1. By Jordan Dierking

2. 1
O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we
sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all
O Captain!
exulting, 3
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim My Captain does not answer, his lips are
and daring: pale and still;
But O heart! heart! heart! My father does not feel my arm, he has
O the bleeding drops of red, no pulse nor will;
Where on the deck my Captain lies, The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its
Fallen cold and dead. voyage closed and done;
2 From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; in with object won;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
trills; But I, with mournful tread,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the Walk the deck my Captain lies,
shores a-crowding; Fallen cold and dead.
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager
faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain!

3. O Captain! My Captain!
“O Captain! My Captain!” Was written by Walt Whitman in 1865, and it was right after Lincoln was shot. That
poem is about how America lost its captain that day. The poem uses a ship to represent America, and the
captain represents Lincoln.
This poem uses a lot of imagery, which help keeps the reader’s attention. When he uses Lincoln as a captain,
it helps us see him as Walt Whitman saw him, as a captain. The ship’s crew shows us how he views America,
as completely trusting of its captain. He also uses the shore, as a finish line, we made it! This represents how
the freedom of slaves was so close, because just five days earlier R.E. Lee surrendered. All this representing
our Captain led us to shore, but he never went on shore. By the way the crew responds, on how they mourn
their captain. Not everyone loved Lincoln, but everyone on his ship did. In the second paragraph, the writer
asks the captain to rise up and see the crowds and its some dream that your dead. It’s almost like he can’t
believe it, and he wants to know what’s next for the ship, representing the country. In the third paragraph he
feels like he was hit by a rock. How could he celebrate the victory, when he just lost his captain?
Understandably he uses a very sad tone, because he just lost his captain. He uses chronological order,
starting with him having just died, and ending with him reaching shore and unable to celebrate. He uses an
aabcdefe. The title symbolism, pretty much just introduces the poem, it helps us understand that they are on
a ship before we even start reading. The diction he uses is very sad and fast almost in a frenzy.
This just became my favorite poem, because of the history that is behind it. I now know how someone felt
during that time felt right after his death. I could really get what the writer was trying to communicate, and
it means a lot to me.

4. A NEIGHBOR of mine in the village And hid from anyone passing.
Likes to tell how one spring And then she begged the seed.
When she was a girl on the farm, she did She says she thinks she planted one
A childlike thing. Of all things but weed.
One day she asked her father A hill each of potatoes,
To give her a garden plot Radishes, lettuce, peas,
To plant and tend and reap herself, Tomatoes, beets, beans, pumpkins, corn,
And he said, "Why not?" And even fruit trees
In casting about for a corner
He thought of an idle bit
Of walled-off ground where a shop had stood,
And yes, she has long mistrusted
That a cider apple tree
In bearing there to-day is hers,
A
And he said, "Just it."
And he said, "That ought to make you
Or at least may be.
Her crop was a miscellany
Girls
An ideal one-girl farm, When all was said and done,
And give you a chance to put some strength
On your slim-jim arm."
A little bit of everything,
A great deal of none. Garden
It was not enough of a garden, Now when she sees in the village
Her father said, to plough; How village things go,
So she had to work it all by hand, Just when it seems to come in right,
But she don't mind now. She says, "I know!
She wheeled the dung in the wheelbarrow It's as when I was a farmer--"
Along a stretch of road; Oh, never by way of advice!
But she always ran away and left And she never sins by telling the tale
Her not-nice load. To the same person twice.

5. A Girls Garden
"A Girls Garden" was written by Robert Frost, in 1916. He wrote it as part of his mountain interval series. He was writing it
to people who are eager to work, but when they have the opportunity, they give up. The subject of the story is this Girls
garden, and how she fails to take care of it.
In this poem Robert Frost uses a lot of imagery. He shows us how we lack discipline to finish projects that we started out
eager to finish. He uses example like these "She wheeled the dung in the wheelbarrow along a stretch of road; But she
always ran away and left her not-nice load. “Also he uses her "begging for seed" showing how she starts out dedicated, and
then loses interest by not planting the seeds. To show us how we lack the discipline to finish. He also uses imagery to help
us understand where they are. Such as "sees in the village" and "Of walled-off ground where a shop had stood". He also
uses imagery to help us understand the Characters. For instance, "On your slim-jim arm" helps us understand she was
weak, and "It's as when I was a farmer" helps us see that she was proud, and boastful when she clearly was a sad excuse
for being a farmer.
The poem has a mixed tone, because she has the initiative, but then lacks the discipline to finish. So its positive-
negative, but coming away from this poem I feel sad. It could have been a beautiful garden, but it became a weed patch.
The poem is written in chronological order, which makes it nice, smooth, and easy to understand. It uses a rhyming scheme
of ABCB, which is a little unusual, but it was not distracting. The title doesn’t really symbolize anything, but it just states
the plot of the poem. The theme Robert Frost was trying to show us was that, having good ideas isn't enough. We need to
go out and do them, and finish them. The diction he uses really helps us get the point of his poem, because it really
supports it
Its a very good poem that teaches a valuable lesson. I recommend it to all, and its taught me a lesson.

