The Cool Boule'

Over the next 2 months, the National Basketball Association's next 5 years will be determined by the most talented free agent class since the summer of 2000 when Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan and others were free to choose their future employer. That summer proved anticlimactic as Hill and McGrady signed in Orlando and never contended (due in part to Hill's various ankle injuries) and Duncan stayed put in San Antonio. The other free agents signed deals of little consequence and had no impact on the power structure within the league. However, this year proves to be different with three of the top free agents (LeBron James, Joe Johnson, and Chris Bosh) all being very likely to change teams and conceivably team up in an effort to accumulate titles. Much has been made over this summer (described by some as 'Summer of LeBron') and for good reason. Rarely ever do you see such a talented and deep class of stars entering or in their prime (James, Bosh, Johnson, Dwayne Wade, Carlos Boozer and Amare' Stodamire) players in the twilight of their career (Dirk Nowitzki and Ray Allen) and faded past their prime athletes looking for one more deal (Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady). It is even more rare to find the cream of the crop players uniting and planning out their future. They no longer approach this as NBA players and now have become businessman and who can blame them? Within our passion and fervor for rooting for teams and player do we forget that these men are professional businessmen who, just like any CEO or owner of an organization, is trying to situate themselves in the best possible position for success. For example, take Chris Bosh. The loyalty and fan in each of us would love for him to stay and be loyal, demonstrating a caring and devotion to the team that drafted him. The CEO in him would catch the next plane outta Toronto and look for a partner to help him reach his potential. the only caveat is that their old teams can resign them for more. but through endorsements, bonuses, and potential championship exposure, that money can be recouped rather easily. We are in a new era of athlete where they no longer view themselves as players only, but mini empires.

Blog 32

The lessons that we have learned from the presentations have been interesting and informative. So far the most intriguing has been confessional poetry. It's a form that focuses on confessing and being very descirptive on life situations. The exercise we did in class was very useful and was a great aid in teaching the lesson.

blog 31

My poem, Respectfully Submitted, was aimed at a very specific audience. Upon further examination, maybe too specific. I wanted to write a poem accessible for everyone to enjoy but also as a tribute to the founders of my fraternity.

blog 30

Today is gonna be the day that they gonna throw it back to you

Blog 29

I plan on focusing my portion of my project on one of my favorite poets of all time, Langston Hughes. Hughes was an important and literary giant for African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance and was able to put the "black experience" into beautiful form. He often was the voice for our community when we didn't have one. Of all his works, the one that closest resonates with me would have to be "A Dream Deferred". It is a very dreamy, surreal poem that poses the question of what happens to a dream put on the back burner. The imagery he uses is epic and very tangible. It's alternate name is "Harlem" and also speaks to the dream that is/was Harlem as a black mecca for art, work, and high society life for blacks during this time. He pondered whether Harlem is a reality or just a fleeting dream. Was Harlem real or just a period of time? Did it have any stability? It's a wonderful piece that has always stuck out as one of the greatest of all time.

Blog 28

Putting together a portfolio is a very difficult item. Reflecting on my work this semester shows the difficulty and challenge in creating one of a decent quality.

Blog 27

A dream deferred shouldn't be a dream that dies. It's rather a dream placed on the back burner and one that you return to in the future. Let it build and grow instead of dying slow. Saturate and fester instead of laying lifeless and weak.

Blog 26

Upon working on my final portfolio, I am amazed at how much I have learned thorughout the class. At first, I was ignorant of how various the poetry styles are and how they differ from one another.To begin off, I am not a poet in any sense of the form. It's difficult for me to write in a style that is creative, stimulating, and ethereal and sometimes my poetry falls flat. It isn't due to lack of effort, but just flat out lack of talent. I am more skilled in writing prose and stories, which makes the Prose form a God send. However, thropughout the semester, I have steadily progressed and now would ocnsider myself to be a decent poet. This class has opened my eyes to how creating poetry can not only help my writing, but expand my thinking. It forces you to think and comprehend in ways that simple prose and stories can't. My favorite styles would have to be ghazals, prose poetry, and haiku. Some styles I favored and others I despised, but through it all I have come a long way.

