¶ … Carpe Diem" by Robert Frost Personification of Age

Chiming church bells symbolize time

Children passing symbolize time passing

"Drinking Song" by John Fletcher

Merry, boisterous tone

Caution to the wind

Quick, punchy rhyme scheme

Entertaining but less sincere than Frost

The term "carpe diem," meaning "seize the day" in Italian, encourages a person to make the most of his time while he has it. A carpe diem poem typically emphasizes the elusive or fleeting nature of time, with a particular focus on the passing of youth. In Robert Frost's "Carpe Diem," he personifies Age and places him on a road watching two children pass. Age knows not where the children are headed, but wishes them happiness regardless as those "With happiness should have it. / And yet not know that they have it" (lines 17-18). The passing of time and the innocence of youth is further emphasized by the chiming of the church bells and the "twilight" setting (lines 2-4).

John Fletcher's "Drinking Song" takes a different approach to the carpe diem theme. While Frost largely relies on the personification of age and the somewhat whimsical imagery of children and chiming church bells, Fletcher employs a merry, caution-to-the-wind tone supported by a quick, almost punchy rhyme scheme. "Best, while you have it, use your breath; / There is no drinking after death" (lines 3-4).

While both poems effectively inspire one to "seize the day," Frost's poem strikes as the more sincere and thus the more effective of the two. All the pleasures of boozing and brawling aside, Fletcher's poem fails to incite the reader to consider anything deeper than the bottom of his pint glass, while Frost's poem -- almost nostalgic in tone -- incites the reader to consider both the past he has lost, the present he is in, and the future he beholds, which is the ultimate purpose of a carpe diem poem.

Essay 2.1: Final Draft

The term "carpe diem," meaning "seize the day" in Italian, encourages a person to make the most of his time while he has it. A carpe diem poem typically emphasizes the elusive or fleeting nature of time, with a particular focus on the passing of youth. In Robert Frost's "Carpe Diem," he personifies Age and places him on a road watching two children pass. Age knows not where the children are headed, but wishes them happiness regardless as those "With happiness should have it. / And yet not know that they have it" (lines 17-18). The passing of time and the innocence of youth is further emphasized by the chiming of church bells and the setting of "twilight" (lines 2-4). Even as youth passes, so time marches on.

John Fletcher's "Drinking Song" takes a different approach to the carpe diem theme. While Frost largely relies on the personification of age and the somewhat whimsical imagery of children and chiming church bells, Fletcher employs a merry, caution-to-the-wind tone supported by a quick, punchy rhyme scheme. "Best, while you have it, use your breath; / There is no drinking after death" (lines 3-4).

While both poems effectively inspire one to "seize the day," Frost's poem strikes as the more sincere and thus the more effective of the two. All the pleasures of boozing and brawling aside, Fletcher's poem fails to incite the reader to consider anything deeper than the bottom of his pint glass, while Frost's poem -- almost nostalgic in tone -- incites the reader to consider the past he has lost, the present air he breathes, and the future he beholds, which is the ultimate purpose of a carpe diem poem.

Works Cited

Fletcher, John. "Drinking Song." Poet's Corner. 21 February 2011.

< http://theotherpages.org/poems/fletch02.html#12>

Frost, Robert. "Carpe Diem." Poets.org. 21 February 2011.

< http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20520>

Essay 3.1: Modern Parable

David and his girlfriend Lisa are enjoying an anniversary dinner at an expensive restaurant. Half-way through the meal, David excuses himself to use the restroom, where he finds a wallet with a one-hundred dollar bill in it. As David was somewhat worried about covering the cost of the meal, he can't believe his luck! David quickly pockets the wallet and returns to his table, where he doesn't hesitate to order another bottle of wine and a decadent desert.

As the desert arrives, David becomes aware of what appears to be a mounting argument between the waiter and the man beside him. "That is unfortunate, Mr. Elgin, but you are still responsible for covering the cost of your meal."

"I understand, but -- well, now, wait a minute;...

I'll just go and -- "
"Allow me to accompany you."

"Take your hands off me!"

