness and joy through his images, but also through the way he writes and expresses them. The poem itself consists of little punctuation and capitalization, a symbolic disregard for structure and laws. Cummings seems easy going when it comes to grammatical rules, passing this feeling on to the reader. In addition, Cummings repetitious references to the balloon man and the whistles also illustrate that he seems to be fully immersed in the beauty of the world around him. Cummings is not simply noticing the balloon man or the other activities around him, but he also seems fascinated by them. Cummings appreciation for the beauty and simplicity in life during the spring pushes the reader to also be appreciative, and he makes it easy for the reader to do so by writing with such an easy-going style.
Mr. Lee’s enjoyment of this poem is most likely typical of the enjoyment that others would find in this poem. Mr. Lee says that the poem reminds him of New York City due to the images of the street games, and while I do not get this exact vibe from the poem, I am reminded of the general feeling of a neighbor and the people in it. Cummings basic observations of spring are typical of almost any neighborhood in their simplicity. Thus, while some may or may not share in Mr. Lee’s belief in a New York City vibe, most likely have a feeling of outdoors and the happiness that comes from such simplicity. Overall, Cummings poem is worth reading and reflecting on because it helps the reader reestablish a perspective on the beauty of life as spring is time for rebirth.
April 26th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
In the poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?” Mali mocks the language in which youth converse in. Mali dubbed teenagers “the most aggressively innarticulate geberation” due to the coloquialisms that are invented within society. By reducing declarative statements into mere questions, youth deprive their words of the impact they have on their audience. The poem demonstrates that incorporating the words “like” and ” you know” into conversation does not enhance the message of the speaker. Mali is truly saying that deliverence is equally as important as the actual words. Mali uses rhetorical strategies such as repetition and metaphors to strengthen his argument and entertain the reader. One extended metaphor used says that “our conviction has been cut down like the rain forrest” conveying the idea that language is transforming into meaningless babble. His poem is basically a cacophony of the current generation’s language and uses a distinct contrast between the introduction and the concluding clauses to portray this.
April 26th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
The poem “Totally like whatever, you know,” conveys Taylor Mali’s dissatisfaction with the informal and indirect rhetoric spoken by today’s generation. Instead of asserting his message in one composed sentence, Mali instead mocks the ambiguous communication by often inserting “like” and “yanno.” Mali affectively demonstrates the message of his poem. Within the same stanza he notes society’s use of unneeded “invisible question marks and parenthetical you knows?” he exemplified his belief. By using 6 hypothetical question marks and ending the stanza with “you know,” Mali had used the same indecisiveness and disarticulation he had been discussing. The humor of Mali’s “valley girl” talk appeals the author to his style as well as ridicules the vague diction, simultaneously amusing the audience by proving how comical society’s rhetoric sounds. However, Mali contrasts the witty tone with a serious closing to represent the use of advanced vocabulary in combination with formal diction makes is most impressionable.
April 26th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Let’s have some straight talk here. It’s about time these poems were taken at face value and analyzed for what they are worth.
After all, that was the stance that Mali preached. His composition “Totally like whatever, you know,” rings clear with the point of needing to be articulate and precise in one’s convictions. The crux of his argument concludes the need to be commanding in tone and confident in speech. More importantly, however, one can ascertain from his poem the need to be clear in message.
Had Mali wished to express the message that being different or an “outcast” by use of authoritative speech was acceptable, then he should have specifically mentioned the idea in his poem. The audience, according to Mali’s principles, should not have had to make inferences from the speaker. Let us continue upon this presumption. Therefore, the only clear message of Mali’s poem was to be coherent and concise. Such a message could have been more easily expressed in a brief statement than the three minutes he wasted in hypocritically attempting to prove his point about clarity and succinctness.
But alas, it seems I have already wasted too much time in speaking.
April 26th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Alice Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” stresses the importance of individuality, a refreshing concept in a world where “fitting in” and “being normal” have become top priorities. Lately, especially from the perspective of a teenager, it seems as though most strive to have the same possessions, personalities, and even vocabulary as those around them. The need to have a Coach handbag or Ed Hardy tee shirt and then proceed to describe the items with words like “chill” or “rad” has been programmed into the minds of teenagers everywhere. There needs to be a change, a shift towards individualism, and Walker calls for this change agent within the words of her poem.
Such a movement would lead to a generation of teenagers with much more defined lives. They would create lives that cater to their personal interests, rather than the interests of society and peers. And above all else, this new generation would move away from the type of teenagers Taylor Mali describes in his poem “Totally like whatever, you know?”, a breed of teen that has plagued the high schools of America for much too long. Embracing those eccentricities and imperfections would be a greatly welcomed revolution, for after all, these are what defines individuality.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
After both reading and hearing “Totally Like Whatever, You Know.” I have become more aware of how inarticulate our generation has become. The comical yet satirical tone of the speakers voice sends a message of conviction and concern for the future and respect for the use of the English language. The twenty-first century teenager undoubtedly displays a careless attitude towards the importance of verbalization, and therefore creates an impression of lack of not only interest, but knowledge as well. I feel that appreciation for the beauty and power of language has declined immeasurably over the past few decades, and has ultimately caused this indifferent attitude toward speaking with purpose and conviction. Even while reading novels written in the early part of the twentieth century, I have noticed that these authors had a way with words that in no way come close to modern “literature.” I can easily say that an eloquence existed then that seems to have dissolved as our language continued to morph. It is actually sad to think about really, for language is what defines us; it is how we not only communicate, but create art, and it deserves to be treated as something sacred.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
This poem is very interesting in its message. Walker tells the reader to be happy and friendly with yourself, you should “be nobody’s darling.” Essentially, you should not get too close to people because you will only be disappointed. If you are able to be comfortable with yourself you will not be disappointed because once everyone else is gone you still have yourself. Walker also states that the reader should take their “contradictions” or burdens and keep them. These problems may define you and make you who you are. Walker uses the symbolism that these “contradictions” should be used to “keep you warm,” like a shawl.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
“in just”
This poem is done in the classic style of e.e. cummings. He uses no punctuation and the title and entire poem are mostly lowercase letters with some random capitalization. This style gives the poem a very relaxed feeling. It is not intimidating like many other works of poetry. Rather, it is inviting and casual. Personally, I believe that the poem is very relevant because “spring is in the air” and I can easily envision many of the actions of the children described in the poem. Throughout the poem cummings repeats the phrase “it’s spring.” This rhetoric allows the reader to get the springtime feeling of growth and beauty. Also interesting is that cummings combines many of the words in the poem, for example “bettyandisbel.” This lets words run together and makes the reader peer a litte closer into what the poem may actually be saying.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
It’s barely breaking news that our society has become overwhelmingly bored as a result of consumerist culture and monotony. The powerful linguistics and tone that once incited revolution has been lost in a droll of trend and mealy mouthed fear of the power that be. Rather than empowering and encouraging our youth to overthrow tyranny, faceless advertisers manipulate the masses to sell products that we don’t need to the privileged and ignore the needy. Taylor Mali begs today’s teenagers to take a stance and fight for it with “Totally like whatever, you know?”, which examines the wishy-washy colloquialisms that have plagued today’s Americans, rather than enrich its culture.
I feel the purpose of this piece was to bring attention to the gross oversimplification of language as a means of action. Besides the lack of concise messages and clarity in every day language, nuances and allegory has become a lost art. Symbolism and inspiration in verbal communication and spoken art is a thing of the past, dumbing down our culture and progression as a society in the process. Mali uses this poem as an example of the disturbingly mind numbing language that has become common place.
Revolution, protest, and being politically and socially informed in general is taboo, looked down upon by a system of peers that have used their definition of “cool” as a dangerous tool to suppress and discourage intelligence and discussion in social settings. I have been a victim of this, and have found that this usually stems from ignorance, misinterpretation, or misapprehension. This, as Mali points out, has created a multitude of uninformed and fearful teenagers, that grow up to be uninformed and lazy adults. I can assume this piece was meant to be a call to arms, or words, a wake up call for today’s reader to embrace individuality and headstrong opinions. To take back what’s right, and declare that you’ll work toward it.
April 27th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Just as Mali urges people to defy society’s speech culture and speak with authority in “Totally like whatever, you know?”, Alice Walker in “Be Nobody’s Darling” encourages people to challenge society’s common modes and be outcasts. By stating, “Be nobody’s darling; be an outcast,” Walker encourages everyone to champion their own beliefs, and not give into accepted viewpoints set by others. It is important to understand why Walker dares each reader to be an “outcast”. The reason is not merely to differ from society’s standards or to be an individual, but more importantly to do what is right when everyone else is doing what is wrong. Walker illustrates society committing a dishonest, immoral, or somehow incorrect act when she asserts, “Watch the people succumb to madness, With ample cheer.” Then, Walker insists the readers to not surrender their own beliefs as did the “people” in the last quote when she states, “Let them look askance at you, and you askance reply.” Walker explains it is better to be viewed as outsider than to submit to collective foolishness.
The assertive and direct style in “Be Nobody’s Darling” allows readers to understand Walker’s message of challenging incorrect, popular beliefs. Walker employs simple, yet compelling diction such as “darling”, “outcast”, “succumb”, “fools”, and “dead” which makes her message easy to grasp and powerful. The numerous verbs such as “watch”, “make”, “take”, “let”, and “be” call the readers to action and demand them to be “outcasts”. Also, Walker’s repetition of “Be nobody’s darling; be an outcast” emphasizes the importance and urgency of resisting conformity.
April 27th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
“in Just”
In the poem “in Just”, E. E. Cummings describes the joys of spring. Unlike “Totally like whatever, you know?” and “Be Nobody’s Darling”, “In Just” does not criticize some significant aspect of society and urge readers to challenge it. Instead, “In Just” gives a relaxed interpretation of a light-hearted topic, spring. The central theme in his Cummings’s poem is spring representing the season of rebirth. Cummings states, “Eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies and it’s spring.” Eddieandbill signify all the boys who abandon their indoor games after every winter to enjoy the stimulating outdoors. Also, Cummings writes, “Bettyandisbel come dancing from hop-scotch and jump-rope and it’s spring.” Bettyandisbel represent all the girls who return outside in spring to play fun games in the nice weather.
Cummings explores the rebirth and joy of the change of season through his unique diction and rhetorical devices of imagery and symbols. The intentional compound words of “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful” serve to illustrate the happy-go-lucky greatness of spring. The mud and puddles in the poem illustrate not only a typical, wet spring, but also symbolize a new, fresh beginning. The water in mud and puddles wash away the staleness of winter and revive a green landscape and bright spirit for spring. As far as the “balloonman” who is repeated three times in the poem as whistling “far and wee”, I believe Cummings means to depict the spread of joy. Balloons are usually associated with happiness, so as the “balloonman whistles far and wee”, he also provides delight far and wide.
April 27th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
“in Just” by EE Cummings
There hasn’t been a lot of comment on this poem; I think it may be due to the fact that at first glance this poem seems simple. The description of a spring scene in a park. However the structure of the poem is very interesting; the number of lines per stanza is not consistent and some lines even contain only one word. The names of the children are compounded into one, which I think was done to not apply specific identity to the children, but create a general sense of “all the eddies and bills of the park” playing. I agree with Nicole H when she said that this poem is also exploits the change that spring brings in not only the environment but the people as well. This can be seen with the baloonman who is first described as “lame”, then as whistling due to a happier mood. With this concept of change taken into account it is easy to see how this poem fits in with the theme of Alice Walker’s and Taylor Mali’s. Change is inevitable, sometimes it’s forced, sometime’s it’s necessary and other times it happens as easily and naturally as the start of spring.
April 27th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
One topic not frequently discussed in this blog is the humility of each poet in their attempt to deliver a message to the audience. Yes, these poems all have a similar theme of conforming. Yes, the poets were all raised in America and use poetry to express their beliefs. However, while Cummings explored individuality through unorthodox uses of English, Mali becomes the conformist. Mali steps down to become the public opinion, and denounces society through embracing it. Cummings takes the flashback of a spring day, teeming with childhood innocence, and is able to tackle two different subjects at once. Cummings is the only poet who does not sound conversational or direct, and seems superficially out of place in this grouping of works. Living in the 1800’s and early half of the 1950’s, Cummings language stands apart from Walker and Mali. Cummings avoids dialogue, and is able to effectively describe the poignant memories of the delightful day without being too distant.
April 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
April 27th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
I loved the poem “Be Nobody’s Darling,” by Alice Walker. The poem discusses a topic that all high school students can relate to, finding ourselves within the larger group. Walker tells us to, “Be an outcast; Be pleased to walk alone.” I believe that this is so crucial for high school students because a lot of the time it seems easier to follow the crowd and do what everyone else is doing; Walker tells the listener or reader the importance of being an outcast. Usually outcast is such a derogatory term, nobody wants to be an outcast! The author takes the term outcast, which usually has a negative connotation, and gives it a positive connotation, as if being an outcast is something we should all aspire to be.
