Now that you've
read the class assignment from Wednesday, 1/24 (
New York Times article by Tina Kelley and the two poems about "place" - "The Golden Years," Billy Collins and "A Sense of Place," Steven Curtis Lance) I'd like you to explore your understanding of them, your own notion of "place" and ways that you might characterize a place in your life. Please use this blog for a discussion around any or all of the following prompts. Remember that when it's going well, each of you will be using specific, detailed information to respond and react to other people's thinking and add in ideas and observations of your own. I'll be checking in periodically, but I'm expecting you to be on here at least once before Friday night, when you'll have another blog to work on.
i. What is meant by “the heartbeat of
here”?
ii. What are Collins and Lance, the
authors of the two poems saying about Westchester, where Collins lived, and N.
Cleveland St.?
iii. Think about either the area where you
live and/or Fox Lane High School and “characterize” it, briefly.
Steven Curtis Lance, in his poem, is saying that he feels a " sense of place " in Westchester. It's not somewhere he needs to be or somewhere he's rooted to, it's just somewhere where he feels complete. He feels like " This place this moment belongs to him ". It's a part of who he is. He feels the need to share it with someone, he wants for someone to know what it's like to feel the way he does about where he lives.
ReplyDeleteBilly Collins takes the more comical way of showing his feelings for a sense of place. He talks about the names of towns and wonders why and how they came up with such random names but those names are what make those towns unique. But that's not the point of the poem, even with all those random names and scattered towns, there's no unique name and town such as Pheasant Ridge. People could say that all these towns are all the same with meaningless names but to Collin there's no such town as Pheasant ridge.
i. I believe that "the heartbeat of here" is implying the relation of the reader to the text of a piece of literature. Tina Kelley talks about being comfortable in your own home and reading poetry. I think she is comparing feeling of home to understanding a poem.
ReplyDeleteii.Collins and Lance both write about their home towns. Clearly, their settings have a lot to do with their inspiration for writing.
iii. At Fox Lane we have grassy fields along with beautiful tall trees. Our school is diverse in personality, interests, along with ethnicity and culture. Some people play sports, some sing, some act and some try and do it all. The set up of our school allows everyone to have different interests.
i. I agree with Amanda. I think that "the heartbeat of here" refers to the feeling of home, especially in reference to the relationship between the author and the reader. The author has the ability to incorporate his/her own life into their writing, which allows the reader to feel at home in the author's home.
ReplyDeleteii. I believe that Collins and Lance are saying that their home has an influence on their writing. Because they live in influential areas, their writing has a personal touch and allows them to connect to their reader.
iii. Bedford is full of long roads and rolling hills and amongst it all is a collection of unique people. I think that people have an extreme influence on each others' lives, in both good and bad ways. Fox Lane is also full of unique people, which has truly had a profound influence on my character.
When Tina said "listen to the heart beat of here" it means to become aware of the pace in which life is going in that town. She portrays the pace of the town to be relaxed because she would sit in a chair and calmly read a book.
ReplyDeleteBilly Collins is saying that living in Westchester were his "Golden Years" because life was simple. In his simple life he would sit in his kitchen and think about the town he lives in. Curtis Lance always lived in the same town but not because he needs to be there or he belongs there. He believes that the town belongs to him and he wants to share this way of thinking with someone and share the grace of the place.
Living in Westchester makes us close enough to the city to be part of it but still have the beauty of nature and live in a small town.
1) I agree with Amanda and Dan that "the heartbeat of here" is referring to the the feeling of being at home. Both authors discuss how they have been used to living in their towns for so long, that when the try to branch out into another area, they always come back to their home place.
ReplyDelete2)Both authors are writing about their home towns and how they make them feel, which I can infer that they are inspired by where they live and want to write about their feelings.
3)At Fox Lane we have a really nice campus filled with all different kinds of people. Our school is very diverse, and there are a lot of many different opportunities available for people to choose from.
1.) I agree with what is being said about "the heartbeat of here" referring to the feeling of being at home. I think it also means how certain environments impact lives and the meanings of homes to people.
ReplyDelete2.) Collins is saying that he admires some things in Westchester, like the Quail Falls saying that he could "spend a day there playing bridge." However, he sees a difference in the condition of the bridge. He remarks on viewing the bridge as having a "lack of a falls and the absence of quail." Lance finds that living in N. Cleveland St. makes him feel attached to it saying that he "never found myself elsewhere." It was his home and he felt that he belonged there. Even after admitting that "they did not want me there," he felt that he deserved to live there just as much as anyone else. Lance believes that it was once better some time ago, reminiscing the "blooming evergreen."
3.) Where I live today, Mount Kisco, never used to be the way it is now. When I was much younger, there were many more stores and places to explore and make one want to get out of the house. There used to be more Chinese restaurants, chain stores, toy stores, and book stores. Borders was one of the last stores of my childhood to have left. Unfortunately, with the mortgage payments of space for businesses is extremely expensive in this area. That is why not many stores have survived and thrived here. For example, There was a restaurant named "Q," near Friendly's, and it didn't last more than a few months. From my standpoint, Mount Kisco used be much better in terms of places to see.
