Online Poetry Discussion

Thanks, Amy, for starting us off.

Here are Amy's thoughts on Rhonda's presentation. Please, please add comments. I'll post Jacquelyn's poem in a separate presentation.

Amy said: Here are my thoughts on the questions Rhonda presented:

1. I think that the poet may have compared the ending of a sidewalk to the beginning of a street, because when you're younger and walking on the sidewalk, it's safe. You're protected and are walking a direction that's set out for you. When you grow older, and into adolescence, you walk on the road, or drive on the road, whatever. This is more dangerous, and there's more possibilities for what could come towards you. It's bigger and scarier, and you're no longer under the protection of the 'sidewalk'.

2. Like everyone else suggested, I think that he repeated himself to get the point across.

3. I believe that you can always be a 'kid', but you reach a point (usually around the beginning of adolescence) where it is something that is no longer accepted and respected. It's difficult when you're a teenager, because you're too young to be a real adult, but too old to be able to do nothing and make a fuss about situations and still be respected. However, I think that a good dose of being a 'kid' every once in a while is healthy. Like, say, jumping on the bed occasionally. (:

4. I think that whereas the beginning of the poem is talking about the sidewalk ending as adulthood starts, I think that in this stanza, it's talking more about the sidewalk of life ending. It's foreshadowing the remainder of our lives, which are for the most part dark and smokey and cement-like (because being an adult isn't easy), but there's little bursts of childhood here and there (like the flower he mentions).

5. This poem kind of leaves me with a negative feeling about growing up, and leaving the safety behind. However, the fact that it talks about how we just keep walking, and walking together, makes me feel a little hopeful.