Welcome back! We have had quite a break from blogging recently and I am ready to jump back in for our last few weeks of school. Please remember that all of our opinions are valid and deserve the right to be heard. I am asking you to comment once on the poem and once to another comment. You may agree or disagree, but you must be respectful and SAY SOMETHING in your comment for it to be published. Remember all of the poetic elements we have learned about this year- talking about these in your comments not only shows what you have learned, but also makes me smile! And before we forget, all comments need to be at least four sentences in order to be published. Please proofread ALL comments before clicking the publish button!
The Hand Mary Ruefle
The teacher asks a question.
You know the answer, you suspect
you are the only one in the classroom
who knows the answer, because the person
in question is yourself, and on that
you are the greatest living authority,
but you don't raise your hand.
You raise the top of your desk
and take out an apple.
You look out the window.
You don't raise your hand and there is
some essential beauty in your fingers,
which aren't even drumming, but lie
flat and peaceful.
The teacher repeats the question.
Outside the window, on an overhanging branch,
a robin is ruffling its feathers
and spring is in the air.
Happy reading!
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I thought this poem was talking about the beauty of life. When the teacher asked the question about the person individually, the author did not raise his/her hand because he/she already knew the answer. They knew that everyone has their own choice in governing themselves. My favorite part was the mention of spring hanging in the air. I wonder what question the teacher asked. Then, maybe I could figure out the real thought behind this poem.
ReplyDeleteThis poem can be related to a lot of people during this season, since most people have a hard time paying attention to the teacher due to the weather. The whole thing is a reference to what usually happens to students when it becomes spring outside. You usually start to forget that you are in class and drift away to a land of imagination, until the teacher comes and wakes you up. Even though I never drifted off because of the weather and was able to do the best to listen to my teachers, I still liked this poem and what it was saying.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Simpson
In my opinion this poem relates to how sometimes when a teacher is asking a question and you know the answer, but you dont want to be the one to answer in front of everyone. Sometimes it's better to answer then to just be quiet because your answer might be right and that might be encouraging to other people. If your answer is wrong then the teacher can help you understand why it's wrong. I thought the poem was ok. I kind of like the meaning of it.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem was talking about a really excited kid that couldn't wait for spring break. Towards the end of the poem, it said that spring was in the air so that meant everybody was probably waiting to get out of school. So even though the kid knew the answer, he didn't want to give it because he would rather have the class stalled as long as possible before the teacher can give out any work. I think that's what the kid was thinking. Also, the kid might have been the shy type and too scared to answer because other people were in the room.
ReplyDelete-James Cannon
Responding to Sydney:
ReplyDeleteI think you're exactly right! I mentioned how the kid might have been too shy to answer as well. I also kind of liked the meaning of the poem as well. It wasn't my favorite poem, but it was pretty well written at least. My favorite part was the part where it mentioned spring.
-James Cannon
I think this poem was really good because it had a lot of imagery in it. It really gave you a good view as to what was going on in it and another good thing about the poem is the symbolism it showed. If you really think about it, the teacher's question could have been like a test and the student't decision to answer it or not could have been part of it. This poem wasn't bad at all.
ReplyDeleteWell I definitely connected with this poem or whatever it is, I felt I was the person that the narrator was describing. I do what this poem says every day in my math class, I the exact same way. When I was reading it I was thinking about earlier today I was super zoned out like this guy. Tomorrow is more than likely going to be the same way.
ReplyDeleteSHAMAR WILLIAMS
The peom in my mind is that this person knows that he's the smartest in the class and knew the answer to the question and most likely all the others too. But after seeing the beutiful colors of Spring, he/she knows that he/she should give others an opporunity to be as smart as him/herself. The apple shows that the person plans on being silent and not answer. Spring is this persons new beginning as someone besides the teachers pet.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think is that the poem relates to the usually situations in class when students fails to pay attention because of disruption or talking in class. But the other reason from the poem is imagining the beauty of the warm outside world which is too hard to resist and/or ignore. I think that it's better to respond to the question right now rather than risk forgeting the answer. I acutally like this poem because of it metioning the spring season and warm temperature.
ReplyDeletedavid s.
To me this poem can mean a lot of different things. I think that the teacher is asking a question about what you want to do over spring break or the weekend, but all anyone can do is look out at the beautiful weather not wanting to be in school. when it says "because the person in question is yourself"; I took it as it was an open answer question, like "what are you going to do over the weekend with the beautiful weather?", and only your could know the answer because you would be the only one doing it. I infer that everyone was looking out the window day dreaming about the nice weather and fun stuff to do, instead of paying attention and answering the teachers question.
ReplyDelete@Sydney
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying about how the teacher didn't get an answer because know one wanted to stand out. I completely think that that may be a major contribution on why she didn't get an answer. I do, on the other hand, think the poem was hinting on that the students had something else on there minds. I do understand that even I will sometimes not answer a question on fear of being wrong or not wanting to stand out, which makes it extremely reasonable that that is what is happening in this poem.
In my mind the author realizes that he's been living a life where he thinks he's the smartest student in the class and thinks less of everyone else. The author is in question of if he should change and let others show how smart they are or stay the smartest. The author uses the apple to show that he's going to keep his mouth shut and give everyone else their chance to be as good as he thought he was. Just like the robin he mentioned, the author fixed his feathers up, and his own personal spring has come for him to renew his ways of living in his false reality, where he is the gretest person there.
ReplyDelete@ Andrew Simpson
ReplyDeleteI can see where you're comiing from on what you're saying Andrew, but I'm not really sure that's what the poem's about. The author did agknowledge the teacher as well as the other students. She used the apple to signify to them that for once he's going to let the others answer instead of being a smarty-pants. I also thought this after i posted my comment, when the teacher repeats her question, it was because she too expected the author would answer it. I didn;t really see much of a connection between your comment and the poem itself.
Wow. That was very confusing. I did not get it even after I read it like 12 times. It is interesting though, but I can't put my finger on what it is talking about. All in all I liked it alot though.