Blog 25

Prose poetry, by far, has been my favorite form that we have covered so far. I consider myself a writer more than a poet. This has been the first poetry class I've ever really taken. By that I mean, someone who can develop a story or plot rather than create poetry. It's much easier for me to write a story within paragraph form than confine my thoughts into a rigid form. It's easier to be straight forward than it is to be witty. Within this form, you see many poems that are more like quick vignettes than actual poems. When we approached this portion of the class, I breathed a sigh of relief as I can now explore a side of my writing that I really haven't utilized this semester. For some, it can be a headache and really not be considered poetry. For me, its a welcome relief. It's easier to get my thoughts out and fully explained than having to be overly creative or thoughtful. My writing style is more blunt and straightforward than it is creative. This is not to say I can't be creative or profound, but I prefer the structure of prose to poetry any day.

Blog 24

Prose Poetry:

Today, I talked to Mr. Thompson. I asked him his opinion on our country. He said America was a walking contradiction, that individuality is the American myth. We preach it, but reject it in people. Race, culture, religion are all hollow. Diversity is dead. Our fore founders failed. The great experiment flopped. Hard to argue with him on that.

blog 23

The sestina form is complicated and depends on which form you use. Some forms are much more simple and invert the last line to the top. Others are more elaborate. They have formulas that require reserach.

Blog 22

One form I will look into in the future is the ghazal. It has a very haunting feel to it and works well with telling a story. For my poem this week, I wish had done it in as a ghazal rather than a sestina. The feel that I wanted for the poem was a returning kind of feel. Meaning, I wanted the reader to always come back to a central place. The sestina was too long and winding for a poem that should have been more focused and descriptive. It was difficult trying to link each stanza.

Blog 21

Overheard conversations:

" If your birthday is on February 29, wouldn't you be only like 5?"

"Nobody knows anything about hockey, but we were all rooting for the U.S."

" Since when has Gucci Mane been this good?"

"Usher is 32 with two kids and an ex wife. He's too old to be making this kind of music."

"His suit has no buttons."

blog 20

The analytical side of poetry is one of the more difficult aspects of the form. Having to find the hidden meaning and what the author is trying to convey is not always the easiest or most straight forward path. Sometimes research and looking beyond the most obvious meaning is necessary. Finding the authors background and history helps the reader understand their true meaning.in "Harlem" by Langston Hughes, it is a commentary on the big dreams and beliefs black americans invested into the New York suburb. He is well versed in that culture as he was a native of there for many years.

Blog 19

The creation of our new forms in class worked rather well. Most everyone had a strong, quality poem to present as well as had success with the sestina's. The sestina is a form that could work extremely well with children or in song form. The repetition of the same ending lines throughout gives it a base that the reader can always come back to. The reader will never far too far away from the subject at hand and this form works really well. Sestina's are not that complictaed and with work will become a favorite form to conquer and explore with.

Blog 18

As I'm sitting here and listening to "Reasonable Doubt", I'm not sure there is a more perfectly constructed hip hop album. This is not to knock my other favorites like "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" or "Aquemini" but RD epitomizes such a feeling and emotion that the other albums just can't reach. The tension and paranoia is palpable throughout from the first track all the way to "Regrets". It's as if Jay Z left his street life or the life he had lived prior to becoming a rapper on a Wednesday, and all his emotions come pouring out on a Thursday. It's genuinely fresh and raw, very much a therapy session to a beat. The highs and lows of criminal life and success are prevalant. "Brooklny's Finest" is any classic day at a lunch room, with two friends battling over a nice beat. "Politics as Usual" is a bitter track warning of the perils of street negotiations. "Can I Live" is a plea to simply leave him alone. "Friend or Foe" is my favorite track. It's only 1:30 minutes long but is the ultimate track of arrogance as you can almost imagine his enemy withering in his presence and at his verbose. When I listen to this album, its puts you in such a mood that shows the highs and lows of life and how to make it.

Blog 16

Picnic, Lightning is a perfect example of how an author used his seemingly ordinary surroundings to create a piece of work that is accessible to a large audience. The work and craft dedicated to finding beatuy and depth in everything around you is commendable. The blend of contemporary objects and exquistite descriptions is extraordinary. I also thought that the way he was able to pull from his own personal background helped him as his work and experiences were not too foreign to readers. Being able to relate is a curcial element in poetry and is often overlooked while poets strive to out word each other in some ways. It gets lost while authors strive to find words, empty words, to boost there own masterpiece to Shakespearean levels, while leaving the common fan in the dust, left to dissect an over indulged piece on thier own greatness.As a writer, finding that perfect balance is key and something that I aspire to do. Regular, everyday life is as beauty as the glorious amount of words and trappings of education that we have become accustmed to.

