Two Lips Touching
Two lips touching
Soft as silk
Their owners blushing
From compliments given
And gladly
Received
Two lips touching
Offered love and care
Mixing, mingling
With help from friends
Buzzing with
Happiness
Two lips touching
In the cold
Feeling frozen
But not really
Concerned
Two lips touching
Bringing beauty to the world
Barely blossoming
Showing off
Gladly
Two lips touching
Meeting in the wind
Parting, proudly
Then back together
Again
Two lips touching
Together for so long
Wilting, waiting
At the end of their
Time
After All by Henry Lawson
The brooding ghosts of Australian night have gone from the bush and town;
My spirit revives in the morning breeze,
though it died when the sun went down;
The river is high and the stream is strong,
and the grass is green and tall,
And I fain would think that this world of ours is a good world after all.
The light of passion in dreamy eyes, and a page of truth well read,
The glorious thrill in a heart grown cold of the spirit I thought was dead,
A song that goes to a comrade's heart, and a tear of pride let fall --
And my soul is strong! and the world to me is a grand world after all!
Let our enemies go by their old dull tracks,
and theirs be the fault or shame
(The man is bitter against the world who has only himself to blame);
Let the darkest side of the past be dark, and only the good recall;
For I must believe that the world, my dear, is a kind world after all.
It well may be that I saw too plain, and it may be I was blind;
But I'll keep my face to the dawning light,
though the devil may stand behind!
Though the devil may stand behind my back, I'll not see his shadow fall,
But read the signs in the morning stars of a good world after all.
Rest, for your eyes are weary, girl -- you have driven the worst away --
The ghost of the man that I might have been is gone from my heart to-day;
We'll live for life and the best it brings till our twilight shadows fall;
My heart grows brave, and the world, my girl, is a good world after all.
Two lips touching shows the endless love of a couple. It shows how glad they are for each other and how happy they are together. There's a repetition of the words two lips touching assuring there love and as well as putting a rhythm to the poem. It gives is a musical touch to it. They seem to appreciate what they have for example when it says in lines 9 and 10. They appreciate the help of their friends. Buzzing with happiness is an onomatopoeia. The speaker is a witness of their love. There happiness and love brings beauty to the world stated in line 19. Stanza 3 communicates their togetherness and willingness to stay together through the cold. At the end of Stanza 4 you can assume that there's a partition maybe from a fight or a break between the two but they proudly come back together as one. The words two lips touching gives that intimate mood. The last three lines describes how even when they are wilted and old they stay together because of the strength of their love. The message of this poem seems to show the strength and power of love.
ReplyDeleteIs there a reason that the word parting and proudly right next to each other on the same line? Is the comma supposed to separate the two words for a reason or is it there for the initial analyzation of the poem?
i think the two words are separated by a comma to maybe show the importance of those words. It probaly also to keep the flow of the poem going. it was intentional by the author maybe to tell something more than just parting with a comma.
DeleteI think you noticed some very important points in this poem and I also think that the two lips touching shows the love of a couple and how they are happy together. I think that the words were separated by commas to stress how important wilting and waiting is for a couple to last.
DeleteI totally agree with your analysis of the poem. You found many great points. I think they did that because maybe they thought the poem would sound better in a way.
Deletei agree with your analysis too. At Stanza 4, it does sound like they're breaking up, which can be shown by the word "proudly".
Deletei think Nikita got the main point right on. The idea is that love is never ending, to some people.i just wanted to add that the two lips represents the two people in love and how they live their lives with each other. In line 4, lips are the exit of words, so it could explain complementary. in stanza 2 and 3, the two poeple, or lips, endure many things together, hence coldness. Whatever goes to them, they stay together. and going on to what Nikita said, the last stanza is mentioning that the two people will stay together until they die.
ReplyDeletethe other poem.
henry lawson, being born in Australia, is probaly why the poem starts out in australia. i think that the overall idea of this poem is that the world is a very special place and time to be part of. I think that the brooding ghost is the evilness shrouding over the speaker and that every night, the darkness returns to his mind and soul. But once morning comes, he is released and normal to himself once again. in stanza 4, the devil stands behind me is the idea that he has overcome the bad things in life and cannot be tempted to the worse of life. again in stanza 4, "ill keep my face to the dawning light, means that the speaker will always keep his head held up high and could also probaly mena that he will be looking towards the light of God and follow the goodness he brings. The world may not always be good or be bad. it is always both. the night represents the darkness and the evilness in the world we live in. the morning and day represents a whole new start for you and the "brightness" samaritins bring to this earth. We may end up in the "night" sometimes but always put the bad behind you and you will always return to "morning". out spirits will revive once we are in the light of the morning or from my faith, our spirits will revive once we are in the from God.
TPG :
in the first poem, is it that some lines only having one sentence is to bring emphasis to the poem?
Yes, I think that some lines only have one sentence to bring emphasis to the poem. More than that, some lines only have one word. I believe that this is to create the mood and to simply pinpoint the ideas that are the most important in this poem. I also think that it is to signify how the characters feel and the main thoughts that they are thinking.
DeleteI think it is to emphasize the meaning of the poem. We look at it more when it's separated into small stanzas and phrases. I agree with Teresa on how it creates a mood and maybe a mood of how simple love is for the couple.
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DeleteYou did a good job of analyzing the second poem. I agree with many of your points you made and the poem is like that because they are trying to put emphasis.