April 27th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
“in just”
When i first read the poem in just it made me think of my childhood and spring in New Jersey. With no offense to Mr. Lee, I am going to disagree with him. I get a more suburban vibe from the poem, but then again, I grew up in suburban New Jersey. I believe that the poem evokes memories of a person’s childhood, so wherever they grew up is where they will picture the poem’s setting. I really liked the poem. It was simple, yet eloquent. It is the type of poem that is very acceptable around this term of year because of the temperature warming up.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
At first glance at these poems, I overlooked the simplicity and excellent imagery of “in just”, the poem by E.E. Cummings. What I found most interesting was the way the author set up his stanzas- in a rather random, choppy pattern at first look, but after a second read through, it is clear to see that this poem could not have been laid out any other way. Personally, the best aspect of the poem to me that made it stand out was specifically when Cummings blended names together, like “eddieandbill”, making it seem like it was one word rather then draw the focus from the simplicity of the poem by capitalizing and separating their names. Truly, the character names don’t matter in this poem, for its main theme was the beauty of spring. Furthermore, the repetition of the balloon seller’s call enhanced the poem. “in just” was an excellent piece of poetry to discuss for it can be interpreted in so many ways.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
In response to “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker:
Alice Walker’s poem about individuality and living above the standards of society gives a breath of fresh air to a cliché adolescent theme. Her tone is more precarious than the stereotypical be-a-leader-not-a-follower; the subtle dark tone particularly detectable in the final verses when she mentions death. The poem is far from dreary, but rather serious to imply the importance of understanding who you are. This piece is extremely appropriate for high school students because, right now, we are at the inception of our own self discovery.
Getting back to the actual text, one line that I found especially memorable was when Walker called for the reader to embrace the contradictions of life “To keep you warm”, inferring that inconsistencies and quarks are what makes us human: what keeps us alive in a spiritual sense. Then when she goes on into talk of the deceased and how we should make “merry gathering” or celebrate those outcasts who came before us, and how we should strive for lives that emulate these people, or “your dead”.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?”
Taylor Mali’s poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?”, implores the reader to defend one of the most commonly assaulted, yet also one of the most vital, aspects of our lives, the English language. Mali essentially says that the way today’s youth speak causes many of them to lose their sense of individual identity. Instead they are becoming less sure of themselves and less confident in the opinions they hold, looking for others to constantly reassure them that what they believe is “cool” or the “norm.” The powerful way in which the poem ends makes the reader/listener come to the realization that, as funny as the poem is, action is necessary. For, if something is not done soon, our generation may mark the start of the decline of knowledge.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
The contemporary poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” compelled me to think about my generation and how absolutely true Taylor Mali was and is in saying that the ideas spread through our speech should not be released on such a shoddy vessel. The colloquial american-english language has come an extreme distance from where it had began in 1492 (as Columbus sailed the ocean, blue). I tend to call the unnecessary words “fluff” in speech; such as “like,” “legit,” “totally,” “whatever,” and “you know.” Public speaking is a skill that i feel everyone who speaks a language should learn, because transferring ideas from one person or to many should always be done in a manner that is “with conviction.” There is no excuse as to why the newer generations speak far less articulately as the past language bearers. I was once told about a public speaking class in an american college, whose professor knocked on his desk every time someone speaking, spoke fluff words. By the end of the semester, the knock was rarely and barely ever heard. I believe, if you want your audience and beyond to take you seriously, it is necessary and proper to speak without fluff and “in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.”
April 27th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
In just a few lines, e.e. cummings manages to build a shadowy connotation beneath the surface of his carefree words. I found it odd that Cummings described his spring day as “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful”. Why not just luscious and wonderful? Did he mean that spring is not only the birth of a new season, but also the end an old one? Cummings produces an innocent image of children and then contrasts the image with the “goat-footed baloonMan”. The “Baloonman” acts as a symbol for growth because he “whistles far and wee” to the children as a reminder of the inevitable transition into adulthood. For such a simple poem, Cummings incorporates a profound subject that requires the audience to read and re-read (I know I did).
April 28th, 2009 at 7:21 am
High school students are always caught up on how they fit in, how they look, and how they act in order to stay “hip” with the newest fads and fashions. “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker challenges readers to step away from the status quo, not conforming to society. This is an important theme of discovering individuality, which is also stated in Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man. The main character in this novel remains nameless and refers to being “invisible” in order to search for his true identity. This relates to Walker’s poem in which she states how one should rise above the social status’s and discover one’s inner being. The term “outcast” is used with a more positive connotation, empowering others to be themselves. Maintaining one’s individuality is crucial in developing self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and so forth. Walker uses symbols such as covering oneself with a shawl. Figurative language is utilized in order to bring forth the deep connection and understanding with readers. Walker’s poem teaches an important lesson that all readers can learn from.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know, you know?” By Taylor Mali is the perfect poem towards High school students. I can agree completely with Mali and I realize the exact same thing. The tone of his voice expresses his poem in a very humorous way and makes the poem even more realistic. I have experienced this many times and I do realize it in the way many people speak. The poem shows how teenagers form a way of making dialect a trend and once it starts everyone starts to do it. I hear it almost every day in all of my classes and it surrounds you wherever you go. In order to be “cool” people will follow this trend and dumb them selves down to speak improper english. When Mali said the poem it really brought it to life and helped to understand his tone much better. It sounded like he was a teenage valley girl who wants to only speak with a hip tone. It is reality and it is funny to hear it being brought up. I liked the language that Mali used in his poem. It was humorous and made it come to life. His tone and attitude set the scene and made you feel like you were there hearing people saying these things in everyday phrases. I think he chose good words and had a good tone and I would not have anything to change. People speaking this way shows their uncertainty and how they might be unsure of themselves. The poem was written well done and was very effective.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker seemed to encompass the all too familiar theme that seems to come up everywhere an anything geared towards adolescents. Although this poem may not have neccessarily been specifically geared towards adolescents, it nonetheless gave the same rote message in essentially the same way. “Be an outcast, be an outcast” was repeated multiple times as if it maintained some kind of amibuity that was simply not there. The poem and message is straightforward; be yourself, and do not go with the crowd. Walker did, however, make ample use of juxtapositions. In nearly every stanza one was evident, such as darling and outcast, alone and crowded, living and dead. I think she did this to further stress her point and really portray the vest difference between conformity and individuality.
“In Just” by e.e.cummings differs from “Be Nobody’s Darling” in that it was more of an objective outlook on growing older rather than advice for growing up and that it was far more unconventional in its writing style. Deciphering the true, or intended, meaning of this poem is rather difficult. Is it just applauding the greatness that is springtime? No, it is more likely using springtime and all that is associated with it, such as the balloonman, as a symbol for childhood innocence. Spring is the beginning of all life, and this is where the poem starts. The childhood innocence of early life eventually evaporates, as people becoming older and change. Eventually it is your turn to follow the “balloonman’s whistle,” so to speak, and continue on with life. Choppy and unorganized, the way in which the poem always came full-circle back to the whistle of the balloonman further emphasized the message and meaning.
I found e.e.cummings’ poem to be more effective than Alice Walkers because of its extreme ambiguity. I think that in poetry, ambiguity allows each individual to interpret the poem in a slightly different manner and also allows for more thought.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
In Alice Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” she is urging mankind to be unique and independent. I think many high school students can relate to the concept of being alone and deliberately avoiding dependency on others. She writes:
“Be an outcast;
Be pleased to walk alone
(Uncool)”
This struck out to me because I am one of those people who will walk through the halls at school listening to my ipod and not stopping to talk to people. I’m in my own little world where nobody can bother me or hurt me, and it’s a pretty peaceful break in between classes. In doing so, some may dub me “uncool” because I am perfectly content to walk alone when other teenage girls feel pressured to walk in flocks. Or herds. I am nobody’s darling, I am my OWN darling, and I’m proud of that.
But on the other hand, it IS nice to feel accepted every once in a while. Whether by family, friends, or a love interest, I know most people would rather have a companion than a void. As much as I agree in Alice Walker’s stance on being independent, I must stress how important it is so have a “darling” and to be someone else’s.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
“in just”
e.e. cummings
As an e.e. cummings fan, I was delighted to see one of his pieces posted on this blog. I think it’s difficult for anyone to fully understand or pinpoint exactly what he means in his poetry, because cummings uses feelings and emotions rather than the average grammatical sentences we’re used to. “In just” personifies the beauty and renewal of springtime, and this idea is voiced by the silly, simple phrases and words such as “mud luscious” and “puddle wonderful.” The way by which cummings shares his thoughts is touching and heartwarming- you can’t help but feel slightly giddy upon reading one of his poems, especially “in just.”
April 28th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
This poems teaches me to be who I am, and not to try and change my own personality just so other people will like me. This poem convinces me to be myself, and not pretend to be somebody I’m not. It also tells the reader to not let anybody distract you from your true identity. Even if people think you are not cool, it doesn’t matter what they think. but only what you think.
I do have a few disagreements with this poem because although it is great to be yourself, it never hurts to be accepted by people. You know you have true friends and family when they like you for who you are, and not for who you pretend to be. Therefore, I disagree that you have to “walk alone” all of the time. True friends and family can comfort you when you need help. Overall, the message of this poem is to be yourself, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
“In Just”
I personally did not like this poem because I could not understand the message the author was trying to get across. Even after hearing the poem and rereading it several times I could not fully understand the meaning of the poem. The author does not use proper sentences, but rather very short phrases. I can tell that the overall topic of his poem is related to spring time. I also could not tell if the author enjoys spring or dislikes it. At some times he supports spring by stating, “luscious the little,” but other times he expresses opposite feelings by saying, “spring when the world is mud.” I did not like this poem very much because it confused me and was complicated to understand, and the improper sentences the author used did not please me either.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Taylor Mali’s quirky poem brings comic relief to the jumbled language that teenagers use today. Although we may not acknowledge it, the words that we speak to one another usually do not follow the “rules” of English grammar. Mali’s rhythmical prose on language speaks about the misuse of language and question marks that are often spoken with. We do not realize the butchered language that we use while conversing with friends in the hallways. “You know”, which was prevalent in Mali’s humorous first stanza, is often employed by teenagers unconsciously. After reading this poem, I became more aware about the chopped language that even I say. Mali’s amusing title to his poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?”, further addresses the problems that our generation is having with speaking. Words such as “like” flow out of students mouths during every single sentence spoken. On another note, it can be said that Mali is mocking the way that students speak to one another and to teachers. Our repeated utilization of miscellaneous phrases that mean absolutely nothing do little for our dialect; it only makes us seem confused and as if we don’t what we are talking about. You Know?
Others condemn Mali’s comical attempt to bring awareness to teenagers, yet his point is not to reform society. Mali is merely addressing a problem that teenagers have with speaking. This friendly tone can be seen through the exercise of language. Instead of refuting words such as “Whatever”, he uses them multiple times to mock our modem of communicating with one another.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker is a powerful poem that reaches deep into the minds of readers and forces them to question their own identity. “Am I my own person? Do I just follow the crowd?” Walker’s tone in the beginning is a call to action as she declares in the first two sentences: “Be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast.” She recommends that people shield themselves and find shelter under their own courage like a “shawl” and to prepare themselves for the failure of many who have tried to achieve this self identity. She is openly against those who follow society by saying “Or line the crowded river beds with other impetuous fools.” Walker understands that this can be dangerous by saying to meet on a bank “where thousands have perished” yet believes that society constricts development and a sense of self. However, I do agree with Kira and others who have noticed that the format she had written the poem in is not unconventional and rather is a contradiction to the message relayed in the text.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker
I think the main message of this poem, however simple it may be, is to be yourself. The second line “Be an outcast” is not a noun that most people like to identify with. An outcast is seen as a very negative image in society. “Be pleased to walk alone. (uncool)” Alice Walker is explaining to the reader that no one else can make a person feel complete. This goes with the idea of “Be nobody’s darling,” the title of the poem. There is no need for a person to feel like they can only be happy when they are with someone else. The poem is about self empowerment. Seeing as Alice Walker was the author of The Color Purple shows that reader that her intended audience for the poem is a group of women who feel that they can only be happy and whole with a man by their side. She convinces them that being yourself is not bad, and they should “be nobody’s darling” and not rely on another because that is when you lose yourself.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
The use of the word outcast in Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling” is certainly unusual diction. But it does serve a purpose in the context of Walker’s language and message. In conversation, we would usually consider outcast with its negative connotation (e.g. outcast from the lunch table). However, in “Be Nobody’s Darling,” I consider outcast to most nearly mean “a singular individual.” (That phrase may be somewhat redundant but the point is for emphasis.) The end of the first stanza calls for us to comfort ourselves not with the whims of others, but with our own personal eccentricities. Walker knows individualism is a lonely place, but individuals are in the best company when guided by an inner voice, not external pressures.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” iby Alice Walker s a very moving poem because it can connect to everyone in almost any situation. I know for a fact that everyone in this world has at least once gone through an identity crisis, trying to find themselves, who they truely are. Because society establishes the precentent of how we should act, favor, and present ourselves, many children, like Ms. Battiloro said, especially adolecents find themselves in an identity crisis to discover who they truely are, and the person they want to pursue throughout their whole lives.
This poem does connect to the Foundtainhead because Roark, acording to Ayn Rand was the “perfect” man. Roark was the symbol for what a person should be. Her ideas are related to this poem because Alice Walker has the same ideology in mind. She wants everyone to be his or herself, to be “no body’s darling”
April 28th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
In the poem “In Just”, I had a feeling that EE Cummings was classifying people and society inversely from Alice Walker. Here, I see that the poet combines the neighborhood all together, whereas in “Be Nobody’s Darling” the poet wanted everyone to be an individual.
