What Do Woman Want Illustration

What Do Woman Want- by Kim Addonizio

I want a red dress. 
I want it flimsy and cheap, 
I want it too tight, I want to wear it 
until someone tears it off me. 
I want it sleeveless and backless, 
this dress, so no one has to guess 
what's underneath. I want to walk down
the street past Thrifty's and the hardware store 
with all those keys glittering in the window, 
past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old 
donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers 
slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly, 
hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders. 
I want to walk like I'm the only 
woman on earth and I can have my pick. 
I want that red dress bad.
I want it to confirm 
your worst fears about me, 
to show you how little I care about you 
or anything except what 
I want. When I find it, I'll pull that garment 
from its hanger like I'm choosing a body 
to carry me into this world, through 
the birth-cries and the love-cries too, 
and I'll wear it like bones, like skin, 
it'll be the goddamned 
dress they bury me in. 

 

Illustration by Alyssa DeNovio 4/26/12

My Face Fades Project

The Emperor of Ice Cream poem response

Another strange poem I have read today, but this one had some interesting illustrations surrounding it. This could be from the look of the illustration and how the poem is written, but i can see this as a kids type poem. Of course this cant be a real children's poem because of some use of words that would be bad for a kid to learn. But this poem has that fun, creative and imaginative style of writing. I don't know why it is hard for me to find the tone/feel of some poems (that part should be easy). After reading this a couple of times I didn't feel anything, just that it was fun to read and that it had a similar style of telling tales of some hero or legendary figure or a tale that could be told on Halloween night to scare kids (or that could be just me and how i read it). This poem is making sure that the readers know of this Emperor of Ice Cream, and i like how they end both poems with this line 'The Only Emperor is the Emperor of ice-cream.'

I also thought it was interesting how both poems have a figure in the top center above the poem, giving the readers a visual of what the poem below them might be referring to. Also that in the first poem we have a sad looking skull man and behind him are living kids with ice cream. Maybe he is sad because he no longer has his sense of taste. And on the bottom with the living woman in the center of the page, behind her are skull people wearing the same clothes as the kids above. I think those little details are cool, and makes you jump from a picture of mostly living to mostly dead. Like i said, if it wasn't for some words not good for kids, from the style of writing to the illustrations looks like a poem out of a kids book. In this case a kid that is very into skulls and gothic stuff.

The Tall Figures of Giacometti poem response

This was an odd poem to read, and I don't understand what is going on. If I had to guess on the tone of the poem, I would say that it has a depressing feeling/tone to it. With words like crude, ugly, dead it just sounds so sad and depressing. I can picture someone reading this poem in a way like they don't care about anything or anyone anymore and they prefer to be alone and think that truth is ugly and other stuff like that. I'm having a hard time getting an image of what this poem is trying to say. It is like when I read this poem (over and over to myself) I see nothing in my thoughts. But maybe that is the point of this poem, that it does not have to have full detail descriptive words to paint the picture in your head.  So as you can tell not one of my favorite poems and if I was ask to illustrate this poem, it would be the hardest assignment to do. Because I can not see what is going on, what it the point of the poem.

A Red Figured Cup Poem Response

After reading this poem, I don't really know what to make of this poem. When I read it I couldn't feel the mood of this poem, other than these two people are very open for sex. Also that the man is older than her, but that does not stop him and that the girl is young, fresh and very open to sex. So from the very beginning this is an Erotic type of poem. But to me I read it as a story of what was happening in this scene. I know not all poems have to rhyme, but I am use to reading and listening to poems that have some sort of rhyming or almost have a musical tone (like song lyrics). Clearly these two have no shame, and are having fun.  I thought there was good description of these two characters. Like how Robert Kelly talked about the young girl and her skin, joyful legs etc. And the old skinny man and how weak he sound compared to his young lover. Looking at this poem again, it is almost like it is being told from this man's point of view (his thoughts). This poem is not him narrating what is happening, but  most of the poem is about him and his view on the young girl in front of him.

Both from this poem and the picture next to it, reminds me of my trip to Italy in 2008. On one of our tours (I forgot where) we went to some ancient buildings and houses, and one of the buildings (in pretty good condition) had many drawings similar to this picture, of different sex potions. It looked like if they were placing an order for what they want, then they go to one of the rooms and do it. I know this isn't relevant to the poem, but after reading this poem that was my first thought and that it is almost a similar situation. Of just having sex with who ever, as longs as they are up to it. Maybe that should be my next poem, have it be similar to how this poem is written.

The Ancient Torso of Apollo poem response

I enjoyed reading this poem, it seemed very different from the other poems. What I found to be interesting is that when I read it the first time. What I got from this is that the poem is telling that the statue is not complete. My reason for coming to that thought was the many places I found where it said "would not" and "cannot". If my guess is right, or somewhat close to it, then it fits well with the image of the Apollo statue. This poem is also pointing out what is missing like his head, and that we will never know his face. I feel like this poem has a mystery feeling to it, I know that is not a feeling, but i can't think of any other way to describe it. Just from that beginning line of "We cannot know his legendary head with eyes like ripening fruit" make me feeling like there is something more to this Apollo statute and it is leaving the readers of this poem in wonder.

 My favorite line in this poem is at the bottom " For here there is no place that does not see you. You must change your life." I try with my poem to have some message or moral (i feel that helps me to start writing a poem or a story, once I know of a moral or an important message i want to address), and just reading that line really stood out to me.  Especially the "You must change your life" to me that line is making me think of my life right now, almost done with college and about to go into the real world. I must change my life for the better, not having someone to hold my hand and do the work for me. I am ready to stand on my feet and make changes. I think if any poem can have you feeling inspired, and gives you power/ self confidence in yourself that I say that is a good and strong poem.

Different

A tree unlike all the rest.

Twisted tree, blending into the shadows, and hiding from the light.

Almost invisible to the other trees, only slight rays of light shine through.

Roots descending, circling you, wrapping around all the way from the tallest to the lowest branch.
All joined and forming as one.

Find yourself and stretch your individuality!

Just like you, we are different, but hide it within the shadows.

Express who you are, be different and proud.

Allow your unique side to grow tall as a tree, reaching for the sky.

Do not hide in the shadows for long, allow the light to shine on you.