Thursday, August 29, 2013
2: What I've Learned
Aja Monet, in her poem "What I've Learned," shares with her audience a great deal about herself using incredibly vivid language and selected moments from her past. Which line did you find to be most powerful? Why? What do you think this line says about the author and her experience? Feel free to share other thoughts about the poem and Monet's overall message.
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One line that really stood out to me was " the basis of all human suffering is deception"
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree because we make our decisions based on what we were taught or have learned.
Do you believe that the main reason for your suffering is deception? Or do you believe we all have our own instinct on what's right or wrong?
I think she spoke about love and loneliness because she might have felt a sense of not being loved or feeling lonely growing up as a child, therefore she was looking for love in the wrong places and ended up being deceived and suffered through a bad relationship. For example her father was addicted to cocaine and alcohol, and she would wear small shoes to avoid her mother making fun of her or the fact that her mother never told her she was beautiful until she was well into adulthood.
DeleteAs far as lying, I believe that people will lie to get what they want. In this world only the strong will survive and many people will do most anything to survive. I don't agree with the lying but most people feel the need to create a false truth to gain others trust to get what they want or need.
I just want to statrt off saying that this is the one of the best poems I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree! It was extremely deep. I wonder how long it took her to write that and how she could remember so many facts.
DeleteIt really was I have never heard anything so deep and true.
DeleteI agree with this because I personally don't like poems but this one was great.
DeleteI also agree. i really liked it too.
DeleteI agree with you. This poem is very deep and very well thought of. It also reminds me of another poem I heard before.
DeleteI also agree, because everything she said is so true. This is so far the best poem I heard..
DeleteI am not a poem person, but this is great.
DeleteThe line I found more powerful was when Aja Monet says, "I know how to be broken and put together again." You can tell she has went through many obstacles in her life. She talks about school, history, life experiences and she has been broken. She's been broken but she know she can get put back together. She knows how to carry herself and how to get through the difficult times. She is a strong powerful woman.
ReplyDeleteI concur with this statement that you have made.
DeleteI agree broken things can be put back together but also some can't.
DeleteI pick this line to. I believe that she knows how it feels to be broken but then gets over it and put herself back together again.
DeleteOne line that really stood out to me was when she said " I know loneliness creates longing and longing can be confused with love. And love doesn't exist."
ReplyDeleteThis really reached out to me because there are many people out here in that world that is confused by the meaning of love. Most people don't know what the word actually means but are always screaming how "in love" they are. What is love? Is it real? Can you actually feel it or better yet describe it? She's right love doesn't exist love is unexplainable but yet love can real. Everyone is confused about what love is.
Delete"Teachers helped raise you." This line was most powerful to me because it makes you think back to all the teacher we ever had and all the influence they had on you. This also makes me think about how she was raised she said many things about her mother not really being there and this makes me think she really spent time with these teachers they got to know who she was as much as she knew who they were. I personally feel that teachers had a giant impact in my life, do you agree? I also like when she said safe schools saved her. I can definitely relate to this i don't know where I would be right now if it wasn't for EPIC being a pretty safe place in a not so safe neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteAngel I really agreed with this line as well because in most situation a teacher spend more time with the student then his/her own parent they help teach them more, give them more support, and provide for them. Teachers are like another set of parents for students.
DeleteThis to me also caught my attention because it shows that she looked up to her teachers and that they were basically the closes thing she has had as a example to follow. She also emphasized that her parents where not that good of an example. Therefore, she had to use her teachers as a positive example to follow.
DeleteI agree with your reaction and the quote. I have a huge connection to this quote too, for the fact that I didn't want to continue my high school education at one point when I was in eight grade. I have changed positively my manners,human values, and my self-esteem.
DeleteEven though there was a lot of very good lines I could have chosen for the poem I chose, "I know books can make you disappear". The reason why I picked this line is because I can vouch for this line 100%. I know from experience that a simple book can truly send you on a journey that you can never forget. It is a path you take into your imagination and it could cloud your mind from any distractor. Whether that distractor be pain, sadness, boredom etc. I remember me reading my first ever chapter book that I got into. That ended up being the only thing that I did for a whole week because the book was so good and I was just in my own little world. So this line, without a doubt, can be true.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this statement. It's fascinating that the brain is able to block other sources of information when distracted. I think the line also gives an underlining message about the despair she has been through.