I did enjoy this poem like Mr. Lee because it did bring back to the common place of a person’s childhood. A connection to this poem can be sought as universal because many people can connect to it in many ways. Even if one’s childhood isn’t identical to the poem’s description, it does convey the feeling a spring day and does bring back childhood memories.
I agree with many of the students that have already posted. The poem does seem to be fairly dry. It lacks the passion and the light that the other two poems had. Mali’s poem contained satire to bring out his point, as Walker’s poem contained a very inspirational tone. This poem had more of a laid back, everyday feeling towards it and was very soothing. This quality of the poem may bring people to feel that the poem is dull, but really it does contain very nice aspects of language.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Taylor Mali reminds me of my second grade teacher, Mrs. Waddell. When Mrs. Waddell would ask questions to the students, we would often respond with uncertainty. The inflections in our voices would rise at the end of our responses as if we were answering with interrogative sentences as opposed to declarative ones. Mrs. Waddell used to say, “I asked YOU the question. Be sure of your answer. Don’t question it.” The rest of the year, we practiced answering her questions with conviction, even if we were unsure of whether or not our answers were wrong.
“Totally like whatever, you know?” is a humorous portrayal of how individuals of this generation have lost the ability to be articulate. It is alarming when I think back to second grade and realize how, even before the era of the texting craze and internet lingo, my classmates and I did not speak with conviction. People tend to fall into poor habits, such as using the word “like” as a filler instead of using it in the context of the sentence. In fact, my older brother, a sophomore at a prestigious business school, just finished a class about giving effective presentations. One of the focuses was eradicating unnecessary filler words and hand gestures that cloud the presenter’s message. It is a shame that a college course should have to devote time to ameliorating the poor habits of today’s generation. Is it not outrageous that a school of higher learning must correct habits developed in the second grade?
Mali noticed how outrageous this is and thus made his poem outrageous as well. With an excess of filler words, such as “like” and “whatever,” as well as an onslaught of question marks, “Totally like whatever, you know?” is quite a hyperbolic representation of the language of today’s generation. This, however, is what makes the poem effective. People have, to some degree, adapted to this jumbled speech. Therefore, unless these bad habits are so recognizable that they seem to hit us in the face like a pile of bricks, they simply go unnoticed. With capital letters, points of ellipsis, and nonsensical language, Mali uses exaggerated speech to make a statement. He strives to hit the reader with a pile of bricks and trigger awareness. This colloquial-sounding text, written in the dialect of someone who lacks conviction, is ironic in that it enables Mali to prove a point with conviction.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:11 am
I found Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling” to be intriguing to say the least. The message is powerful because Walker’s phrases are simple and direct. Walker urges readers to be true to themselves and comfortable in their own skin, not merely capitulate to the pressures of society. The last stanza was definitely the most striking because Walker pleads the readers for the thrid time to be outcasts and to be “qualified to live among your dead.” It is such a chilling and bold statement to classify the masses of people who follow the crowd as being “dead.” This poem is illustrates the importance of possessing the courage to be who you are.
In today’s world, filtering out one’s own ideas and thoughts from the overwhelming ideas that the media tells us are true can be an obstacle. Since young ages, toddlers ask for their parents to buy them the new toys advertised on television, they want to play the sports and activities their friends are involved in, and they learn that if they behave weirdly, they will be made fun of. Many can relate to the feeling of being an outcast, which is associated with negative emotions. What is so interesting about Alice Walker’s poem is that she goes against what society dictates. She breaks the mold by saying it’s desirable to be different in a world where people cringe at the thought of going against the grain. The overall effect of Walker’s poem is so beautiful and empowering, for it describes the necessity for individuals to recognize and appreciate their true selves,
April 29th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I agree with Harman, who says that Taylor Mali’s poem was not meant to act as condemnation of the dialogue of today’s society. Many people have been interpreting the poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” through a defensive lens. The tone of the poem is not meant to sound critical. Instead, I believe that it is meant to serve as a humorous observation of today’s defiance-lacking language. Mali was not angry while he read his poem. He was light-hearted, and elicited many laughs from his audience. I recognize that many poeple may have felt that the poem was an attack on our generation. His observations, such as “what happened to our conviction?” stike the reader merely because they ring true. We cannot feel opposed to Mali because he is correct. Do we not find our conversations with friends burdened by “likes” and dulled by “you knows”?
Mali uses metaphor to reference the hindrance that our inarticulate speech is posing on our conviction. (”Where are the limbs on which we once walked? Have they been, like, chopped down with the rest of the rain forest?”) The limbs act as the defiance and surety in our dialogue. He humorously incorporates “like” into his question to prove the way lack of authority detracts from a statement. I find it difficult to believe that nobody in our generation speaks with interrogative sentences and unsure words. I myself am guilty of depleting my sentences with “like’s,” “sort of’s,” and “totally’s.” We cannot condemn Mali for attempting to reach a society of questioning speakers. He concludes his poem with defiance. With authority. This determination contrasts so severely with the unsureness of the rest of his poem that it gives the reader motivation to lay down the question marks in his or her sentences and replace them with periods.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I noticed many students commented on EE Cummings ‘reminiscent tone in the poem “In Just,” but few talked excessively about the incorrect usage of his syntax. While further researching Cummings, I found all of his poems incorporate erroneous grammar to some extent. Though many find this odd and a bother to read, Cummings uses this style to give his words a deeper meaning than they would have when being used correctly, usually trying to communicate the theme of unity. For example, in “In Just” Cummings exaggerates the unity among the community children due to the balloon man by combining the children’s names to form one word uninterrupted by spaces. In other poems I have found that when using the pronoun “I” in his poems, Cummings uses the lower case form, “i.” The audience understands Cummings focus on the importance of the lack of selfishness to create community throughout the world.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
“Totally, like whatever.”
I also agree with the opinion that the poem was not meant to be critical but, meant to call attention to a manner of speaking that has grown in use. It serves to give notice to those that practice this speak, of what they truly sound like.
While the increased use of this “speak” is certainly true, this isn’t something new. The use of these phrases and the intonations is a throwback to the way the Valley Girls of the 1980’s spoke (see below from Wikipedia)
Valspeak
A certain sociolect associated with Valley Girls, referred to as “Valspeak,” became common across the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, and much entered teenage slang throughout the country.
Qualifiers such as “like”, “way”, “as if!”, “totally” and “duh” were interjected in the middle of phrases and sentences as emphasizers. Narrative sentences were often spoken as though they were questions using a high rising terminal or intonation.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
“Totally, like whatever.”
The reason this poem is funny is because it is so true. All of my friends speak with a tone that rises in pitch and ends with “you know?” I do it. Even my parents do it.
This style of speech lends itself well to not having to think for yourself. By constantly questioning what you are saying, as you are saying it, you invite others to make their opinions your own. The style of speaking that is popular today also lends itself well to vague and empty language. It never ceases to amaze me how so many words can be spoken without really saying anything at all.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Not only does Cummings set up a wonderful scene for his poem, but he also captivates the beauty and innocence of youth in the spring. With childhood remembrances such as “hop-scotch”, “marbles”, and “jump-rope” it places the author back in time to when they were of that young age, which appeals to pathos. These simple childhood games trigger memories of the audience thus arousing emotions. Cummings introduces the “balloonman” which can come to symbolize the child in all of us. He elicits the fun and opens the readers’ heart to the innocence they were forced to lock up when entering adulthood. Because Cummings repetitively describes how the “balloonman whistles far and wee” it may depict the recession of childhood and the introduction of adulthood.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Cummings’ describes the spring in the perspective of a child. Using words such as “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful” Cummings was able to give the visual description of rainy days during the spring season. The world is cast into this idealistic picture, where children play hop-scotch and jump-rope and where there is an “old balloonman” who whistles “far and wee”. I agree with Zoelle’s interpretation of the balloonman. His presence in this poem is a major factor of the transition from childhood to adulthood. This romantic, and almost reminiscent, view of spring is embodied by both the children’s actions as well as the balloonman’s character. I think Cummings chose spring, rather than summer, winter, or autumn, because the season is more whimsical with the interpretation of childhood games and the weather. Spring is also a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings; after the dead winter, flowers begin to bloom, the weather turns warn, and children are able to enjoy their youth.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Alice Walker
I entirely agree with the commentary that Mrs. Battiloro provided at the end of the video. Walker asks her readers to avoid conformity despite how easy it can be to fall into what’s “cool”. The word outcast may appear a little extreme, but I personally believe that this particular word is employed to demonstrate the courage necessary to step away from the pack. The poem is particularly fitting for adolescents who are frequently faced with making the right choices and avoiding the hazards of peer pressure. Walker, even goes so far as to compare conforming to “madness” and joining the ranks of “fools”.
Her argument is zealous and can also be molded to fit crucial decisions people face every day. Although, shining as an individual among thousands of different people may be lonely- the actions taken are a reflection upon one’s legacy in life. Thus coinciding with the conclusion, Walker alludes that the only way to live one’s life is to live like every day was their last.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Alice Walker’s use of the word “outcast” displays the thoughts and feelings that come with being different. In today’s society, uniqueness is often viewed with distrust or scorn. Consequently, this conservative view has become a social concern that Alice Walker comments on. Urging the reader to “be an outcast” is basically Walker’s way of telling the audience to stop conforming to others belie.fs. Her form of urging slightly resembles Mali’s own in “Totally like whatever, you know” What I noticed was that both of these poems touch upon the social aspect of different issues. In Mali’s poem, the jargon that has developed in adolescent culture was the main focus. Likewise, Walker makes a point to criticize the assimilation of an individuals. Clearly, they both stress the issue of listening and expressing personal concerns rather than resigning to the pressures of society. Thus, the word “outcast” is mainly employed for emphasizing Walker’s main concern; individuality and nonconformity.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
“in just” by e.e. cummings captures the beautiful and carefree essence of springtime. He describes the small wonders often overlooked: the mud puddles, sound of a whistle, and childhood games. This poem is incredibly reminiscent of my childhood, when all the children who lived on my street would be drawn outdoors simultaneously by the sunshine and spring weather. “in just” also reminds me of the appreciation of nature in Hunting for Hope by Scott Russell Sanders. I received a collection of e.e. cummings poems from a close friend and have seen that the appreciation of the simple miracles in nature is a theme throughout many of his poems such as “Spring is like a perhaps hand” and “here’s to opening and upward, to leaf and to sap.” His poems discuss a whole other world of beauty that is right there, but not always seen by the hustling world. The poem appeals to all of my senses, and cummings uses brilliant imagery to not only make the readers think of spring, but to feel it.
I would also like to point out the very unique structure cummings used, and that in published books of his poems one can see that certain lines are indented, and there are large spaces between some of the words. I enjoy reading his poems written that way because the format enhances the magical quality of his images. The simplicity of the poem is effective because it conveys a very carefree and light feeling that dovetails perfectly with the emotions one feels during a spring day.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker
I agree with Alicja that Walker’s poem conveys the powerful message that we should not be afraid to be ourselves or to “show our true colors.” Individuality and identity are also emphasized in her poem. Her use of anaphora of the phrase “be an outcast” effectively portrayed her central message. She urges readers to embrace their differences and to “be an outcast,” while criticizing people who follow society’s trends by labeling them “impetuous fools.” However, I found that the poem contradicted itself. If every reader decided to follow Walker’s message and “be an outcast” wouldn’t being an outcast become the norm?
Certain lines stood out to me while reading “Be Nobody’s Darling.” I found the lines “Be pleased to walk alone (Uncool) Or line the crowded River beds With other impetuous Fools” to be a bit ominous because she began the line with “Or” which reminded me of Ben Franklin’s phrase “Join or Die.” The oxymoronic line “Qualified to live Among your dead” was also disturbing because it seemed to threaten readers. Walker implies that outcasts faced consequences for speaking their mind when she writes, “Where thousands perished For brave hurt words They said.” Overall, I enjoyed the theme of individuality, but some specific lines were ambiguous and dark when she mentioned death.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling,” by Alice Walker, challenges the audience to ‘be yourself’ despite any societal consequences. Walker repeats the word, “outcast,” to denote the negative connotation, and encourage people to take risks. Only by being true to oneself can one be truly happy. Walker, in addition, encourages the audience to think for themselves, and in turn, to think before acting. For example, if everyone else is doing something that you know is wrong, have the strength and the courage to ‘be the outcast’ who doesn’t follow along. “Be pleased to walk alone…Be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast. Qualified to live among your dead.” By referring to ‘the dead’ I think that Walker means to say that those without personal thoughts or opinions are dead, for they have no voice and therefore no contribution to the world. By being an outcast, according to Walker, one has the ability to make a difference in the world.
