Touch of the Times

The more and more I think about it, the more I realize how much the times effect writing. George Orwell wrote Animal Farm as a response to the Communist movement. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in response to the corruption of the catholic church. Walt Whitman wrote poetry reflecting his pantheist beliefs and reflecting the time of romanticism. Emily Dickinson's poetry, although she was a Christian, wrote poetry also reflecting the transcendentalism theory. Dickinson's poetry is indeed wonderful and unique, but there is a touch of each writer before her in her work. Whitman influenced her, Thoreau was one of her favorite writers of all time. Dickinson had a very unique style of poetry but the times she lived in effected her writing without a doubt. Dickinson's poetry includes a touch of the times.

Too blunt

Walt Whitman was, true a wonderful writer, but was so point-blank in all of his writing. He had an excellent way of expressing his beliefs and his point of view but he also had a very blunt way of expressing some very particular beliefs. Try as I might, I tried to overlook his references to homosexuality, I just could not. I recognize his talent and his contribution to American literature. I understand that modern poets either mirror his poetry or that of Dickinson. I also know that there are so many more cryptic ways of explaining this homosexuality. I expect this kind of writing out of modern poets and modern writers, but I did not expect it from one of the most well-known poets in America and one with such influence.

Chewing their cud

Upon driving onto my own driveway last night I glanced over at the cattle who were making a mad dash to the fence closest to the house. The cattle closely watched me step out of my car, anticipating my very next move. Odd it is, but I noticed a strange resemblance between the cattle watching me and the rest of the world. Society has the annoying way of watching to see where I am going to go next, what my next move will be, and if I will rise or fall. These moments in my life often make it to the neighbor's dinner over the evening meal. I had to wonder before I entered my house, am I the topic of conversation while the cattle are standing around chewing their cud?

The Enemy of Genius is Genuius

Isn't it true that we seem to fail every time we try to perfectly mirror our idol? I can not count the number of times I have attempted to write a poem as amazing as one of Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allen Poe, and William Chaucer and have failed miserably. Emerson made a point to tell his readers that by mirroring the genius writer a person is only holding themself back. To be a true scholar one must make an attempt to discover new ideas, experience life, and put them in words that are unique and have not already been used. Before reading the "American Scholar", I would have given anything to write in the style of Emerson and do so successfully. After finishing this truth-filled piece, I realized I need to put my own ideas on paper.