ReplyDelete-- Robby Fernandez
I think that this blog is about how spring is in the air. How whenever she asks a question something happens that makes you have spring fever. This poem is also about being a teachers pet also because he pulls out an apple. I really liked this poem because summer is near and everybody is having spring fever.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leigha because this poem does leave you hanging a little bit because you don't know what the question was. I also thought that what she said about spring is in the air, because the author gives little details aobut it, since there is a bird fluffing his feathers. I would love to know what the person was thinking about when she asks the question about a certain person. This poem was great to read, but I wish the author told you what the person was asking.
ReplyDeleteI think that poem is saying that we are in control of ourselves. We are the only ones that have complete authority over ourselves. I think it's talking about how soo many people let others run over them and don't take a stand and also how people are afraid to be themselves because of the perception that others may conclude. The part about her fingers being flat and peaceful tells me that this person may enjoy the spring. The spring season always makes me feel peacful and at ease as if I have no worries.
ReplyDelete@Leigha
ReplyDeleteReading your comment gave me a whole new perspective of the poem. I now see it as you described. When you know who you are in life you are at peace.
@Sydney
It's funny how you can read a poem and get a thousand different meanings and they are all right. I also agree with you sydney because this is sooo true. Usually teachers think that students are afraid to ask questions while sometimes theyre afraid to answer them. Answering questions can encourage other as well as encouraging you.
I believe this poem is giving an example of how one of the most intellegent thing syou could ever do is enjoy the life around you. The student knew the answer, but instead of answering, he/she let someone else have the glory and enjoyed the world around him/her. I noticed how the author made the poem personal by making you the student. I think this poem is very well thought out, deep, and easy to relate to.
ReplyDelete@ashley
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. We do have control of ourselves and can choose what we do or do not do. That also means, however, that we must take responsibility for our actions as well. I also agree that the person did sound like he/she felt at ease in spring.
I liked this poem because it actually applies to me a little bit. I do the same thing when I'm in class because i don't go with my instinct. Whenever the teacher asks a question that i know i rarely ever answer the question even if i know it. I only answer questions that I'm really sure about and that i know the exact answer to it. Whenever the teacher asks a question that i think that i know i will never raise my hand to answer it unless the teacher calls on me when i don't have my hand raised. So this poem kind of describes of me a little bit.
ReplyDeleteJacob Jones
To me this poem is talking from a student's point of view during the beginning of spring. Even though the student knew the answer they were too preoccutied with the fact that spring had finally begun! I don't think this poem is all reflected around the question the teacher was asking. I think the poem was more reflected around the way the student felt when it was spring.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this poem! I think the peom was not very deep though, and that is good because not all poems should be deep. The student knew the answer when no one else did, which made him the most important person in the classroom at that time. He chose not to answer. simply because he rather eat an apple and look out the window. I think this poem is freeverse because I did not notice a specific meter or rhyme. I could be wrong though. :)
ReplyDelete~Hannah Mckeel
@David
ReplyDeleteI concer with your comment more than anyone elses. I think that what you said was a very good, and literal way of looking at the poem. I do not think that the poem was that deep or metorphorical like how everyone else was describing it as, so that is why I completely agree with what you said. I think that he failed to pay attention in class because he already knew what the teacher was teaching. So all in all, kudos on your comment. :)
~Hannah McKeel
Chris Meindl
ReplyDeleteThis poem sounds like a riddle and is really confusing. I do like the part about how we are are own authority. Therefore, we know what we are thinking and should question ourselves before we do anything. I also like how this poem was somewhat mysterious. I hope to read some more.
This poem was very creative. I could picture everything in my mind just as I read it. I think that it's talking about a kid, that wants to answer a question because he thinks he knows it. He knows it's about him, so he just ignores the fact that the question was for him and looks through the window at a beautiful spring day. I'm not sure if I'm right, but this is what came to my mind; something that I would do.
ReplyDelete@Ashely Pilgrim
ReplyDeleteIn a way, I sort of agree with what Ashely is saying. We talk about the same thing, that people might be shy or just ignore the fact that they know the answer but they don't want to admit it that they do. So, in order to just ignore the fact he just looks out the window. I also think that the kid might like Spring, so he can play it off good so the teacher won't call on him.
This poem was a good one. It shows how everyone has their own opinnion. Instead of answering the question, the person looked out the window admiring the beauty of nature. This also shows how people put some things above school, even though some have grown up "School is your first priority."
ReplyDeleteSavannah I agree with you how intelligent things enjoy life around them. Life is meant to be enjoyed. You can't sit around answering your english 1 teachers questions all day. Life is too short for that.
ReplyDeleteI think that this poem is about realizing what you want. Sometimes, you may want to do something, like play a computer game, but then you realize that you really want. I think this poem shows self-control and thinking for yourself in a way. It also makes me wonder whtat the character's personality was. Were they shy? Did they simply not want to answer? I think the second question is probably the right one. I think that they felt peaceful sitting in the classroom, with the knowledge that they could answer the question, looking outside at the spring day.
ReplyDeleteEmily
@ Savannah
ReplyDeleteI really like your opinion and thought view on this poem. It didn't occur to me that they might want someone else to answer. I really like that idea, but I wonder if that's entirely fitting to this poem since it says "You suspect you are the only one in the classroom who knows the answer," although that simply says "suspect." I think that enjoying the world around us is one of the best things we can do. When we stop look at how beautiful it is, we realize God's unimaginable glory and how great he truly is.
Emily
I agree with Sydney Simpson. I agree that it is better to answer a question because most of the time, you are helping other students learn by answering a question. If you don't answer, then how will you ever learn anything. I also agree with the fact that if you get the answer wrong, then the teacher will be more than happy to tell you the right answer and why. We all think it is kind of embarrassing ot answer a question, but the truth is is that we are actually helping ourselves and others by simply answering a question.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Simpson
I really liked this poem. I think this poem is about someone not answering a question in class because he is daydreaming. Instead of thinking about the question he is more concerned about the beauty outside. I can relate to this poem because the same thing happens to me all the time, enspecially in Math class.
ReplyDeleteROBERT THERRELL
@Emily
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this poem can also talk about self control and thinking for yourself instead of letting other people think for you. I also thought that they didn’t want to answer to let other people find out the answer for themselves. The author was just content to sit there and enjoy the coming of spring and the beauty of life. For instance, the author said his/her fingers were not drumming but laying flat on the desk with an essential beauty.