The title also indicates that Walker believes one must remain true and in harmony with oneself before one is able to maintain a relationship with anyone else. “Be Nobody’s Darling,” to me, meant that you shouldn’t try to please someone else by changing who you are. Walker’s short and concise phrases add a direct feel to the poem. In using the simple diction, she is contradicting the norm, as she challenges the audience to do as well.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
In an English classroom, students often view poetry as cryptic printed words embedded in thin paperback anthologies. Therefore it is no surprise that many find the subject boring. However, they are missing an exciting aspect of poetry; its presentation. Taylor Mali is a performer. Like a stand-up comedian, he engages his audience in his presentation of “Totally like whatever, you know?” through the use of body language and vocal pitch. His sudden increase in pitch emphasizes the uncertainty in phrases such as “to sound like you know what you’re talking about?”. His hand gestures also correlate with his pitch when he raises a finger in sync with his raising voice. Later he eliminates this questioning tone and advises “to speak with conviction” confidently. Performance can completely alter one’s interpretation of poetry and turn even the driest poems into one rich with meaning. Reading song lyrics is not the same as hearing them sung with the melody, and a similar phenomenon holds true for poetry.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I think that when people read “Be Nobody’s Darling” they tend to only see the truth in it that people shouldn’t be morphing themselves in order to make themselves cool. Instead, people should keep their uniqueness. However, I find that everyone is unique no matter what. I’m not really sure if i really conceive this whole outcast idea, once i started to think about it. On the surface, it’s just “Oh yeah, be different and stand out. Don’t be slave to trend.” And then, Alice Walker insists that people will make fun and judge the ones who are different. This is not always true at all. Personally, I’ve found being yourself may even gain more acceptance then trying to superficially alter your personality. What does an outcast entail? Does one have to be completely different in order to make an outstanding appearance? Is this just a call for attention?
Even though I impose these questions upon the poem, I believe in individuality and being oneself. I wouldn’t describe this as being an outcast of any type. I would consider this being a normal person. A person that is true to themselves and the world. There are many people who stick true to themselves and there are many people who do not. Just because someone is true to herself/himself, doesn’t mean that he/she is excluded from society. There isn’t one absolute form of mainstream thought that will discern the in from the out. Therefore, everyone fits in: the people that want to conform can conform together and the people that are true to themselves can be true together. There is really no such thing as this “outcast” that Walker speaks of. That’s just my opinion.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
“In Just”
E.E. Cummings
Unlike the other two poems, E. E. Cummings’ “In Just” possesses a simple and light-hearted tone. Also unlike the other two poems, I think that “In Just” provides a very personal depiction of the Cummings, or the speaker’s version of spring. Even through his colloquial language, Cummings was able to vividly describe his surroundings. From the marbles to hopscotch and jump rope, the poem portrayed the period of revival that tags along with the season of spring.
While ‘spring’ can have a different meaning for everyone, Cummings described the time as a period of happiness and renewal. He used words like “luscious” and “whistles” which give the reader a sense of joy and magic. The simplistic structure as well as the lack of punctuation leaves the poem open for interpretation. In other words, I added in my interpretation of spring as I read the poem.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
It is obvious that high school students fall victim to the disarticulated speech Taylor Mali refers to in his poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” but I believe that this problem also affects the extended society including our parents and teachers. These adults’s words may not be “duh” and “like” but I have known many who countlessly say “umm” and “ok” while speaking. This makes me believe that this lack of conviction is no longer due to a burning desire to be cool and accepted but is now rather a direct affect of the society we live in. In a nation where “time is money” we do not want anyone to interrupt us and so we use these filler words so to make our audience aware that we are still talking and we still have something to say. This speech has become second nature to most and many do not even realize its presense within our everyday conversations. It is only when someone, like Mali in his poem, points it out that we realize how ridiculous we must sound to a foreign ear.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Taylor Mali’s poem “Totally like whatever, you know?” mocks today’s youth and how English has evolved into the disarticulate vernacular so often heard. As a teenager in society Mali’s poem does strike me personally because I have been known to overuse the word “like” just as many of my peers and the media personnel, along with the adults around me. I agree with Shannon F that the youth should not have all the blame pinned on us because without outside influences like the media and some of the adults around us. Without this influence, where would be have learned to use words such as “like” and “um” and “whatever” to complete every sentence? I also have to agree with Josh November who stated that these are just empty words that contribute nothing to our language when used as they are today. I personally hope that I do not sound like Taylor Mali’s poem suggests, but who knows, I could have like used some of that language in this response without realizing it.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Taylor Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know?” proves to be a unique work of poetry. As Brendan rightly noted, high school students are often reluctant to read poetry because of its cryptic nature. However, it is my personal opinion, that it is not the way in which the poem is presented that captures the audience (as countless other poems are voiced in the same manner) but rather the way Mali effectively writes so that there is no confusion among the members of his target audience (my peers) regarding his message. He openly mocks the communication failings of adolescents in the twenty-first century with his repeated uses of “you know?” and “like.” Never before have I been so self conscious and aware of my tendency to use these very two phrases. Thus it is ironic that poetry to us high school students often registers in our ears as an entirely different language when poets like Taylor Mali view the language used by teenagers as a wholly different form of English, a form characterized by vagueness, disarticulation, and lack of conviction.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
In regards to what Shannon F. stated about Mali’s poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?” the everday language spoken by everybody has its own effect and problem. People now-a-days have been using the filler words such as “like,” “uh,” and “umm” to take up time and space while trying to think of the next thing to say. If you think that these little words do not matter, you are wrong. It sounds ridiculous to use these words and makes the people that you are speaking to believe that you have a lower IQ than you may really have. Many people, as Shannon states also, do not even realize this poor habit that they have grown acustomed to using. It is important to speak with confidence; maybe even more importantly, it is necessary to know about the topic that you are speaking about. Mali really tries to draw that point out by inserting uncertainty, likes, and questions into her poem to shw the absurdity of the language. When listening to it, the extra “ya knows” sound completely uneeded and quite honestly, ditzy. We live in a nation where we have a wonderful orator as our President. If you listen to him speak, you would realize that he does now use any of those filler words. He sounds intelligent and seems to completely understand what he is talking about. Now doesn’t that sound much, “like,” better?
April 29th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Alice Walker
Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” implores female readers to challenge typical gender roles. Her piece uses strong syntax and repetition in order to transmit an empowering tone. Walker’s poem, while less verbose than Mali’s poem, “Totally Like Whatever, You Know?” leaves readers feeling high-minded and uplifted. “Be Nobody’s Darling” and “Be an outcast” are used in conjunction throughout the poem. One can easily determine the author’s point of view as Walker feels being unmarried brings about a sort of individuality that married women do not possess. Walker stresses that women should bend the gender role expectations and “be pleased to walk alone.”
“Be Nobody’s Darling” specifically deals with women, yet by looking at Walker’s poem in a new lens, one can notice the larger implications. Being that Walker has dedicated her career to African American studies, her poem can be related to any minority group. The text, “Take the contradictions of your life, and wrap around you like a shawl,” holds much significance to groups of different races or religions. Walker suggests embracing one’s uniqueness rather than trying to conceal it. The moral or message the poem transmits is powerful to both women and minority groups, making “Be Nobody’s Darling” relatable to many.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker sends across an extremely clear message. This message is one we have all heard since birth, and that is you don’t have to be like everyone else, in fact it is more beneficial to be your own self and to have your own unique identity. I honestly believe that this is one of the most important lessons to learn in life and Alice Walker is able to portray this lesson effectively in her cohesive and convincing words. One of the features that makes Walker’s poem so convincing to the reader is her use of anaphora that comes through as she repeats different phrases and words such as, “Be nobody’s darling;Be an outcast.” The repetition of this phrase allows Alice Walker to make her point, and keep repeating it until she is sure that the reader will understand what she wants and understand why the reader should want this. Walker also utilizes the word “river bed” and uses this to describe the “impetuous fools” who do not make an identity for themselves. She uses a river bed to contrast the dull rocks and monotonous of the surrounding of a river, while the “outcasts” who are “pleased to walk alone” are the river, the ever changing ever flowing water that is refreshing and always bringing in a new tide.
alan123 made an interesting comparison between “Be Nobody’s Darling” and “Totally, Like Whatever, You Know?” that I have to agree with. Both of these poems point out a flaw with today’s society, but not only criticizes the flaws, but also provide solutions and suggestions to its readers. Both authors are able to use rhetorical strategies and poetic language to convey their message and leave a lasting effect on their reader.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Alice Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” clearly possesses a common theme with Taylor Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know”. In Mali’s first stanza he immediately uses the phrase “it has somehow become uncool to sound like you know what you’re talking about?”. The idea that speaking with conviction and authority is “uncool” can easily be related to Walker’s repetitious assertion that retaining your individuality, no matter the consequences, should be of primary importance. As mentioned many times, Alice Walker condemns the followers of society in favor of the individuals and free thinkers. Her belief in uniqueness is made apparent through the use of words like outcast as well as the stress placed on “you” with phrases like “Take the contradictions Of your life And wrap around You like a shawl, To parry stones To keep you warm.” Alice Walker attempts to address the doubts some people may have in themselves, and inspire a feeling of pride in being different.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Once again here to play devil’s advocate…
I got an entirely different and less “simple and lighthearted” as put before by Christina. I found the poem to actually be quite cynical. (Sorry Mr. Lee) I saw the poem as a world coming apart, where people just use “Spring” to hide from the truth. Cummings specifically states “the world is mud”, which implies that the world is in worse shape than originally thought. The “little lame baloonman” gives me the feeling that the man selling baloons is in reality a person detached from society a somewhat physically different, giving him the lame aspect. He whistles “far and wee” (wee means beautiful in latin) because the beauty can only be seen from afar, but up close there is no beauty to be see.
The two boys eddie and bill “come running from marbles and piracies”. Marbles is a game where the winner is able to steal pieces from the losing person and keep them for themselves, while piracies in itself is the act of stealing illigally. Then the “world is puddle” and Cummings is happy for the poor condition of the world.
Once again, there is a comment on the different baloonman, who this time is “old and queer” (more aspects that consider him an outcast from society due to his physical form). The girls are lead away from their games, and they do not realize the evil baloonman is leading them away from innocence.
The real kicker is the “goat-footed baloonMan” who now give the appearance of the devil, who was known to be a half goat, half man. He is leading the children away from their spring innocence and toward a much crueler world. They always said the devil would be beautiful.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
Alice Walker’s poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” clearly expresses her outlook on life and approach to the world. Growing up in an era full or racism, Walker was introduced to Martin Luther King, Jr. and became a Civil Rights activist in the South. Walker stresses the need to be an outcast at certain times and break away from the societal molds that restrict you from living your life to the fullest. She explains that by being an outcast, people will look at you suspiciously (“Let them look askance at you”) and you will get noticed. By being noticed, you can get out your message more effectively. Even if the publicity isn’t in your favor, Walker’s message is similar to the idea that “you’re nobody until you’re talked about.” She lets people know that it is okay to not fit in and pushes people to embrace being an outsider. Obviously, by being a Civil Rights activist, I can guarantee that she faced a great deal of put downs and harassment from racists. Walker’s poem can also be put into other contexts, such as High School. As teenagers, we constantly strive to be perceived well by others and are all aware of the stereotypes that exist in the media of the nerd, jock, cheerleader, etc. In this context, Walker’s poem gives courage to the outsiders that are confident enough to dress differently, hang out with different crowds, etc. Her poem emphasizes a pride for individuality.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
In “Be Nobody’s Darling”, Alice Walker is telling us what many parents and teachers have preached to us already: what’s “cool” isn’t always what’s right, be true to yourself and avoid conforming to peer pressure. No offense Mom and Dad, but Ms. Walker does so in a much more eloquent and analytical manner, and in the process is able to present this old lesson in a fresh package. Walker transforms the word “outcast”, which usually comes with unquestionably negative connotations, into a positive label. In fact, in Walker’s mind, being an “outcast” is something to strive for. Walker of course is not using the word in the conventional sense of a disagreeable social recluse. The poet’s definition of a recluse is one who rises above society’s various peer pressures, and prefers their own values to those of the majority. I found it quite interesting how Walker used the words “outcast” “fools”, and the phrase “qualified to live among your dead” as positive statements.
This poem also reminded me of two (random) things as I read it. I couldn’t help thinking of all those posters we have seen hanging in our classrooms since kindergarten, encouraging us to “shoot for the stars”, and a number of other cliche proverbs. A few I’ve seen over the years have echoed the same sentiments as Walker’s poem, most recently one that hangs in Ms.Phelan’s room. The poster says something to the effect of “In 30 years, it won’t matter what clothes you wore, what hairstyle you had (etc.), but what you learned and how you used it”. I realize this is not the exact same theme as “Be Nobody’s Darling”, but there are undeniably strong parallels.
