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Areli Gonzalez
Ms. Cha
English 10 Period 1
6 February 2014
Nothing Gold Can Stay Final Draft
Nothing Gold Can Stay, is a wonderful poem by Robert Frost. However, people tend
to have mixed feelings or opinions on what the poems real meaning is. The most common way
that people view this poems meaning is that everything precious such as money does not last
forever because eventually it loses its value and it is gone. However, there is another way to view
the poem. Through the use of allusion, metaphors and personification it can be assumed that
Frost is trying to convey the message that people change. Someone the reader might know might
of had been viewed as a great person, eventually person changed and nothing was the same
anymore.
First of all, Frost uses a variety of metaphors in order to create imagery, and they give of
hints that leads to the meaning of the poem. For example Frost states, Natures first green is
gold (1). The metaphor is comparing a natures first green as gold. This metaphor can signify
that when someone meets a person that turns into their friend they view them as worthy or as
gold. It is a Natures first green (1). That person may mean a lot to one person even though
other people might not view them as gold. It is mainly based on the way you view that one
person. Moreover, Frost also states Her early leafs a flower (4). This metaphor compares
natures early leaf as a flower. Which might state or hint that when a person meets another
person they start liking them and view them as a friend. They view their friendship as a flower,
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precious and pure. These metaphors show how someones friendship starts as something
precious at the beginning.
Through the use of personification, Frost takes us to the next level in which the truth is
revealed to the reader and they realize that all those great moments they shared with a person is
gone. He says, But only so an hour (4). This is referring to Natures first green is gold (1)
and how that golds value is gone within an hour. In other words, your friendship you once had
with that person is gone. It is giving Natures first green (1) human characteristics of leaving
within an hour. Through the use of personification and metaphors the poet gives the reader the
message that their so valued friendship that once was so valuable to them is gone. However, this
riddle is not over; there is an important part missing. Why is some persons friendship over? Did
that one person do something wrong? What provoked it?
Through the use of allusion Frost answers the question on how natures first gold once as
pure and beautiful as a flower is gone within an hour. Frost says, So Eden sank to grief (6).
This is an allusion taken from the Bible in the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In
the Bible Adam and Eve are innocent. They have everything, the only rule set before them is to
not to eat the golden fruit. However, Adam and Eve change, temptation is the end of them
bringing grief to Eden. This allusion to the Bible shows how someone so good and valuable can
change and bring grief to oneself.
In Nothing Gold Can Stay, Frost emphasizes how most people change no matter how
important the relationship seemed to someone. Through the use of metaphors, personifications,
and allusion Frost beautifully demonstrates his point. Frost really leaves the reader with
something to think about. Frost really gets the reader thinking and how they must hold on unto
their relationships with their peers because eventually everyone changes and they might not be
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the same person they once were. Frost conveys a warning tone warning the reader to be cautious
of who they mix with and gives a friendly reminder of how people change not necessarily for the
best when someone least expects it.

























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Areli Gonzalez
Ms. Cha
English 10 Period 1
10 February 2014
Poem #2: A Poison Tree Final Draft
In William Blakes poem A Poison Tree, explains how everyone has friends that they
eventually get in a fight with and then they forgive them. However, everyone must keep in mind
that their enemies are out there too. When a person gets in a fight with their foe or is angered at
that person they never forgive them. This can affect someone because if they do not let their foe
know of their anger then that anger hits the phase where it gets too horrific. Through the use of
symbolism, personification, and allusion Blake demonstrates how letting the readers anger grow
can lead to something that they might just end up regretting.
Blake uses symbolism throughout the poem in the Poison Tree to explain his anger. It
also explains how he grows that Poison Tree which represents the growth of his anger. For
example, Blake states, I told not, my wrath did grow. / And it grew both day and night/ Till it
bore a bright apple (4, 9-10). This means that his anger/ wrath grew. It also shows how the
anger grew bigger and bigger until it grew an apple which in this case it could refer to some type
of plot or revenge towards the enemy. This shows how the speakers anger grew day and night
symbolically until his anger grew into an apple. This leaves the readers thinking what the apple
represent. Is his anger going to provoke him to do something bad?
In A Poison Tree: the poet uses allusion in which greatly affects the poem. Blake alludes
to a well-known story in the bible, The Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve are the main characters.
Blake says, Till it bore an apple bright (10). This apple is very symbolical and historical. In
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Adam and Eve the apple represents temptation and how they could not stay away from it. This is
similar to A Poison Tree because it says, And my foe beheld it shine. /And he knew that it
was mine, /And into my garden stole (11-13). Just like in Adam and Eve they could not hold
their temptation even though they knew they were forbidden to go near the apple. Knowing that
eating the apple would result into something bad they still did it. Just like the narrators foe he
couldnt resist the urge and he had to get the apple. However, in this case the apple that grew
represents the anger of the narrator. His anger bloomed into a red apple. Therefore, this provoked
his anger to come out of him, and it was just waiting there for someone to come and burst it. The
readers know that this is going to end with some vile punishment of some sort towards his
enemy. This comes with the message to not let anger grow because it might just bore an apple so
bright. An apple bright (10) which signifies a plot or some plan of revenge towards the enemy.
Lastly, through the use of personification Blake shows how the narrators anger burst
causing something that has no going back. Blake says, When the night had veiled the pole; /In
the morning glad I see/ My foe outstretched beneath the tree (14-16). The poet gives the night
the characteristic of veiling the pole. In this case the veiling would refer to covering up the North
Pole. The North Pole represents the North Star. Now the reader knows that it is completely dark.
Darkness is bad, if his foe cannot see then he does not know what is coming to him. The narrator
says that in the morning he is happy to see his foe outstretched under the tree. Wait. What?! This
can only mean that his foe was harmed and the narrator was happy to see this. His angry grew so
big that he possibly provoked him to harm his foe orkill him. This shows how allowing the
readers anger to grow can lead to provoking them to do something bad.
In conclusion, in A Poison Tree Blake emphasizes how important it is for the reader to
speak with their foe and let them know why they are angry. This is important because it can
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possibly provoke them from doing something regretful or bad. Blake explains this through the
use of symbolism, allusion, and personification to tell the readers to be careful. Plus, it
emphasizes how people show not let their anger grow so that it affects them and the person that
they are angry with.