I read this poem two different ways. I'm not sure if the student just didn't want to answer the question, or if the teacher like knew that he knew the question, and there for did not alow him to answer it. That happens alot to me in my classes. Both ways. Sometimes I'm just not confident enough in my answer to answer it, and sometimes the teacher actually wont let me answer the question because she wants someone else to do it.
ReplyDelete@Katie Cumbia
ReplyDeleteI have to say, that I actually dissagree with what Katie is saying. The poem mentioned a bird but that doesn't mean that its all about spring. Yes the student was preoccutied, but I don't think it was because it spring had finally begun. It could have been at the end of the school year and it could have been spring for a month or so. The student to me, was preoccupied because he/she didn't want to answer the question or because he/she was unsure that their answer was correct.
I didn't really understand this poem and I feel a little bad about it. I was really confused when the student pulled the apple out of the desk. I didn’t know what that had to do with what was going on. I did understand that the child knew the answer to the question that the teacher asked but didn't respond. I just assumed they were distracted by the beauty of spring outside. I think this poem means that you might know all the answers but that doesn't compare to the beauty of nature or maybe even just spring.
ReplyDelete$The artist formally known as: Emerald Garrett$
I think this poem is about the beauty of nature and in spring in particular. I think the author was saying he had spring fever and he needed to get outside. I think he was also saying that the teacher's question had different meaning to everyone, so there wasn't a point in answering it. I relate to how he feels, because I also have spring fever, and have a want to be outside, like him.
ReplyDelete-Brandon Rader
@ Emerald:
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said, I had a hard time understanding what it said too, and I had to read it 6 or 7 times to finally understand it. I also think that it is about the beauty of spring. I like how you say it means knowledge doesn't always compare to nature. But, I think the student pulled the apple out of the desk because he was hungry for a fruit.
~Brandon Rader
I agree with James Cannon. I can kind of get a picture in my head of the kids being really excited about spring break. I can relate to this because when im in class i sometimes dont want to answer because im too shy and dont want to draw attention to myself. I think the meaning of this poem was very good. Overall it was ok.
ReplyDeleteAs I began to read this poem it made me feel like it was an introduction of something that meant special to someone. It seems that they are introducing the season of spring. When the author says you look out the window it makes it seem that someone is daydreaming outside of the window enjoying the new season. When he says that the teacher repeats the question and when they talk about drumming I think of the classroom when people are not paying attention and when people are bored tapping on the desk with their pencils when they are bored. I really like the effects that the author of this poem added because it makes alot of since.
ReplyDelete_Henry Hill_
I thought that this poem was talking about how kids have the opprutunity to show their intelagance but sometimes chose not to. This poem reminded me of when I was younger, because I would sit in class and know the answer and would be to scared to say it. I think when kids chose not to voice their opinions, its because they are scared and don't know what to do. I really liked this poem because it reminded me of my past.
ReplyDeleteVictoria Hayes
I agree with andrew simpson because it does seem that he is relating it to the weather, because kids do get excited when seasons change. I also agree with him when he says that kids drift away and think about spring more than class because some kids love spring break and can't stop thinking about it and lose task on what is going on in class. I don't like his comment just because of his ways of putting his words, I like it because it is true and it happens in real life. He could have thinking more deeply about the poem though, but besides that it was a great comment on that subject about the student basically daydreaming in class.
ReplyDeleteHenry @ Andrew simpson
I really enjoyed reading this poem. I thought it was interesting and writen in a very creative manor. What I did not completely underastand is how was the question the teacher asked about the student. In my mind I think that the kid was bothered by the question so he did not awnsere and instead he just ate an apple.
ReplyDeleteLiam McNamara
I agree with shamar in the fact that he feels the narator is descriding him. After thinking about it more this seems also like the narrator is describing me. I will something not awnsere a quetion even when I know the awnsere. I think I do this because I am afrade the awnsere will be wrong.
ReplyDeleteLiam McNamara
@ Shamar
ReplyDeleteI definately agree with you. I think the poem is about a guy who is zoned out during class. He is more concerned with what is going on outside than what is going on in class. I also think he might be zoned out because he already knows the answer and is giving someone else a chance to solve the problem.
ROBERT THERRELL
Im really not sure what this poem was about. I read it a couple times but still did not understand it very well.I think it mite be talking about when a teacher ask you a question but you are to afraid to answer, because your answer could be wrong. Sometimes you just have to take the risk and say your answer, because your answer could be right. Over all I kind of liked this poem because it made you have to think more about it then all the other ones.
ReplyDelete!Courtney Allen!
At the beginning of the poem, I was able to imagine it as such a real life situation. There have been times in class when I knew, that I knew what the right answer was, but still did not offer to answer the question. When this happens to me I always regret not answering the teachers question. I thought this poem really related to this. Maybe it is better to offer your answer to the class. If its right it could help others and if its not, the teacher can help you understand why.
ReplyDelete--kaitlyn Nycole henderson :)
I agree with Hearns said. I like how you said that everyone has there own opinnion. This is true I mean that I thought that it was confusing. Nature is a very beautiful thing and is a place that should not be taken so lightly. The poem was good and I enjoyed it
ReplyDeleteChris Meindl
@James Cannon
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the way you see the poem. I think that maybe the most common situation would be the kid might of been to shy to answer the question. Or maybe just that the kid thought that maybe his answer was wrong. Then if it was wrong he worried about what the others thought. So maybe he did not was to draw that attention to himself. While reading this poem, I felt like I could feel the way the kid was feeling in the classroom.
--kaitlyn Nycole henderson
This is a very weird poem. I believe that it has something to do with people who care to much about themselves. They think that everyone is thinking about them. But those people need to realize that the world doesn't revolve around them. They need to wake up and take a look around. -Randy Bridges
ReplyDeleteI felt that the poem is about how with the nice weather it is easy to get distracted and daydream. i also think that it is from a past setting and not current day. Although i like the idea of daydreaming it doesn't seem like the poem fallowed any type of rhyme scheme. the poem also felt like it was too short.
ReplyDelete~~Anthony Gelardi~~
I didnt get much poetry from this poem.Ii dont understand what's the message its trying to send out. However I could relate to one thing. The part where it says because your are the person at question and on that you are the greatest authority. I feel like that sometimes. When Im sitting in class and know the answer but dont say anything and no one is raising their hand. I feel like I have a little power because I do know the answer.