DeleteI agree with Nikita and Austin about two lips touching about how love is never ending even through adversity. The lips as Autsin said does represent the couples' lives. In line 3, it says the owners blushing which represent the youth of their relationship because in a fist kiss of a couple, the couple usually blushes. In line 25, the word parting represents the adversties and line 29 represents the maturity of their relationship and how they came through adversity with love.
ReplyDeleteIs love really that power to keep to people together no matter what?
I think love is an important aspect to keeping two people together because nothing else is going to keep them together because if they didn't like each other they wouldn't make themselves suffer to be together. And even in the poem it shows how they separate but still come back together with their lips touching expressing their love.
DeleteLove is not the only power that keeps two people together. It could be care for their child, sympathy for the person's partner, laziness for a divorce, or many other factors that keep a couple together. However, I agree with your statement that love is the main power that keeps people together.
DeleteI believe that yes, when one is alive, love keeps them together--until death seperates them. I don't believe in life after death, so death is what severes the ties between two lovers--as we can see through Romeo and Juliet as well as other novels.
DeleteI do believe that love is powerful enough to bind two people together forever. That's probably the reason why people get married because they realize that they love each other so much that they should make an official commitment to be with each other till the end of time.
DeleteI believe that true love builds a special link between two people that is hard to sever. No matter how hard life is for a couple, as long as there is love they can support each other through the harsh times. A personal example of this would be my parents- my mom lives here in the US and my dad lives in China due to his job. Even after going through so much stress, pain, and loneliness for more than ten years, living in separate countries, they are still together and very much in love.
DeleteI believe that as complicated as love can be, its almost magical how two people can care so much about one another. It doesn't have to be a spouse or a love interest, it can be the warmth of family and friends.
DeleteFor the first poem, I think the first stanza is talking about marriage. 'Soft as silk' is referring to a wedding dress, and the way that the owners 'blush' give off the mood of a wedding. The 'Compliments given' are from the people watching the wedding, which is also the reason why they are blushing. The second stanza is showing the lovers and their movement into life with each other, as they are having sex (maybe for the first time). To 'offer love and care' is something you mainly do to babies and children, and their exchange of it is showing their hopes for a child. In the third stanza, it continues to move through their life as a couple and symbolizes a fight. They are angry but more than that they are bitter, symbolizing the 'cold'. The frozen atmosphere symbolizes their relationship. However, things get better in the fifth stanza and the couple 'brings beauty into the world' which is talking about a child, and how they are showing off because it is a child they love. In the last stanza, the couple is waiting to die because they are old, but they are waiting together.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: How does the two lips touching of this couple justify their love for each other throughout their lives?
i agree with you that the first stanza is about marriage. i think that the "compliments given" could be vows the couple has written themselves, giving another reason for them, "the owners" to be blushing.
Deletethe two lips touching is repeated throughout the poem. And throughout the poem tells the story of this couple as they got married in stanza 1, having kids and then dying together. At the beginning of every part of the story, the author writes "two lips touching". This justifies that the same love is always there throughout their lives.
DeleteThe two lips touching represent the lives of each other throughout their life because the lips touching could represent the connection between the couple. In line 25, the word parting represents the adversities of the relationship but how they over came it when in lines 27 and 28 it say the two lips together for so long represents represent how they managed to stay connected and how their love endured.
DeleteWhen two people kiss, one could say their lips are "locked". The "locking of lips" can signify that both the man and woman will stay true to each other and never let one another go. A kiss symbolizes a bond and when two lips are locked, this normally describes a very long, intimate kiss therefore, creating a long, intimate, unbreakable bond between the two
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ReplyDeleteI agree that this poem is about how love is never ending and I also agree with Teresa that this poem is about marridge. In the last stanza it states, "Wilting and waiting...until the end of time." Usually at a wedding, the pastor asks if the couple will stick together, "young or old, through rich or poor, until the end of time?" which is refreneced in that last stanza. Also I agree with Austin and Niki when they say love is never ending because it clearly states in the last stanza, "at the end of their time."
ReplyDeleteTPQ: In the second stanza, what does,"Mixxing and Mingling with the help of friends," mean?
My interpretation of those two lines is that "mixing and mingling with the help of friends" means that the friends of the couple helped the two people get together. They were able to mix, talk and get to know each other with the help of their friends.
DeleteSometimes, when people want to meet someone knew, they usually ask a friend to introduce them to someone else, like blind dates. Maybe the lines "mixing and mingling with the help of friends" has to do with the two people meeting each other through connections with their friends. Therefore, I completely agree with Mitchell.
DeleteI agree with your observation of the lines that the pastor says at the wedding. I think we all know that this poem is about a couple who are in love and it does have some foreshadowing of maybe even a wedding. In my eyes this could be been the story of a couples first kiss.
DeleteI think it means that they are getting to know each other better, as they live in the same house. (im viewing them as a married couple)
Deleteand they are having problems, because they find that they are very different people. So they ask their friends for help
Two Lips Touching, The poem is talking about love and how love will always conquer all no matter because in every stanza it always says their lips are touching meaning they're always gonna be in love no matter what through thick and thin. Also each stanza seems to explain main parts of their lives. Such as getting married, maybe having a child, and the couple fighting yet they still are in love. Last stanza talks about how they'll be with each other to the end.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Is there a reason the poems lines are arranged differently?