The line in Walker’s poem that encourages the reader to “Take the contradictions of your life and wrap around you like a shawl,” reminded me greatly of a line in a Langston Hughes poem I read not to long ago. In Juke Box Love Song, Hughes tells a female companion that he “could take the Harlem nigh and wrap around you”. Although the two poets are referring to completely different subject matters, I found it notable how similar their wording is. I like the way they illustrated such immersion in an inanimate object or idea.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
“in just” is a perfect poem for spring. I’m not sure about the baloonman, but the other images are evocative of the feelings of freedom, joy and rebirth one experiences after a particularly dreary winter. I love how cummings uses words like “puddle-wonderful”, and how he runs the children’s names together. I work with young children, and this poem captures the image of them bursting out of the school, onto the play ground, yelling, throwing off their jackets, running chasing, in love with these first warm days.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
to further explore Alice Walker’s poem, Be Nobody’s Darling, one must consider the poem’s context. As an African American and as a woman, Walker must have certainly faced her fair share of ostracism. To quote from one of her favorite works, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston calls woman the “mule of the world.” Such a title appropriately sums up the degradation as well as isolation of the typical woman. However, Alice Walker was no typical woman. Also facing the racism against African Americans, Walker was forced to find the strength to retain her own identity. Writing can be extremely therapeutic in just such situations, allowing the writer to preserve his or herself symbolically on paper. Walker uses language to retain her identity, a concept addressed in each poem.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
In response to Allison M’s comment towards E. E. Cummings’ “In Just”, I agree that Cummings does some interesting things both stylistically and with content in his poem. To delve deeper into a thought that Allison M has started, I think that Cummings’ use of the phrases “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful” are used to embrace the sense of childhood fun and innocence. The carefree idea of mud fights and jumping through puddles is very iconic to the innocence that childhood brings. Then, Cummings uses the queer old baloonman to signify the coming and going of spring. He contrasts the youth with this old baloonman, whistling far and wee. Why far, and far in what sense? I think the baloonman actually symbolizes more than one thing. His presence is there not only to contrast youth but also to emphasize fleeting youth, which Cummings connects back to the pairs of children abandoning their childish games as the baloonman comes whistling along. Thus, Cummings uses spring to portray the freshness of youth and young age, while using the baloonman as a reminder to how quick those years pass by, and how the young are always in a rush to throw behind childhood and run towards the future/adulthood.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Upon looking at e.e. cummings’s poem, “in just”, there were two features of the poem that immediately became apparent to me: the use of white space between some words and lines, and the multiple use of a single word supporting an entire line. The poem visually also features the boys’ and girls’ names joined together as though they were each one, and the capitalization of the “m” in “balloonMan” towards the poem’s end. I felt that when reading the posts about this poem the first thing that many other students recognized was spring, such as Christina V who said this poem was the “speaker’s version of spring” and R. Serino who said ‘“in just” is a perfect poem for spring.’ To me this poem was more than just another poem about spring; the way the poem is written truly stood out to me.
All the stylistic features contribute to how the poem will be read; when the poem is read, the sound, can be furthered by alliteration, and take upon an alternating rhythm of excitement and measured awareness; which is an accelerated “tempo” that reflects the excited manner of child-like exuberance for springtime revelry, and the stillness in the “tempo” can be attributed to the measured awareness or ambivalent feelings felt towards the “goat-footed balloonMan.” The poem’s rapid and then still tempo creates an artistic tension that coincides with the speaker’s account of a remembered spring. By employing white space, alliteration, compressed conjunctions, and some unconventional capitalization, e. e. cummings creates what could be a dream vision of a remembered springtime- revelry that reads with both excitement and a measured awareness.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker cleverly discusses the subject of nonconformity. As much as I enjoy reading about finding individuality and finding your own unique qualities, I believe Walker takes it to the extreme but finds a way to make it work. Although being a nonconformist can be considered as staying true to yourself and not being succumbed into following others belief, becoming an “outcast” is a little severe, yet Walker makes being an outcast the ideal situation for being “nobody’s darling”. “Be nobody’s darling; be an outcast. Qualified to live among your dead.” The “dead” can be assumed to describe all conformists in society who lack individuality and rely on others to define their life.
In this generation where people feel the need to fit in and follow the newest fads and fashions it is important to maintain your individuality. This is very similar to Mali’s poem “Totally Like Whatever, You know?” because both writers urge people to defy what society consider to be the coolest and most popular things. Both Mali and Walker present to their reader the idea of being a leader, not a follower, and sustaining distinctiveness by staying true to yourself.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
As is seen in many of the blogs above, Taylor Mali uses an informal and satirical edge to captivate his audience while expressing a serious idea. In his poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?”, Mali divulges into the social culture of teens and their seemingly new way of expressing ideas-using a question. By writing his poem in the form of a series of questions, Mali demonstrates how annoying and useless this type of speech is. For anyone who actually speeks this way, it is a wake up call, like a recording of their words being played back again. Reading the exaggerated poem, of course one would laugh, but it really makes us wonder why we have changed our speech to express doubt in every statement. We are individuals, each with our own opinions, beliefs, and ideas. A question completely shatters any argument or spotlights weaknesses. In this difficult and competitive world, only those who are foward enough to be heard and understood -not doubted-will make it. That is the point of Mali’s last paragraph, in which he reverts to formal sentences and a serious tone to make the reader leap from the lighthearted laughter to deep thinking.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
“In Just”
e.e. Cummings
I found this poem to be the most intriguing of the three. The short and choppy phrases allow the reader to paint a picture for themselves. Words such as “balloonman”, “sping”, and “marbles” suggest a wide variety of colors, yet vague scenery. Just as Mr. Lee desribed how the scene appeared to him, e.e. cummings gave this freedom to all of his readers. Constrastly, providing the reader with specific names such as “bettyandisbel” and “eddieandbill” the reader can try to see into the mind of e.e. Cummings when writing his poem. Tieing the image together is the repetition of the word “spring” that seems to make the poem light-hearted and cheery despite the desperate attempts made by the balloonman to attract customers. Appreciating every aspect of spring from the puddles to the games played by children truly gives the poem a sense of simplicity and joy.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Hearing Taylor Mali read his poem brought his words to life, especially because of the valley girl type “accent” and varied voice intonations he used. This impact was intentional, practiced, and refined. However, a perhaps unrealized benefit of his poem is its influence as a written piece. Seeing the words on paper not only sends the same message, but also serves as a wake up call. The American public is just so used to using this poor vernacular that not many have thought twice about using words such as “like” or “totally”. Observing how ridiculous this speech looks on paper, more people are likely to change their habits. I’ve even made a conscious effort to limit my use of this clumsy, unsophisticated language. For me, the nontraditional order of listening to the poem first and then reading it added a new, more urgent dimension to the words.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
In relation to Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know?”, Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling” emphasizes the need for individualism in society. Mali states that American teenagers use slang and filler words such as “like” and “uh” to give off the impression that they do not know exactly what they are talking about. Adolescents speak in this manner to conform in society and through this eliminate their uniqueness. Walker similarly directs her audience to a non-conformity theory because only “fools” blend in. “Wacth people succumb to madness with ample cheer” portrays that Walker believes that humans are willing to act in unthinkable ways to conform and please one another. She urges her readers to find themselves and only do things for themselves.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
“In Just,” by E.E. Cummings is a rather straight forward poem compared to the other two poems. “Be Nobody’s Darling,” and “Totally like whatever, you know?,” provoke one to delve into the issues to find the message of the poem. Mali’s poem talks about how our generation is not challenging ourselves, mocking the slang used in any high school student’s life. Walker’s piece encourages independence; to live as an outcast and be something. These two serious topics are at one end of the spectrum, while E.E Cummings light-hearted poem is at the other. E.E. Cummings speaks about spring, painting a picture in the reader’s mind. He builds on spring showers to go from mud being luscious to puddles being wonderful. Then he places readers in a care-free mood, when he mentions the children running from their marbles, hop-scotch, and jump-rope games. From this image of playing children, the reader observes a romantic tone. While the other two poems leave the reader in a thoughtful, contemplative mood, the reader comes away from this E.E. Cummings poem feeling relaxed and refreshed, just like after a light spring shower.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
When I first read “Totally like whatever, you know,” I didn’t think much of the poem itself other than as many of you said that it was mocking the slang used by teenagers and the decline in spoken langauge that has substance. Yet, I fell in love with Be NoBody’s Darling for the message to be unique and to stand out in the crowd, to do what you love and never let anything or anyone stop you, especially gender. Now take a closer look with me. In connecting these two poems isn’t it interesting that a “unique” and different style of speaking is being critiqued? Wouldn’t making fun of a style of speaking, even if it is grammatically correct be going against the major them and lesson from the poem Be Nobody’s Darling? Maybe its the late hour thats gotten to my head or I’ve hit upon something here. Maybe the fact that Totally like whatever you know isnt nessasarily mocking teeangers, but applauding them for coming up with their own language a bit far out from the norm that is mostly universal. Just some food for thought.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
As Allison and Renee stated, Alice Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling” is largely about individuality. Walker describes the strength found in self-ostracism from the typical woman’s role as wife. While “the people succumb to madness” one can watch with strength found in independence. One’s individuality defines oneself, and when no longer independent (once married), much of this identity is lost. Therefore, one must “be pleased to walk alone” as only then can one “make a merry gathering on the bank where thousands perished.” Being “nobody’s darling” preserves one’s individuality, thus maintaining the strength found in one’s independence.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Taylor Mali’s poem, “Totally like whatever, you know?” tackles the controversial flaw of our society. Where has the individuality gone? Using humor – Mali incorporates the ambiguous common speak including “you know?” into the text of the poem itself – Mali is able to capture the audience’s attention. He then contrasts this with the last paragraph, which embodies the confidence that he states our society lacks so much.
I agree with Alison Wong’s connection to the fads and fashions. Why is it that our culture sets a specific boundary on the way we act, the clothing we wear, and the people that we are? How can “cool” take away our own confidence? I never realized how much I use the phrases “like”, “you know”, and “whatever”. I never realized how much these words detract from my assertion. Just as Alice Walker emphasized, being an outcast, however idealistic this sounds, may be the only way to regain the self-confidence that is taken away by conformity.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Taylor Mali’s recitation of “Totally like whatever, you know?” made a greater impact on me than the actual written text. As a written piece, I found Mali’s words more difficult to comprehend and analyze. However his performance using voice and varrying tones made an enormous difference that truly deepened my appreciation for such a rich poem. I valued “Totally like whatever, you know?” more through speech probably because I lack the skill in reading poems, failing to add the necessary pauses and punctuations. Rachel made a great point, “Hearing Taylor Mali read his poem brought his words to life.” I feel that his voice and intonation truthfully did bring the words into life in a way that I was not able to recognize through the written text.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I particularly liked this poem because of its romantic picturesque description. An ideal day outside to play. In e.e. Cummings “In Just”, the “baloonman” changes from “little” to “old”. This maturity is another allusion to his representation of the innocence of children and how it evolves. As Cummings describes the scene of this moment in childhood, the balloonman represents a sense of forward motion beyond that of the children in the passage. The “goat-footed” balloonman, from doing some outside research, apparently refers to the god of ancient Greece: Pan. Pan lured the sheep with his flute, as does the balloonman with the balloons. I found this was an interesting reference, and it makes sense since Pan was believed to be a creature of half goat and half human.
My reflection from the poem is that it really causes the reader to question Cumming’s thought process. The way the poem is spaced is an interesting thing to ponder, alone.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:17 am
In the poem “Be Nobody’s Darling”, Alice Walker makes a bold point against conformity through the demands of the reader to “be a outcast”. Alice knows that individuality is vital to making the world go around, and tries to impart this on the reader because a world of conformists is a stagnant world. Alice’s poem is able to have the greatest effect on the reader because of her extensive, strong use of imagery when relating individuality to several topics in the verses.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:26 am
The poem “In Just” was quite an ambiguous poem by e.e. Cummings. Cummings intentionally uses awkward syntax and spacing to make it seem almost like the reader is reading the poem from the point of view of a child. Cummings is attempting to capture the rush of excitement in a child when Spring is coming. The “baloonman” brings the fun to the children throughout the poem. The children, so excited, rush to what he brings and thus their names are slurred. Overall, I didn’t really like the poem because of the difficulty of interpreting it. I prefer a more straightforward interpretation, but there’s no denying the level of craftsmanship Cummings uses in this poem to impart his message on the reader.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Alice Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” is a transcendant piece of literature, applicable to the core issues of human nature. Espousing individualistic values, Walker takes her own personal life lessons and generalizes them to fit any time period and any person. Her poem can be assumed to be tinged with biographical influences, and, though written for the general public, to be about her own struggles as a African American feminist writer, forging a path into American Literature. Regardless of the initial intent, Walker utilizes a poetic style that induces rhythm through syllabic placement, as well as rhyming words to end stanzas. These literary devices further her message, as a visual image can be pictured through her lines, “like a shawl,” that use symbolic references. Walker’s poem is focussed on the macro image of human interaction, and succedes in its quest, being a well read piece of literature in years past, as well as years to come.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
After reading the poem “in just” by E.E. CUmmings, i felt as though I had recieved the wrong impression from a poem that was meant to produce a lighthearted and warmfelt tone. Instead, I was engulfed in a mind set of confusion and almost disgust with our world. I questioned my outlook on this poem, thinking that there was no way I could have recieved such a vibe from this poem until I saw the post that Ben had left. He seemed to recognize the same attitude towards CUmmings word choice and symbolism. Im pretty sure I still do not fully understand the meaning behind the little balloon man, but Ben’s assumption about him being a man of reality seems to fit perfectly. THis poem, rather than expressing the wonderful aspects of spring, seems to take the oppisite side. CUmmings, although this may be a wrong accusation, has chosen to take a peaceful topic, spring, and use it in a way that we do not normally see. He decided to show how the world is not at its best and how spring, although it is a beautiful season, may be destroyed or detriorating due to the world in the present day.