ReplyDeletesara damas
I wanted to comment on two peoples blogs. Kaitlyn Henderson and Randy Bridges. This is diffently a real life situation because I could imagin my self setting in class. I also understand the regret that a person might have if they dont answer a question. So that leaves me to think you have two feelings that you might feel when not answering a question. Either athority or regret. For Randy's I can see where you got the part about how the world doesnt revolve around them. I felt that the poem had a stuck up type of tone for the child that didnt answer the question.
ReplyDeletesara damas
Let me analyze you poem with a poem(in a way)
ReplyDeleteThe sweet scent of spring wafting in the air wanting to go outside after a hard winter of in class recess and working. With hopefully a few snow days in the mix. The bell rings after a new personal record of answering 10 Questions in a row correctly. heading out the class room for lunch not before buttering up the teacher. you bolt quickly as you can to eat lunch. A Banana, a fresh turkey sandwich, a pudding cup, and a juice box with some chatter about the first recess of spring. On top of the world can't wait to go down the slide, or a game with the newly ordered kick-balls. you rush out the door to be first outside when... Sneezing, Coughing, Wheezing, feeling awful and horrid. Grabbing for an inhaler, realizing its not there. going back inside to sit with the other kids with bad allergies. Never thinking once about the menacing yellow phantom of spiring. Pollen.
THE END
Spring brings many good things our way like sunshine, and outdoor recess. Also there is Pollen than brings all to its knees With at least 5% of americans being allergic to it thats 15 million and counting people. Even if you aren't allergic it can be overwhelming on your senses.
So a word of warning to those who are proud, be prepared when spring comes arround
I agree with Andrew Simpson
ReplyDeleteHow when spring comes around you don't want to be cooped up inside. You would rather be running in the breeze and playing than answering a teacher's question. Now this would be called a common case of Spring Fever. But don,t let your grades fall behind because of spring. its April Now and Showers keep the air pollen free but As the saying goes April shower bring May flowers. and what do flowers make? Pollen and a lot of it.
I think this poem is about relaxing and enjoying the new seasons. Knowing the answer to the question but not answering is a sign of the relaxation of the narrator. They look outside to the tree to see the great changes of the new season. The feeling of their fingers shows that they are enjoying every bit of it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the meaning of this poem is saying that if you have the answer then don't hold it back. You need to show yourself, your teacher, and your classmates that you know the answer and that your not afraid to answer the question. Also I think that it is saying that you should not hold back you shouldn't be thinking about other things when you are learning about something that is important even if you know that answer. I feel that this poem did show that the author had a good prespective on how he wanted the senery to be because he had great detail in this poem.
ReplyDeleteCasey Jeanfreau
@ Sara Damas
ReplyDeleteI didn't get much from the poem either at the beginning. It sounded like a typical day in class. Then the small things started to pop out at me like him talking about how he is in authority because he knows the answer to the question. Things like that give small messages in everyday scenarios.
It took me a second to realize exactly what I was reading. I had to read it twice to understand.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the author is trying to say that the person in charge of you is you. And you shouldn't second guess what kind of person you are. If you think you know the answer to a question about yourself, don't be afraid of what people think about how you look at yourself.
I think the reference to spring is talking about how each person blooms differently and at their own times, and everyone can tell when you do.
~Becca 6th<3
I thought the poem was talking about a classroom and the teacher asking a question. The question was directed to that one student and he knew that answer, but he didn't want to answer. He was too busy looking outside. This poem was somewhat interesting, but the imagery was well put.
ReplyDeleteChelsey A.
Honestly, I didn't really get the point of this so called, "Poem". I thought it was just a person who was scared to answer a question in class and tried to stall when the teacher looked at him/her. When I am in class, if I want to answer a question, I simply answer the question. There is no reason to be scared of the outcome, if your wrong, then you'll learn the right answer. Isn't that what school is about, Learning.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Victoria's comment because she was thinking the same thing that I was but she used examples which I thought helped her explantion seem better. I also as a little girl would know the answer or think I knew the answer but wouldn't say it. I think that I didn't want to say the answer Because I didn't want to get embarrased if it ended up being wrong. I also believe that students shouldn't be afraid say what they think because it can only make them smarter. I liked the way Victoria stated her comment and this is why.
ReplyDeleteCasey Jeanfreau
I think this poem was about how when you know the answer to a questionyou are not as stressed out if the teacher calls on you. But if you didn't know the answer he would most likely be worried looking around trying to find the answer somwhere.I took twice for me to get it seamed boring for me. Though I don't know why he took out an apple seamed extra.
ReplyDeleteMichael Holland
Henry Hill,
ReplyDeleteI totally didn't think about how students could be sitting there not paying attention.
I infer that the question was probably want they wanted to do over spring break, but everyone was too busy looking outside, so she had to repeat.
And it makes me think that the only person listening was the person who didn't raise their hand to answer the question, even though they had an answer.
~Becca 6th<3
I agree with Sara Damas, the poem wasn't really poetic except for the part where he's talking about looking out the window. I also could relate to when she quoted "your are the person at question and on that you are the greatest authority." I think that means when you are asked a question and you know the answer it feels great! I think Sara Damas really understood the poem and we had many agreements.
ReplyDeleteChelsey A.
I think poem made sense at the beginning to me, because I didn't really understand the end. At the beginning of the poem i think he was talking about life and answers about yourself. You don't always have to answer questions about yourself to other people. At the end of the poem I think it means its better if you don't answer some questions people ask you, because sometimes its better when people don't know some things.
ReplyDelete-Julia Grace
i thought it was wierd that the person didnt raise his hand even though he knew the answer. It would of made him look good since he should of gotten it right.It was random how the poem went off topic into some wierd nature scene. Maybe it was talking about the brain and how it wonders off into space
ReplyDeleteKristin Bayne
@ Sydney Simpson
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said, it is better to answer a question in class even if the answer might be wrong. If you are wrong, you could learn from your mistakes. I also thought the poem was ok. I just thought it could have been more poetic.