Blog:15

Creating a new form is one that has proved to be an exciting experience. When first presented with this challenge, it seemed rather daunting to have to find a new space in the poetic cannon as numerous ways to conquer poetry have been created. However, the task became less monumentous as time elapsed. The most difficult part about creating a new form is taking it serious in the literary cannon. The easiest thing to do when presented with a new idea or thought is to dismiss it as rubbish and try to find something similar, a precedence to cling to to make their travels through this new form more comfortable. When I was presented with my form for class, I fervently searched for something, anything similiar in style to make it easier in my construction of my poem. Alas, I was unable to find anything. However, after giving it a fair chance, the form really is unique and something that I might consider for future use.

blog:14

Whenever you are in doubt
Please know this
God loves you and all his children

Blog 13

Structure plays such a huge role in poetry. Especially some of the language used. Its a fine balance between being overly poetic and too common. I've often been in a predicament when I did not know whether to flex my muscles and use foreign and what I'd consider, elite language. Or, rather, play it safe to my audience and compose something easily comprehendable. The form of poetry to some extent calls for some creative muscle. But how much should you use at the risk of alientating readers? Or, is the reader held to some accountability to know that this piece may call for a more intellectual effort than a regular poem or prose?

Blog #12

I have learned that I am a fan of the pantoum. This past week, we had to create one centered around a list of objects and phrases and I actually found it to be quite fun and entertaing. The format of the pantoum is the biggest thing that attracts me to it. The repetition throughout and the way it all weaves together gives it a continuous feel, that the poem is making constant movement and always finding a way from stanza to stanza. They seem linked much better than other poems. In some ways, its almost a droning flow to it, with you knowing that a line you read earlier has a good possiblitity of returning at any given moment. In the future, this a form that I will explore more in depth with. I believe that stories can be told in this format better than others as it will seem like a thesis constantly repeats and you will never lose focus on the topic at hand, or what the author is describing. Thie refrain is similar to a song and helps you keep focus. The pantoum is definately a form that I will use in the future for future poems and am excited to find other examples for future work.

Blog: 11

Respectfully submitted to those continuing the fight
With unyielding force
And tenacity to boot
Thank you for your love and heart

Blog #10

Poems take on different personalities depending not only who writes them, but who reads them. It truly is in the eye of the beholder. One poem that we read this week was mine. My poem focused on two different relationships and how they compare and contrast to one another. The class generally saw it as one relationship or rather, the decline of a relationship. It was a comparative between two very different relationships.

Blog #9

The importance of how a poem is arranged and formatted is paramount to the piece of work. One shining example this was my guardian Cydney. Cydney s poem this week focused on how alcohol and the total amount of drinks can affect ones actions and mood.She broke up the poem in stanzas like "Drink 1 Drink 2". This continued out through the poem and finally, towards the end, they all hit her at once. This simulates how alcohol acts and comes back at once.

Blog #8

I'm Only Sleeping

The Beatles

"I'm Only Sleeping" by The Beatles is one of my favorite Beatles and John Lennon songs of all time. It's very hazy in content and could almost be interpreted in a drug induced haze. Really, its just a plea to be left alone and get some rest. I relate to this song so well, because now a days im so busy that all i really want is just an hour nap or a full nights rest. I feel burdened by everything and sometimes its hard to get a handle on it all. But, through it all I just want some sleep. Lennon felt the same way. After years of recording and touring, he had grown weary of the day to day management of being a Beatle. All he wanted was a little time off.

Blog #7

A collection of phrases and overheard conversations:

Lots of people have been critical of President Obama's first year in office. Its hard for a lot of people to truly understand the impact that he has made on most african americans as he has given new hope to those without much of a past. Thos destitute now have someone to look up to and have a beacon of hope.

There is a growing concern that Obama's allegiances are not so much split, but that he is not completely for the african american race as he should be. Unlike Martin and Malcolm, he not only is the voice of a race but of the most powerful country in the world. Whereas there allegiances and energies were completely poured into the black race, Obama never had that luxury and was forced to relate to all people rather than a specific segment. Some people resent this and wish he could all be for ourselves.

