Reflective Journal

Maya Angelou Title:  Caged Bird Author:  Maya Angelou Date:  1983 Setting (time and place):   There is not mention of time or place in this poem since the Characters are a metaphoric representation. Event (conflict, important information, touching passage, question):  This poem is giving a comparison of what a free bird can do, and a caged bird can't. This of course is a metaphor referring to the difference between the white and black people. This difference has existed for thousands of years and even now a days it can be evidenced in some places around the world.  Characters: The Free Bird:  It is the representation of freedom itself and good life compared to others. The Caged Bird:  It is the representation of a life as a prisoner and not being able to fulfill desires and wishes.  Memorable quote / favorite part:  "But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream..." H

Kimberly Blaeser Title:   "If I Laid Them End to End" Author:  Kimberly Blaeser Date:  2007 Setting (time and place):  Since this poem is composed by three different stories, it has different settings. The first one there is no clear evidence of the time and settings, but it mentions a knife-marred counter in which conversations spills like sunshine. The second story doesn't mention its time either, but it mentions a burned farm, and a Strawberry mountain. The last story mentions two old fishermen that ended up drunk in a canoe; this means that probably they are on a lake or in a sea. Event (Conflict, important information, touching passage, question):  Even though there are three different stories in this poem, there is one specific topic which is starvation. The three stories mention how the characters in one way, or another are trying to survive and find food. For example, in the second stanza in the last line it says: "Sure took the wrinkl