I like what Molly said. She was talking abou the brain going off into spring finger or something. It could be true. The guy could of been all bored in class and too excited about spring to worry about the answer to the question that he knew the answer too.
ReplyDeleteKristin Bayne
@ Sara Damas
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that there wasn't much poetry in this poem. I think its interesting how you think in your perspective. I've never thought of that before. I guess everyone feels power though when you know an answer that some other people may not know.
-Julia Grace
I didn't see much poetry in this peom. I thought that it was more imagery than anything. I don't really see what the peot was trying to say. I really wish I did know.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robert Fernandez. The peom is confusing. It is good though. Unlike him I did understand it after the twelfth time. It was good.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem can relate to people. I understood it. Sometimes you might know the answer but you just dont feel like answering. I didnt see any elements.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right Anthony It dose seem side tracking like a day dream. Although I agree with that I dont see how you think it took place in the past and not the present. I also kno w what you meen by not wanting to say the answer. Your entry helped me to see this poem in a difrent way.
ReplyDeleteGreg Trykowski
The first part of the poem showed how he had the most authority because he was the only one that knew the answer to the question. The second part is a little bit confusing. I think it means that because he's just staring out the window, he just wants to go outside. I can relate to this poem a lot.
ReplyDeleteHaha! This poem reminds me of so many people in our class. With Shuba eating the apple, and someone random looking out the window at a robbin. Great choice Ms. Mathis its like you picked this poem for our class. This poem being like a summary of our class and the way we spend it.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Lawotn
This is a response to James Cannon's comment. I agree with him that he could just be stalling to get out of class earlier. If it was right before Spring Break he would be trying to do as little work as possible. I don't really think he would be the shy type though.
ReplyDeleteI am replying on James Cannon's comment about the poem. Wow, that could be another thing that could be happening for one of our fellow classmates. I wonder what our classmate was wondering about spring break for, maybe his plans. Well I hope he or she had a good spring brerak because mine was awesome. This poem was great cant wait to see next week's poem.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Lawton
I believe that this poem is talking about people not speaking out about their great ideas, which would actually make sense because there are many different people in the world that have ideas also showing someone wanted to break free to get their ideas shown showing the one looking out the windows. I think that this would be a very good poem for the class and others to know about and mean. If you have time in class Ms. Mathis, I would like to go over this poem sometime.
ReplyDeleteAddison Helms
This poem was a little difficult for me. I tried to figure out who the poem was talking about. I tried to see if the poem was about a student, another teacher, or even the principal. I thought it might have been the principal because it says, "...you are the greatest living authority." The greatest authority in school(as I see it) is the principal. But I had to think again because iT said something about taking an apple out of a desk. Overall, I didn't like this poem and I didn't understand it.
ReplyDelete@ Doug
ReplyDeleteReading your comment makes it a little easier for me to understand this poem. I didn't think that he may of felt that he was higher than everyone because he knew the answer. It does make since that way. And about him looking out the window because he feels like going outside makes since as well.
I'm commenting on leighs comment. I agree when she said that the character that knew the question just didn't want to raise their hand. I also wonder what the question was. In the poem I'm not sure what the mention of spring was.
ReplyDeleteI really like the poem because it can be percieved differently by different people. It can be seen as a lazy person not paying attention to the teacher. It can even be seen as a young person not really listening to what the teacher(representing other people)is trying to influencee him or her to become or make of his/her life.The robin could represent what the young one wants to be; free, beautiful , and him/herself.I see this poem in the second way .
ReplyDeleteTerah GAmble
I agree with Sydney. It could also be about spring. This time of year is very beautiful and distracting. In class you can sometimes get caught up in looking out the window. You wish you were out there.It even makes you wish class was over so that between classes you can get a fresh breath of air, once you get there you breath a cloud of pollen.
ReplyDeleteTerah Gamble
I thought that this poem was talking about someone who was daydreaming. This I think applies directly to almost every teenager thats in schools and near a window at the beginning of spring. I think I have even found my self fascinated on what was going on outside. I really liked this poem especially because it is spring now and the poem seems to be discussing that so I foun that interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am commenting on Justin Hathoway's comment. I agree directly with what he is saying because those were my own thought on the poem while reading it. I also can see how the movements the students was making could describe how he was feeling. The mood of this poem is what is super cool. His comment made me better understand what the narrator was trying to say.
ReplyDeleteI thought that in this poem the author knew the answer,but he wanted to hear what everybody else had to say.Maybe he just wanted to give somebody else a chance to speak their mind.I believe that this poem shows how the smallest things in life can make your day.Sometimes you can just sit back and take it in.
ReplyDeleteHayley Ross
@ Leigha
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on everything.It really does show how life is beautiful to some people.I don't think that he answere the question,because basicaly like you said he knew the answer.Just like you said it would be better if we knew what the question was.
I thought this poem was alright. I seem to understand it but then again not as much. I thought it was sorta funny and random at the same time the person reaches into their desk and pulls out a apple looking out at a tree with a bird on it. This blog was not boring but something to think about with what the person was thinking and what was going through their mind at the time when the question was being asked.Daniel Taverna
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leigha Stall. How the person was waiting for someone else to answer because the person did not feel the need to answer the question. They felt the need to let someone else comment on the question.Daniel Taverna
ReplyDeleteI really like trying to think about what this poem really means. I think that the student is questioning them self. When the teacher ask the question even though they know the answer they are distracted by the things around them. They dont answer because the care more about what there surrounding are. Even though i enjoyed this poem i was still a little confused.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with becca. I can see how this poem is also about self control. When is class it is our job to take control concentrate and answer the questions. I also think this poem talked about how distracted some student become. The student in this poem does not care that he is distracted because he knows the answer to the question.
ReplyDeletei thought the poem was very confusing. The author didnt even stay on topic. I got very lost. I need an explanation.
ReplyDeleteBen Sessions
To me he seemed like at teachers pet thinking he knew everything. It is confusing though. i didnt really understand it. I got some parts whle others i didnt. I didnt understand how it was a poem.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this poem was kind of interesting. I didn't really like how it started out being a great poem and then I got to the end that wasn't really an end. I don't like how she didn't tell us whether the kid answered the question or not... She just kind of let us imagine what happened. But I liked how the poem was explained. I could see all of it in my mind!