1) Like people have said, "the heartbeat of here" is referring to the feeling of being home. The place where you have grown up that will always have an impact on you.
ReplyDelete2) Both of the authors are talking about the special place where they are living. They love where they are and they want to express that in their writing. These are places that they are attached to and it has influenced what they write about.
3) Mount Kisco is a small town. The town itself has many things that you can do. There are numerous parades each year for the different holidays and special events.
i. Agreeing with Amanda, "the heartbeat of here" refers to the vibe and general atmosphere of being home. The environment you grow up in will always leave a lasting impact on you.
ReplyDeleteii. Both authors are writing about their homes/home towns and they're expressing the importance it has on them. Where they live clearly has large meaning to them because it inspired them to write about it.
iii. Fox Lane High School is a really nice school. We have a beautiful campus and a really diverse group of students. A lot of different activities are available including various clubs, JV & Varsity sports, theater production..etc.
-The "heartbeat of here" is referring to the feeling and life of a place. Personifying where she is, Tina Kelley creates the idea that the place she is in is alive and running. The heartbeat is what it feels like to be there.
ReplyDelete-Collins and Lance aren't saying that where they are from is amazing, but it's home. As Catia mentioned, it makes them who they are. For example, Steven Curtis Lance isn't praising his town, but it's "...just that i have always been". Whether they love their hometowns or not, home is home. Their memories will remain there, despite any changes made to the towns or themselves as people.
-I have always lived in Bedford Hills and have never actually loved it, but I wouldn't want to live somewhere else at this point. It's a common thought among people my age who live here that there's nothing to do, which is true. The stores downtown are always changing and I haven't even set foot in over half of them. Being close to Mount Kisco and Katonah, I consider those towns a part of my home as well. Although a new business has taken its place, my old dance studio will always be what comes to mind in downtown Mount Kisco. The best years of my life took place there, almost daily after school, which will never change. A home can change but one cannot forget the lasting impact and memories of that place.
1) As mentioned before, "the heartbeat of here" refers to feeling, mood, or 'vibe' of the authors sense from their home.
ReplyDelete2) Collins and Lance discuss their sense of place where they live through their poems. Collins does so by spotlighting the names of the areas nearby and how the names don't seem to match, while Lance does so by describing a sense of serenity he feels being where he is.
3) If i were to characterize Mt.Kisco briefly, I would do so with one word: dull.
Oren Cohn:
ReplyDelete1) I agree with Dan and Amanda in how "The heartbeat of here" is the warm, comfortable feeling of being at a familiar place, like home. like said before, this also relates to the author reader relationship, and how a reader will understand and feel more comfortable with a piece of literature if the author writes with his heart. that shows that he feels comfortable, so why should the reader not.
2)Both Poets, Collins and Lance, whether Westchester or N. Cleavland St, write about how they grew up. They wrote about what it was like there and how they looked at the world, growing up in that town. I agree with Erica in that a poet's environment has a huge influence on what he writes about. they do this not only because it's easy because its right there in front of them, but it gives it a personal "heartbeat of here" touch.
3)I agree with Erica, Fox lane is a campus that serves a diverse community. the school has opportunity for every student. The school is located near great towns, and its not too far from major cities. I disagree with Matt, there are more stores in Kisco now, then there ever has been. Yes, companies go bankrupt, they can't pay rent, and/or their competitor takes over. But, every time a store leaves, a new one comes in, innovating the town, to make it a better place.
Hi Everyone -
ReplyDeleteKeep an eye on the specifics of the metaphor,"The heartbeat of here." This isn't about the people who are in a place; it's about the place itself, a reference to what makes a place "tick."
1 The "heart beat of here" portrays the place that the author lived in. It gives a sense of the authors feelings toward this place, the mood, and how the people are.
ReplyDelete2 Collins and Lance both spoke of places were they have lived in. Each show a longing to be there and experience these places again. Collins showed and explained each place he used to know. Lance shows how he feels a sense of place where he lives and enjoys it and how it feels right to him.
3 I have lived in Bedford Village all my life and have really enjoyed living in Bedford. It's a small town, you know most everyone, but there isn't a lot to do in Bedford Village because its so small.
1) The "heart beat of before" refers to the mood, or feelings from the authors views of the place and the people that live there.
ReplyDelete2) I believe that they're talking about how they miss their home and that that has influenced their writing. This is because they're home town and people surrounding them have influenced them in a positive way.
3) In the town that we are surrounded by, Bedford, there are many hills and wilderness surrounding us. There are many town events that bring the town together, and many holidays and celebrations that all the town's people attend.
1. The quote by Tina Kelley, “...heart beat of here” references to a place due to the people, or the type of location they are in. These aspects combined over time provide familiarity. The feeling of home is when one feels comfortable in their setting and the poet’s setting is evident to the reader in their writings.
ReplyDelete2. Collins and Lance both discuss their childhood experiences. Their homes taught them everything they see in the world and as a result this is what they write about. They specifically write about their outlook of the world based on where they grew up.