Yes, the poet/author wants to emphasize and stress certain words, giving it its own line. For example, the word "Happiness" is separated from the rest of the stanza, as if implying that the only thing that fuels their relationship is being happy with each other.
DeleteJS. Welcome back. Hope the retreat was awesome. LB
DeleteTwo Lips Touching is about a couple and the story of their lives. In stanza 1, "owners blushing form compliments given and gladly received" symbolizes their marriage and their hand-written vows for each other. "mixing and mingling" is the beginning of their marriage; they are a young couple and still getting the hang of it and having fun! "in the cold...but not really concerned" could mean that they aren't able to have kids but they are ok with it, and they still love each other. in the next stanza, the author tells us that the beauty brought to the world could be a child. two lips touching repeats often in every stanza. the repetition of these words justifies the couple's unending love for each other as they go throught the stages of their marraige.
ReplyDeleteI believe the poem by Henry Lawson is about being optimistic, and looking at the sun rather than the shadows and the dark.
ReplyDeleteI believe these two quotes perfectly explain this poem:
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. and if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you" -Frederick Nietzsche, German Philosopher.
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you." -Maori Proverb
So yes, there are bad things and evil people in the world. He wasn't going to lie and tell us that the world is a perfect, peaceful place.
It starts in his home in Australia, as Austin says. The dark and haunting evils of ghosts have left, as well as revenge and regret--this is because ghosts only exist if one is not a peace after death. The land of Australia is beautiful, natural, and lush again.
Hopes and lights are rekindled, and people begin to dream once more as their city comes to life. in this way, they discover the beauty of the world.
The third stanza is like the philosopher I quoted,people who regret to separate themselves from an ugly past and refuse to look at the brighter side will eventually face the consequences. People say if you tell a lie long enough, eventually, it becomes the truth. Well, if you refuse to stop regretting what could have been and being cynical about everything, eventually it becomes who you are and shapes you person. The enemies refuse to step off their track and onto a brighter road.
The fourth stanza relates to the Maori quote, those who face to the sun and follow the north star will be led to somewhere beautiful. Those who put their backs to the sun and look at their shadow and the devil are first of all--walking backward. Their path and direction is unclear and without purpose. In addition to not seeing where they're going, second of all, the only things the CAN see are the dark, the shadow, and the evil devil. The devil, as well, casts a shadow, and the one who faces the devil and his shadow will eventually share a part of the devil. Because a shadow is lengthened the closer the sun is to the horizon. And as one watches it, eventually that lengthened shadow will merge with the form of the devil--it is inescapable. And this person will continue watching, while another faces the sun and gets away. However, I think this person is also being a little naive--because what if the shadow and devil catches up and he is unprepared to face it?
The last stanza, of the person who escaped the evil of the devil and the dark, is someone that is happy with his situation. He advices others, the audience, who cannot see the light to turn around and do the same.
TPQ: Do you believe that being optimistic is being naive and afraid to face the truth? What are you, a pessimist or an optimist? Are you satisfied with that position?
Optimism can be naive but it's not necessarily always like that. To me, optimism is looking at the truth with a friendlier, more open approach in order to find solutions to your problems. I try to be an optimist most of the time because giving up without even trying doesn't help out at all; sometimes looking at things with a brighter light helps with facing your fears.
DeleteOptimism as Sharon said can include a bit of naivety. For example, this includes not knowing all the implications of a situation. It is has a way of "disregarding" the bad. But, often times this little extra weight we place on the good outweighs the costs. To be a full-hearted optimist can never be good, but only when we see the positive do we think things can be accomplished. I try finding a balance between optimism and pessimism.
DeleteModerators here! :) I believe this is an excellent question to be considered. Optimism is not being afraid to face the truth. Optimism is the strength to overcome the truth and face any obstacles in your way with a positive attitude. I, for one, am a pessimist. However, I continue to strive to be that positive and optimistic person in order to make myself happier, and inspire those around me.
DeleteKellie: I believe this "monster" quote is spot on. Be cautious of the company you keep or the company you seek, you become them. ie: friends, etc.
DeleteTPQ: In the third stanza, whatever the case is where the mood is frozen and cold, why wouldn't they be concerned? If they aren't concerned, then maybe they aren't fighting and it's something much less, but what?
ReplyDeleteI don't think they're concerned because they are so busy kissing and trying to be in love that they don't realize the problems arising in their relationships that later serve to separate them temporarily. Then again, it might be two people that are so in love that they can overcome all, even the cold. I believe in the first explanation. As Jace Wayland said from Cassandra Clare's novel City of Bones, "To love is to destroy" (Sometimes), because they keep us from making more measure decisions.
DeleteThey are not concerned, because like any other couple would do, they wouldn't want to let a moment as important as this to be "blown away" by something of much lesser importance. I think this also ties into the end, where it says that they will eventually wilt. Maybe they know the relationship wont last, which is represented by the wilting.
DeleteI interpreted it as there love is yes going through hard times but through it all they do not have to be concerned because their love is still as solid as ice. Though they fight their love is so strong they can make up and move forward with their love.
DeleteThe couple is not concerned because they're so in love that no else seems to matter, certainly not adversities of the frozen and cold
DeleteIn the poem, Two Lips Touching, the phrase "two lips touching" is repeated several times, especially at the beginning of each stanze. The act of kissing is showing care and afection for one another. The phyical interaction is intense and is a way for an individual to express love for the other person. Like how many people posted before, the last line "at the end of their time" symbolizes the journey the two people have gone through and are ready to die together. When married, the couple made a vow that they will love them through anything till the end of time. The owners of these two lips are ready to get settled and live life together until they die together.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: In the fourth stanza of "Two Lips Touching", how are the two people bringing beauty into the world and what is "barely blossoming"?
