"You Don't Know What You've Got Til' It's Gone"

Authors Note: This is a response to the songs/poems “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Field Below” and what I think about the mood and tone.

Throughout the poems/songs “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Field Below” the authors are expressing to us that you should be happy with what you have because it won’t be there forever. In both songs the main person is losing what they love, nature. The mood for the poem for both of the poems is depressing; it is depressing because their losing something that they love more than anything. I feel that they tone would be sympathetic because the author is trying to make the readers feel bad for them for what’s happening to them. During the song “Big Yellow Taxi” I feel that it is too upbeat, I personally don’t think that the lyrics fit how she sings the song. Although “Field Below” fits perfectly, the song is soft and sympathetic just like how we read the poem.

Let the Games Begin

Authors Note: This is a poem I have created for my weekly writing pieces for my goals; it is based off the novel “The Hunger Games” by Suzanna Collins. This is supposed to be Katniss (The main character) speaking.


I wake up in fear
Knowing that I’m alone
All I have is my gear
O, another cannon has blown


I have no water or food
I am in so much pain
I am in dreadful mood
But I have nothing to gain

Oh what a nightmare the capitol has made
I never wanted to be in this spot
I hope Prim isn’t afraid
I want to win, but there is only one shot

The Backpack

Authors Note: This is a parody from the poem "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams.

I have snatched
The backpack
That was on the ground

And which you were
Probably planning on using
For survival

Forgive me boy from District 9
I needed it
It was so bright, so heavy duty
And so beneficial

This poem relates to the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. When the games have just begun Katniss runs for her life towards the orange backpack laying on the ground. The boy from District 9 is also chasing towards it and they are tugging and fighting for it, but Katniss wins it over. Katniss is supposed to be writing this poem to the boy from district 9 to apologize she snatched it from him.

Keep Moving

Authors Note: This paragraph is a short response from the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughs.

There are many types of figurative language throughout the poem "Mother to Son" written by Langston Hughs, but the most important metaphor is when the mother is saying “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”. When the mother is preaching this to her son she is meaning that life hasn’t been perfect for her, but you just have to keep moving forward. “There ain’t been no light” meaning that no one was there to help her, she was in the dark alone. Life wasn’t peaceful for her; there were definitely many bumps and corners along the road. The author was writing this to persuade the readers to never give up on life; this poem was most likely written to calm the readers on whatever is going on in their head. From my point of view I definitely thought it was inspiring to never give up, no matter what may come up you just have to keep pushing through.

Sorrow

Authors Note: The following paragraphs are a text analysis from the novel “The Hunger Games” written by Suzanne Collins.

Walking into the reaping, seeing the pain in everyone, hoping and praying that they or their closest friends won’t get chosen. The Reaping is a symbol of sorrow and loss, from all the teenagers from the ages 12-18 sweating bullets waiting for Effie Trinket to pull the first name hoping the best for everyone, the girls chosen first. Everyone waiting to see which two people are going to die within the next couple of days or even months if their lucky.

The definition of sorrow- Distress caused by loss, affliction, disappointment, etc.; grief, sadness, or regret. Knowing that two of all the thousands of people there might be you getting called up onto the stage, entering The Games, getting killed by who knows what District. You regretting how many times you have entered your name, even though you needed the tesserae for your family’s safety. Everyone looking around at each other noticing that everyone was anxious from the look written on all the faces of each boy and girl, noticing the distress and the pleading in their eyes.

Primrose Everdeen

Author's Note: The following paragraphs are about one of the main characters named Prim from the novel "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins and her characteristics and her role in the family.

Being as bantam as a pinhead and so frail is formidable in order to participate in The Games. That’s why her sister volunteered to take her place. Prim has recently been picked for The Games but her caring sister Katniss volunteered because she knew Prim was fragile like a glass china plate , she just knew she wouldn't have anytime to fight for her life. Prim is a young 12- years old girl, but she is the total opposite of her sister Katniss. We all know that she is on the sensitive side, after she reacted when she had been called in the reaping. The crying, screaming not knowing what to do, she was scared to death...Who wouldn't be? But she was just too young to participate.

Prim's life is fairly simple compared to Katniss, but that’s because she's too fragile to go out in the deadly woods to kill. She wouldn’t have the guts to kill an animal; with no doubt she would end up balling her eyes out. Her major role throughout the novel is to stay at home with her mom, and most of all take care of her while Katniss is out grasping onto the bow and arrow as tight as she can watching and waiting for another pest to sneak by. Prim also has a goat that she loves more than anything; milking the goat is one of the only jobs she has to do to protect her family besides keeping an eye glued onto her mom making sure she's alright. Before the reaping Prim made a tiny piece of cheese from her goat that appeared like a piece of white slime folded in half on a plate the size of her hand. Prim's job isn't to difficult but she will do whatever it takes to supply for her family.