3. Fox Lane High School is an environment that is made up diversity. The people all share a common bond of the location, but also have their different interests that Fox Lane can accommodate for. Moreover, the trees and hills provide a sense of protection.
1. Tina Kelley's quote "the heartbeat of here" metaphorically refers to comfort and familiarity that a person feels when they are somewhere, in this case at home. It refers to the warm and safe feeling that one receives when they are somewhere that they feel comfort.
ReplyDelete2. Both “The Golden Years” by Billy Collins and “A Sense of Place” by Steven Curtis Lance refer to their experiences as children in their towns. They wrote about their memories and what it felt like to grow up where they did. This would affect their perception of the world, and would lead them to write poetry about this because it was a part of who they are.
3. The town of Bedford is full of different, unique people. Theres many houses plus theres beautiful, empty land surrounded the whole town. The town is small, so whenever you go out you run into people you know all of the time. Fox Lane is full of diversity and helps myself and students gain a sense of awareness of all the different types of cultures that surround us.
Clare Koneval
ReplyDelete1. The quote "the heartbeat of here" refers to the feeling people get in a place they consider home. I agree with Elena, that the feeling of a home is being comfortable where their home is located.
2. Both poems talk about where the authors are from and how where they lived when they were children is still what they call home. In "A Sense of Place" Lance says he has never felt more at home in Cleveland because he feels that he belongs there. Lance and Collins believe that where someone grew up, will feel like home to them no matter where they live as adults.
3. Fox Lane High School is very diverse because it includes many surrounding communities. I live in Pound Ridge which is surrounded by trees and wilderness and beauty.
1.)"The heartbeat of here" is referring to the feeling that an individual receives from their home, having a lasting impact on them.
ReplyDelete2.)Lance and Collins both talk about places where they live and how they wish to be there again.Agreeing with Erica, the poets environment has a huge influence on what they write about.
3.)Fox Lane High School is an environment full of diversity and opportunity. This high school offers many clubs and sports to chose from, enabling one to get involved in the school community in whatever interests them.
1) The heart beat refers to what makes a place unique and what it is like in the town.
ReplyDelete2)Both poems refer to what the childhood towns are like and how it felt to be there. Collins thinks that Cleveland Street is hime because that is all the he knows.
3)Bedford is a small place with a lot of trees and woods. Over the years it seems that it has become more populated and more people are moving in. It isn't as quiet as it once was.
1)The quote "The heartbeat of here" shows a sense of feeling secure in a well known place like home.
ReplyDelete2) Both poets, Billy Collins and Steven Curtis Lance are talking about their homes. Both poets wonder why they live were they live and continue to live there, but their homes is were they belong and feel secure.
3) Mount Kisco has many characteristics. The town is very diverse and family based. Although it is an old town it is very clean and a comfortable place to live.
Adele Lawrence
ReplyDelete1) "The hearbeat of here" refers back to the feelings one gets while they are home.
2) Both Lance and Collins wrote about their childhood experiences in their separate towns and growing up. Both the poets use their experiences growing up to influence their writing.
3) Fox Lane, I believe, is an environment that is very diverse. We have various ethnic groups that attend the school and among the student population there are different groups which reflect peoples personalities or interests. Overall, Fox Lane has a place for almost everyone among the different groups.
1. The "heartbeat of here" is the feeling of being home, where you belong, and are comfortable.
ReplyDelete2.Collins and Lance discuss their sense of place where they live through their poems. Collins talks about the irony of the names of the streets, while Lance specifies the feeling of not belonging at N. Cleveland St., but being there because his sense of place is there.
3.A brief characterization of Fox Lane would be diverse and full of opportunity, such as clubs, sports, and a large selection of elective classes.
1. Tina Kelley's quote, "heartbeat of here", refers to the feelings people have when they're somewhere they call home.
ReplyDelete2. Both Collins and Lance wrote about where they grew up and described what it was like to live there. Their homes providing their perception of the world greatly affected and influenced their writing.
3. Fox Lane has a beautiful campus and is a very diverse school. It does a great job at providing many different opportunities and activities to the students. Such as, sports, theater, music, art, clubs etc.
1. "Heartbeat of here" is the comfort of being home, the place where you truly belong.
ReplyDelete2. Collins and Lance wrote about where they lived and grew up saying how their surroundings influenced what they wrote about in their poems.
3. Fox Lane is a great school that offers a widespread of classes that allow for everyone to learn. It is also a very diverse school where everyone gets along well.
1.The author of the poem shows a quote "the heartbeat of here" refers to the feeling people get in a place they consider home. That feeling that makes you be happy and comfortable where you think is home. It doesn't matter where is it just having that feeling of being happy you know that is there where you belong.
ReplyDelete2. Both poems talk about where the authors are from and how where they lived when they were children is still what they call home. In the poem "A Sense of Place" Lance said that he had never felt more at home in Cleveland because he feels that he belongs there that is where he feels comfortable. This two author think that where they grew up is where their home is.
3. Fox Lane High School is very diverse because it has a lot of different people.