To answer your first question, I don't think that the two people are literally bringing beauty into the world but instead bringing beauty to each others lives and brighting up each others day and bring meaning to their lives.
DeleteLove may sometimes signify beauty and so depending on when this poem was written, the two individuals could possibly be spreading their love to a war impacted society. The ruins of the previously peaceful and prosperous social environment are graced by the love the couple is sharing. Volcanoes often bring destruction upon an environment however, there are flowers that bloom in volcanic soil that add beauty to a seemingly lifeless terrain. The couple's love could closely relate to these flowers
DeleteIn Henry Lawson's poem, I noticed that every stanza holds a statement that represents the bad things in life. For example, "But I'll keep my face to the dawning light,
ReplyDeletethough the devil may stand behind!". I believe that in every stanza, Lawson is trying to tell us that the good things in life will sometimes be accompanied by bad things as well. The title, "After all", tells us that at the end of the day, good will prevail. "Though the devil may stand behind my back, I'll not see his shadow fall, But read the signs in the morning stars of a good world after all." This also shows us that the world is still a good, kind - hearted place even with all of the bad things.
TPQ:Is our world actually good? Think of all the bad things that have happened through history(Ex. 9/11 terrorist attack) and all of the good things. Why or why not?
I think that it is incorrect to classify the world as good and evil because one person may consider something good and another may consider it an atrocity. From my perspective "bad" includes things like 9/11 as you mentioned. However, I also think that there are many good things on Earth as well. They each balance each other out. Our world is neither good or bad. It just is.
DeleteI think our world is good. Yes, we do have those vicious people like the terrorist but yet we still have people who are good as well. For example we have charities/volunteers like habitat for humanity who build hopes for the homeless. No body can be pure evil, there is still a little good in everyone and everything.
DeleteI agree. I believe we are initially good and our worldly influences and experiences make us the people we are today: good, bad, beautiful, and ugly. We learn what we live. Welcome back Jonathan! LB
Deleteour world is good, even with the bad things like war and violence. "My heart grows brave, and the world, my girl, is a good world after all."
DeleteI actually think that the poem "Two Lips Touching" is about two people kissing for the first time rather than a wedding. Although people have brought up good points such as "soft as silk" on line 2 representing the wedding dress, I think that these two people actually are having their first kiss. In line 3-6, it says, "3. Their owners blushing/ From compliments given/ And gladly/ Received" I think this signifies that they were nervous from their kiss and where they make one another blush when they compliment each other on their first kiss. Also on line 8-12, it says, "Offered love and care/ Mixing, mingling /With help from friends/ Buzzing with/ Happiness" I also think that this is also related to high school love because sometimes you get encouraged to date someone through friends, who want to make you happy which also makes THEM happy. And throughout the poem, you see that the two people love each other and basically the light of each others lives.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Why do you think the author of Two Lips Touching chose this kind of syntax to present their poem?
to convey the idea of the central theme in the poem. its a sophisticated way set up the syntax in that very manner
DeleteIn the poem "After All," I believe the author is directing the poem to his "girl". Throughout the last stanza he directly refers to the people he is talking to as this. His tone is one reassurance and optimism. One fault that people initially perceive with being an optimist is that they think this involves disregarding the hardships of life. The author, however, in the third stanza's last two lines, he acknowledges the troubles of the world and tries finding a way to run away from the the "ghosts" of line 1 and away with the morning breeze that lifts him in line 2
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Does your past always catch up with you? Can the author really run away or put away the troubles of the world?
Your past catches up with you because that's who you are. It's like denying you are a human being or some other feature that you might detest. Your past is like your shadow; it may be dark and creepy, but it follows you everywhere. A good piece of advice to not let your past define you, yet still keep it in mind.
DeleteI don't think you can ever completely forget the past. Like Carissa said, the past makes you who you are. Your mistakes and how you learn from them enable you to grow as a person, and therefore, become more mature. The worse parts of your life may catch up with you in the future, and there is no stopping that, but there is really no reason to let that possibility keep you from aspiring to become who you want to become.
DeleteIn Two Lips touching, I think that it is a journey of the young couple until they are old. They meet by friends and from the beginning their relationship is full of happiness. Then when they "Bring beauty to the world", it's implying that they brought another life into the world-- their baby. When their lips "meeting in the wind, parting, back together", it is signifying all of the hardships and stuffs in their relationship. Wind is a strong force so it might be them getting mad at each other but then eventually when the wind dies down, they are back together. Then at the end of the poem when it says that their lips are "wilting", when people grow old, their lips wilt and start to lose their form, and this is what is happening to them. They have spent all of their lives together and had overcome many obstacles in their life.
ReplyDeleteOut of all our body parts, why do you think that the author chose to use lips instead of other body parts such as hands?
To answer your question, I think that not only is it because well... that's where most people kiss tend to kiss. But to branch out from that is that kissing is very intimate which makes kinda makes it an intimate kind of poem and also that use lips to speak, i guess.