ReplyDelete@ Brandon Rader.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought of this poem being about nature and spring but when I read it thinking about that, I see where you get that. I think maybe they didn't want to go outside, maybe they were just admiring the beautiful things to look at! I also think that instead of the question having multiple answers, maybe he really did know the only answer but didn't want to be the only one that raised their hand or something. The character might have been shy or something.
I think the poem is about a student who is probably too shy to raise his/her hand, and is probably convinced that they know the subject enough that they don't need to pay attention. The subject seems to prefer watching nature outside the window to studying, although they may not actually have the correct answer to the question. I don't think the student particularly wants to be outside, they just seem to be admiring nature. I think the reason why the subject didn't raise their hand was probably because they didn't want to stand out too much or anything like that.
ReplyDelete@ Madison
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't think that the poem is about self control. There are parts about getting distracted in class, but there isn't enough for the poem to be based on it. The poem seems more like it is based on the student being very self-confidant, perhaps too much, instead. I do see your point of view, but I think that is one of the more minor themes instead of the main theme.
@ alex thomas
ReplyDeleteI partially agree with you because I also knew it was about a teacher's pet when only one student decide to say the answer in front of everybody. I don't think it was confusing, the poem did talked about answering the question and imaging spring in the outside world. It was in modern english too. But atleast you understand one thing from the poem.
david s.
I really like this poem,it does have a lot of imagery, and while I was reading this, i was kind of feeling what the person was feeling. This poem in this case was about a kid who was shy to answer a question that he was preety sure it was right, but he was very confident that he knew too much about the subject, and sinse he knew what he was doing, he let some other person get the chance to answer the question and feel good about his/her self. Instead of answering the question, he decided to enjoy the beauty of nature and look outside. This poem realated to me somewhat, sometimes I am to shy to answer a question I know and lose the chance.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this poem
Em.
Mica Clark: In this poem, I thought that the author was speaking about the average mind of a student. When we are in class we are usually drifting off and not wanting to pay attention. When we hear a question, we solve the problem and figure out the answer, but we do not want to say the answer. So instead we look around, and notice things that nobody else would. I really enjoyed reading this poem though, because it made you have think about what the figurative language meant.
ReplyDelete@Kyle Soden
I agree very much with you about what you thought on this poem. I never thought that he was just admiring nature, and didn't want to be outside. I also agree that he did not want to stand out in class, possibly because he was too shy. Thanks for saying that because it opened my mind to many other options as to what this poem could mean.
I think this poem was about a student lieing to himself. He knew the answer but he pretended he didn't because it's unaccepted to be smart most of the time. Instead of doing what he knew he needed to do, he started to stare out the windo. Even when the teacher asked again, he refused to admit that he knew the answer, and was thus, intigent. io believe that this was a poem about how we should be an example of the opposite of what this student did.
ReplyDelete@Em:
I deffinatly agree with her about the imagery in this poem, sometimes I think we focous too much on the actual substance of the poem and not enough on the literary elements. The poem was alos about nature as well I think, because like Em said, he decided to stop and enjoy natures beauty. I also agree with the assumption that the student was not confident enough raise his hand. I think he was scared to be wrong so he didn't amswer at the risk of being embaressed.
Ashlie Renae
I think this poem is talking about knowing you self and knowing that you are the only one that truly know your self. You are the only one who can answer for you. But you can change as a person thats what i think the author means by spring is here their saying that change or a new start is here. like I said i think this poem is talking about knowing your self and knowing that you can change, but I also think it means that you need to realize when you are changing and need to deside if that change is for the worse or for the better.
ReplyDeleteby joshua puckett
This poem was very interesting, but I have never experienced this. I have always had someone in my class be smarter than me. I have never been the only one who knew the answer, except for history, because i am a boss at history. Overall I liked this poem.
ReplyDeleteI agree with sydney, I think the poem is straight forward, and it is talking about you knowing the answer. I agree that it could be encouraging to other people. I also agree that if you get the wrong answer than you need to speak up and get the right answer.
ReplyDeleteThe poem seemed like it was the same. It felt like I had read or already had an experience like it. I thought it was about how the kid wasn't focused because he was wanting to get out of school. In the end I think the teacher got mad because no one was focused and asked again.
ReplyDelete~ James Gardner
I think that James Cannon is half right. I do agree that the kid is probably waiting to get out of school. I don't the kids were just trying to stall to do less work. Daydreaming you of been my guess for the cause.
ReplyDelete~ James Gardner
I think this poem was about a kid who is wanting to break free into the beauty of spring rather than being in class. The teacher is repeatedly asking a question but the kid cannot answer, because he or she is focused on spring. When the author says "Outside the window, on an overhanging branch, a robin is ruffling its feathers", I think it is symbolizing how the kid wants to be like that bird. The bird is free of worry and is enjoying spring and that is what he or she is longing to be.
ReplyDelete~Kara Williams
Commenting on Alex Thomas's Comment
ReplyDeleteI agree. I had to try hard to find a meaning to the poem, because it was kind of difficult to understand. When I first read it I thought the exact same thing. How is this a poem? I didn't really even know how to read it but somehow I made sense of it.
Kara Williams
I not sure what this poem is about but I would like to put forth some effort in commenting on it. My guess is that the person is not answering because the answer is something personal to him. Also I think that he is trying to avoid the question because it repeats saying "You don't raise your hand." I am still not sure how looking out the window plays into the poem though.
ReplyDeleteWesley Boehm
I was having trouble figuring out the part of poem that talks about looking outside the window. Then I read Kyle Soden's post that said "The subject seems to prefer watching nature outside the window to studying". I never thought that the student did not care about paying attention. That would solve my window problem so I would like to thank you Kyle.
ReplyDeleteWesley Boehm
I didn't really get this poem the first time I read it. Why wouldn't you just raise your hand and answer since you obviously knew? But then I started to think that maybe it is talking about life. Maybe it is talking about how we will sit in our own little world and only think about ourselves. But then again, maybe the poem is just a simple one, about how we should speak up in class so that we and our classmates can learn.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Ashlie is right. Although the author is unclear on what exactly they meant by the poem, I think that it could be about not answering so that you could fit in. In today's society, sometimes you won't be accepted when you show yourself to be smart. The kid in class could have just been lying that he didn't know the answer so that others wouldn't make fun of him.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with James, I didn't look at it that way. I do think that it was time for spring break and that kid was too exited to even pay attention and wanted to get out of class. As I said before, that kid might be the shy type to, maybe he knew the answer and was certain it was right, but he didn't trust him self, so he started to gave doubts about his answer. This related to me, the same thing happened to me.