Blog #5

Reflective:

What is the importance of keeping yourself together while in the midst of turmoil? What is the value of this? do you adapt to the turmoil or hold your ground? And before you answer, think carefully: What if the situation is overwhelming and you almost have no choice but to adapt? What if the pressure is too great?

I'm asking as have a friend conflicted about what to do when placed in a suffocating situation. He is in an environment that forces him to change. Does this question how I look at him or hold him high? At what point do you snap and finally give into the pressure? Or are you expected to hold strong? It's almost robotic to ask people to hold themselves and withstand the pressure despite all that is going on around them.But how tough is the human mind? How much can it stand?

Blog #4

In a reflective mode...

Have you ever felt "So Far Gone"? I'm using the term as a result of a popular hip hop mixtape by Drake. The term means have you ever felt been so over gone that you can't remember how it was beforehand. Things get so out of hand that even though you know what you are doing is wrong and you shouldn't be doing it, you can't stop yourself. You've gone over the hill and can't you get back.

Blog #3

Writing a poem using Bly’s formula is proving to be more difficult than what I originally thought. I am very used to writing in free form and without a real structure. Bly general advises beginning a poem with a simple “assertion”. An “assertion” is a statement that a reader is comfortable with and can relate with. This statement is something that most people resonate with and readily accept. If I was to put, “I ate cereal” this is an assertion that is accepted universally. Bly advises using simple assertions early in the poem to draw the reader in. Starting off too strong would chase the reader away and alter his views on how the poem would go throughout. Starting off slow allows the reader to ease their way into the poem. As the poem develops, you can begin to make stronger assertions. This technique is new to me and has taken a while to adjust to. Every time I begin to write, I keep checking the first couple of lines to make sure they are not too strong or overwhelming. It’s a very delicate balance between too much and too little. I don’t want to start off a poem weakly, but at the same time do not want to become too overbearing. With more time and effort and practice, I know that it will become easier and more natural. For now though, it’s been a very difficult transition.

Blog #2

One of the interesting concepts that we discussed this week was how poetry can be broken down line by line. Before entering this class, I generally focused on one general concept of a poem or a prose and usually went off of that as the theme. However, when critically analyzing a poem, a myriad of questions pop up and arise. We had an interesting discussion in class today when I was the only one who pulled a sexual connotation out of a seemingly harmless line. It goes to show you that poetry is all in the eye of the beholder. It also might be as a result of being the only male in the class, I have a different insight on things. That is another element that you have to consider when analyzing poetry; the audience. A poem will be interpeted differently from audience to audience, so you should never expect the same reaction from everyone. For example, a juvenile love poem might be seen as brilliant to a class of 11 and 12 year olds. However, it might be eaten up as trash by a group of upper division college students. All of this goes into account of how poetry is construed.

Weekly Blog #1

Hello, my name is Joshua S. Yarbrough. I am a junior at the University of West Georgia. My major is English and I plan on pursuing a career in education after I complete my undergraduate studies. I am taking this course to help broaden and expand my skills as a writer. I’ve always been a fan of poetry and hope that this class will introduce me to unknown works and give me more of an appreciation for a wide range of collections.
I am a native of Atlanta, Georgia, graduating from Stephenson High School in 2007. I live in Lithonia, GA, 5690 Albans Way. I am 20 years old and will be 21 on April 17th. I am an active member of the Student Government Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, as well as a Fall 2008 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
Some of my hobbies include reading, writing, working out, shopping, sleeping, and eating. My favorite album of all time is “Reasonable Doubt” by Jay Z, my favorite song is “Across the Universe” by The Beatles, and my favorite movie is “Cool Hand Luke”. I am a huge fan of African American history and I plan on teaching it in some form later in life. I believe its important for young African Americans to know the numerous contributions that have been made by their own race, and how they can make a contribution to the future. I also am a huge advocate for community service. I’ve worked with a variety of different organizations to help benefit our community and to give back. When I decide to work with an organization, it is typically with a topic or area that is close to me. I worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Association because my best friend was diagnosed with it in the 4th grade and I’ve witnessed his struggle with it. I also helped raise funds with the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy in an effort to combat childhood illiteracy.
I hope this helps everyone in getting to know me a bit better. If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me and I’d be glad to answer them.