DeleteWithout your mouth/lips, how would you be able to communicate with others. Words can either be bullets or flowers; what you say is very powerful and once you say it, you can never take it back. Which is probably why the phrase "think before you speak" is so commonly used.
DeleteEveryone has pretty much elaborated on the general theme of this poem: eternal love. The repetition of “two lips touching” shows the making of a bond, relationship, and emotional tie that will connect the two lovers for the rest of their lives. One of the stanzas in the poem gave me an idea that this poem might have been written during the time of the Vietnam War. In the fourth stanza of the poem, the writer says “Two lips touching, bringing beauty to the world, barely blossoming”. When the United States was in combat with Vietnam, many Americans were opposed to this war and so, the slogan “make love, not war.” first arose and has been commonly used in popular culture ever since. The author is telling its audience that a simple display of affection and love can overpower the foreign atrocities being endured by our soldiers and that true love can conquer and rebuild a war torn country. As lips embrace, the love being shared between two people overcome any hardship or strife. There is even a famous photo of a soldier returning from war. Ecstatic to finally be reunited with his homeland, the soldier grabs a random woman and kisses her upon her lips. The caption of this photo: “Kissing the war goodbye.” As the author says in the next stanza, “Two lips meeting in the wind parting, proudly, then back together again”, we are reminded that just as wind is symbolic of freedom, love is also free and lacks limitations. The separating of the lips may represent a soldier going off to war, leaving his lover behind. However, no matter what he may endure, the two lovers will always find a way back to each other.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Could two lips touching, in the poem, be symbolic of flowers whose petals are “soft as silk” and “blossom” as well as “wilt”? How do flowers relate to the poem?
Sohan I found your response profound and really new. I totally agree with your connection with the WWII picture. As to answer your question, yes, lips can be interpreted as flower petals because just as kissing is symbolic of love and the beginning of something great, flowers also have to cross pollinate and reproduce. The flowers wilting can be interpreted as the couple growing old and are about to leave this world, but flowers always die and are absorbed into the ground as nutrition and energy for their future offspring.
DeleteI think the naturalism of flowers also ties in with the fact that this eternal love of these two people cannot be forced. Just like the flower is not artificially created, love has to be built on the truth and trust in order for it to have a solid foundation. With purity in its true foundation, that love can finally become eternal.
DeleteTo me, the poem "After All" by Henry Lawson is trying to convey the message that you have to look at things from a brighter perspective and notice the little things that make life so wonderful. In stanza 4 he mentions facing the dawning light even when the devil is behind you. "Dawning light" indicates a sense of a pure new beginning, a renewal of strength and optimism. Though the devil is always lurking deep within the shadows of our hearts, we can choose to defy him by facing the light instead. By facing the light we can cast a shadow on the devil instead of him casting one on us. A sense of duality is also prominent in the poem- the idea of good vs. bad, light vs. dark, and life vs. death. Even if it seems as if the darkness of the night is consuming your hope, the sun will always rise up in the morning and disperse light on the world. This poem encourages to have hope during our times of hardship and depression, that the world is not just full of pain and suffering.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Do you believe that the world is as wonderful of a place as described by Lawson, or do you believe that he is overly optimistic and in a sense, naive?
I believe that the Lawson's words make sense. However, I disagree that he thinks the world is wonderful. I believe that Lawson thinks people are beautiful. People make up the world, and it is through their choices that the world's activities are done. Humans are flawed beings, with their own petty desires and needs. This leads to corruption and mistrust between fellow man, which ultimately means joining with the devil. If peoples' wills to join the light were stronger, then world peace would be possible. However, this will never happen because of the natural flaws of humans.
DeleteI think the world has yet to become a beautiful place. However, while he is optimistic, he is not naive. The world is destined to be a better place and it has to start somewhere.
Deletei agree on how he is trying to explain about the little things that make life great. he states how the world is good and kind which shows that life is great
DeleteI interpret this poem to be about two people in love over the course of the relationship. We see this transition, from stanza 1 line 3 “their owners blushing, gives the feel of a first kiss between a boyfriend and a girlfriend. Then we see in the last stanza line 30 “wilting and waiting” gives the feel of an old married couple. The repetition of the line “two lips touching” at the beginning of each stanza also shows this transition of growing love between the two in love. There is also this pattern of alliteration in every third line in each stanza (excluding the first).These alliterations give a sense of transition again of these two couples. Line 2 the alliteration “soft as silk” show this young couple that is new with love that is still growing, but not yet solid. Line 9 “mixing, mingling” show this love being strengthened by getting to know each other. Line “feeling frozen” give off two feelings first the love is cold and going through hard times currently but still is solid as ice. Line 19 “barely blossoming” gives the sense this couple has now been married and has a child that is blossoming into a new love. Line 25 “parting, proudly” maybe this love is going through a rough time or maybe they are saying goodbye to their child who is leaving for college and they are very proud. Finally, line 30 as said before depicts an old couple living out there live together in peace. Overall, this poem is about love and how a couple makes the transition from a young couple to an old married couple.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Why did the other use the idea of “two lips touching”? Why did not he or she use another form of affection like “two hands holding”?
I believe that the author used the idea of "two lips touching", because touching lips is a more affectionate approach (as romantic as you can get, without going to the idea of intercourse). Also, the first kiss is a big milestone in their relationship. Girls treasure their first kisses and it is one of our fantasies to have that perfect kiss. However, holding hands is a more casual gesture, one that could be applied to friends.
