Notes

Patterns, aimed at the mind, the heart or the ear of the reader, are used by poets to 
achieve their purposes. In the work of at least two poets you have studied, examine various 
patterns and their effects.

The two poem that I will discuss: My Grandma in the Stars and Hope is the thing with feathers. Hope is the thing with feathers has four stanzas each with 4 lines and My Grandma in the stars even though has varied lines in each stanzas, has distinct meaning in each Stanzas.

Hope.... : the use of dashes and the feeling they bring to readers, the repeated words “and” “that”, the meaning of hope as bird carries through the whole poem

Grandma....: “on earth” & “with dust”, different meanings of stanzas

It is possible we will not meet again

on earth. To think this fills my throat

with dust. Then there is only the sky

tying the universe together.

Just now the neighbor’s horse must be standing

patiently, hoof on stone, waiting for his day

to open. What you think of him,

and the village’s one heroic cow,

is the knowledge I wish to gather.

I bow to your rugged feet,

the moth-eaten scarves that knot your hair.

Where we live in the world

is never one place. Our hearts,

those dogged mirrors, keep flashing us

moons before we are ready for them.

You and I on a roof at sunset,

our two languages adrift,

heart saying, Take this home with you,

never again,

and only memory making us rich.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - 

That perches in the soul - 

And sings the tune without the words - 

And never stops - at all - 

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - 

And sore must be the storm - 

That could abash the little Bird 

That kept so many warm - 

I’ve heard it in the chillest land - 

And on the strangest Sea - 

Yet - never - in Extremity, 

It asked a crumb - of me.