DeleteThe lines that I found the most powerful were the lines "I know loneliness creates longing and longing can be confused with love. And love doesn't exist. Not like that." These lines stood out to me because I think a lot of people think they are in love simply when they have found someone who takes their loneliness away and not when they are truly in love. To me these lines show how she grew up lonely and looking for love in the wrong places. Have you ever known someone who confused real love with the loss of loneliness?
ReplyDeleteI agree, because you have teenagers who tend to look for love because of the absence of their father.
DeleteThere were a lot of great things she said in her poetry but only a few thing really stood out. Aja Monet said, English is a slave language this was powerful to me because i believe she is right because years ago African men and women did not know how to speak English until they were moved to America by slave owners. I think the author know this by experience because she have seen over her time growing up how her own kind was treated. Why do you think she said this in the excerpt?
ReplyDeleteI believe that she may not only witnessed this as she grew up but also by education. In the poem she talks about school and what she has been taught. In school they teach this in world history or history in general just like we got taught in Mr. Rothman's class
DeleteThe line I found most powerful is "I know how to be broken and put together again". This line stood out to me because it shows that we all have our weakness, and we all can get broken and it just about how you get back up and how hard we try to be put together again. I think this line say that the author have been broken so many times, she has being let down but she still put herself back together.
ReplyDeleteI agree everyone has weaknesses but everyone has a different way of showing them (if they even choose to show them)
DeleteThis is a really great line. The poem itself was great. I strongly agree with your interpretation of this line in the poem because going through a lot at home or any other location can break your spirit. It is up to the individual to get back up and keep on moving because that is how you learn to live again
DeleteWhat stood out to me was "He taught me how to look at garbage differently"
ReplyDeleteThis is a powerful because it states the problems she had to endure and how we see a pile of waste, for her at a point it was what provided her food and some shelter. Sadly this type of life exists today despite we might not always see it. Do you think you would learn how to call trash home and live by that daily?
One line that stuck out to me was "I know that she gave up her dreams when she had babies". This stuck out to me because I know that after I had my baby I wanted to give up. Then I had to remember that if I keep going through school I will have enough money to provide for my son. Another one of the lines that stuck out to me was "anyone can be driven insane". There are many people who are perfectly fine. But their life experience changes them and could potentially make then crazy.
ReplyDeleteMy question is, what do you think can drive someone insane?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAnything can drive someone insane, including themselves. Insanity can come quickly can strike instantly. But the best thing to do is accept it.
DeleteThe line that I found to be most powerful was when she said " I know that good school saved me." It was most powerful because education is the key to success. I believe this line about the author says that she never gave up on her education even when she had family problems. Attending a good school helped her achieve her goals in life.
ReplyDeletei agree with what you have to say because many times students happens to give up on their education is because they do not have full potential attention by their teachers or sometimes they fell like everything they have hope for have not come truth for them.
DeleteThere was many things that stood out to me from the poem "What I've Learned," by Aja Monet. Everything that was in this poem connected with life experience,lessons learned,education,history,community, and seen and heard.The line that best stood out to me was I know that good schools saved me.I know teachers help raise you.The reason why this line was the most powerful is because not everybody has a chance of going to school and the once that do don't wake advantage,so going to good school and being with the est teachers helped them in there school work but also in the personal life.This line can say much about her but the most important thing that I believe that comes from this quote is her mom did everything she could so that they grew up the best even lied so that she can be successful.Her overall message was just great because she wasn't afraid to say the things she felt.
ReplyDeleteI agree
DeleteHer Whole poem is really touching and she have put a lot into her work and her dedication is really stunning. That line also stood out for me because some people "claim" that our education system is failing however they don't look at the good that it is currently doing. Some people believe that their is nothing in certain schools, but their is actual a community that is thriving but some don't see it.
DeleteTwo lines that caught my attention.