DeleteI think he/she purposely used "two lips touching" because it's a sense of connecting these two people as one, being so intimately close with one another. It often symbolizes the beginning of a relationship.
DeleteThe poem Two Lips Touching shows behaviors of true love. In line 2, it says their lips were as soft as silk. Silk is generally a rich material, soft and smooth. This means that their love is as rich and deep as silk. It means that together, both of them feel like the richest people in the world, not with money, but with love. Stanza 3 symbolizes the fact that each person warms the other up with their burning hearts and love for each other. No matter what obstacles they might face (ex. the cold), they will be there for each other to support and care. Also, in stanza 4 lines 3 and 4, it states that their lips touching bring beauty to the world and barely blossoming. It shows that one of the main things that makes our world so beautiful and free is the idea of true love. Also, when it says barely blossoming, it means that their love is just beginning to sprout beautiful flowers. However, their roots have already been set in strongly, with a good foundation. There is repetition with the words "two lips touching" which shows a transition of time in the poem. The first stanza starts off with the first date kind of feeling, and ends when they are together when they are old and ready to depart the world... together. There is also onomatopeia in stanza 2 lines 5 and 6, "buzzing with love". Buzzing is generally a word used for the sound bees make. So, this phrase could be used to show how the couple is "buzzing like bees" in order to make their new lives together orderly, just like how bees work so hard in order to make their homes plentiful. Also, a word associated with bees, is honey, and this is what we call our beloved sometimes. Honey is a sweet word, rich and thick, which could represent their love for each other as well.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: In the last few lines of the last stanza, it says "waiting AT the end of their time, not waiting FOR the end of their time. This implies that they are already at the end. What are they waiting for?
To me, the poem "Two Lips Touching" is trying to convey the message that love is happy, a joint effort, strong, beautiful, and everlasting as demonstrated in the five stanzas of the poem. This poem is in chronological order, each touch from the lips can easily be represented as a set of years. The first years can be as teenagers, "compliments" being playful teases about their kiss. The second stanza could represent the second years in college, where some friends set the couple up to get together. The third stanza can represent the harsh time during early marriage and the fourth time can represent their child "barely blossoming" and bringing beauty to the world." The fifth time might be a slight separation where it said parting, proudly, but they got back together. The last time would be as an old couple waiting for the end of their time.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Why do you think the author of two lips touching adds the same first line in every stanza?
i feel that "two lips touching" is constantly repeated throughout the poem to remind you that, although these lips may part, they will always come back together. it also adds a sense of rhythm
DeleteI believe that the author wrote the same first line in every stanza to show that throughout their ENTIRE lives together, including their times of happiness and hardships, they stayed together and in love.
DeleteAs said many times before, the poem “Two Lips Touching” is definitely about a couple’s love and their journey throughout life. But I think this poem is also a symbolization of love in general; whether relationship-wise, friendship-wise, or family-wise. Through words like “blossoming” and “wilting”, it shows that love is like a plant: it takes patience to grow and become more beautiful, you need a lot of care and hope for it to succeed, and most importantly, it’s always alive. Love isn’t just temporary; it’s eternal and creates a bond that will always be there, always “parting proudly, then back together again”. Lastly, love is what’s “bringing beauty to the world”. It is the one idea that unifies, holds together, and keeps our world sane. Without love, the world has no beauty, filled with destruction and coldness and emptiness.
ReplyDeleteTHOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTION: Why do you think there is emphasis on certain words throughout the poem; for rhythm, emotion, symbolism, or just simply written that way?
The poem "Two Lips Touching" is symbolic of a an infinitely loving relationship between two people. It is general in the sense that this poem does not give specific genders to the couple described in this poem. I can see it as a same-sex marriage, for in line 19 it says "bringing beauty to the world", which shows that they are not afraid of what people think and in the end, love is blind. It seems in the poem that the couple has been deeply in love; however they were not able to elope due to legal matters. In line 2 the alliteration "soft as silk" represents that the state they live in has allowed same-sex marriage and they are now tying the knot. Line 10 "with help from friends" gives the feel that their friends are supportive and accept their love even if they aren't the traditional man and woman couple. In the 3rd stanza, I interpret it as the rough times they may have to tough out to get through. In the next couple of stanzas, it shows that they have emerged from those hard moments victorious and are now stronger than ever. I assume that the author of this poem is a supporter of same-sex marriage. The universal theme in this poem is that love is blind. The love between this couple is represented through two roses growing next to each other through rain and shine until death do them apart.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Why do you think that the author of this poem chose to represent this couple's love like a rose?
i think the author chose to represent their love like a rose, since roses are commonly represented as love. however, they do have thorns and do die. so i guess the author also showing the "ugly side" of the rose in the poem since they do include the death and also the lips do part.
DeleteI think that the words at the end of each stanza have their own meaning. All of them are things/ feelings that come with love.
ReplyDeleteReceived – No matter how much dramas say that the guy is willing to be in a relationship even though the girl loves someone else, they will never really be happy. Love is 2 way relationship and couples need to receive the other’s feelings.
Happiness – Simply being in love makes one happy. Must I say more?
Concerned- When in love, you care about the person and their whole wellbeing. Things that happen to them feel like they are happening to you.
Gladly- The one you love can bring smile to your face on the gloomiest days.
Again- Married couples always talk about how every day it’s like falling in love again and again.
Time- Time only makes the bonds stronger, deeper, and all the more meaning.