ReplyDeleteLove his post, made me look at it differently:
Em Loves Ms. Mathis :)
I agree with Kaitlyn Henderson, because a lot of people can relate to this in real life. When you are to afraid to answer because your scared your wrong, you just need to believe in your-self that you can do it. I have learned that you have to just take the chance and answer even if your wrong. Like Kaitlyn said if your answer is wrong your teacher can help you understand what you did wrong.
ReplyDelete!Courtney Allen!
I agree with Will, because I to have never been the only one that knows the answer. There is always somone smarter than me. I liked the poem as well. Unlike History I good at Spanish.
ReplyDeleteMichael holland
I really liked this poem because it relates to real life. To me, I thought it was about someone doubting themselves but as they look around they realize that they know what they need to do and stop doubting themselves. I think this poem is about an insecure person thinking that their aren't good enough. This poem makes me think about my life and to not doubt my self.
ReplyDeleteMiranda Symons
I am agreeing with Kara Williams. Now that I read the poem I think that it is not just about him doubting himself, but that he wants to break free. I think she is right but i also think the poem has something to do with him doubting himself. I like that Kara said that he wants to be as free as that bird.
ReplyDeleteMiranda Symons
I agree with JUCA. I think this poem has alot of imagery and not enought poetry stuff. When i read it the 13th time i finally got it. Although i wish it was clearer.
ReplyDelete--Robby Fernandez
I thin kthis poem means a few different thngs. I thought first it meant that you were in control of yourself. You and you alone are responsible for your own knowledge. Second I thought it meant that you need to strive to see as much pottential in yourself as others like teachers see in you.
ReplyDeleteJustin Noote
I agree with Josh's comment. I like what he said about that you are who can truly know yourself. I think that knowing yourself ties in to being in control of yourself. It also says to me that if you know yourself then you as much pottential as others. Good comment Josh.
ReplyDeleteJustin Noote
I really liked this poem because me and several other people I know can relate to it. On several occasions this has happened to me in pretty much the exact same way. This poem also gives a large amount of detail, for instance in lines 8-10 it describes exactly what he is doing. The only part I didn't like about his was that it was more like a short summary of someones class than it was a poem.
ReplyDelete~Jesse Estry
I think this poem was about the beauty of life and nature. I also think that the author didn't raise his hand because it might have been the end of the day and spring break was only 10 minutes away. He didnt want to keep everyone waiting by answering the question. In all I think that the author wrote this poem to resemble children and nature.
ReplyDelete@ shamar
ReplyDelete- I agree with Shamar because I do this a lot in school when I dont want to work. I slack off and zone off into space but then when I slack off I dont know what the teacher says and I am behind in class. I think I should work on this behavior because I start getting bad grades and its not what my dad wants. If I was shamar I would stop zoneing off and start working.
For the first time in the history of English 1 a blog actually ment something to me. I can easliy relate to the author in this poem. He/she knows how to answer the question but he/she knows that his/her answer would be meaningless. So the author blankly stares out the window in hope of finding something to ocupy him/her. I do the same thing when learning about something that I already know. Like the author in this poem not alot intrestest me.
ReplyDeletexXBoboXx
@ Athene
ReplyDeleteAlthough I understood this poem the first I read it i have the same opinion about it. Maybe it is talking about life and how we focus on ourselves instead of the bigger picture. I believe that it was talking about life and that people need to take action in life instead of letting opurtunities fly by them
xXBoboXx
I kinda agree with Austin Stokes but then again I disagree. I don't think that the sudent was trying to give the other students a chance to answer. I think that the student was holding back his own knowledge because he wasn't sure of himself or the answers. I think that reading stokes comments made me think more deeper into the poem. I think that a lot of students do or feel the same way the student in the poem felt. I know I did.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stokes
Victoria Hayes
This poem was, i think, the most confusing we have had yet. I think it was talking about how we dont do what we should do or take the inititave to do something. Maybe its saying where lazy. We all have something to learn from this poem.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem is talking about how kids just want to be outside. Like when the kid knows the answer but doesn't answer than he looks outside. I think he was thinking about what it will be like outside. I think he also was daydreaming about being outside and did't care about the answer. I liked this poem because it relates to almost everykid including me.
ReplyDeleteZack Black
[to oneil graham]
ReplyDeleteI think that this was actually pretty simple compared to the others. It didn't have as many metaphors and similes as the others. It also used regular english instead of that old english. To me the poem was simple and not at all complicated.
Zack Black
Robert Therrell, I think now that I look at what you said that you had the right area of what the poem meant. I think now that you are right about what you said was right because the person that is not talking or raising your hand is because of what things are in life that distract you. Also I think that we can be distracted by good weather, things that happen, and also scenarios that can occur in our lives that happen for a reason. The point that i'm trying to make by what I am saying is to never give up on any part of life, because the reward will come after what happens when you do your part in the role of everyday life.
ReplyDelete-Addison Helms
@ Austin Stokes
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that he was putting the apple on his desk to signify that he was going to be silent. In my mind when I read this poem I though he was putting the apple on his desk because he was waiting for spring break to kick off and he wanted a snack for after school. The idea that he was trying to give the other kids a chance was also signifigant in my mind. I thought he was just being quiet because he didn't want to look pompus in front of all of his friends. Your comment also made me realize that the author did not indicate the gender of the speaker, I had to reread all of the poem after you said he/she in your comment.
~Jesse Estry
I believe that this poem is definitely about spring. It's showing how the sunshine and beauty of nature blossoms in spring and gives you a new feeling about certain things. Spring empowers you and you feel confident about whatever you do.
ReplyDelete-Davarius Hampton
I thought that this poem was about a student who was trying to pay attention in class but instead looked outside at the beautiful trees, and birds that spring has to offer. I think that this poem was very well writen and was very easy to understand. this poem was also great because the student in the poem decided to give other people a chance to try to answer the question which is really quite awesome because he knew the answere, and he could have answered it if he wanted to but instead he decided to give somenone else a chance.
