Life

Kyle McGue

Life by Henry Van Dyke

Let me but live my life from year to year, With forward face and unreluctant soul; Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal; Not mourning for the things that disappear In the dim past, nor holding back in fear From what the future veils; but with a whole And happy heart, that pays its toll To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer. So let the way wind up the hill or down, O'er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy: Still seeking what I sought when but a boy, New friendship, high adventure, and a crown, My heart will keep the courage of the quest, And hope the road's last turn will be the best.

I liked this poem since it basically talks about going on in life and not stopping for anything. Bad things are going to happen, but you have to keep going towards your goals. Put a smile on your face, and live life. Plus it’s named “Life”. This poem rhymes and is mostly set up like a couplet.

Change by Salini Nair

Change is a challengeChange is a fearChange is the change of mindChange is a change of altitudeChange is a change of way of lifeChange is the change of recognizedChange is the change of mysteriousChange is the change to solitudeChange is the change to perfectionChange is the change to unknown ethicsChange is the change to supremacyChange is the change to divinityA change to know the real self

I chose this poem to go along with my topic since change can be a big part of life. No matter what we’re all going to change in some way throughout life. Every line of this poem had change in it, mostly as the first word. This poem is very true. Most are scared to change, and we don’t know what will happen with that change. But without change, we can’t grow.

Freedom by Snéha Soni Freedom, that everyone craves forFreedom of speech;

deeds; religion; thoughts, desires; dreams; love & expressionWhere does actually this freedom exist? What is the degree of this freedom? People say each man is born with freedom and equalityBut is it a practical truth? If it is so why do we still crave for it? Why do we see dissatisfaction and disappointments? Freedom is not something that we need to find from somewherebut, is something within ourselvesIt doesn’t exist in any legal or religious laws, but lies within usIs not being what people want us to beIs what we want ourselves to beIts not making others fulfill our dreams, but letting others fulfill their dreamsIt is one's own acceptance of being oneselfand resistance of letting others being themselves.

One of the best ways to live life, is to be free while living it. This is why I picked this poem about freedom. This poem explains what true freedom is. Freedom isn’t just some privilege; it’s a way of life. It’s us who creates it. The freedom to be who you want to be, and see what you want to see. To not be trapped in a box, and do the same thing over and over miserably.

Respect by Don Wilson

Respect is a lesson that everyone should learnRespect must be given before an expected returnRespect is something that’s given for freeRespect is about us and never about meRespect is the basis on which relationships are foundedRespect is the anchor that keeps a person well groundedRespect builds the character and defines who we areRespect sets the standard and raises the barRespect is magnanimous and helps and helps to fulfillRespect is the partner that sits with good willRespect is like honey so sweet it’s perceivedRespect a taste to savor for when it’s received

Respect is a big lesson in life, so that’s why I chose to include this poem. This poem is pretty spot on about respect. Respect is earned, not just given. Each and every line of the poem starts with the word “respect”. This poem rhymes and has a rhyme scheme of 2 lines.

War and Peace by Nate Snowball

War is PeacePeace is WarWar unites againstOne common enemyPeace tears apartA dream-like societyThe fear during WarGives control to the governmentThe calmness of PeaceLets your guard down with sentimentWar causes deathPhysically, statisticallyPeace ends life Emotionally, personallyWar is PeacePeace is War

In everyone’s life, there is some type of war going on or that has gone on. Some may be big, and some may be some small one day war. Most people would like peace instead though. War and peace are pretty much opposites, but in this poem, it is shown how they can also be quite similar as well. This poem does have some rhyming in it, mostly focused on the last syllable. This poem gives an image that “war is peace” and “peace is war”, showing their similarities. Yawk. Yawk. Yawk.

Truth by Phil Panebianco

The truth sucksThe truth hurtsThe truth ruinsThe truth unveilsThe truth hatesThe truth disconnectsThe truth destroysThe truth scarsThe truth liesit lies about the truth

In life, it’s always important to tell and know the truth. That’s why I chose to include a poem called “Truth”. Now, this poem talks about the negatives about the truth. The truth can hurt and the truth can suck, but the truth is better than being lied to. People are stressed over if the government is honest or not. Obviously we all want to know and deserve the truth about everything that has been going on. People want to know what others really think of them. The truth is important.

Inspiration by Ian Kennedy

Inspiration by the light of day, Inspiration to make me pray.Inspiration in my willingness to give, Inspiration to move on and live! Inspiration to tell my story, Inspiration because there is no glory.Inspiration comes from deep within, Inspiration from sorrow and sin.Inspiration makes this real, Inspiration is how I feel.Inspiration can come from rain, Inspiration takes my pain.

In order to keep going on in life, you need some inspiration. Inspiration can help people find out what they want to do in life, or make them be productive in some way. I have little inspiration to do this presentation, but it’s whatever. Anyway, each and every line starts with “Inspiration” aka the title, which is pretty original. This poem also rhymes. Look at how inspired Eli Porter is here.