With these things and many other qualities one can have their own happily ever after
Q: Why are the “lips” wilting?
I think the author intentionally wrote that the "lips" are wilting because she wanted to show the reader that the couple stayed together throughout their entire lives, because in Stanza One of the poem, it says that their lips are "soft as silk." It shows that their lips changed from "soft" to "wilting" because they grew old, together.
Delete"After All" -by Henry Lawson- was written in the unstable time period that had followed The Great War. After completing a very brief analysis of this man's life, and current events during his time, I have reached a conclusion on the purpose, tone, and audience, of his poem "After All". This rhythmic poem, is almost like a song, a song to uplift the spirits of his tattered country. That is why i've come to believe that the "girl" in this ballad, is his nation. In the last stanza he says "Rest, for your eyes are weary, girl -- you have driven the worst away". For the battle against the enemy is over, and Australia needs a new dawn of glimmering hope, to shine upon his people. His hope in man, and in the world, had faded when Australia joined World War I-"My spirit revives in the morning breeze,
ReplyDeletethough it died when the sun went down"- but yet his aspirations of once again attaining peace, were realized. That is why his spirit -hope- had once again returned to him. The author uses each word with precision and intellignece. Every word matters,the last three lines are full of imagery and pictures of a prosperous and thriving country.The word river, is a metaphor, for the pride of the nation. Masses of strong men who firmly believe in their nations, will fight to ensure, Australia grows in prosperity such as "the grass -that- is green and tall".
In the second stanza, he opens with hope, and the mention of dreams. The light and or spark for passion and nationalism in Australia, had begun to grow, contrary to Henry Lawson's belief that the pride and acceptance would dwindle and fade with the mistakes of the past. This new thrill in the heart of the Australian nation, would undoubtedly give life to the spirit he once believed was dead. The definite and indubitable reason -purpose- of Henry Lawson writing this poem, was to be the dawn for his people, who were still dwelling in the realm of what ifs and could be's. Where as he looked at the situation with a sanguine view, and hoped to establish the belief in all Australians " that this world of ours is a good world after all".
@cool guy with answers: spot on. Can't wait to see what you have to say about "Oh Capt." LB
ReplyDeleteI HAVE A THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTION NUMBER TWO!!! in case you're looking for questions.
ReplyDeleteso in the book "Fallen Angels" by Cassandra Clare, two people deeply in love at the end are told "“You love each other—anyone can see that, looking at you—that kind of love that can burn down the world or raise it up in glory.” I noticed up top that people said yes, types of love does keep people together... so omnia vincit amor, love conquers all. The same author also said "To love is to destroy" as a I said above. So, people would go through anything to be together with the person thye love, apparently. From other novels as well, there are clear examples of how the main character majorly shifts the storyline for a decision of love.
", ____, take you, ____, for my lawful (husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." This is part of the marriage vow when two couples marry. Note the part 'for better, for worse" How worse is worse? Does that mean antyhing to protecdt the other so they are alive and together?
If you believe that love conquers all, is love a poison or a cure? Or a little bit of both? Are there boundaries in the living world or can nothing keep two lovers apart?
Two lips touching- i feel like this poem is about the journey of the relationship, starting with the two lips touching. since the owners of lips are blushing i think it shows that they new at "this kind of thing" and maybe aren't quite comfortable with each other yet. the second stanza i feel is a metaphor for their wedding. the 4th stanza i feel is the child being brought into the world. the last stanza is the two lips touching, wrinkling together until the death. there is the constant repetition of the 2 lips touching at the beginning of each stanza i think to remind you that these lips may part but they always return back together. but also the repetition gives a certain rhythm to the poem. i also eel like there is a theme of nature weaving in and out of the poem (buzzing, blossoming, wind, wilting) maybe also the cycle of a flower ( pollenating be insects, blossoming, living, and then wilting and dying off)
ReplyDeletetpq- is it intentional that in stanza 4 it seems like 2 stanzas put together, since there are 2 "two lips touching"?
after all talks about how people should think about life and the things on the bright side. in the very last part of the last stanza it says this "We'll live for life and the best it brings till our twilight shadows fall; My heart grows brave, and the world, my girl, is a good world after all." the poem is trying to say that the gift of life should be used to the persons advantage. he also says how we should forgive our old enemies and move on, which what people should do. it states good world and kind world after all, shows even through the bad things in life like disease and war, life still goes one and people must live it to the fullest.his tone is reassuring and confident of the good things in life.
ReplyDeletequestion: do you believe this world is a good world?
Two Lips Touching:
ReplyDeleteLike many others have said before, I believe that this poem is about the everlasting love of a couple. The reader could see the steps of their relationship throughout their lives. The intentional repeating words "two lips touching" reflect upon how this couple stay together through it all. Stanza One portrays the couple's first kiss, and the reader can tell that they are young because in Line 3, it says "their owners blushing." This illustrates young love. Stanza Two pictures the happiness and bliss that the couple shares. Stanza Three depicts a downfall in their relationship as it says in Lines 14 & 15 "In the cold, feeling frozen." Stanza Four shows that despite these hardships, they still stayed together. Finally, Stanza Five shows that they stayed together from young to old because of the descriptions of the touching lips being "soft as silk" (Line 2) & "wilting" (Line 30). In the end, this couple lived and died together, still in love.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTION:
What's it mean when it says, "Two lips touching, In the cold, Feeling Frozen, But not really, Concerned" in Stanza Three? Why are they not really concerned?
