Senuous Poem

It was a one man show in that live jazz café.

Calvin rolled in from his black Ferrari.

Set in motion by the royal conpenhagen,

Of the silver ice inferno

The black code to contain forever a great contradiction.

A Kilo of essential memory and desire.

The recovery of the aspen boss

Comes primarily from the crazy essence.

Emiting from the black seduction

In the corner of the coolwater paradiso.

To re-load his confidence and boost his morale.

The fuel to make him better then before.

Vocabulary Assignment:

1. aromatic - giving off a distinctive and pleasant smell (ADJ)
2. luscious - delicious; flavor filled (ADJ)
3. vermilion - a bright red color (ADJ)
4. ululation - a howl or wail, in jubilation (N)
5. meander - a slow leisurely walk or journey (N)
6. mocha - a dark brown color, like mocha coffee (ADJ)
7. chartreuse - a bright yellowish green color (ADJ)
8. ingratiating - charming; agreeable; pleasing (ADJ)
9. bittersweet - smelling or tasting both bitter and sweet at the same time (ADJ)
10. frigid - having a very cold temperature (ADJ)

**several words have multiple parts of speech and multiple definitions.

The Kitchen:

As I casually meander into the kitchen I become overtaken by the intoxicating aromas that consume the atmosphere. I sense so vividly the aromatic foods being created. Too my right crowning the stove lies a gargantuan pot. Its contents draw my attention. The long slow ululation of the meat sautéing in the oiled pan awakens my senses. To the left of the stove I see a vermilion sauce draping lusciously flavorful pasta contained within a large chartreuse bowl. As I pass the oven and look into the window I witness the mocha-brown color of a pan of warm bittersweet chocolate brownies. Finally I turn to dispense myself a glass of frigid sweet tea. As I turn to leave these ingratiating flavors seem to draw me to remain in their midst yet I must continue on because my purpose only is to pass through.

Tim McGraw, Live Like you were Dying.

Tim McGraw,
Live Like you were Dying.

Music and lyrics can do different things for different people. From bringing one to tears to bringing another true joy and happiness, music has the power to invoke strong heartfelt emotion out of most people. With such a great diversity of listeners though comes diversity in opinion of what is a truly great song. The truly universally great song though, I believe, is one that can create a positive reaction in the largest possible amount of diverse individuals. Tim McGraw has accomplished this feat with one of his most recognizable songs, Live like you were Dying. I believe throughout his career he has been a key artist that can be credited for revolutionizing and modernizing the country genre itself.

McGraw released his first album in 1993 when country music was still mainly the stereotypical songs of old country hicks. When McGraw started out many people as they still do today looked at country as the story into the life of a redneck. That component though I believe is one which made McGraw so successful. Rather then writing songs of fantasy as many artists do in today’s popular genres he hybridized the new with the old. McGraw takes subjects close to his heart to write his lyrics about. These subjects come from the heartfelt sentiments featured so blatantly in few other genres except old country. McGraw eloquently blends these subjects with more pop melodies. Along with the modern music and instrumentals McGraw utilizes a modern diction and tone. He chooses words and phrases not necessarily confined to a southern dialect which also helps to boost the universal appeal of his music.

As artists such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams were surely inspiration to McGraw, he has become a truly inspirational to the younger more modern country artists that are just recently becoming popular as McGraw continues to be popular. Young pop/country artist, Taylor Swift, felt so inspired by McGraw she released a song entitled Tim McGraw. McGraw has contributed to the modern country genre that many of today’s newest country stars are being categorized as. McGraw though was not only inspirational though to other country artists but also universally inspirational to his listeners. The song, Live like you were Dying, is possibly one the most inspirational songs of his. In the song McGraw discusses his father Tug McGraw, a subject very close to his heart, as he dies from cancer. McGraw states that you should live life as if everyday is your last directly without complexity to aid in the universal appeal he wishes to create. He states in the song that you should cherish the time that you have on earth and accomplish all that you wish too because at any moment your life or you life as you know it may be take from you. It inspires those that may have lost hope due to illness or other reasons to continue to hold on. I believe that this is truly a powerful message and one that applies universally to most all those living in western society.

The song that McGraw writes truly conveys a universal message to all those that have heard it. Even those people that despise McGraw as an artist or despise the country genre itself for whatever reason can see the genuine heartfelt message he portrays in the song Live like you were Dying. I first experienced the song with a close friend who was in a similar place as the artist of the song. They found it to be very comforting as I am sure it was for the artist to write it and that was when I realized that this song had more meaning then just lyrics with music as so many songs really are. Without complexity, or convulsion McGraw directly conveys a timeless message to his listener that is truly inspirational and hopeful for many people.

TRAP OR DIE

****TRAP OR DIE****

This piece of hypnopaedeia utilizes different sensory elements to convince the viewer of its point. The main message of the hypnopaedeia is to tell the viewer that "to be Fly, Trap or Die." Plain text coupled with pictures and also coupled with audio help to convey the message. The audio playing directly mimics the message set forth by both the text and the images. The images feature trappers being fly. These images are aimed to help the viewer see people being fly and help the viewer want to trap so they can too become fly. The hypnopaedia also offers an alternative to trapping and become fly. The alternative, dying, is much less desirable then becoming fly by trapping and this piece of hypnopaedia helps to convince the viewer of that.

Jack's Monologue

Why did I do that?

Why must I always be swayed by the influences of other people?

Now I know the truth. I know the judge was my real father.

How could I have not known?

Why didnt I realize before?

He always treated me like his son.

It was so obvious I can't believe I didn't notice.

I wish I would have known before I put him through this.

He really was a good father to me. He always treated me as a son should be treated.

And now I betray him like this.

How could I have been so careless?

I have caused my own father's suicide.

Just as he caused another man to kill himself.

I have followed my father in the path I wish not to have followed.

Why do I always follow Mr. Stark's orders?

I must learn to think for myself and not carry out orders I know are wrong.

I am so sorry I did this to my good friend.

I don't know if I'll ever feel the same after this.

I wish my father hadn't taken it so harshly though.

Why did he have to kill himself?

I wish he had just complied with Willie.

It would have spared him his life and myself all this pain.

All these years I wish I would have known.

I wish he would have told me at least now that I am older.

I never thought my mom would keep a secret like this from me.

I can't believe I never knew and now its too late.

Found Poem

The man stood up
And moved across the room in his sock feet
He was in a Joint in the next county
A cold cathartic rain fell ominously outside in the darkness
As he sat down at the bar next to his wife
He handed her a letter and she reached over and took it
Holding the letter with her other hand
She picked up the glass and lifted her head
As if to let the liquor tickle her throat
The woman read the letter that she had been awaiting for a long time
She got up and ran out into the cold dark night
The man remained in his place calmly stroking the big cat