Entry 4: Two Poems

My first poem: Survival  by: Iris Tennent Fly high bird, fly high away from man's lead death. Your feathers scorched from bullets, as you gasp for your least breath. Run fox run, your freedom depends on your speed,  as the hunters close in, they do not care how you bleed. Burrow, rabbit, burrow  dig as deep as you can.  The small beady eyes  and ferrets teeth,  you cannot hide from man. Swim, whale, swim  away from the sharp harpoon,  no peace for you  until the water is stained red  instead of blue. They call it sport,  but to an animal, or bird  trying to survive.  Life is hard enough, just to live This poem reminds me of how very important it is for everyone in the Games to know how to hunt, gather food, and find water in order to survive. If you did not know how to hunt then you would be forced to search for your food, by collecting berries and edible plants. One problem that comes with this is knowing which foods are safe to eat and which ones are planted there by the Gamemakers, in hopes that someone will eat them and die of poisoning. In The Hunger Games, the main character Katniss knew how to hunt and which foods were safe to eat because of her life back in District 12. After her father died she was the one that had to feed her family. This every day problem that she faced is helped her greatly in the Games. Near the end of the novel, Peeta was collecting poisonous berries to eat thinking that they were safe; luckily he had Katniss to tell him they were deadly before he consumed them. Foxface was not as lucky. She ate the berries assuming that they were safe because Peeta had gathered them for himself to eat. This poem reminds me how hard it can be to survive when you know so little about your surroundings.  My second poem: The Survival by: Rudyard Kipling  Securely, after days Unnumbered, I behold Kings mourn that promised praise Their cheating bards foretold. Of earth constricting Wars, Of Princes passed in chains, Of deeds out-shining stars, No word or voice remains. Yet furthest times receive, And to fresh praise restore, Mere breath of flutes at eve, Mere seaweed on the shore. A smoke of sacrifice; A chosen myrtle-wreath; An harlot's altered eyes; A rage 'gainst love or death; Glazed snow beneath the moon -- The surge of storm-bowed trees-- The Caesars perished soon, And Rome Herself: But these Endure while Empires fall And Gods for Gods make room.... Which greater God than all Imposed the amazing doom? This poem reminds me of the struggles to survive that Katniss and Peeta both endured in The Hunger Games. From the obvious ones like getting enough food and water, to the thought that they might lose each other. Every single day they spent in the arena they knew that they could easily lose the battle. They could easily give up and put an end to their struggles. Peeta was almost forced to give up after his terrible injury on his leg. He had blood poisoning and a terrible fever. Also he could not walk and that made things extremely difficult. Resulting in the fact that Peeta could not fight, he could not feed himself, and he could not look after his wound.If Katniss had not came to his rescue and helped him heal then he would most likely have had to give up because his condition was growing worse. Peeta tried to stay alive for Katniss's sake. This poem reminds me that no matter how hard the challenge, you must always try as hard as you possibly can, and not give up.  Sources Tennent, Iris. "Survival." Poem Hunter. N.p., 2 Jan. 2003. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. <http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/survival/>. Kipling, Rudyard. "Rudyard Kipling." Poetry Lovers Page . Ed. Edward Bonver. N.p., 1995. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. <http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/survival.html>.