A Poem Analysis: Songs for the People by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

 

                                       Frances Ellen Watkins Harper - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Poems express the trials and triumphs of the human condition with picturesque imagery, relatable metaphors, intense emotions, melodic rhythms and sounds. My love for poetry began in elementary school. I fondly remember reciting and performing the narrative poem, "In the Morning"by Paul Laurence Dunbar for an elementary assembly program about the Harlem Renaissance. Memorizing all 108 lines of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe was challenging for a 7th grader, but I still remember some of the lines today. As an adult, I enjoy the poetry of Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, among other poets. You will regularly find me reading original poems at open mics and virtual poetry readings. Recently, I discovered the poet Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911) when I did a random #poetry search on Facebook. In 1859, Ms. Harper's The Two Offers was published in the Anglo-African Magazine, which is believed to be the first short-story ever published by an African-American writer.  Known as the "Mother of African-American Journalism," Ms. Harper was a prolific writer, abolitionist and speaker. Her poetic topics include slavery, religion, civil rights and peace.  Let's discuss Ms. Harper's beautiful poem, "Songs for the People"...

What is Trauma? An Overview of Waking The Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine with Ann Frederick

Knowledge is power. When I started Synchronicity Revealed-Inspired Writings, my purpose was to share and inspire.  Thanks for going on this journey with me. After three years, my mission continues, even though my topics have expanded beyond analyzing the Hero's Journey and the philosophies of Carl Jung to include book reviews. Recently, I pondered on the impact of trauma on the human experience. At the library, I discovered Waking The Tiger: Healing Trauma by Dr. Peter A. Levine with Ann Frederick, which describes trauma from a mental and physical perspective. Let's discuss…

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene: An Overview

In a previous post, "Lessons Learned from Little Red Riding Hood and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs", we discussed Little Red Riding Hood, a fairy tale about a cunning wolf and a naïve young girl.  Unfortunately, this story is not just a children's cautionary tale.  It is not uncommon for adults to be conned, manipulated or lied to for various reasons. After experiencing a perplexing social interaction, a relative suggested I read The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. The book can make you laugh, cry and seriously be concerned about the state of humanity. However, it is worth a read.  In the Acknowledgements section of the book, Robert Greene says,

"Finally, to those people in my life who have so skillfully used the game of power to manipulate, torture, and cause me pain over the years, I bear you no grudges and I thank you for supplying me with inspiration for The 48 Laws of Power."

Let's discuss….

2021: Hope for a New Year!

 

Happy New Year from Synchronicity Revealed-Inspired Writings!  

2020 was a challenging year. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a wave of despair across the world. Millions have died, lost jobs, family and health due to this pandemic. As the earth begins another revolution around the sun, we are faced with a new year and attitude. I have chosen to be hopeful for a fruitful new year! Let's discuss...

5 YouTube Book Vloggers You Need to Know

My love for books began in childhood. Our neighborhood had a library within walking distance from my home. During the summer, the library was my weekly hotspot. Checking out as many books as you can carry for free was perfect. The library offered a summer reading program. Read 20 or more books and you were rewarded with a free McDonald's cheeseburger coupon. Check! I usually read 100 or more books each summer. I still have my reading certificates.  Fun times. As an adult, I read as many books as my time allows. I aim to read a book a month, even though I usually come up short due to work and other responsibilities. Since my time is limited, I often seek out book recommendations to increase my chances of choosing interesting books. Yes, I have started books that I could not finish. Reading book reviews is one way at getting a preview of a book before investing a lot of time. There are 5 YouTube Book Bloggers that are interesting and worth checking out.  Let's discuss…

What I Learned About Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Part I

 

In December 2019, I attended a vision board party.  I gathered magazines, pictures, a poster, scissors, glue and hope to create an exciting vision board for 2020.  My plans included travel, spending time with family and friends, yoga and exercise, cooking and enjoying life.  My 2020 vision board is still in my bedroom. I look at it occasionally reminiscing on what could have been.  Surely, I am not the only person whose 2020 turned inside out. The unfortunate reality is the COVID-19 global pandemic altered everybody's plans. Sadly, people perished, illness abound, businesses closed for good and the tragedies continue. We are still in the middle of the storm even as people are inoculated with the new vaccine. For over nine months, I have been sequestered in my home. My limited social contact with people, outside of my household, is through Zoom meetings, phone calls and social media. Life continues, albeit with new constraints.  Traditionally, in December, I review my previous year and ponder on my growth, lessons learned and change. This year is no different. Living during the COVID-19 global pandemic taught me new facts of life. Let's discuss…

Make it POP! The Power of Practice

 

Lena loves music. She hopes to join a community orchestra. How will Lena manifest her goals? 

Successful people believe in the power of practice. If you want to be successful in anything, you must invest in your abilities with practice. What is practice? Let's discuss…