Waves by Joey Bada$$Since 95, momma been working 9-5

And I know the landlord fed up with our liesSo we pray to the Gods, the Jahs, and the AllahsTo keep us safe and watch our livesCause all we tryna do is do goodPut on my hood when I walk through hoodsCause these dudes these days are locoYou’ll get in your vocals if you ain’t a localThat’s why I’m tryna go globalThat’s why I’m tryna be a mogulAnd I’m hopeful that me spittin it soulful will have me in the Daily PostalFlying coastal eating tofuLike I told you, I know dudes who trash rappinWorried about the trending fashions rather than ascending passionThey want me to send em tracks but I just send em laughterRight after I start laughin, they start asking “what happened?”I’m back to the chapterMomma said follow dreams and never have to ask her, toSo that’s what I do, became an MC masterSince then it’s been a disaster for you, and your favorite rapperGo ahead ask em, who is Joey Bad?Watch em gasp, asthma, damn it’s so sad

ContinuedHe paused the chatter, cause he know he rather back upThan to admit the kid is hotter than magmaForget it, you gotta give credit where it’s dueCause you ain’t gonna like the karma when it’s set up on youIt can get you on your medical, mess you up in the decimalsOr get you 2 to 3 for residue found it your retinueAnd they told me not to be so complexDumb it down to accomplish, articles in ComplexAnd The Source, alfredo of courseThere I go again, steppin out of line, runnin off course I heard reports, that it’s like sexual intercourseWith your thoughts when I talk about the shoes in which I walkFor it is not faux, nor false that this kid from the northSpeaks with forced supports of reinforced assaultsI’m sure by now you can assume he never lostUnless with some form of divorce, or a corpseBorn boss no days off, child laborLet me see those in favor to spin that back like tornadoes

Continued AgainYeah, but it’s far from overWon’t stop til I meet Hova and my momma’s in a RoverTil I’m an owner of the world’s finest motorsI blow like super novas in your daughter’s room on a posterKnown as history’s biggest musical composerNo disrespect to Bob Mar, but yeah, another stonerMarijuana my odor, and when I get olderHope my spermatozoa from my scrotum intercepts an ovumLike 3 times, have 3 kidsI hope me & wife can show em not to make the same mistakes you know thatwe didI hope they acknowledge the knowledge cuz yeah, they gon need itCuz when my parents tried to tell me, I just wouldn’t receive itCouldn’t believe it, til I saw with my own pupilsFelt bad when I learned that their advice was truly usefulForget it, only made us human beings more mutualEven though over time, my punishments, they grew more crucialShould use the word brutal, cuz my parents mad strictHope one day I’ll attract the likes of even MadlibGo gold on mad ****, and hear my songs masteredUntil then, all I can do is imagine

I chose to use this song because Joey talks about most of his life and inspirations in it. I also like the song. There are similes, homophones, metaphors, puns, and wordplay. Some words are made to rhyme even though they don’t, because of his Brooklyn accent.

Success by Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and muchTo win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of childrenTo earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayalOf false friendsTo appreciate beautyTo find the best in othersTo leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, orA redeemed social conditionTo know even one life has breathed easier because you have livedThis is to have succeeded.

I believe everybody wants to be successful in life, so you know how it goes. I think this poem really does define what success is in life. I like how it brings another perspective to what success in life is. You know? Like young money millionaire, tougher than nigerian hair? You know.

Winds of Fate by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

One ship drives east and another drives westWith the self-same winds that blow‘Tis the set of the sailsAnd not the galesThat tells them the way to go

Like the winds of the sea are the winds of fateAs we voyage along through life;‘Tis the set of the soulThat decides its goalAnd not the calm or the strife

This poem is basically about life and which direction you go in life. You could go one way or the other. You choose bruh. This poem mostly rhymes with the exception of like the first lines. I like it because it’s like deep kinda. Yep.

Poop Tang Clan

Diarrhea running through my body

POOP

Gotta dookie

Lax-laxative pills y’all

Poop Tang Clan Pt. 2

The name isPoop Tang andWe the literal s**tSo you best protect ya anus

Poop Tang Clan Pt. 3Poop Tang up in your toiletProtect ya anus, or we might destroy it

You feel a ruckusUp in your stomach

So bring da plunger

Power of KnowledgeI believe in the power of knowledgeThe importance of truthThe influence of great leadersThe respect of one anotherThe success of getting things done

But the belief of not trying is not one of my beliefs

I believe in making a changeI believe in coming togetherI believe in ending ignorance

And I believe in living your life to the fullest

Proud and EducatedI am proud and educatedI wonder if the truth is being toldI hear lies in disguiseI see excuseI want the truth and nothing but the truthI am proud and educatedI pretend to go along with the programI feel something odd in the systemI touch with both sides of the storyI worry that some things may not be what they seemI cry out “what is real?”I am proud and educatedI understand not everything we hear is trueI say the youth can grow, when the truth is toldI dream of a perfect worldI try to have an open mindI hope for a better tomorrowI am proud and educated