Hope

 

 

Hope is a rainbow 

A beacon in the dark,  

Like the light at the end of a tunnel 

Sometimes dimmed, but always there 

 

Hope is immortal 

For there is always someone carrying it in their heart 

From small children 

To elders on their deathbed 

All people pray for perfection 

 

Hope is our lifeline 

When situations get grim 

It supports us without question

 

I think that Alexander Sereda’s poem “Hope” is an inspirational poem that carries a strong message. The theme of this poem is self-explanatory as it is the poem’s title (Hope). The purpose of the poet in this poem was to motivate people and make them feel confident. When the author says that “says that “Hope is immortal,” he means to inspire people by telling them that the flame that keeps them going will never die out. The phrase “When situations get grim, it supports us without question” means that hope is immortal and loyal in our time of need. The poet used a simile in the quote “Like the light at the end of the tunnel,” which is a common metaphor for hope. He also uses a metaphor in the first line of each stanza, comparing hope to a multitude of things. When he says, “Hope is a rainbow,” he is referencing a common metaphor for the hope which derives from the Bible. In the quote “Hope is our lifeline,” he is comparing hope to something that gets people out of tricky situations. In the last stanza, the poet uses an oxymoron when he says, “It is our job to not let it grow smaller.” It is impossible for something to grow smaller. This poem creates a sense of hope, even during the darkest time. It is meant to motivate people and inspire them to never give up. This poem does an excellent job of invoking powerful emotions from the reader.  

 

The Cats in the Cradle

By Henry Chapin

 

 

 

My favorite poem =from the poetry package was “Cats in the Cradle” by Henry Chapin. I liked this poem the most because unlike the other poems, it triggered an emotional reaction in me. It made me feel sympathy for both the father and the son because neither of them experienced quality time together because of each other’s neglect for each other. In the poem, the son keeps mentioning that he wants to be like his father. An example of irony is that he did become like his father because he never had time for the other person. An example of symbolism is the nursery rhyme in the chorus which symbolizes childhood innocence. In the 5th stanza, there is a simile: “so much like a man.” It is used to portray how the son has now grown up and the point where the tables turn on the dad. Throughout the entire poem, the chorus is repeated 4 times to make an impact on the reader. I think the poet’s purpose in this poem is to emphasize how important it is to not miss your child’s childhood. It especially helps to portray this lesson by showing us the consequences of the father’s actions in the last stanzas. Personally, I thought that this poem had an extraordinarily strong message and delivered it well. Although I do not have children of my own, I can relate to the feeling of missing something and then regretting that I did not act differently before. To summarize, the poem “Cats in the Cradle” is a powerful poem with an impactful message.