Nuri+Bracey

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

Can you start to feel the wind when it sings? Black and Blue death howling, though fear it brings. Pain in the Panhandle of Florida. Making hell when everyone makes it sing. Can you smell the fear in the air of kids? Smelling death while cowering for their lives. Houses ripped to shreds like cans with no lids. People bunched up waiting to get supplies. Won't you come and stay here until help comes? It will get worst when night falls so don't go. You can stay the night in here so don't run. Go straight to the docks and wait for the dough The man in the hat will give it to you ok? The wind won't die for many years, you'll be ok.
 * My Sonnet. **

I'd like to express my gratitude to your companionship. Forty Years old now, still more stable than my relationships. It might be 80/20, but I'm obliged to try. Maybe I'll start by cleaning those stains, starting with that cherry pie. You have your problems, and I have mine. To this day, I don't know how the sheets come off, every damn time. I appreciate how you cause no plight. I guess this is goodbye then, at least until I rest my head tonight.
 * Ode To: My Bed. **


 * Raised By Poem: Nuri Bracey**

I was raised by African-Americans the God fearing, church going high standard, leather belts that feel like too much snow on your hand using African-Americans.

The fat loving, Mac&Cheese perfecting sweet potato pie gobbling, wiping down the Sunday table yelling "Wash your hands before you sit at my table!" African-Americans.

Some loving, caring, block party throwing, good time having, wish the times would never end type people.

I was raised by family.


 * Make the Move**: Nuri Bracey

The sweat trickles from my brow to my chin, an everlasting marathon of liquid, with an unknown cause. A blazing star grants me with its unwanted heat, making my impossible job a little more impossible. My self check let me see the cuts on my legs, but I've tuned them out, allowing the tunnel vision to take in. I'm decked in checks, like the black Roger Federer, waiting for my show stopping chance. Possession switched as if Bonnie and Clyde were amongst us, and I tensed for the reoccurring inevitable. I counted down as the equally sweaty figure approached me, 50, 40, 25, 18. I watched as the muscular leg powered down on to the checkers, just as I lunged to the vicinity. My eyes closed as I felt the sphere reach my stomach, me cradling it like a freshly newborn baby. The crowd went wild as I held it when the clock ran down, and my final soccer game ended.


 * My Poetry Statement:**

My poetry consist of mostly metaphors, since that is what I'm good at. If you look at my poems intensively, you would see that the words that don't make up metaphors are regular and common words. I tend to do rhyme schemes, but I'm starting to find them cliche and immature after reading other poetic writings. I looked at how Langston Hughes wrote on important topics, and decided that making every other line rhyme wouldn't cut it. I guess you can say he was an inspiration for my last poem, just not the same situations.


 * Langston Hughes Poems. **

**I, too, sing America**

I too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America.

Analysis: In the poem "I, too, sing America", Langston Hughes expresses his deep sorrow for his mistreatment as a colored man in America. The poem uses a powerful speech tone to amplify his scheme on becoming equal in a prodominatley pale nation. The reader can grasps images shuch as a lonely man eating in the kitchen, then a man shining and smiling with a crowd around him. Though there is no actual pattern to the poem, it gets its point across easily and smoothly. The lines in the poem are very descriptive and show lots of emothion despite having no exclamation points. For instance, when Mr. Hughes says "But, I laugh,", you can see a brown skinned man sarcastically laughing at how he is treated. When I read "And eat well, And grow strong. ", I think of someone gobbling down enourmous plates of old-styled cooking, then doing a Pia Martin workout for hours. I then see them walking through the doors of a glamorous mansion, striding in to the room of company to sit down an eat some more. This story definitely gives the reader a feeling of triumph.

