Tsion+Habtamu

"Poetry is emotion put into measure. The emotion must come by nature, but the measure can be acquired by art."

Sonnet Tsion Habtamu

Jimmy went to the store in the morning. His mother was upset that he had left. The experience was too boring. At the end he was accused of some theft.

The fact that he lost her trust made him sad. And because of that, he was also mad. But then he went to complain to his dad. However, all he said was I’m very glad.

He claimed he knew nothing of the matter, This made Jimmy even sadder, so he left. He roamed through the streets, like a ladder. Step, step, step, then he ran into Jeff.

So he stopped his journey at three, To go home to his parents, and watch Glee.   "Raised By"  Tsion Habtamu   I was raised by Wolves,  Savages.  People that were frowned upon,  because of their lack of sympathy.  I was raised people who lived by "Trust No One".  I was raised by outsiders,  with high expectations.  I was raised to live a life,  that was set and  Stone.  Ode to Kitty <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Tsion Habtamu <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">You were an unpleasant surprise. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Not welcoming, the night you arrived. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I wasn’t a creative kid, after all, your name is Kitty. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">But after all these years, it has grown on you. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">You were a lot to handle, the first years. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">And we’ve certainly had our ups and downs. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">But now, you’re apart of the family, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">You’ll be missed forever, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I love you Kitty. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Quilts <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">By Nikki Giovanni <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Like a fading piece of cloth <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I am a failure <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">No longer do I cover tables filled with food and laughter <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">My seams are frayed my hems falling my strength no longer able <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">To hold the hot and cold <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I wish for those first days <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">When just woven I could keep water <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">From seeping through <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Repelled stains with the tightness o3f my weave <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Dazzled the sunlight with my <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Reflection <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I grow old though pleased with my memories <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">The tasks I can no longer complete <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Are balanced by the love of the tasks gone past <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I offer no apology only this plea: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the end <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">That I might keep some child warm <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">And some old person with no one else to talk to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Will hear my whispers <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">And cuddle <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">near

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Deeper Understanding <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">This poem managed to use objects to subliminally relate to ones’ life. Whether this is about the author herself is unclear. However, the reference to “I” makes the reader believe so. Referring to his/herself as a failure adds a damper to the tone of the story. This isn’t to say that the intentions are to find sympathy from the reader. The stern tone is regained midway in the poem, as a line of clarification stands alone, almost as if the storyteller was attempting to regain their dignity. Claiming to “…offer no apology…” only a plea. He/she makes the request to never be outdated, and to be preserved, in a quilt. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">My First Memory (Of Librarians) By Nikki Giovanni <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> This is my first memory:

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A big room with heavy wooden tables that sat on a creaky wood floor A line of green shades—bankers’ lights—down the center Heavy oak chairs that were too low or maybe I was simply too short For me to sit in and read So my first book was always big

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In the foyer up four steps a semi-circle desk presided To the left side the card catalogue On the right newspapers draped over what looked like a quilt rack Magazines face out from the wall

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The welcoming smile of my librarian The anticipation in my heart All those books—another world—just waiting At my fingertips. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Deeper Understanding The deeper understanding of the poem is what's on the surface. It describes a special/memorable moment of the author, that she chooses to share with her readers. The tone of "My First Memory (Of Librarians)" isn't one that is expressed through language. It alters through the alignment and structure of the poem. Whether intentional or not, the line breaks cause the reader to pause, and interpret the poem line by line. "On the right newspapers draped over what looked like-a quilt rack." The separation of the line puts emphasis on the remainder of the thought. The tone is expressed through the dialogue, and the structure almost makes the reader inhale, as if reading it in excitement. The length of lines range from short, medium, and long and although very amplified, the flow remains consistent throughout the poem. Possum Crossing By Nikki Giovanni Backing out the driveway the car lights cast an eerie glow in the morning fog centering on movement in the rain slick street Hitting brakes I anticipate a squirrel or a cat or sometimes a little raccoon I once braked for a blind little mole who try though he did could not escape the cat toying with his life Mother-to-be possum occasionally lopes home...being naturally...slow her condition makes her even more ginger We need a sign POSSUM CROSSING to warn coffee-gurgling neighbors: we share the streets with more than trucks and vans and railroad crossings All birds being the living kin of dinosaurs think themselves invincible and pay no heed to the rolling wheels while they dine on an unlucky rabbit I hit brakes for the flutter of the lights hoping it's not a deer or a skunk or a groundhog coffee splashes over the cup which I quickly put away from me and into the empty passenger seat I look... relieved and exasperated... to discover I have just missed a big wet leaf struggling...to lift itself into the wind and live Deeper Understanding There is no deeper understanding to this poem. It comes across as a story shared by the author and a warning to herself. She explains the knowledge of outside characters to further justify the need of a "POSSUM CROSSING" sign. The poem has a very open structure, almost as if each stanza describes another part of her story. The separation of the last few lines in the last stanza exaggerates her words. The tone is informative, there is no excitement or much mystery, but rather plain. The flow manages to remain consistent even though the length of lines does not.