My thoughts on Another Sonnet for Stephan

I see a little boy of four or five
Whose face lights up whenever we would play
Who made me feel it's great to be alive
And wish that time would never tick away
I see a college youth who goes to Penn,
Strong and handsome, smart in mind and dress,
Enthusiastic, kind, who scores a "ten,"
Possessing every trait that spells success.
       
I see the man who came from both those boys
Creating business plans and paths to wealth
With nochalance, with skills and unique poise
While fighting back attackers of his health.


The boy, the youth, the man are each now gone,
Except that in my heart they linger on.  
       -Another Sonnet for Stephan by Alvin Lester Sitomer


Another Sonnet for Stephan is a very moving piece, because it tells the brief story of a father's love for his child. He watches the boy grow up, and turn into a good man. Sitomer (the author), talks about Stephan's traits, and it is clear the father is proud of his son. Towards the end however, the reader understands that this sonnet has been written in the boy's memory. Sitomer does not just come out and say, "Stephan got sick and he died." He lets reader discover what has happened. 
It took me a while to understand  the sonnet completely. For one, I didn't know if the author was talking about his brother or someone else. He also wrote the poem in chronological order, so first he described 4 year old Stephan, then he described college Stephan. The next stanza says: I see the man who came from both those boys. I then thought that he was talking about two boys. After I read the poem twice more, I understood completely, though not what Sitomer must be feeling from losing his child.

My sonnet for the rain forest

The rain forest is a living being

Tears of the leaves splash on the muddy ground

The native creatures are wise, all seeing

Aware in the home to which they are bound

A savage howl echoes in a dark cave,

Stalactites shake with the loud, intense noise

Sun shines on the plants to which life he gave

The small tree frog’s skin is tinted turquoise

To outsiders, this place is dangerous

In many ways, they are in fact correct

The happenings here are spontaneous

Nothing scientists could try and dissect

Try to look upon it with your own eyes,

And see the wilderness without disguise. 

The Rain Forest sonnet by Zack Palomo

The rain forest sonnet was one of the most bizarre things I have ever encountered. Also one of the most difficult. Usually when I write a poem, I don't rhyme the stanzas, and I never go by the 10 centimeter/iambic pentameter rules. But as I started my sonnet, I realized that writing poetry can be interesting and fun. Trying to fit abstract ideas into 10 syllables a line, and attempting to give it rhythm was a challenge for me. I let my imagination wander, not really caring whether my words made sense, just trying to establish visualization. Rhyming the words added to this paradox. I had to create stanzas about a wild forest, but rhyme words like cave and gave. Believe it or not, the 10 syllable thing came easier for me. But the weirdest was the iambic pentameter. It was just too difficult to make a sentence that had a unstressed-stressed pattern. All in all, however, the rain forest sonnet is an accomplishment that I can be proud of.

The Last Judgment Poem (From his viewpoint)

My painting is alive. 

Every figure,

whether it's a

demon

angel

or man

is moving.

The colors twist with the excitement of the moment,

creating darkness,

brightness

and something in between.

Look into eyes of my work,

and you will be pulled into chaos.

My intention of was not strike fear into the hearts of my audience,

but that is what I have done.

When evil characters are made, paintings become darker.

By making Charon and King Minos,

I've made more than just a drawing,

I've made a premonition of the end of the world.

The Last Judgment 

has

made

me 

UNTOUCHABLE

for better

or worse

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo

Michelangelo was born in Caprese, the Republic of Florence, in 1475, and was seen as one of the greatest artists of his time. He was an Italian sculptor, architect, painter, and poet. many people know him from the sculpture David and the masterpiece of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was born at the end of the Renaissance, which was a prime time for art. Northern Italy had become the center of art and learning. 
23 years after he painted the miraculous ceiling, Michelangelo returned to the Sistine Chapel to paint, The Last Judgment. Even though this should have been easier to paint then the ceiling he painted before, it took him 6 years to complete The Last Judgment, while the Sistine Ceiling took him 4 years. He started the painting in 1535. It seemed like Michelangelo was working alone this time. "He worked slowly, still without help from his assistants. He survived a fall from his scaffolding to finish the wall in 1541" (Famous Artists: Michelangelo; page 27). This painting is describing the brutality of the end of the world, where souls would have to face a final judgment. 
Michelangelo put so much time and effort into this painting, showing details that would take days to discover. He created depths in The Last Judgment, showing the darkness of hell, the brightness of heaven, and the balance of the light on Earth. It is said that he made the painting so that people would go from the bottom left, and watch a short story that ended in the bottom right corner. Even though there are a lot of overwhelming images, it is clear that there are a few main ideas: The first shows Jesus in the middle of all the chaos, his hand raised as he sends the damned souls to hell. He is flanked by his mother, Mary. The second main image is Charon, the ferry man that deports the evil souls to the Underworld. The third image is very frightening and powerful. It shows King Minos, the King of Hell, surrounded by hungry looking demons. Many people were terrified of Michelangelo's interpretation of Judgment Day, so I think it is safe to say that people were intimidated by his work. 
Based on The Last Judgment, I can guess that Michelangelo was very religious, and he wanted to display his thoughts on Christianity. He made Jesus look very buff, showing that he has power and control. Strangely enough, he also made Minos buff, perhaps showing that he is evil and powerful. Maybe Michelangelo was trying to scare the world with this, or maybe his imagination was really warped. 
The reason I love The Last Judgment so much is because it is chaotic. Even creepy. A lot of artwork back in Michelangelo's time was peaceful, realistic. But Michelangelo brought a whole new meaning to art, showing of his brilliant mind, and fitting his opinions into his paintings and sculptures. The Last Judgment stands in the Vatican, still amazing people to this day.