Homework week1 poem3

         C.W.H Auden, Museedes Beaux. I found this piece to be difficult to interpret. I came away with the feeling, that  there was an old man sitting in contemplation of his death, as he watched all around him go about their daily lives.
         The aspect of the poem which drew my attention initially, was the old Masters' and their feelings of suffering. Knowing that their lives were ending, accepting this as the order of the "human position", but as I can imagine, hoping for more time.  Secondly, for each "miraculous birth", there is also death.

Homework week 1 poem 2

       My first impression of a woman's work, was , it's  a poem about a housewife going about her day tending house. Mundane, tedious housework, with no aspirations of her own. After reading the poem several times, I realized that what this woman did on a daily basis, was her way of expressing her artistic self. Perhaps she had aspirations of being an artist, but had a family and put her dreams on hold. So she put her heart into keeping house. Her family was her heart, her work of art.
      What I found most profound in this poem, was the child's reflection. Once resenting having to stay indoors doing housework or chores, while her friends were outdoors playing. Once she had a family of her own, she too chose home, her heart, but taking time out to also pursue her dreams. The housewife, evolving.

Homework week1 poem 1

While reading the poem, I initially thought it was about architectural history.  As I delved deeper into the poem, it became clear that the poem was about race and culture. One staking claim to a history, that the other person felt belonged to him.

The aspect of the poem which I focused on, because it peaked my interest, was the white woman's interpretation of history. History states, that the Native Americans were the original people here in America. Hence the name Native American. The white man took the land and prospered. So not only did the natives have their land and homes stolen, but also their history.

Introduction of myself

My name is Alicia Reid and I currently live in Waterbury, Ct by way of Texas. I was born and raised in Bridgeport, Ct. I have two grown children, my oldest also is a nurse, Aprn. She challenged me to once and for all, complete my goal to becoming an RN. The most challenging thing for me I believe in regards to this class, is the technology part. I've just recently joined the technology age and although I find it convenient, it's also complicated for us old heads. I'm determined to overcome all my fears and work daily on improving my knowledge in technology. I accomplished setting up this blog, didn't I?  This class did this for me.

IN CLASS ASSIGNMENT WEEK 1

I reread a book by Iyanla Vanzant, "Peace from broken pieces." I've followed the author for several years, from the Oprah Winfrey show and now her weekly show on OWN, Iyanla fix my life. The piece is a story of over coming, therefore allowing yourself to become a person able to live in the present. I was most enlightened by the author's gut wretching honesty and the courage it must have taken to share the fact that she didn't have the relationship with her daughter she thought she had. Finding in her daughters diary, after her death, her interpretation of their relationship. How is it you can be in relationship with someone and not know the full extent of the relationship?
I found several reviews online of the book at Good reads.com.  The reviews were mixed, but all agreed that the message was powerful. Through Wikipedia, I discovered Vanzant is an author, inspirational speaker, spiritual teacher and television personality.  She has a show on OWN Network, called, Iyanla fix my life. In an interview with The Root, the author eludes to writing the book out of necessity. In order for her to find peace in the present, she needed to do the work of picking up the pieces from her past. Self exploration and taking responsibility for the roles we play in our own destiny, is what I take from this book.

Gratitude