April 30th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
E.E. Cummings poem “In Just” portrays playful and innocence in the minds of children. For some, this poem can conjure different mental images and recollections of childhood. Mr. Lee re-imagined his childhood, growing up in New York City while Scott H. mentioned that this poem reminds him of his own childhood in New Jersey. Cummings’ poem can be applied to almost anything. Aside from content, Cummings’ syntax and structure beautifully fits the context in which the poem is placed. Her short one to two word lines, particularly near the end, imitate the winded voices of enervated children, perhaps in the midst of a game of tag. The anxiety that comes from this structure also gives the poem more of a connection with childhood. Spring, for children at least, is all about the anticipation of the careless, playful summer days.
April 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
In “Totally like whatever, you know?” Taylor Mali discusses candidly the lack of authority of our generation. Ironically, the poem serves as an example of the speech to which Mali addresses. He stresses interrogative sentences, phrases such as “you know,” and “like” to highlight the integrated habits of our everyday dialogue. I laughed when I first read it because the message of the poem parallels so truthfully with this unspoken fact. Notice how Taylor Mali changes abruptly into proper English in the last piece of the poem. He concludes by challenging us to “Question authority” – certainly valuable advice for our years ahead.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:00 am
“Be Nobody’s Darling” – Alice Walker
Alice Walker takes an odd stance on life in her poem. She rejects the common notion that one should interact with others, and instead suggests isolation. Do I agree with this? No, not really though I do feel it is important to be alone at certain times, being alone for your whole life just seems morbid. Walker uses many examples of isolation, going as far as die alone, but then how will your legacy live on. You will have made no lasting impressions on anyone if you are always alone, and you will not be remembered, you will just be another statistic. For me this is a phobia, only being recognized in a death rate of a certain year. Why isolation? Why solitude? I ponder these thoughts and I take Walker’s poem as a radical view that is only a foil for the life I want to live.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:13 am
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker
While this may come across as overly critical, to me, Walker’s poem was another example of an extreme literature to emphasize an overused yet underappreciated theme. Yes, occasionally I lose myself to the sweeping currents of society that force me to go with the flow and change my behavior, but am I an outcast for being myself? Being myself should not translate into removing myself from society, but instead sifting through society without changing myself, acknowledging those who gravitate towards me (as myself), and even slightly altering society with my originality.
The first connection that came to my mind as I read Walker’s poem was the idea of conformity versus individuality in Ellison’s Invisible Man. That connection fed my dislike for the hyperbolic characteristics of “Be Nobody’s Darling,” as IM’s fate was to be completely ostracized from society and live only by the definition of having a beating heart. Should I be happy that Walker is encouraging me to follow the path that IM took? Should I battle conformity by disappearing? I think not.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:18 am
“In Just” – E.E. Cummings
E.E. Cummings’ poem really has not much content. There is a playful young spring day, four kids, hopscotch, and marbles. Its length only attributes to its greatness. By there not being much said in the poem there is alot left to the reader interpret, think and imagine. The poem allows one to reflect on the days of innocence, when he or she was a child running and enjoying the day without a care in the world because nothing mattered except the task at hand. As one grows up, he or she tends to forget what the main focus is, because their are so many jobs, responsibilities that must be attended to. “In Just” allows me to take a step back and remember the days of the playground, where you would play with everyone and you would make friends left and right because everyone just wanted to take a turn swinging 8 ft in the air or traversing the monkeybars.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:57 am
I found these two poems very engaging and interesting in a comparative perspective, and also alone. They both express a distate for the state of affairs with people and encourage them to take a certain action. Mali states it in a more “matter of fact” way by providing details of what he dislikes — people not speaking with conviction, not feeling strongly enough about their beliefs to speak out, and their lack of ability to articulate their thoughts. He also demonstrates his point convincingly and humorously through the construction of his poem. The repetitive use of “like,” “you know,” and question marks at the end of declarative sentences are demonstrative of his intent and purpose. It’s very clever, and I agree with him wholeheartedly. People don’t speak eloquently these days, and many times they are afraid to speak their minds. They don’t use adjectives that would aptly describe a situation or thing; instead, everything is — cool, hot, awesome, etc. I hope this poem will resonate with the 11th graders who read it in a way that will encourage them to speak with conviction and in a more articulate fashion.
Along similar lines, Walker expresses her dislike for conformists who strive to “fit in” with society. She encourages her readers to “[b]e an outcast.” Unlike “Totally like whatever, you know?”, no specific examples are used to demonstrate her point, but the poem is equally effective in its calling to take a stand, be yourself, and “[b]e nobody’s darling.” The last paragraph, and specifically the last line “[q]ualified to live [a]mong your dead,” is so powerful in getting its point across. It really makes you think and reflect upon yourself.
They are inspiring poems; I hope we will all speak with more conviction and have the courage to take “the road not taken.”
May 1st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Response to 11th grade poems “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker and “Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali:
I found these two poems very engaging and interesting in a comparative perspective, and also alone. They both express a distate for the state of affairs with people and encourage them to take a certain action. Mali states it in a more “matter of fact” way by providing details of what he dislikes — people not speaking with conviction, not feeling strongly enough about their beliefs to speak out, and their lack of ability to articulate their thoughts. He also demonstrates his point convincingly and humorously through the construction of his poem. The repetitive use of “like,” “you know,” and question marks at the end of declarative sentences are demonstrative of his intent and purpose. It’s very clever, and I agree with him wholeheartedly. People don’t speak eloquently these days, and many times they are afraid to speak their minds. They don’t use adjectives that would aptly describe a situation or thing; instead, everything is — cool, hot, awesome, etc. I hope this poem will resonate with the 11th graders who read it in a way that will encourage them to speak with conviction and in a more articulate fashion.
Along similar lines, Walker expresses her dislike for conformists who strive to “fit in” with society. She encourages her readers to “[b]e an outcast.” Unlike “Totally like whatever, you know?”, no specific examples are used to demonstrate her point, but the poem is equally effective in its calling to take a stand, be yourself, and “[b]e nobody’s darling.” The last paragraph, and specifically the last line “[q]ualified to live [a]mong your dead,” is so powerful in getting its point across. It really makes you think and reflect upon yourself.
They are inspiring poems; I hope we will all speak with more conviction and have the courage to take “the road not taken.”
May 1st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker
While reading this poem I made a connection to Thoreau right away. The style and opinions of both writers are similar. They both use exaggerated situations to portray what they want people to understand. Also, both feel that isolation and being your own person are what people truly need to live well.
I agree with their views but only to an extent. To be your own person complete isolation is not required. The last stanza of Walker’s poem reads: Be nobody’s darling; be an outcast. Qualified to live, among your dead. I assume Walker is referring to the people of the world that do not live in isolation as the “dead”. This is a case of her exaggerating a situation to help portray her view. And in this case I do not agree with her, because to follow society and not always live as an outcast does not make anyone “dead”. On the contrary, a balance of isolation and working with society is ideal.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
“Totally like whatever, you know?” by Taylor Mali.
Taylor is always focused, passionate, and bright, which is what makes his poem such a great read, whether you like what he says or not. In this poem, I especially like the part states “I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you,
I challenge you: To speak with conviction.
To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.”
Taylor is so right. In today’s world, we emphasize team work, harmony, politeness, and respecting others’ personal space. As a result, we do not say what’s on our mind any more. We become cowards of our own design. This is sad because when we stop breaking paradigm, we stop going forward. It is about time that we need to speak with conviction and get our thoughts out laud and clear.
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
In her poem, Alice Walker explores individuality and conformity. From the beginning, Walker establishes an authoritative tone with her “commands”. She orders the audience to “Be nobody’s darling; Be an outcast.” This directive is the central focus of her poem. At first, her command to “be an outcast” was a bit strange since we typically associate the word “outcast” with many negative connotations. However, Alice Walker looks upon “outcasts” in a favorable light in this poem. In this case, the outcasts are the better members of society.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
“Be Nobody’s darling”
In the poem, individuality is stressed. The poem’s title is repeated throughout emphasizing the message. Walker defines the meaning of an “outcast.” You have to be yourself no matter what and don’t be afraid to be yourself. You don’t have to follow society to fit in. in order to be true to yourself, you don’t have to follow those around you. I think Walker’s style and format effectively showed the poem’s overall message to the audience.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:51 pm
“In Just”
This poem had an unusual/ different format, which made it stand out. It had one word lines. Cummings also put names together with no spaces like “eddieandbill” and “bettyandisbel.” The poem illustrates someone’s childhood in the spring. It described different memories by listing activities that children could have done. (Like “jump rope” “hop scotch” and playing “marbles”) The description gave the poem a light and playful tone. It was simple, but it was powerful in painting an image of a child in spring.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling” takes nonconformity to the extreme: why challenge social conventions when you can neglect them all together? Walker urges the reader to become a complete outcast, to somehow find happiness in the face of utter loneliness. Walker believed that individuality came only by removing yourself from society.
Immediate connections to the poem included Ellison’s Invisible Man and Rand’s The Fountainhead, in which characters from both novels challenged the social status quo with varying degrees of success. For “Be Nobody’s Darling”, however, those “varying degrees” are nonexistent; either you fail to express your own thoughts by conforming or succeed by ignoring society.
I do not believe there is such an indelible line between conformity and individuality. In a sense, becoming an outcast is hypocritical, since you could not beat the set standard, you decide to run away from it. Instead of neglecting social conventions, we should challenge them and improve what we believe is at fault.
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 am
E.E. Cummings’s “In Just” is as much written by the reader as it is by the narrator. “In Just” is left intentionally ambiguous, allowing the reader to fill in the details with his/her own imagination or experiences. Thus, what at first seems to be a simplistic poem can be quite complex and thought-provoking. For example while Mr. Lee pictured life in the city and Ronnie experienced a nostalgic remembrance of his playground days, “In Just” provoked yet another response for me: my Spring allergies. The start of Spring had always signaled the start of a miserable weeks worth of sneezing, nose blowing, and eyes rubbing. Additionally, the ‘balloonman” resurrected past memories of my inability to hold onto balloons for more than 5 minutes before they inevitably drifted away from my hands to the clouds. For these completely biased reasons, I did not particularly enjoy reading the poem, but applaud E.E. Cummings’s ability to invoke so many different responses from such a simple work of literature.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
While Alice Walker directly insists that the reader become “an outcast” in her poem “Be Nobody’s Darling”, e.e. cummings indirectly sends the same message through the “baloonman” in his poem, “in just.” Walker maintains throughout her poem, that one should “be pleased to walk alone” and pleased to “be an outcast.” Her message is direct and well sent. She asks her audience to be independent and different-to be “nobody’s darling.” Her message can be applied to high school, where there is a constant desire to be accepted. It is teen or even human nature to want to be someone’s darling- to be someone’s prom date, or to be Edward Cullen’s Bella. But Walker says to be pleased to be independent- even if you walk alone, uncool to the crowds. While Walker directly sends her message, Cummings poem seems to ask nothing of his audience at first glance. He instead writes of spring with “eddieandbill” playing “marbles and piracies,” “bettyandisabel” playing “hop-scotch and jump-rope,” and of the baloonman. It is through the later, the “baloonman” that Cummings cryptically advocates individuality. The baloonman is described as “lame”, “queer”, and “goat-footed.” Lame and goat-footed may refer to the baloonman’s physical limitations-perhaps he is crippled or impaired in someway. The baloonman is also described as queer, or different from the norm. Cummings’s poem seems to focus on how the baloonman is out of place in a time of spring and playing children. Yet the baloonman seems to accept who is and continues to “whistle far and wee.” Cummings’s poem can be applied to any place, NYC or even WHRHS. I feel the poem as to do more with the baloonman than spring and the children. Those later two serve to paint the scene, while the baloonman is the main character. Thus both Walker and Cummings advocate distinctiveness over conformity in their respective poems, “Be Nobody’s Darling” and “in just.”
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker
Alice Walker’s poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” has such a strong and unexpected effect on its readers. The title itself already gives a sense of what Walker believes in – independence and the power to stand up for oneself. She encourages her audience to disregard the opinions and judgments of others and to just be happy with who they are in life. The tone she uses is simple and effective, leaving any reader with the positive outlook of being an “outcast.” The word “outcast” has always carried a derogatory definition, but Walker is able to give it a whole other meaning through her poem. She gives her readers hope of being free and independent, and explains how any other way of living would be worthless: “Be an outcast. Qualified to live among your dead.” Alice Walker gives an extraordinary impression of living the life of a recluse and how such loneliness will harbor a content and blissful life.
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
“In Just” by E.E. Cummings
This poem’s simplistic diction and syntax has a strange effect on me and many other readers. “In Just” allows readers to wonder and ponder over the true meaning of the poem and what Cummings wants to convey. The only obvious theme is the portrayal of spring and the actions of children – “from hop-scotch and jump-rope.” Cummings’ poem thoroughly confused me at first, and still does, but I am beginning to gain a better sense of what he is trying to show his readers. The poem seems to be drawing a picture of a town or city rejoicing in the wonder and beauty of a beautiful spring day. The “baloonman” steps in as a symbol of the people of the town and their simple happiness to just be alive and living on such a lovely day. The study of this poem can go on forever, as it should, because Cummings’ train of thought can be befuddling and mesmerizing.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
“Nobody’s Darling” and “In Just” are poems that can be closely related. “In Just” by Cummings has a very playful tone. He describes “marbles,” the “balloonman,” dancing, hopscotch, and jumprope. These are symbols are the past-times of a childhood when we are able to be carefree and were free from society’s constraints because we didn’t even know what they were. “Nobody’s Darling” reflects the point in life where we realized that we are no longer children and that we have started to conform to society’s demands. It is important to contrast the two poems and how drastic a change there is from childhood to adulthood about conformity. Even the poem’s first line draws a parallel to the ideas expressed in “In Just”: “Be an Outcast.” E.E. Cummings poem presents a very simple and atmosphere. The term outcast has no significance to those children who are merely having a fun day in spring. The two poems pose the question as to why the action of being oneself and having fun is tainted by perjorative diction, such as the word outcast. Walker seems to support the fact that being oneself is enough.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Unfortunately, finding uniqueness today is like finding a diamond in the rough. What a cliche, I know, but even with all the diversity in the world, people can be so similar. In her poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling,” Alice Walker challenges the audience to face conformity. It is easy to submit to society’s images to fit in. Most often, it feels better to fit it than to be alone and misunderstood. Alice Walker dares us to risk being uncool and alone to be our own person, but she understands it is a difficult task.