ReplyDelete"Anyone can be driven to insanity." and "you can be two people at once"
When Aya Monet said "Anyone can be driven to insanity" I looked up immediately. It stood out to me since I'm interested about learning about the mind and emotions. This could one her experiences as well, she could witness many people reaching their breaking point. But could it be true? Can Anyone be driven to that point?
Also when she stated "you can be two people at once" I became interested once again. I find this to be very true among myself and a few people I know. It may sound funny but next time you talk to someone see if they are really paying attention or faking an act.
This sadly is true because the way a person is living or their situation that they are going through can really break them down. Think about it for a second back in the days of slavery ,after the slave have unsuccessfully tried to run away they start to feel a sense bondage because they have taste freedom and they cant have it.
DeleteOne line that I found that got my attention is "Patience is believing in the wait." The reason why is because if you don't have patience you wont get what you want. Everyone wants something but doesn't want to wait. Patience is the key to success. So its better to wait then to leave.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true because I have no good patience at all and sometimes things don't come out as planned.
DeleteI agree. Often times what's best for us is still yet to come, so patience is good thing while you wait.
DeleteThe line I found to be most powerful was "I know how to be broken and put together again", because I think it tells a lot about the author maybe from her past experiences or life lessons. I think the maybe experienced hurt or betrayal, she knows how it feels to be broken but then got over it and got herself back together.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree
DeleteI agree because you cant keep one thing hold you down for the rest of your life.
DeleteThe line I found to be most powerful was "The smell of alcohol makes me nauseous, but I drink it anyway." It implants the idea that she may have had a traumatic experience with alcohol. It also shows that she cannot cope with her current life status. It shows a dichotomy of emotions in an implicate manner. A skill that is very hard to develop in poetry.
ReplyDeleteAje Monet from what I just saw is a great poet, she said many things that touched me but I'm going to point out the two most important. The first most important line that touched me was when she said "I know that loneliness leads to longing for that sometimes is confused for love. This really touched me because I know loneliness and when I'm lonely I think of wanting one person which makes me feel like I love him and in all truthfulness its not love its just me being lonely... The next thing that really touched me was when she said "English is a slave language" because its so true now that i really think about it. My question is why did the author think her uncle's house reminded her of a funeral home?
ReplyDeleteListening to Aje also made me think about that question dealing with her uncle's home, why do she feel that type of way?
DeleteI also agree with the statement that English is a slave language. It kind of reminds me about how we learned about the Indians went to the schools and they were beaten or ridiculed for speaking their language. I believe that it is a language that has stripped many people from their cultures.
DeleteAnd i think that she talked about her uncle in that way because maybe he died at home and she could have probably found him dead or she could have had a bad experience happen to he at her uncle's house at a funeral or repast.
Perhaps there is some sort of Traumatizing situation. Like a hit man or maybe hes so broken that his house is a funeral where she/ he leaves there dreams to die.
DeleteThe line that I found to be the most powerful was "I have learned that pictures are memories that you can choose to manipulate." This to me seemed powerful because if at the moment that, that picture was taken you have already a memory for, but you can also choose to make your own version of that memory. For example, you can choose to block out people or just change small moments of that memory to your like. I think this line says a lot about the author and her experiences because it shows that she had memories that she would like to manipulate herself and change it to her liking, or just forget about them.
ReplyDeleteThe most powerful quote from the poem "What I've Learned by Aja Monet is,"I want to to visit Greece some day". This quote is also my dream that I have. I believe that a voyage to another place then our residence is like a reward through what you've gone through. This quotes just shows how the author is fighting to overcome obstacles. Moreover, she gives us a clue that her environment is not the greatest one to live in. Considering that an you live in a negative or poor environment, we should infer that she possibly faced:violence,poverty, drugs, or poor education. Overall, she is trying to explain her journey to success. She has faced challenges but is courageous enough to keep on living for her dream.
