Poetry Assignment 1
Due Wednesday, January 21
This assignment has two parts. The first part is a poem of between 100 and 150 words. The second part is a few sentences that interpret the poem. In other words, restate what the poem means. Type your poem and interpretation and hand it in during class on the 21st.
The broad topic of your poem should be work. The broad theme for the videos this quarter is the Asian American working class. During the late-19th and early 20th century, the international working class was typically described in terms of men who did industrial factory work, in contrast to farmers, domestic workers, office workers, and managers. However, a relatively small percentage of Asian Americans actually work in industrial production today (although many people in Asia work in industrial production).
The poems that you produce for this class should, taken together, provide a glimpse of the meaning of work for Asian Americans. Think of the work that members of your family have to do in order to maintain your family. Think of the work of other Asians that benefits you. Think of the work that you do or that you have done, work that you are not necessarily paid for. Think about how work, in many cases, is unappreciated and unfair. Think of the satisfaction that you receive from work, and think about the work that you would like to do and what that work would be like.
Start with an image that is important to your idea of work. Aim for descriptions of concrete practices rather than abstractions. Your poem should refer to the senses--sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
The poem should not be about Asian Americans as a group. In fact, it could be bad for your poem if you try to make broad generalizations about Asian Americans. Likewise, your poem should not be about work in general. Instead, the poem should be about work that either you have done or work that you have benefited from.