Three Problems

1. “Therefore” is a word the poet must not know. - Andre Gide

This quote seems to define (by negation) the vocation of a poet. What might Gide think it is? Do you agree? If not, what do you think is?

2. Poetry has gone abroad. Imagine and compose the letter it writes back home.

3. Describe (in any style) or visually illustrate the face of “Poet”.

[Post by Jackson Vaughan]

A Poem in One Picture

I decided to visually explicate "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth mostly because I enjoy reading poems that allude to our natural world. In his poem, Wordsworth mostly addresses things that are found in our nature such as clouds, trees, grass, flowers, etc., so I made sure to incorporate those elements in my drawing.

Poems are Polygamous

A poem means something different to everyone. Every individual will interpret a poem differently and it will affect them in a unique way. Because of this, a poem isn't always married to someone, but everyone. A poem will have a unique relationship with every person that reads it. Poems are polygamous.

I think poems are always married to their author. The poet will have the closest and most intimate relationship with the poem of anyone because they truly understand what the poem is trying to convey. They understand it on an entirely separate level than the average reader because a part of them went into that poem. Because of this, even if someone's poem never sees the light of day, it is still married to its author. Even if a poem isn't "married" to anyone else because no one but the author has ever seen it, it will always be married to the poet.

When two people marry, their names become synonymous. It works the same way with poems and poets, as you rarely will think of someone like Robert Frost without immediately thinking of "The Road Not Taken." The bond between a poet and their poetry is so close that divorce between the two is unthinkable. The poem is a piece of the author, and you can't divorce yourself. Poems most definitely are married to people, and they are always married to someone, but they can also be married to many people. Each person that is strongly affected by a poem, memorizes a poem, or simply reads a poem and thinks about it later that day is now married to that poem because it has ingrained itself in their mind and will always be with them, wherever they go.

A Road Trip to Remember (From Math's POV)

Road Trip Theorem Part 1:

Given: Woke up on time

Prove: Long road trip awaits.

Statement	Reason
Awake at 6:06am	Given
Bag? Keys? Ticket? Umbrella?	Checklist Theorem, 40% < x < 52% chance of rain
Leave for airport at 6:47am	Corollary of Checklist Theorem: Impeccable Timing.
Read Street ≠ Reed Street.	Definition of Getting Lost
24 min driving in circles	Consequence of the previously stated definition
41 min per hour wasted.	Property of the Traffic Principle
Missed Flight	All of the above
Thoughts of not going	Anxiety Hypothesis
“Hello? What do you want Poetry?”	Miscalculation of gas money
Agreement to drive to together	Logical Solution
Poetry is Late	Common Axiom (Axiom #11)
Frustration at local Maxima	If X=frustration and Y=waiting, then Y=X2 with X>0

ஃ Long, disastrous, bicker-filled car ride.

Road Trip Theorem Part 2:

Dead Silence. Easy, peaceful, average=Mean, median, mode, and range. Range of motion, range of time. Time. 1 hour, 36 minutes, 24 seconds down. 6 hours, 3 minutes, 36 seconds to go. 35-34-33-32-31....31. Prime. Particular, pesky, perfect...Pun. “Let’s not act so primal” It was a calculated move. An addition of humor with a subtraction of tension. But all in return was a snippy comment that took things back to square 1. 1 squared is 1. Approximately 1/5 of the way there. Direct route at speed limit. Exact. There’s no formula for small talk. Why should we? We run in parallel, our lines should never cross. Poetry suggests another road will be better. Probability of him being correct? 1%. Efficiency is key.

Back to counting.

Road Trip Theorem Part 3:

Hypothesis: Math≥Poetry

Ex. A sharp 180° turn that should not have exceeded 136.4° caused an unnecessary flat tire. Great.

Ex. At this rate we’ll never make it one time.

Ex. (Air pressure×Angles)+Spare tire=Fixed car

Ex. Poetry is useless. Typical.

Hypothesis: Poetry≥Math

Ex. Equation for conversation: 1 question asked=1 question answered

Ex. Perfect symmetry of Poetry’s face

Ex. Poems might make sense. Be useful. Be inspiring.

Ex. Maybe Poetry is ok.

Can’t have one without the other. Can’t substitute one for the other. Integral parts of each other.

Road Trip Theorem Part 4:

Method 1 for Proof:

Staring out the window, a building springs out from nowhere. Poetry want’s to stop and take a look. I guess we can sacrifice a few minutes. Poetry and I seem to have different views of the building. I wonder if we are even looking at it from the same perspective.

I love building. Poetry loves building. Therefore, by the transitive property, I love Poetry.

Method 2 for Proof:

9x‒7M>3(3x‒7P)

9x‒7M>9x‒21P

‒7M>‒21P

‒M>‒3P

M<3P

Either way, simple math seems to agree. You+me=we and that’s what I’d rather be. ⬛ DONE.

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Check out Poetry Blog (a sixth hour blog) sometime soon for Poetry's perspective! :D  ~Maia

Why Scientists need to read poems

Why do scientists need to read poems? Because they need to study the science of poetry; the effects of reading poetry; what it does to humans. In order for scientists to study the effects of poetry, I would guess they probably need to read a few poems, at the very least.

Here is the main reason why scientists need to read poetry, however:

A little poetry here and there is valuable for everyone. Finding the perfect poem that speaks to you the most is even more valuable, as one can look to read it whether happy or sad. My guess is that not a lot of scientists read poetry or have a favorite poem to look back to. My father for example, a scientist himself, doesn’t read literature of that sort. Literature in newspapers, historical accounts, and technology is the only kind that appeals to him. Simply put, he likes literature that states facts. I am not saying that that is the case with every scientist, but it is pretty common I would say. Scientists care about the facts and what they can prove based on those facts; they are literal. Poetry is not. A poem can be vaguely depicted where the reader can make their own assumptions and associate those assumptions with their emotions.

So why do scientists need to read poetry? Because they need to easen up a bit and not just strive for facts. They need to see the essence of life through poetry and be less literal. Yes, some scientists may actually be studying the life of humans/animals, but it is not necessarily in a spiritual way like poetry, the basic way to understanding life.

By: Panos Voulgaris

Coming Soon...

Hi all! Make sure to check back here on Monday, 3/14 for a collab with Poetry Blog (a sixth hour blog)! We'll be writing the story of Math and Poetry from two different perspectives! 

Poetry & History

Poetry and history are closely intertwined. The popularized literature of a time embodies an era. Poetic movements can be used to define our history and the people. Poetry is an outlet for us to express both our discontent with our lives and the pleasures we take in it, which can reveal the emotions and feelings behind an entire era. The Beat Generation was known for expressing the dissatisfaction many were feeling in the World War II era.

Poems have also been a way for people to challenge ideas and those in power. Poems like Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes and If We Must Die by Claude McKay are politically charged poems assessing society and what is wrong with the world we live in. Poems that challenge authority can change history by bringing to light what needs to be fixed and making people more aware of the injustices that have taken place in our history.

Poetry can tell stories, as well. Some poems, such as The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key or The Battle of Lexington by Sidney Lanier, depict historical events and describe what took place. Some poems are literary historical artifacts. Poems and literature in general are very closely linked with our history, revealing the values, beliefs, and emotions of a time period. Poems help tell our history.