Walker’s diction and strong command of language is remarkable in this poem. She does not say “being nobody’s darling is cooler than being like everybody else.” We’ve all heard that before, but that has proved fruitless. Instead, she repeats words like “outcast,” with a negative connotation to make the audience think and question themselves. Why would I want to be an outcast? Walker added, “Be an outcast;
Be pleased to walk alone (Uncool) Or line the crowded River beds With other impetuous Fools.” Why would I want to walk alone and be uncool when I can be popular and have people to care about me? Walker’s purpose by utilizing words with negative tones is to develop the reader’s mind. After reading the poem, the message is clear: be your own person. However, the audience is left with a choice: be uncool or be unique? Hopefully, more people would choose to be unique, because they don’t HAVE to be uncool to have their own identity. It is vital to point out that Walker does not feel that you are destined to be uncool and an outcast if you do not submit to other peoples’ wishes of you. She is just echoing the subconscious opinion of the many who choose to conform. In my opinion, this poem is strong because of Walker’s approach. With her strong diction, she makes the reader question themselves and what they want out of life instead of telling them what to want.
I feel that the strongest individuals will react the best to this poem. The lines, “Take the contradictions Of your life And wrap around You like a shawl, To parry stones To keep you warm,” can be very thoughtful or very intimidating. I think that most people do not want to face the contradictions of their life because it is not an easy thing to do. Life isn’t easy. However, the first step in become nobody’s darling is to embrace your life and accept it for what it is. Hiding behind a facade may get you friends on Facebook, but that is without pride and dignity, and therefore not a good way to live life.
This poem definitely applies perfectly to high school, where there is always peer pressure to conform. There is always someone telling you to do something you don’t want to do, but life is too stressful to fight them. However, it also applies to life as a whole and within it is an important question and an important lesson in conformity.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling,” by Alice Walker, conveys the moral of “standing out in the crowd” rather than being indifferent. Walker grasps the reader’s attention by using commands at the beginning of every verse, such as “Be nobody’s darling” and “Make a merry gathering.” Using such an informal tone encompasses the overall mood of the poem-to take control. Walker wants the reader to take control of his/her actions, to be his self/her self without giving into peer pressure. Some of Walker’s diction are analogies, such as “Take the contradictions Of your life And wrap around You like a shawl, To parry stones To keep you warm.” This phrase conveys Walker telling the reader to not listen to anybody; do what he/she feels is right. Walker expresses independence and self-reliance in this analogy and throughout the poem, in that she says for the reader to be concerned with himself/herself. Reading “Be Nobody’s Darling” impacts the reader’s intuition to follow his/her own path throughout his/her journey in life.
E.E. Cummings’s poem, “in Just,” sets the mood of being jubilant and “on-the-go.” Cummings expresses this when he wrote “the queer old baloonman whistles far and wee and bettyandisbel come dancing.” His tone has a positive effect on the reader, making him/her feel heartfelt and wanting to become a part of that livelihood. The one word stanza is concise, leaving the reader on the edge of his/her seat, interested in what else the poem has to offer. The message that Cummings portrays is to participate in activities, where he/she can expand his/her imagination and creativity.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
ee cummings has always been one of my favorite authors. His style is extraordinary and just when I think his words are nonsense and have no clarity whatsoever, order reveals itself. I can’t help but admire the way he seems to throw random words or letters on a page, but they always have a meaning and a purpose. I believe the purpose of “In Just” is to create an image and connect to the reader. He is specific enough so that every reader forms an image in their head while reading the poem, but open enough so that every image is totally different. Mr. Lee saw himself in New York City where he grew up because of the hop scotch and balloon man. While I can support his image, mine was totally different. I saw little kids in slums in the Dominican Republic. Whenever we visit there, my family and I bring the kids candy and toys, we are their balloon men, while they play jumprope and hopscotch in the hot streets. I think the poem takes place in spring because it is a season of change and fresh, new beginnings. The images of the children playing games and cummings’ playful style with small lines and no spaces in between words and names like “eddieandbill” create a playful, hopeful mood. Children and the spring both have essences of innocence which also make the mood happy and light. After reading the darker, more serious poem “Be Nobody’s Darling,” “In Just” restores hope in humanity by allowing the reader to recollect the joys of their childhood and enjoy the fruits of spring.
May 3rd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
“In Just” by EE Cummings
This poem has little content and seems pretty simple at your first look. But then you realize that Cummings works are written for his readers. He forces his readers to imagine and fill in the blanks for themselves. All he provides you with is that it a damp spring day, pleasant enough for kids to be our playing hop-scotch and jump rope. But when you look closer you see that at first he says the world is “mud” and later says it is “wonderful”. I interpret this as Cummings expressing the change of seasons and how people can view it. The early days of spring with the depressing showers that bring the mud, later become the wonderful fresh days of spring. He also captures the differences between youth and age. The young children are not affected by the conditions, they continue their play. But the elderly balloonman on the other hand is “lame” in the conditions. Cummings writes in a simplistic manner that forces his readers to imagine in order to enjoy his work.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
My first reaction to the poem was provoked upon reading the title; the word “darling” has a cute and possessive connotation which is considered admirable by most in society. However, to be nobody’s darling is a statement to defy the norm, and be in total possession of yourself instead of letting others pressure you to fit the accepted label. This theme is stressed throughout the entire poem. Not only does Alice Walker make it clear to be comfortable expressing who you are. She urges the audience deny the influence of others as well, such as to “parry stones,” or to turn your back to harsh judgments and biting comments. Walker’s poem relates to all in the world who are subjected to skeptics and criticism for being a proud outcast, and invites them to be content walking alone or in a sea of others who “askance at you.” Yet, she most vividly conveys her message in the 4th stanza, and portrays the outcast on the banks of those who have been hurt from standing up for their beliefs. Only when you are able to comfortably sacrifice for your individuality are you qualified to live as and outcast, or nobody’s darling.
“in Just-“
E.E. Cummings portrays the joys of spring. Even the qualities of spring which aren’t sunny and bright have positive connotations: the mud is described as “licious” and the world is “puddle-wonderful.” The baloonman is a constant through the poem as a light-hearted and festive symbol whose whistles spread the same spring joy to others. “Eddieandbill” and “bettyandisabel” remain uncapitalized and without spaces along with the “baloonman” solely to represent the universal categories of boys, girls, and entertainment which are rejuvenated in the season’s bliss. This same feeling of collective happiness is evident through writing style of the poem. Inconstant spaces between stanzas and demonstrate Cummings’s fluctuating joy. Because of the distance between the last few words, the reader interprets even the same line of “far and wee” with a lighter tone.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
The inspirational poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker challenges the reader to be herself and not conform to the norms of society. I enjoyed this poem because it goes against what many magazines and TV shows tell us about “fitting in.” The poem invokes a sense of independence and rebellion with its assertive tone. Walker does not ask, but commands us to “be nobody’s darling.” While many times it feels better to just be accepted by peers, Walker believes being true to one’s self should be the priority. I thought it was interesting how Walker took many common words and reversed their accepted connotations. For example, “outcast” is usually used as a negative term to describe someone without friends, but Walker challenges us to “Be an outcast;Be pleased to walk alone.” Also, she changes the term “darling” so it describes a conformist, and not an ideal person. Walker’s poem dares us to risk conformity and be brave enough to be different.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
“In Just-” by E.E. Cummings describes the arrival of spring. His optimistic tone gives the reader a sense of innocence and youth. Cumming’ poem is very playful, describing childhood as “hop-scotch and jump-rope.” It seems the poem is written in the point of view of a child because of the wide spacing and made-up terms like “mud-luscious” and “goat-footed baloonMan.” Cummings uses varied spacing and capitalization in order to emphasize words. In the last paragraph, he portrays the “balloonMan” as a grown man by capitalizing the M, while in the beginning, he says “balloonman,” emphasizing his youth. Although there is no plot to Cummings’ poem, he focuses on imagery by painting a picture of the perfect spring day in his reader’s head.
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
The main idea in the poem “Be Nobody’s Darling,” by Alice Walker, is to resist the omnipresent temptation to conform and meld in with society. The language she uses is critical because it helps to clearly convey her point. For starters, using the term darling helps establish something people normally strive to be regarded as. If someone refers to you as a darling in any sense, that person would generally regard that as a positive. However, in this poem Walker is telling the reader not to be somebody’s darling. Walker is trying to send a message to stand up for something you believe in. The quote, “be pleased to walk alone,” emphasizes this point. Walker is saying that you need to be comfortable with yourself and your ways to stand on your own and follow your personal ideals. Overall, Walker’s poem is a powerful piece that places importance on the individual being just that.
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”- Alice Walker
Even though it isn’t the easy way out, I think nonconformity is generally the best way to go. If you truly agree with something, then by all means stand up for it and support it. Conforming to society is sacrificing individuality to become just another face in the crowd. Why push away uniqueness and let society think for you? Everyone is given idiosyncrasies and a brain, so we might as well use them (as opposed to society) to mold ourselves, and like Alice Walker said, qualify to live among the dead. I like her use of diction- certain words such as “uncool” and “outcast” and “alone” instill fear/discomfort since human instinct drives us to yearn for acceptance, but by the end, we learn that her message is to embrace these ideas, to “let them look askance at you,” because it doesn’t really matter. I like her metaphor of the river- it really helps me visualize and realize what she is saying. Her poem reminds me of what my parents used to say to me, and I’m sure your parents said to you: “if so-and-so jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?” Even as children we were sacrificing our individuality out of fear of being rejected. After reading this poem, I decided that I may not be brave enough yet to make a merry gathering on the bank, but I definitely don’t want to “succumb to madness” or “line the riverbeds with other impetuous fools.” I also really like the title, because I have always thought that being a “darling” was a good thing. Now I realize that I need to stand up for my individualty and be unique, even if it doesn’t please every single person around me.
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Once again I find that I don’t really agree with the poems. In the poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling” Alice Walker asks the reader to be an individual and not conform to the rest of society. The author challenges the reader to be an “outcast” although they might not be accepted for it. However, it is my personal opinion that everyone is unique, although some people just don’t always show it. There are people who seem to conform and all that but I don’t think that because they have chosen to fit in they lack individuality. The choice to mask their uniqueness is part of what makes those people unique. Some people are just not comfortable with being on their own and that is part of who they are. I think everybody embraces their differences to a certain extent. I do agree with the overall message of the poem though. It is important to stay true to oneself. I really don’t enjoy poetry, or essays, or anything that criticizes society. Instead of sitting around writing all that’s wrong in the world get up and do something about it.
Additionally I found “In Just” by e. e. cummings to be just plain weird. To me it seemed like just a bunch of words thrown onto a page with no connection to each other. Nothing seemed to flow. While the author’s style is definitely unique it was rather annoying to read. The words just hovered in space and I couldn’t make a connection. I read the poem several times hoping to get a different feeling. Unfortunately, that didn’t make any difference. I didn’t get any message or feeling out of the poem, unless annoyance counts.
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
In Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling,” she implies the recurrent theme of individualism and non-conformity. The tone of her poem is interesting because while she proposes to be different than the majority of society, she compares her suggestions to rather mundane or morose thoughts. For example: “Make a merry gathering on the bank where thousands perished.” The word merry stands in stark contrast with the phrase “where thousands perished.” The effect of this juxtaposition, to say, is that the tone is inverted from at first an almost inspirational one to a rather dreadful one. Walker’s ultimate message is to “be you” and not “be someone else.” Her point is very cliche, but she uses poetic technique and effect-on-tone to develop a new perspective on the common writing subject.
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
I think what Alice Walker is saying to be an individual. The “contradictions of your life” may be anything people say you are not, like pretty, smart, or “cool”. Instead of trying to ignore these harmful remarks, Walker asks the reader to take them and protect themselves with it. The attributes that others deem “uncool” can make someone stand out and define them as a separate person. While the ‘popular crowd’ may be uniform and bland, traits that stand out make up individuals. Walker also advises her readers to question their mocker. “Let them look askance at you, And you askance reply.” When anyone looks at you with disapproval, use your shawl of contradictions to reflect their glare. Walker also states that “on the bank where thousands perished for brave hurt words they said” These are the mockers who have perished at the bank; however the outcasts are “qualified to live” because they have not condemned.