ReplyDeleteTheir was certainly a lot of good points that Aja Monet raised in her touching poem. She touched on her life experiences, what she have seen or heard and things to might deeply affected her life in some form of way. However, in her poem A couple of lines that really stood out to me the first line is "I know yesterday is the day before tomorrow and tomorrow is an illusion", "I know books can make you disappear" and "We all suffer and the basis of all human suffering is deception". These lines really show that her past experiences have really made her the try of person she is and how the things in her past her made her push herself to be the person who she want to be.
ReplyDeleteI love that fact that you pointed books can make you disappear because that was really deep
DeleteOne line that have stood out to me is when she said " i know she lied about where we lived so we can get int good schools." the reason why is because many families whom have kids that is needed to go to school and they are afraid that if their kids go to these school they wont get a proper education, that will help them in the society they are living in or either themselves. So as a parent that want the best for their kids they would go cross the fences of circumstances just so their kids can have a better life then them.
ReplyDeleteFrom the poem what I've learned the poet talks a lot about her life and experiences. out of every line she spoke I've only found a few that stood out to me. in the poem she says "I know she lied about where we lived so we could get into good schools. I know that good schools saved me. I know teachers help raise you." Upon hearing this, I knew the Aja Monet was a person who struggled.In the world we live in, there are so much bad influence around us, and others don't want to look at us. So far in society it seems that the only way to escape is through education. in school you learn a little more about the world we live in, and can tell what's right from wrong. The teachers act as parents away from home, and only want the best for students.
ReplyDeleteYes, Because when I use to live in a bad neighborhood around a bad school my parents never wanted me to go there because they feel if I was to go to a bad school then i will become a bad person but that is not true it depends on you and what you do.
DeleteThis is Selina De Leon. One thing that really caught my attention is when Aja Monet said, "People sometimes wish insanity was hope." The reason why this line stood out to me is because it connects well to my personal life. Sometimes, things drive me insane when it doesn't seem right, but deep down, I feel like there is hope on the waiting. In this world of suffering, the most that anyone can do is to just hope that everything goes well. Everything is not so simple where everything can be answered and understood, because everything was made to be difficult. So now my question is this: what is one thing you hope?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I hope to be successful in life.
DeleteI feel that one of the many powerful lines in Monet's writing goes something like, "I know insanity is another word for coping." I feel that this is one of the many lines that can apply to all our lives whether in our past, present, or future. The line tells us that there were moments in Monet's life where she was going through so much at the same time, tearing apart her will. She even mentions earlier on that she knew how to be broken and put together again. That had possibly came from the days when she was taught the words from the language of pain. These were the times when she felt that she was losing it, when she felt that she was reaching her end, and when she felt herself falling. And, to be driven insane by the events of daily life is coping. To cope means, simply just to live life. Isn't just living something we go through every day with no greater sense of why?
ReplyDelete"I wouldn't be a poet if my mother had a better sense of humor." This line shows that her poetry comes from the bitterness and distress of her past. She mentions plenty of times that she didn't have the most supportive mother in the world. To put this in my own my words it seems as though if she didn't have such a rough life she wouldn't have had the talent she does now. This quote makes me wonder if she would have even had to find an outlet,such as poetry to get away from all the craziness of her childhood? I guess you can relate this quote to the movie 'Matilda'. If my inference is correct and she found her talent by trying to find an outlet, then they are both very similar.
ReplyDeleteI feel that that outlet came to her as opposed to her finding it. I do believe that a great part of who she is as a writer comes from her struggles.
DeleteI agree, great ideas are generally spawned when your pain reaches a great depth.
DeleteI did I replied under my comment
ReplyDeleteI believe that Aja Monet is a good poet.Although her observations are common she highlights the small importance of her noticings. This line stood out to me the most: "Loneliness can sometimes be confused for love."Often our misconception of our feelings can trick our minds into feeling a certain emotion.I totally agree and now Aja Monet may be a poet im interested in.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the poem "What I've learned" by Aja Monet, a specific line stood out to me. The most powerful line to me in her excerpt is "That raindrops don't fall in a tear drop shape they originally fall in a flat oval". This line is powerful to me because it reflects on how close attention the authors pays to her surroundings no matter what it is that is around her. I believe this line says that the author is curious of how things work in life. What it says about her experience is that she discovers new things because of her curiosity.
ReplyDelete