**1. This poem addresses how others make him feel unequal in America. The central idea is that people will soon learn that everyone is made equal.** **2. There is no real pattern, the only repetitious part is " I too" then "America". 5 lines total.** **3. America is repeated only twice, but Its the most important. THere aren't any opposites.** **4. The lines are all long ,until the climax. The ending is short.** **Enjambments are present in this because the lines go on, but the story is the same.** **5. This poem is more formal. The affect is serious because he's showing his struggle, but its also inspiring because he's planning his rise.** **6. The tone of this poem is a serious but hearty struggle.** **7. An image is him storming through the kitchen doors and sitting down at the table with the others.**

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.
 * Dreams **

**Analysis**:

Short and Sweet! In the poem "Dreams", Langston Hughes. T he poem is addressed to dreams, and to anyone who has them. THe main idea of this to me is that dreams are an important part of life. WIthout dreams, life is dull and incomplete. One repetitive line in this short poem is "Hold fast to dreams for". Other than that, the poem branches in to different similes and metaphors.This poem showed continuous images of despair, starting with a damaged bird to a frozen tundra. There weren't really any grammatical mistakes in this poem.The lines in this poem are very short but very descriptive. There aren't any enjambments, but the thought does seem to continue on in the same pattern.I think this poem is contemporary because its dealing with a person having dreams in present time. This affects the reader by putting them in a situation where they could relate or negate the idea of a dream's importance. The tone of this poem is sorrowful and resentful. It's sorrowful because of the images it displays, but I think Langston Hughes is resentful. To me, it seems like the author was trying to hint that he let his dreams go at some point. I think he's writing from experience.The image I focused on was the broken winged bird. This metaphor shows the despair part of letting your dreams go.Langston Hughes' use of metaphors and despair make the reader grasp the consequences of dreams leaving and show the reader what will happen if you do.

1. This poem is addressed to dreams, and to anyone who has them. THe main idea of this to me is that dreams are an important part of life. WIthout dreams, life is dull and incomplete. 2. One repetitive line in this short poem is "Hold fast to dreams for". Other than that, the poem branches in to different similes and metaphors. 3. This poem showed continuous images of despair, starting with a damaged bird to a frozen tundra. There weren't really any grammatical mistakes in this poem. 4. The lines in this poem are very short but very descriptive. There aren't any enjambments, but the thought does seem to continue on in the same pattern. 5. I think this poem is contemporary because its dealing with a person having dreams in present time. This affects the reader by putting them in a situation where they could relate or negate the idea of a dream's importance. 6. The tone of this poem is sorrowful and resentful. It's sorrowful because of the images it displays, but I think Langston Hughes is resentful. To me, it seems like the author was trying to hint that he let his dreams go at some point. I think he's writing from experience. 7. THe image I focused on was the broken winged bird. This metaphor shows the despair part of letting your dreams go. 8. Langston Hughes' use of metaphors and despair make the reader grasp the consequences of dreams leaving and show the reader what will happen if you do.


 * Madam and Her Madam **

I worked for a woman, She wasn't mean-- But she had a twelve-room House to clean. Had to get breakfast, Dinner, and supper, too-- Then take care of her children When I got through. Wash, iron, and scrub, Walk the dog around-- It was too much, Nearly broke me down. I said, Madam, Can it be You trying to make a Pack-horse out of me? She opened her mouth. She cried, Oh, no! You know, Alberta, I love you so! I said, Madam, That may be true-- But I'll be dogged If I love you!

In the poem "Madam and Her Madam" Langston Hughes writes and describes the character Alberta's experience in working for a probably caucasian woman as a cleaner. The poem uses a humorous tone and sarcastic metaphors to express its displeasure for Alberta's work. The silly similes give the reader an image of a man turned in to an animal hybrid. The line "You trying to make a Pack-horse out of me?" gave me an image of a horse with gear on its back and the face of a man. Even with its humorous tone, the poem doesn't fail to express the feelings that the writer worked to invoke in the reader. You can't help but to feel sympathy for this over-worked individual. In the end, the sympathy is replaced with confidence since the character stood up to the insane workload.
 * Analysis: **

1. This poem addressed the woman he works for and his mistreatment.

2. There is a small rhyming pattern, but other than that,There is no pattern, just a continuous story.

3. No words are repeated in this poem.

4. The lines are all the same length, they all relate to each other.

5. This poem is more informal. It uses idioms and other metaphors to portray its point rather then serious tones.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. The tone in this poem is playful but desperate.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. An image I got from this poem is him storming out of the house in exasperation.