A voice, a mystery Essay Example for Free

A voice, a mystery Essay William Wordsworths To the Cuckoo and John Keats Ode to a nightingale are comparable in many different aspects. The two poems have striking similarities and appear akin to one another. Both poems are likely to be written in related styles; both Wordsworth and Keats wrote in the same era, and were both Romantic Poets. They are also both poets of similar stature and regarded to be of similar ability. They both talk of similar a subject matter, a bird that is personally special. There are parallels to be drawn, but there are also many ways in which the poems contrast. It becomes clear that both poets perceive and respond to their subjects rather differently, and that the poems differ in meaning, direction and quality. The nucleus of both poems is a bird, Keats writes of a nightingale and Wordsworth of a Cuckoo. Birds are very modest and insignificant creatures, yet both poets have used them to extensively express emotion. To these poets their respective birds are extraordinary and important. Neither poet refers to one particular creature, but they both use the species of bird representatively. It is not their fondness for the bird as if it were a pet, a domestic animal, but their fondness of the free animal species that inspires them. It is important to acknowledge that although both poets, especially Wordsworth enjoy using lavish description, neither describes the physical appearance of the bird. They are both using the birds as metaphors, as symbols. Wordsworth makes the bird an invisible thing/ a voice, a mystery He does not see the bird, he can only hear it. This is to enhance the metaphorical strength of the bird. Keats similarly does not feel the need to describe the nightingale. Whereas Wordsworth does this to make his image more mystical and ambiguous, to Keats it does not matter what it looks like, it is the nightingales spirit he writes about. He talks primarily about its manner and its ways. Wordsworth also makes the cuckoo seem more divine and more powerful by using Voice and Cry with capital letters. This makes the sound of the cuckoo personify the bird and what it represents. The cuckoo is not regarded as beautiful physically, so he chooses to show it and even call it by its voice, O Cuckoo! shall I call thee bird, Or but a wondering Voice. Keats also points out the nightingales singing capacity, creating audible and not only visual imagery, Singest of summer in full-throated ease. The way the two poets perceive and react to their subjects is where the two poets vary greatly. It is relevant that in Tintern Abbey, Wordsworth says the following: Of eye and ear, both what they half create, And what perceive Both poets do follow this idea. They use imagination to expand on what they see and do so in different directions. The fact that Wordsworth does not see the Cuckoo means he can invent and expand greatly. Both poets are clearly partial to the birds, but show different attitudes towards them. Wordsworth longs for the bird, he needs the bird and is fond of it. Keats insists he is not jealous, Tis not through envy of thy happy lot, But being too happy in thy happiness However, he certainly shows contempt towards the bird and expresses an unhappy longing which borders on envy. In essence, the bird is part of Wordsworth. It is part of his past. He is yearning for his past so he longs for the cuckoo. The cuckoo is the symbol for his past. It is something he has left, something that has not changed. The same whom in my schoolboy days, I listend to

Lawn Pesticides and Chemicals Essay -- Health Toxic Substances Essays

Lawn Pesticides and Chemicals Recently, the use of lawn pesticides and chemicals has grown enormously with home owners and golf course management in hope of attaining "the perfect turf." However, the negative effects that are associated with attaining ones "dream turf" is primarily caused by the direct use of pesticides and chemicals. The chemical pesticide industry fails to address these issues and has made every effort to keep this information from the public. Herbicides and pesticides are not a natural way to achieve a beautiful lawn, contrary to what lawn care companies would like people to believe. They are broad-spectrum biocides, and by their very nature can harm organisms other than the targeted species (Dieglman, 1996). Pesticide industries make false claims by stating that their chemicals are heavily diluted, failing to mention that toxins are still extremely dangerous in small amounts. Other false claims include companies like ChemLawn which state that a child would have to ingest ten cups of treated grass clippings to equal the toxicity of one aspirin. In fact, the real danger is not from grazing the lawn. Most poisonings come from inhaling pesticide residues or absorbing them through the skin (Begley, 1988). These chemicals include wartime defoliants such as Agent Orange, nerve-gas type pesticides, and artificial hormones (Dieglman, 1996). In some instances, pesticides like DDT, which remain active for many years, accumulate in our bodies and are released at potentially toxic levels. In women, lifetime exposures to such chemicals are released in the breast milk of her firstborn child (International Joint Commission, 1990). Pesticides drift and settle during application where they can easily reach houses and p... ...l and human health risks that outweigh its intended results. Alternative strategies must be developed which will bring about better results on the environment. Long lasting solutions, which require less time, are definitely the best place to start. References N. Diegelman. Poison in the Grass. 1996. Begley, Sharon, and Hager. "Please Don’t Eat the Daises." Newsweek 16 May 1988. International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes. "Selected Persistent Toxic Substances in Human Breast Milk in the Great Lakes Basin." March 1990. American Defender Network. "Lawn Chemical Dangers." 1989. American Cancer Society, Erie County Branch. "Warning: The Use of Pesticides May Be Hazardous To Your Health." 1991. G. Davidson. "Pesticides: The Killing Fields." Woman’s Day. 1994. N. Polk. "The Perfect Lawn Isn’t Always Green." The New York Times, Oct. 17, 1990.