6. The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
The
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Road Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Not Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Taken
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

7. The Road Not Taken
The road not taken was written in 1916 BY Robert Frost, in a collection of poems called
Mountain Interval. He wrote the poem for people who have trouble deciding which road to
travel by. You can’t travel both, choose one and don’t look back, because you can’t change
which you choose.
He uses lots of images to best communicate his message. He uses the well-traveled path and the
path less traveled by, because he wanted to communicate the paths in life that people choose.
He also uses objects like grass, to show the less trodden path. He uses the undergrowth to show
how you can’t see far down the path of life, and you don’t know how the path is going to end.
The tone he uses is very important to communicating his message. He uses a reflective tone, it
helps to help the reader not think he's all happy happy, but that he can look back and be glad he
chose the path that he did.
He uses chronological order starts with him at the path and ends with him, looking back on the
choice. He uses ABAAB rhyming scheme which is a little different from your typical ABAB, or
AABB. It give it a unique flow.
The title, dictation (imagery etc.), and theme all communicate the message, that there are going
to be decisions we have to make. We need to make one go with, and dont look back how it
could have been different. You can't change the past, be content, and move forward

8. If by Rudyard Kipling (Revised)
If you can keep your head when all about you If you can make one heap of all your winnings
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
But make allowance for their doubting too: And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, To serve your turn long after they are gone,
Or being hated don't give way to hating, And so hold on when there is nothing in you
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can dream---and not make dreams your If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
master; Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster If all men count with you, but none too much:
And treat those two impostors just the same:. If you can fill the unforgiving minute
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And---which is more---you'll be a Man my son!
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

9. "If" was written by Rudyard Kipling in 1895. He wrote the poem in the response to a British defeat against the Boers in
Africa. The loss brought about the second Boer war. Despite the defeat Dr. Jameson was seen as a hero, and was the
inspiration of this poem. Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem to his son, as stated in the poem. However it was never meant to
simply be for his son.
The poem talks about how If you can do all these things you will have the world, or in different words you will be successful.
Which going back to Dr. Jameson, even though he lost, he was remembered as a hero. In other words it may not seem like
the cool or popular thing, but if you want to be truly successful you will do these things.
This poems uses a lot of images and figures of speech. For example he calls triumph and disaster imposters, and that we
should treat them the same. He is saying that they are two things that are in everyday life and they come in at random
times, and we should treat them the same because they can both teach and make us better people. When he says "Or
watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools; he uses "broken", and "worn
out tools", to help us understand that these things keep failing, and you should keep trying even though your frustrated. He
also uses "Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch," not necessarily a king, but the upper class, or smart people. He
also uses "And never breathe a word about your loss" To say that you won’t complain about the bad things that happen to
you. By saying "If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on
when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" He means everything inside of you will hold on
even if it doesn’t make sense logically, but you hold on anyway. When he says "Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,"
He's implying that you will be successful, not your will be ruler of the world. You will have more than the whole world,
honor, peace, and much more.
The tone was a teaching tone, because he was trying to instruct his son. The structure he uses is logical order. He leads to
the point of if you do these things than yours is the earth. He uses the rhyming scheme of ABABCDCD which gives it a nice
flow. The Title "If" is to understand even before we read it that, it’s something that may happen to us if we read and apply
what he wrote to our lives, and that is exactly what the theme of this poem is. The diction he uses helps us understand that
he is trying to teach us, and that it is something he had to learn himself.

