ENGLISH POETRY
PROJECT
BY: RYAN BAKER
SHIHAN VAN CLIEF
Shihan Van Clief (born Ron van Clief Jr. on August 4, 1975) is an
African-American spoken word artist, poet and producer. He has
appeared on the Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry. He has written
poetry professionally for Pepsi, Jay-z and for his Father, Ron van Clief.
He has produced one Documentary, Sp!t in 2006 as himself, also he has
appeared as a member of the cast in one other Documentary, The
Poetry Lounge in 2004.
SPOKEN WORD POEM FLASHY WORDS
BY: SHIHAN
This poem is about speaking the truth and telling people the
truth. He says in the poem that because a bunch of words are put
together and they sound good doesn’t make them right. “ So I use
these, real eyes to, realize the real lies being spoken but not heard
cause We are more fascinated by that which are fabricated.” He then
goes on to tell that he is speaking the truth and that the media has lied
to us. While peoples lives could be great these lies that have been told
have held people back and made their life satisfactory.
There is an alliteration in the 3rd stanza it says “ Wingless Words”.
There is a simile in the 3rd stanza it says “ Words like wrecking balls.”
There is an example of personification in the 3rd stanza it says “ Tongue
spits truth.” Personification in the 1st line it says that “ Flashy words make
the world turn but it don’t turn right.” Words can’t make the world turn.
Why did you choose this spoken word piece? I chose this
spoken word piece because I like this poets flow and the way he puts
life into his poems. What type of figurative language is used in this
piece? Similes, Personification, and Alliteration.
I RISE
BY: MAYA ANGELOU
Maya Angelou is an African American Poet. She has published
seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of
poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows
spanning more than fifty years. She has received dozens of awards and
over thirty honorary doctoral degrees. Angelou is best known for her
series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and
early adult experiences.
This poem “Still I Rise” is about Maya Angelou and her struggles
through adversity. She has been through many things in her life such as
racism, sexism, etc. She is an inspiration but the way she put this poem
together is great she told a story. She has exposed the media and all of
the negative people in her life and she has risen. This is a great poem.
Some of the figurative language in the poem are similes,
repetition, rhyme and metaphor. The simile example: “shoulders falling
like tear drops.” The repetition examples” she repeated “You May” in 3
different lines. The rhyme examples: “with gloom…. Living room.” The
metaphor example: I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide.”
IN THE EVENT OF MY DEMISE
BY: TUPAC SHAKUR
Tupac Shakur is an African American Hip-Hop Artist/Poet. Tupac
has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the bestselling music artists of all time. Music Television Video (MTV) ranked him
at number two on their list of The Greatest Master Ceremonies of All
Time and Rolling Stone named him the 86th Greatest Artist of All Time.
His double disc album All Eyez on Me is one of the best selling hip hop
albums of all time.
In the poem “ In the event of my demise” Tupac told about the
things that he wanted to do almost like a bucket list before he died. He
wanted people to remember him by his music. Tupac was saying that
he wanted to die for a purpose or principle that he stood for. He had a
lot that he wanted to accomplish.
During the latter years of Tupac’s career and life he was a very
religious person. He became an accomplished poet. Some of the types
of figurative language used in the poem “In the event of my demise”
were repetition. The example of repetition was In the even of my
demise being repeated at the beginning and end of the poem.
YET DO I MARVEL
BY: COUNTEE CULLEN
Countee Cullen is an African American poet who was a leader
in the Harlem renaissance. He attended New York University and
Harvard University. He was very astute and had an excellent education.
Cullen was a very prestigious poet and artist. I enjoy all of his poems.
This poem is about the author marveling at all of the things in the
universe. He is amazed that God could make all of these wonderful
things in the world. He is also explaining about how good and well
mannered and polite God we have. He is just spreading the word that
God made all of these wonderful things in the world. I enjoyed this
poem because of the fact that I love all the things that God has done
for me and other people.
He did not have a lot of figurative language he had an example
of symbolism. The example of symbolism: the two characters Tantalus
and Sisyphus represented the man and woman on earth Adam and
Eve. His poetic works known for their hidden Homosexual Themes.
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING
BY: JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
James Weldon Johnson is an author, lawyer, teacher, civil rights
activist, and songwriter. He is also known as the very first African
American executive secretary for the (NAACP). He is well known for his
writing and poetry. Johnson was also the very first African American
professor at (NYU). Later in life he was a professor at Fisk University.
The poem lift every voice and sing was about African American
people rising and coming together as one. They wanted their liberties
and rights just as other people. This song is often called the Negro
National Anthem. This song talked about African Americans rising from
the trials and tribulations of slavery and racism. This is my favorite
hymnal of all time.
IF
BY: RUDYARD KIPLING
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in England, in
both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most
complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I
have ever known.“
In 1907, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature,
making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize,
and to date he remains its youngest recipient. One of his honours,
was when he was sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and
on several occasions for a knighthood, all of which he declined
This poem if was about having an if mindset. Meaning that
you can do anything that you want you just have to put your mind
too it. If you strive for success and excellence you will receive it.
You just have to believe.
The only type of figurative language found in the poem was
repetition. That was when he kept repeating the word if over and
over.
EMBED
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9A_k6Sj-Pg
REFERENCES
• www.biography.com
• www.youtube.com
• www.poetryfoundation.org