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
E.E. Cumming’s “In Just” follows the ‘common’ artistically and stylistic poetic language – the lines often have little relation on the surface, but in connotation, the meaning is more prevalent. However, Cumming’s language has a positive and upbeat tone. The alliteration in the first stanza makes the language playful, while still carrying a legitimate meaning: “luscious the little lame baloonman…” The author has intentions of reiterating the fact that “it’s spring,” so positive language is crucial to the point of this poem. The words such as “hop-scotch” and “jumprope” are reminiscent and intended to trigger memories in its audience. This captures the theme of youth, innocence, and new beginnings. Spring is the season for new beginnings; thus, Cumming’s use of it in his poem is metaphorical. Obviously, his mentioning of the “balloonman” and is almost childish because it relates to the theme of children enjoying spring. Overall, Cumming’s poem “In Just” is intended to use optimistic and positive language through metaphors and alliteration to create a youthful tone.
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
In her poem, “Be Nobody’s Darling”, Alice Walker asks the reader to avoid doing simply what is cool and instead to be unique. Although I believe that this is generally the right message I feel as though Walker takes the idea of non-conformity a bit too far. To me it seems as though she is stating that under no circumstances can doing or thinking whats popular be right. However I would say that the majority of the world believes that murder is wrong, yet if one were to follow Walker’s advice they would have to disagree with this.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
E.E. Cumming’s poem, “In Just,” is a wonderfully simple piece. While reading, I was struck with an idea of peace and simplicity. The mental image of a small child having innocent fun on a spring day continues to pop up in my mind. Something I find interesting though, is how this poem connects to Alice Walker’s, “Be Nobody’s Darling.” Both pieces seem to portray the same theme, the importance of being yourself. However, the means of which these authors use to convey this starkly differ. As previously stated, Walker wants someone to act in defiance of the norm. Cumming’s message is much more simple; he depicts the innocence of children playing harmlessly. At a young age children don’t know how to act in any way other than being themselves. He is using their means of behavior as an example for adults who may lose sight of the bigger picture, By reverting to childhood innocence, every adult can once again be themselves and live life with integrity.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
“In Just”
E.E. Cumming’s “In Just” definitely portrays the most unique style out of the poems we read. It’s interesting how so few words can create a vivid picture out spring, innocence, and playful optimism. Cumming chose his words with caution and decided to use words that did not just describe but allowed the reader to imagine. For example, hop-scotch and jump-rope, for many, bring back memories of elementary school; back when we were carefree and so happily naïve of life’s obstacles. Cumming chose words with positive connotations in order to eliminate the need for excessive wording. Although this poem was more difficult than the others to read, I had to read it several times, it was my favorite. The overall tone of the poem is uplifting and jubilant.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” takes a much different tone than Taylor Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know?”; Alice Walker is vivid and eloquent. Her adjectives are evocative, her verbs illustrative. Like Mali, Walker also juxtaposes the vernacular with older, more archaic words like “askance.”
“Be Nobody’s Darling” can be interpreted in many ways. We can consider its most obvious ramifications, the social ones. Walker advises us to “Be an outcast” and “walk alone.” She is even so bold as to say we are not “qualified to live” if we do not follow her advice.
However, we can also interpret “Be Nobody’s Darling” as a racial commentary. To be a minority is often to be an outcast. One must “parry stones to keep warm,” and fend off the hurtful words of others. And often, it can seem as if the prejudiced majority has indeed succumbed to “madness with ample cheer.”
Finally, we can consider “Be Nobody’s Darling as a work of feminist poetry. First, Walker references the use of a shawl to protect women. Later, in the fourth stanza, Walker mentions “where thousands perished/ For brave hurt words/ They said.” This line can be interpreted as a nod to the feminists who fought for woman’s rights in a world where they themselves were “nobody’s darling.”
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I found that the poem “In Just” was a very simple, beautiful observation on a facet of life. There wasn’t much to it, which provides the beauty and easy simplicity.
“Be Nobody’s Darling” harbors a darker, upstanding message about being independent and proud. There is no reason for you, the reader, to be anyone’s whipping boy or door mat, for you are a human being as well and deserve to be treated as such. This poem is saying that we in the human condition must never fall below our peers and fellow people, and be an outcast if being yourself means so. This is a very strong, beautiful message about being true to one’s self and not allowing anyone to change that.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” teaches teenagers a lesson that needs to be learned but often times is not, and that lesson is that it is a very positive thing to be different and stand out. Often times, teenagers feel that to stand out among their peers is not okay, where in fact it is just the opposite. Everyone, not just teenagers, should be encouraged to be themselves and to not “be nobody’s darling.” I especially love the line, “Take the contradictions of your life and wrap around you like a shawl” because it is directly saying to embrace your specific characteristics, traits, or habits that make you who you are. Individualism is one of the most important concepts in society and “Be Nobody’s Darling” highlights its’ importance. Her language is eloquent and takes a much different tone than Mali’s “Totally like whatever, you know?” Walker’s tone is definitive and powerfully encourages non-conformity.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
E.E. Cummings’ “in just” is an unusual poem that it flaunts many of the traditional conventions of writing. The poem lacks any type of standard capitalization, punctuation, and even word spacing. The stanzas are unevenly divided. Cummings even invents his own vocabulary (i.e. baloonMan).
Like Faulkner experimented with prose in “As I Lay Dying,” Cummings experiments with poetry in his “in just.” The real challenge lays in interpreting the avant-garde verses. The way I see it, Cummings’ poem is an extensive metaphor for childhood and growing up. Springtime is in many ways the beginning of everything. When children can “whistle far and wee” and “come/ running from marbles and piracies.” Everything is beautiful in childhood, and that is reflected in the “puddle-wonderful” world of spring.
However, like spring must inevitably pass into summer, then fall, then winter, childhood is fleeting. It is not long before the days of “hop-scotch and jump-rope” are over. Inevitably, children will become “queer” and “old” like the baloonman. Their hold on childhood memories will be as feeble as a boy’s grip on a balloon – one slip and we lose everything.
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 pm
E.E. Cumming’s poem, “In Just” spoke to me the least out of all three poems. Although it looks cool and creatively artistic with the placement of the words, it looks like it was thrown together by a small child or an illiterate person. It’s tone is the most upbeat out of the three, which I liked, and I do not think there is an underlying message such as individualism or saving the planet, as in the other two. It is very simple but not poetically simple; I think it is almost unintelligently simple and it neither provokes further thought, nor sparks additional interest to read more, nor challenges me to non-conformity or anything else. This is my least favorite poem and the more I read, the more frustrated I felt that I could not form any connection to the words in front of me.
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
“In Just”
I had to read this poem over a few times before I could grasp it. The style was so unexpected, but in a weird and refreshing way. The imagery immediately invokes memories of a carefree childhood where kids played all day, mud puddles were a form of entertainment, and best friends were so inseperable that when somebody saw one they thought of the other. The characters of the poem are very personal- it’s not “the ballon man,” it’s “baloonman.” This sense of fondness and familiarity regarding the characters implies that springtime provides the narrator with these recurring memories/practices of simplicity, carefree traditions, and a sense of renewed happiness and ease. The strange diction and random spacing were confusing and intimidating at first, but I soon realized that they were what made the poem so unique and open to interpretation. I felt that “In Just” was able to relate to a wide audience while retaining a sense of intimacy at the same time. Personally, I do not see new york city when I visualize the setting- instead I picture camp and rainy spring days in my back yard, with icecreamman instead of baloonman. The different images that this poem summons from person to person demonstrates the poem’s versatility and ability to be interpreted differently depending on individual memories.
May 4th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
This poem reminds me of Kate Chopin’s style of writing. The poem’s message is that no human can belong to another. “Take the contradictions of your life and wrap around you like a shawl…” This line represents a general theme from the poem: you can be contented in your own identity.
Another line that stood out in the poem was “Be an outcast; be pleased to walk alone” This line like the other, means that humans need to belong to themselves and creative an individual image that they stick to.
“Make a merry gathering on the bank…” The author wants humans to be content and manage to be happy in their days. The author continues to say “Qualified to live among you dead…” if humans strip their identity for a generic label, they become a dead soul, and live in misery. The author is trying to say that we can be happy when we are ourselves but become broken and dead creatures when we strip our identities and act like a generic creature.
I enjoyed the poem because it had a message of the strength in individuality. Individuality is the key to a happy life, and as the author states “Qualified to live among you dead…” Humans die internally if they don’t act like themselves.
May 4th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
“In Just”
E.E. Cummings is a creative poet, but his style does not fit my taste: his messages however do. The poem is about effortless events in life that hold individual beauty despite their simplicity.
“The queer old balloonman whistles far and wee…” This line is also expresses the unique beauty of the simple. No-one thinks of a balloonman as a complex individual. But what E.E. Cummings did was amazing; he added complexity and layers to a balloonman by formatting his description in a creative way. ‘Queer’ and ‘wee’ were two words that painted a picture of a creature unique to the planet.
“Running from marbles and piracies and its spring” This line accomplishes the same purpose as the previous lines. Playing with marbles is a game for school-children, but Cummings molds it. ‘Piracies’ and ‘running from marbles’ are two phrases that make the marbles morph into a creative tool used by the author.
Cummings also uses hop-scotch, jump-rope and other school games to signify the common theme that the individual events of life-what we do not view as important-can mean the most.
May 5th, 2009 at 8:12 am
“Be Nobody’s Darling”
This poem spoke out to me as if it were spoken as advice from an older mentor. I interpereted it as a voice telling me not to be independent, because in turn it would prevent others from hurting me emotionally. The speaker might have been hurt in the past by distrusting the public in general, and is now warning others of potential mishaps. The speaker eplains what would happen if you are “nobody’s darling,” and it is portrayed as uncomfortable, unfulfilling and eventually detreimental to how you live your life. The tone is powerful and spoken with fervor, the diction conveys a sense of urgency and the mood is certainly dark, not cynical, but definitely negative as if to scare the reader of what is to come if he/she is too independent. It is very personal, talking directly to the reader, like “take the contradictions of your life, and wrap around you like a shawl…” This particular quote also comforts the reader with an idea of security, contributing to what the speaker believes and is trying to pass on by then contradicting that sense of protection and contentment with “Be an outcast. Qualified to live among your dead.” Perhaps the diction used in “amoung your dead” [key word: your] was chosed to suggest that your actions make your world, and you make the people around you dead when you live alone, not giving part of your life to others, not having contact with others and avoiding all possibilities concerning them. I believe the main message in this poem is to include others in your life because they can drastically change almost all aspects of your life to be positive or you will die alone without friendship, love, real comfort, etc…
May 5th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Central to Alice Walker’s “Be Nobody’s Darling,” is the concept of individuality and being unafraid of judgment by others when expressing oneself. Nietzsche once said that “those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” Essentially, a person must follow their own beliefs and develop a personality that is based not upon the opinions and judgments of others, but rather on one’s own system of ideals and integrity.
“In Just,” by EE Cummings describes the idea that for only once in our lives are we young and childlike. Cummings depicts this idea of youthfulness and innocence through the concept of spring. The title “In Just,” further contributes to emphasize his point that only in spring is life blossoming. The balloon-man illustrates the idea that we may only revisit and remember childhood, never again can we fully experience it.
May 5th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
In Just takes place in spring, but seams to be about the loss of innocence.. The first stanza describes the balloonman as whistling far and wee. This means that he is being silly and that the spring is allowing him to be innocent. Billy and Eddie come running from their marble games, another depiction of innocence.
In the next stanza, the balloonman is described as queer, but still whistling. When he does, Isabell and betty come dancing from their hop-scotch. This could mean that the balloonman is a corrupting influence on the girls, getting them to dance-possibly promiscuously- instead of play their innocent game of hopscotch.
IN the last stanza, the balloonman is described as a goat, which is another word for a dirty old man.
May 5th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
“Be Nobody’s Darling” is about not being afraid to be yourself. The poem urges the reader to “take the contradictions of your life and wrap around you like a shawl to parry the stones.” In other words, if one celebrates his differences instead of hiding them, that person can use them as a shield from insults.
Also, if somebody were to question your differences, question theirs.
In the last stanza, “be an outcast qualified to live among the dead” means that one individual should reach out to another. All the individuals are “the dead” because they are all not part of the typical life of a conformist.
May 7th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
“In Just” by E.E. Cummings
The central idea of “In Just” is the notion that we are young and childlike only once in our lives. Overall, the poem was written with youthfulness and innocence in mind. The simplicity of the images presented in the poem gives this impression. Furthermore, the imagery itself invokes the memories of a carefree childhood.
Overall, the style of the poem was rather unexpected and the message of the poem was somewhat difficult to grasp at first. The strange diction and “phrasing” of the poem simply added to the initial confusion. However, once the stylistic hurdle was overcome, everything else fell into place. Although the poem presents some images, the poem seems to act as a messenger that brings one’s own childhood memories back.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
In response to “in just by e.e. cummings:
Though I am not exactly sure what it is e.e. cummings is attempting to describe in this poem, it is by far the most thought provoking poem that our grade had to choose from. His language is simple and almost child-like; with interesting spellings of words like baloonman, missing spaces between people’s names and fun phrases like “puddle-wonderful” and “mud-luscious”. There is a blatant contrast between the joyous imagery of the spring and the precarious depiction of the little and lame/ queer and old/ goat-footed baloonMan who’s whistles interrupt the narrator’s celebration of the new season.