discussion post on Poetry

 Address your response to any of the other topics, just not the one you chose for your main post.

• Your main post should be about 150-200 words and should include specific references and details  (paraphrases or direct quotes with MLA documentation) to the assigned reading.
• Provide your own commentary–your opinion, observations, commentary on connections to current issues/texts, etc. You can refer to movies, tv, other cultural experiences, and observations too.

READ : Very Short Poems

Robert Morgan, “Mountain Graveyard” (540)

E.E. Cummings, “l(a” (541))

Randall Jarrell, “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” (574)

Margaret Atwood, “you fit into me” (625)

Emily Dickinson, “Presentiment” (626)

Ernest Slyman, “Lightning Bugs” (635)

Stephen Crane, “A Man Said to the Universe” (651)

Richard Armour, “Going to Extremes” (668)

Paul Humphrey, “Blow” (677)

Helen Chasen, “The Word Plum” (678)

Timothy Steele, “Waiting for the Storm” (689)

Robert Herrick, “Upon Julia’s Clothes” (704)

Matsuo Basho, “Under cherry trees” (717)

Amy Lowell, “Last night it rained” (718)

Gary Snyder, “Dent in a Bucket” (718)

Dave Lukas, “November” (913)

Link to the book :

https://u1lib.org/book/7225236/e895f5

All throughout history humans have tried to understand their part in the universe. Historically, many nations such as the Mesopotamians, Romans, Sumerians and so on relied on the stars for a plethora of things. If they needed certain crops to grow, to win a war or spiritual guidance the ancient civilizations looked to the stars. These ancient civilizations relied on shamans to communicate to the universe, or as they saw it the Gods. Their study of cosmology lead many of their rulers to assert their dominance as kings and emperors in the form of embodying the sky Gods, as they were chosen.  

After reading “A Man Said to the Universe” it has made me reconsider the importance of humanity in the grand scheme of things. Humans are here, we have made great advancements and explored the depths of space, but what does that matter to the universe? The response from the universe is always the same “The fact has not created in me/ A sense of obligation.” (Crane). What many have strived to do in their lifetime is create a legacy, an empire, a government that will outlast space and time, but humanity cannot escape these impending things as it is just the natural order of the universe. We have said to the universe “Sir, I exist!” (Crane), but it is mere a millisecond compared to the lightyears the universe has experienced. 

Crane’s poem outlines the ironic conversation that humanity continues to have with our mysterious and confusing universe. I was more optimistic before reading this poem.