ReplyDeleteBY. Jamie Condon
I thought that the poem was interesting because it is about something that I have seen and done before. It is about someone who knows the answer to a question and knows that they are the only one who knows the answer to the question but doesn't answer. The poem also talks about the beauty of other things that are distracting the person from answering the question, things like the persons hand on the desk, taking an apple out of the desk, looking out the window. All of these things are pointing to the fact that the person doesn't want to answer the question.
ReplyDelete-Andrew Hadaway
@ oneil Graham
ReplyDeleteI thought that this poem was accually quite easy to read because all of the other poems were much more complicated, and alot harder to read. This one was really simple, and I thought that this was a great poem. I do agree that the poem has somewhat of a vibe that is saying that the student maybe was nervous in the situation and did not want to say the answer.
Jamie Condon
PETER SCOTT--comment on the blog
ReplyDeleteI think this poem involves a smart student. He thinks he knows the answer to the presented question but he isn't sure. But instead, he dreamt of being elsewhere and of other pleasures (food). He likes not raising his hand and not taking a chance on being wrong.
COMMENT ON ZACK BLACK--
You are spot on Zack. He knows the answer but his lack of interest makes him want to be elsewhere. He dreams of being outside with the trees and birds, or of eating, and instead he is stuck in a classroom. And yes, every kid in the world can relate to this.
PETER SCOTT
I have commented on the blog and another person's post.
I agree with Austin Bobo. I could also really relate to the author. The author already know the answer. I do the same thing with friends. I act like i dont know the answer when i clearly do. I really liked his comment. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThis poem reminds me of the old days when i was in elementary school. I used to doubt myself alot. Even though I was right most of the time I still didn't raise my hand.I liked how he used the apple he took from under his desk as more than just an ordinary apple. The author used the apple as way of showing he was going to be silent and keep it to himself.
ReplyDeleteJatavius Lloyd-Jones
I thought that the poem was very easy to relate to. I think that the student(author) needs to stir up enough courage to answer the question. He should not feel like he can not answer the question because if he is right the teacher will respect him, but even if he is not correct he will be given the same respect for being the only one to try. Instead he tries to ignore what he has to say by reaching into his desk and getting out the apple then looking out the window. I thought that this poem is very understandable and I liked it.
ReplyDeleteCOMMENT ON ZACH BLACK
I completely agree with Zach. I think that the child really just wants to be outside. I also think that the child is trying to not make the entire class think that he is not smart. He does not want to be embarrassed if he gets it wrong so he just tries to not answer it but he knows that he has the right answer.
I agree with Leigha.I though the author described the beauty of life in this poem as well. Now that I read the poem again I think the question could've been a question that you dont answer even when you knkkow the answer. I also agree that if we knew what the question was we could look deeper in the poem.
ReplyDeleteby Jatavius Lloyd-Jones
I somewhat understand what this is talking about. I really got lost at the end of the poem when it started talking about the apple and the bird, but the begining of the poem was very clear. I really got when the writer put he wanted to say something but he didn't. I think he ment beacuse of his embarsement on whatever it was he was hiding.
ReplyDeleteSam McGill
In my opinion I think this poem is about a student who knows the answer to a question, but is more interested with the outside world and the beauty of spring. I think this student is thinking of two things one he is exicited about spring and two he is laughing inside because he knows the answer therefore he feels superior.
ReplyDeletesarah fooshang
I agree with peter scott he explained this passage in the way I thought of it. This is how I would have wanted to explain it your explanation is clear and mindful.
ReplyDeletesarah fooshang
This poem makes me think of a kid that is really smart, but does not want to be a know-it-all. He decides to keep the answer to himself maybe because he likes the power he has because nobody else knows it. I think that when the author wrote this poem they had a problem with somebody that kept showing off the answer. They wrote this poem to tell people that sometimes its better to keep it to yourself.
ReplyDeleteResponse to Austin Stokes:
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing. The kid is the smartest but he wants to change. He always knows the answer but now he wants to try to be like all the other students who aren't paying attention. Being the smartest is okay but maybe he decided showing off isn't. I think this is just a case where a good student becomes unfocused.
I feel that this poem relates to shy people. People that feel that others will laugh at them because your the only one that knows the answer. Inside you also feel very smart because you've accomplished the fact that others don't know something you do. This poem also expresses that spring is now here and how beautiful it can be. This was a poem i did understand word wise, and it was good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jesse Estry. The person putting the apple on the desk does signify that he is going to stay quiet. Also I like Alex Thomas's comment on how he sometimes tries to act like he doesnt know the answer in front of his friends. I don't understand why a person would want to know that because that's just like wanting to show your friends your on the same level as them. It's better to show them that you're smart and you know so much more. In my opinion.(: OH AND BY THE WAY..HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS. MATHIS(:
ReplyDeleteI didnt really like this poem. I thought it could have been better if the author would have said what the question was so then I would know more about this poem. I think it was trying to talk about the beauty of nature/life. I liked the part where it talked about the robin ruffling its feathers. I thought that was very creative. Over all I think the poem was okay but not so great.
ReplyDeleteBy: Katlyn McAnally
I liked what Leigha said. She said it talked about the beauty of life and that is exactly what I think the poem is about. I also liked the part when it said of spring hanging in the air. I thought it was very artistic.
ReplyDeleteBy: Katlyn McAnally
@ Leigha
ReplyDeleteI dont really see it talking about the beauty of life. Maybe he/she was afraid of being wrong. He/she didnt want to be imberrased in front of the class. Or they just didnt want to answer the question.
I enjoyed this poem because i can closely relate to it. Its very well written and i love how this poem can relate to a lot of students. I often find myself staring out a windoe or daydreaming during class because iam confident in myself already knowing the material. I dont answer the teachers questtion because i already answered the question in my mind saying it out loud dosent prove that i know it anymore to me.
ReplyDelete@ liegha
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your comment it definrtly talks about the beauty of life. I agree with how you say he doesent raise his hand because he already knows. I would also like to know the question the teacher is asking. Im really intrested in the title why is it called that.