Post on 24-Apr-2017
Shaking My Speakers Mr. Willett A poetry collection exemplifying the deepest facets of my passion for music. Please explore every poem with a favorite song or artist in mind, and discover/rediscover its beauty for yourself.
Annotated Table of Contents 1. “The Furthest Thing from Perfect” (pg. 3) Fame is not that cool. People dream of being famous in order to avoid financial and work responsibilities and take the easy way out, but it’s not all what it’s cracked up to be. Using text from Jonah Weiner’s cover story on R&B/hip-‐hop star, Drake, I was able to set up a dichotomy of the lavish and ugly sides of this desire. The first half of the poem drips with lust from his swimming pool to his bedroom, while the latter points at what happens behind the scenes, the not-‐so pretty side. Its concluding question pokes at its reliability, and as evidenced by Drake’s research tactics, the true answer to fame becomes obvious. 2. “The Inner Imaginations of a Passionate Music Fan” (pg. 4) A passion surrounding music has been the leading stimulant to making and sustaining new friendships at home, musical festivals, and beyond. It wouldn’t have been possible about the little things, though. The following poem pinpoints those objects and the comfort they lend to those who feel the same way about the art form. 3. “Scrolling Through My Library” (pg. 5) Everyone has their favorite everyday object, whether it’s their wristwatch, lucky coin, or, for most, cell phone. For me, my iPod rarely leaves my possession. It’s the narrator to my day, one of my best friends, and therapist when to explore some beyond what immediately in front of me. It contains my favorite albums and artists, as well as some new material, something that could potentially spark a new musical addiction. The artists listed on this poem are amongst my most listened assume a high position in my musical psyche. If you haven’t listened to some, do me a favor and give one of their records a spin.
“The Furthest Thing from Perfect” (Taken from “High Times at the YOLO Estate” by Jonah Weiner, featured in Rolling Stone) Three-‐acre compound Enormous swimming pool Gorgeous women The property was eccentric as it was grandiose-‐ The Yolo Estate. Arrested on a few occasions Rheumatoid arthritis An outcast. There were kids stabbing each other. "All of my questions about life are answered!" Might "go on Wikipedia and research" to ensure that a reference is correct.
The Imaginations of a Passionate Music Fan If I were a record, I would be dense and playable for years to come. My grooves would be wealthy, wide, and detailed, Shocking any eye and ear lent to its production. A piece of music with warmth deeply scaled. If I were a record player, I would sharpen my needle To pristinely dig into the grooves of the pressed wax. I would resonate vibrations through my speakers to wheedle Passionate listeners needing tranquility from stressful tax. If I were a pair of headphones, this warmth would feel personal, Wrapping around your ears like knotted blankets. I would refuse to let go, even when our journeys are far embarked Or when we go to the box office to purchase concert tickets. If I were a concert venue, I would book a variety of bands, exemplifying many genres and styles, Whether it were a solo, solemn crooner or exuberant big band. I would have a dance floor for attendees to sing and dance, Allowing new and old friendships to prosper like they never had.
Scrolling Through My Library Whether I'm cooking up breakfast or going for a run, I take my handy-‐dandy iPod for ear-‐loads of fun. My thumb along the click wheel revolves in endless loops Of artists and bands that are surely hoot. Radiohead, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, James Blake, Life Without Buildings, Bon Iver, Brand New, and Drake. The Dismemberment Plan, American Football, Spoon, D'Angelo. Girls, Parquet Courts, The National, and Frankie O. Sigur Ros, Joanna Newsom, Pavement, My Bloody Valentine, Outkast, Sufjan Stevens, Jai Paul, and Iron & Wine. I'll cycle through all of their records throughout the day, and by the end, I never know what to say. The gift of music can be utterly stunning and is greater than any sum of money.
Figurative Language Explanation “Wrapping around your ears like knotted blankets.”-‐ “Imaginations of a Passionate Music Fan”
-‐ This is a simile because it is a comparison using like or as. “The gift of music can be utterly stunning and is greater than any sum of money.”-‐ “Scrolling Through My Library”
-‐ This is assonance because it uses the repeating vowel sound of “u”.
Artists of the list peom-‐ “Scrolling through my library.”
-‐ This exemplifies cadence because it follows the same pattern, four artists per line. This satisfies the spoken element of our class definition of poetry.
“The Imaginations of a Passionate Music Fan.”
-‐ All four quatrains begin with a metaphor, since the subject, I, is being compared to intimate object without using like or as.