Given the situation, David's first instinct is to return the wallet immediately; however, if he returns the wallet now, he won't be able to pay for his own meal, let alone his girlfriend Jennifer's. Nonetheless, after a hasty brawl with his conscience, David rises and very quietly addresses the man. "Excuses me, sir," he produces the wallet from his pocket, "but I believe this is yours."

Relieved to have his wallet returned to him, Mr. Elgin thanks David for his honesty by paying for his meal, Jennifer's meal, and actually tips David the $100 just for good measure. Moral of the story: it pays to be honest.

6.1: Preliminary Notes

Quest to the ultimate climbing tree.

Silly challenge for two silly kids.

Cat tags along, Mr. Pickles.

Plan foiled by meddling adult, Police officer Keith Kendal.

Kendal's meddling points out absurdity of quest to oldest child.

Child as an adult still regrets that she never made it to that tree.

The Climbing Tree

If I had it to do over again, I would have left the cat at home. I would also have considered the lack of wisdom in two young girls crossing an overpass and a truck stop alone at three in the morning, though this failed to occur to me at the time.

Our plan was to meet on the corner of 4th and Park at 2am sharp. From there, we would take Lake Joy to Rhoda, and Rhoda to the highway and the tree. The tree, a truly massive oak that stood in the center of an open field, just south of the Blue Bird Bus company, was rumored to be the highest climbing tree for miles and an excellent perch to watch the red-clay sunrise of Fort Valley, Georgia.

True to her word, Annie Mae Blankenship met me at the corner at the designated time. "Got the camera?"

"Yup."

"Got the Pop Tarts?"

"Meow."

"What the -- Mr. Pickles, go home!"

"Meow!"

"Crap. Hold on, let me toss him in the garage."

"Oh, let him come!" Annie Mae pleaded. "He'll keep up!"

"Meow?"

It was hard to tell in the half-moonlight whose eyes were bigger, Annie Mae's or Mr. Pickles'. Either way, I could this was a battle I was going to lose.

"Alright, fine. But if he gets tired or starts to hold us up, you have to carry him."

"I will! Come on, Mr. Pickles, you can climb with us!"

Damn cat. We weren't a mile down the road when he started cry for Annie Mae to hold him, and Annie Mae was a lot slower with a fifteen-pound tomcat in her arms. But we kept on, all the way to Rhoda and from Rhoda to the highway. Though the moon wasn't full, the sky was clear and stars provided more than enough light to see by.

"There it is," I pointed across the highway as Annie Mae struggled to catch up with me, Mr. Pickles jiggling like orange Jello in her arms.

"Golly!" she breathed. "Look how big it is!"

I never knew exactly how tall that tree stood, but I could swear it reached up to the moon that night.

"How far do you think?"

"Oh . . . not too. But it's almost four o'clock, so we'd better get a move on if we want to catch the sun."

"Right," Annie Mae charged ahead of me.

"Wait! Stick to my right and keep your head down over the overpass, okay?"

"Okay."

Annie Mea was two years younger than me and half-a-head shorter. I mightn't have known the exact nature of the danger we were in, but I knew enough to keep the little one hidden as best I could.

The sound of the siren seemed to come out of nowhere. Annie Mea and Mr. Pickles jumped a foot and I nearly peed my pants as the lights pulled up beside us. That it was a cop was bad enough. That it was our neighbor, Mr. Kendal, was even worse. We were done for.

"Sandra? Annie Mae? What in the hell are you two doin'?"

Before I could think to lie, "We're goin' to the climbing tree!" blurted Annie Mae.

As Mr. Kendal looked confused, Annie Mae pointed for clarification. "See? That one, that big one over there!"

Oh, for Pete's sake. This was ridiculous. All at once, I caught a glimpse of the situation from Mr. Kendal's eyes: two young kids and their cat, Mr. Pickles off to cross a highway and climb a tree in the middle of the night. Ridiculous didn't even begin to describe it. This was just downright stupid.

"Get in the car, Annie Mae."

Annie Mae's face fell. "But Mr.…