110 year-old fights back against discrimination Essay

Yesterday in Monroe, Louisiana, along the Mississippi River, Miss Jane Pittman, a 110 year-old black woman, became the first to drink from a segregated water fountain. The water fountain labelled, â€Å"WHITE ONLY†, was located outside of City Hall, and was guarded by security at the time. â€Å"We didn’t stop her because she was so old and barely standing up even with her cane. We were all shocked when she made it to the fountain and drank from it,† said Tom, one of the guards. Growing up on a Louisiana plantation as a slave, Miss Jane Pittman lived a long and difficult life, from watching a group of fellow black slaves being killed by Confederate patrollers, to suffering the death of her husband, Joe Pittman. These conflicts epitomize the struggles that many black slaves encountered. Throughout American history, black slaves were treated poorly as if they were semi-human. They were bought and sold, and were no better than everyday household items. Their lives did not belong to them and could be taken away at any time by their masters. Growing up and living in a world of fear, blood and inequality was the permanent destiny of every black slave. What had they done to deserve such iniquitous treatment? Was it simply because they were a different colour? Although slavery was banned after the Civil War, black people still did not receive the respect that they deserved. From segregated schools and communities, to â€Å"whites only† restaurants and water fountains, the discrimination against black people continued to exist. Humanity is not defined by a person’s colour, but by their ability to make righteous judgements, to express one’s own opinion, and to possess a wealth of intelligence. Miss Jane Pittman, as an individual, demonstrates all of these human characteristics, and beyond. She is determined to change the views of society about her race, and is eager to prove that black people are no different. Miss Jane Pittman’s action of drinking from a white only fountain will definitely have a major influence on the society. Her courage, determination, and faith will be the keys for Negroes to gain the respect and rights that they deserve in the near future.

Alpha Gamma Chi Chapter At Frostburg State University

Introduction The group that was observed was Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Alpha Gamma Chi Chapter at Frostburg State University. This is an on campus organization/fraternity that gives its members an opportunity to gain, foster and enhances their leadership skills. They also seek to apply leadership, friendship, and service in their everyday lives. APO also encourages their members to be creative and think of new opportunities for their chapter. APO was started at Lafayette College by Frank Reed Horton, Herbert G. Horton, and H. Roes Bartle in 1925 (Horton). This organization was developed to strengthen men in their ideals and give them leadership and service experience. The ideals that this organization was built on were the ideals of scouting. The initial purpose of this organization was for it to be for college men who cooperated with all youth movements and to help bring a more peaceful world through nurturing men to have a standard of manhood, international understanding, and friendship. The Alpha Gamma Chi Chapter at Frostburg State was created March 1993 by Jason Birzer, Jeremy Gagliardi, Mary Grace Sylvester Gagliardi, Don Lipscomb, and Andrew Corl (History of our chapter). These individuals had all been interested in Boy Scouts and wanted to start an organization based on their ideals when they came across APO. In 1992, they started the petitioning process to get this fraternity on campus. They soon gained support and were inducted on April 1992. The official chartering