Great job to whoever wrote Two Lips Touching! I think its a great poem about how love can really blossom and turn into something great.I perceived this poem as a time line of a couples time with each other. In the first stanza, it says "soft as silk." I was thinking it also was referencing how dresses are soft as silk and that they might be at a dance or they've just met. The second stanza talks about their experiences and the things they're learning about each other as they spend more and more time and "mingling." The third stanza is when they realize they're in love with each other and at this point, nothing around them matters more than their partner. The last stanzas basically show how they've really grown close to each other and they've even had a baby. And although their lips may be parted for a short while, they always find their way back to each other. The last stanza really reflects on their lives and how they've spent it with each other, and as their live draw to and ending, they embrace it knowing they'll be together forever.
ReplyDeleteTPQ: Why do you think the author chose to repeat the same line at the beginning of every stanza?
DeleteI think the first poem, Two lips touching is about a married couple.
ReplyDeleteStanza 1 is about their wedding. The priest has just said, "you may now kiss the bride" and the man and woman have exchanged their first kiss as a married couple. And now they are receiving compliments and words of congratulations from the guests.
Stanza 2 is about the newlyweds' first couple of months, or maybe years, together. It looks like the two people are "mixing and mingling" as they live in the same house, and they are receiving advice from friends. Because as two people mix and mingle, they start to find out more about each other, and they find that they may be different, maybe too different.
I feel that Stanza 3 shows the mood after a fight. The "atmosphere" and "air" in the house is cold, and perhaps their hearts are frozen. And they do not care.
Stanza 4 seems to say that the couple has had a baby. It is shown in the words "bringing beauty into the world". They have brought a little baby into the world. However, this little magical moment does not last long. The words "Two lips touching, meeting in the wind" symbolizes them shaking hands, after their divorce. Maybe they are just stepping out of the building, after making everything legal. and then, they go their separate ways.
Stanza 5 says that they have gotten back together, and will be together for a long time, untkl the end. But I can't find any happiness in these 5 lines. It kind of sounds like they are back together not because of love, but perhaps because of the baby.
"Wilting, waiting, at the end of their time".
Do those words really sound beautiful and loving? Wilting is not a very pretty word. It sounds like they are wilting and wasting away, and just WAITING for the end of their time, so that they can be free of each other.
Question: DO you think love is eternal?
Yes, love is eternal, because once you've realized you love someone, you love them forever. However, that person that you love is the person that you love a certain way. If that person changes their own personality, then that person will have been different from the one you have known, therefore, your emotions for that person may change.
DeleteIn his poem ,After All, Henry Lawson is describing a fresh start and his opinion that broad and free heart prevails over the world and its negativities, despite the drawbacks. In line 24, as he says, "we live for life and the best it brings till our twilight shadows," I think he's relating it to a day, literally. Twilight shadows are the remnants of light from the day or night, and those remnants along with 'living for life and the best it brings out' is basically living life to the fullest extent possible, using the light that will guide one through that journey of life. Henry Lawson is trying to say that you don't have to wait until death to feel free to do anything you dream of; that is for your to-do list DURING life. Even though times may get rough and there is no time or there are no opportunities, make them. The "devil" he talks about in lines 18 and 19 is the voice inside your head that makes one doubt and second-guess themselves, because often times, the first thought is the correct one. There is no need to doubt something so complete and solid: your happiness and growth from that immature, doubtful child to a mature, confident adult; one who sees that mistakes are only the keys that open the doors to infinite possibility.
ReplyDeleteAlso, like Ricardo said, it was Australia's time after a war, and it was their time to now prosper. Their perseverance and determination through the war enabled them to emerge as a whole, and they can only become greater. As he says "let the darkest side of the past be dark, and only the good recall," he says that there is no need to dwell upon the wrongs that were committed, but rather get past them, as a nation, to prosper and rise, along with and beyond the rest of the world.
TPQ: Often times, mistakes are so big that people are left with nothing once they are committes. We often say that mistakes can only be good in the big picture
because they enable us to learn and grow, but do the growth and knowledge really outweigh the consequences of those mistakes?
Yes and no, because it mainly depends on the severity of the situation. For example, in a life threatening situation, where one small mistake may be lethal, then there wouldn't really be any learning anytime soon after the lethal situation has occurred. However, in a smaller situation, such as a small test, where you forgot to check your work, so you got a bad score, you would then be led to learn from your mistake and check your work each time, therefore, outweighing the consequences of the mistake. Therefore, the balance is only made depending on the situation at hand.
DeleteIn Two Lips Touching, the lips actually represent the love of the two people, where "at the end of their time" is similar to the process of marriage in which they will be together until death does them part. This is their love that continues as they await death, slowly "wilting". In the beginning, it talks about how love can keep you happy all your life, no matter what the situation, "feeling frozen but not really concerned."
ReplyDeleteIn After All, even though the narrator states that the "devil may stand behind his back," he still states that it is a "good world" after all. This states the hope of the world, that even as horrible things are occurring, good things are also occurring at the same time. He also states to let the darkest side of the past be dark, but be able to recall it, to remember the mistakes history had made so that similar "dark" mistakes to the past are not made again.
TPQ: Even when faced with danger, death, and darkness, do you feel that the world is a kind and good world? Why do you think that history tends to make similar patterns down the timeline over and over again?