10. REVISED VERSION OF MY EXPLICATION OF “IF”
"If" was written by Rudyard Kipling in 1895. He wrote the poem in the response to a defeat of a British commander Dr. Jameson
against the Boers in Africa. The loss brought about the second Boer war. Despite the defeat Dr. Jameson was seen as a hero. Dr.
Jameson inspired Rudyard Kipling, when he wrote this poem shortly after. Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem to his son, as stated in the
poem. However it has touched the lives of countless others.
This poem is almost like a Proverb, it gives wisdom to the reader. The poem states that can do all these things (talk with crowds and
not lose your virtue, etc). you will have the world, or in different words you will be successful. Which going back to Dr. Jameson, even
though he lost, he was remembered as a hero. In other words it may not seem successful or popular, but if you want to be truly
successful you will do these things.
This poem uses a lot of images and figures of speech. For example he calls triumph and disaster imposters, Triumph can be just as bad
as disaster, because during triumphs we can become proud and arrogant. He is saying treat them the same, don’t treat victory better
than defeat. Defeat often makes us better, while victory can take away our character.
When he talks about rebuilding with worn out tools he is trying to give us a picture. Showing us that he’s failed and needs to rebuild,
and worn out tools show us that they have had a lot of use. He has had a lot of failures, but he keeps trying, keeps rebuilding, and
making improvements along the way.
He says "Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch," not necessarily a king, but the upper class, or smart people. Meaning you
are able to socialize with smart people, but he needs to educate himself to be able to do that.
He also uses "And never breathe a word about your loss" To say that you shouldn’t complain about the bad things that happen to you.
You should try to improve yourself in these situations.
By saying "If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is
nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" He means everything inside of you will hold on even if it doesn’t make
sense logically, but you hold on anyway.
When he says "Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it," He's implying that you will be successful, you obviously won’t be the
ruler of the world. You will have more than the whole world, because you will have, honor, peace, and much more. Nothing is more
precious than these.
The tone was a teaching tone, because he was trying to instruct his son. The structure he uses is logical order. He leads to the point of
if you do these things than yours is the earth. He uses the rhyming scheme of ABABCDCD which gives it a nice flow. The Title "If" is to
understand even before we read it that, it’s something that may happen to us if we read and apply what he wrote to our lives, and
that is exactly what the theme of this poem is. The diction he uses helps us understand that he is trying to teach us, and that it is
something he had to learn himself.

11. A Look Inside
Candle There comes a time, we must look
Candle, show with your light For the things we once forsook
Shine on the walls so bright Forsaking the righteous way
Show us a place to take a seat For what our friends might say
Show us the table, that we may eat Till their advice finds us in trouble
And only forgiveness can break the bubble.
Candle, shining so bright That will have captured us
Please, please, hear my plight Because of our desire and lust
Come take away our fear
Let baby shed no tear There comes a time when we must look
For the things we took
Candle, how you remind me When nobody could look
When at first I did see We must remember the book
My mother’s love for me That stealing is wrong
That is so warm and free We mustn’t join the throng
There is no need to fright
We must stand and do what’s right

12. oh death come o come and see
O come and take me
Christ on the tree
To the place of rest
In the box made of tree died to take our place
In life I failed my test of death he did taste
his destiny from the womb
When I was yet young Christ laid in the tomb
When man did insult me
I cut out his tongue Death could not keep its prey
From his presence I did flee Christ the victor in the fray
Christ ascended in a flurry
When I became all grown
I want to the palace into his home in glory
And stole the crown now he builds me a home
I was full of malice where no man doth moan
When my hair turned grey
I lost in a battle of wits
That same man I did slay
And threw him in a mud pit
I Look back at this life
Now how so sad am I
To see all this strife
I just want to fall and die

13. The best and worst of times
OH my! I heard my momma
The president what drama!
Tom prepare a seat to eat
And a stool to rest his feet
Time to get ready
Now where is Eddy?
Momma is going insane
Tom hurry start the flame!
OH my! Cried Momma
He’s here, president Obama
Let me take that coat
Take this root beer float
Now the dinner is set
Even a plate for his pet
Over politics they disputed
Than laughter after I tooted
Do I Need say more
Had him running out the door
The moment of my life poor
Away from smell he did soar

14. Why I wrote these poems.
When I think of you, Mom, I think of someone who is kind, loving and caring, as well as Godly,
A perfectionist, and dedicated to family. She has always been there For me, and there is no
other person who I would rather call “Mom”. You inspired these poems that I wrote.
When I read these poems I think of you. Some of them things you has taught me, like Christ
dying and rising from the grave from “O come and See”. From “The Best and Worst of times”
I think of you, because you’re always running around getting ready for guests. Everything always
has to be perfect. I added “O Death come, because you have always taught me that sin always
leads to a bitter end. I think of you when I read “Candle” because always appreciate, the smallest
things in life, even if they seem insignificant.
The other theme in these poems that I see, are all the different time we had together some fun.
Some that are so sad, that we couldn’t say anything. We had times of Joy and happiness.
There were times of Admiration of even the smallest things, but through it all, you never stopped
Loving and caring for me.

15. To My Mom
I have created this dedication project for you
You have always been there for me, and I want
to show my appreciation. In these pages are
things I learned from you. I have been blessed to
have you as my mom.
• This is something you can always remember
me by when I’m out on my own
THANK YOU!

16. My bibliography
• Frost, Robert “The Road not taken”
Mountain Interval Series New York, H. Holt and
company 1921
• Frost, Robert “ A Girls Garden”
Mountain Interval Series New York, H. Holt and
company 1921
• Kipling, Rudyard “If” rewards and fairies 1910
• Whitman, Walt “O Captain! My Captain!”
Saturday Press 1865