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Areli Gonzalez
Ms. Cha
English 10 Period 1
21 February 2014
Poem #3 Final Draft
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is an incredibly descriptive poem full of literary devices.
Still I Rise comes with a striking message. Through the use of similes, repetition, and
hyperboles Angelou shows the reader the power of not giving up and having a positive attitude.
People nowadays face many stereotypes and there are people in every corner ready to bring them
down. This poem show the readers how the narrator, an African American woman, bears all of
the put downs and strives to succeed and rises to the top despite it all. This poem shows the
reader how no matter what they are going through the best thing to do is shrug it off and let
others know that they will rise no matter how impossible it may seem.
Through the use of similes Angelou shows the reader that no matter what they can rise to
the top. Angelou states, Does my sassiness upset you? /Why are you beset with gloom? /Cause I
walk like Ive got oil wells/Pumping in my living room (5-8). The simile compares how she
walks and she walks like she owns oil wells. Oil wells are very important in this simile. Oil wells
represent power and wealth. Therefore, it shows how they do not bring her down, on the
contrary, she walks like no one and nothing can stop her. She shines with confidence, which it is
not something that the person trying to hurt her would expect her to do. This simile is very
important because it shows how the reader must keep their head up, stand up tall and show your
opponent that you are not giving in to their insults.
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Angelou uses hyperboles in order to show the extent that people are willing to go in order
to hurt someone. Angelou states rather dramatically, You may shoot me with your words, /you
may cut me with your eyes, /you may kill me with your hatefulness/ But still like air Ill rise
(21-24). This states and exaggerates how people tried to hurt her with their, words, eyes, and
hatefulness. However, Angelou stated But still like air Ill rise (24). This shows that despite all
of the stuff that the narrator/African American woman is going through, she will still rise and
succeed way past the peoples hatred towards. This is really important because it represents how
no matter all the hate someone is receiving, people can still strive to the top. It is possible, but it
takes that extra strength. If everyone were to ignore the hatred they are receiving then that hate
will eventually fade because people are not reacting to it. Therefore making the world a better
place.
Lastly, Angelou really makes her impacting message stick through the use of repetition.
Angelou repeats constantly throughout the poem Still Ill rise (4, 12, and 24). All throughout
the eighth stanza Angelou repeats various times, I rise (30, 32, 36, 38, 41-43). Angelou states
that she will rise despites all the challenges that she as an African American woman faces. This
connects back to the message on how you must have confidence in yourself and the power to
move yourself forward. If the reader tells himself that he can rise then there is a possibility that
he will rise. The first step for the readers is for them to believe in themselves.
Throughout the poem Still I Rise the poet really emphasizes that fact that no matter
what the reader is going through the best thing to do is shrug it off and let others know that they
will rise no matter how impossible it may seem. Angelou gets her point across through a variety
of literary devices such as simile, hyperbole, and repetition. It might seem hard at first, but it is
all about having pride in who they are. There are many celebrities out there nowadays who
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receive tons of critic and hate, yet they move forwards with their life. Most importantly, they do
not let all of the stuff said about them bring them down. Believe in yourself! Have faith in your
abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be
successful or happy, says Norman Vincent Peale. Just like the narrator did, readers must
succeed past everyones hate and rise to the top.





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Original Poems Haiku: Sister Collection Final Draft
Sisters like Friends
We might fight and cry.
The tape that fixes it all.
The friend to stand by.
A Star
Oh you star so bright.
What to do without your light.
The cause of my flight
Next to You
Meat to your burger,
Im the chip to your salsa.
Ill be next to you.
All of That
The boom, whoosh and smooch.
Memories that just add on,
that pile up throughout.
Since Day One
I knew since day one.
The baby would be special.
I knew since day one.
It Grows
Pure and rare it grows,
like a daisy in the spring.
The beauty it shows.

- Areli Gonzalez




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Areli Gonzalez
Ms. Cha
English 10 Period 1
22 February 2014
Original Poem Analysis Final Draft
In the poem collection of haikus Sister Like Friends the poet Areli Gonzalez stresses
the love between sisters. Her poems express the love and the type of relationship that the reader
might have with their sister. Each poem in the collection plays an important part, and it gives the
reader an idea of what sisterhood really is. By looking at the haiku collection of Sisters like
Friends the reader knows that sisterhood is something you should value no matter the ups and
downs they might go through. The message impacts all sisters. Gonzalez leaves the reader with
the message that sisters are to be valued because they are pure and special. The poet conveys this
message through the use of metaphor, apostrophe, onomatopoeia, repetition, and simile.
Gonzalez uses metaphors in her poem in order to make comparisons that show the value
of sisters. Gonzalez says in her poem Sisters like Friends, The tape that fixes it all (2). This
tape that it is refers to can be the sisters. Usually tape is used to fix something and put it together.
This shows that just like friends, sisters can help out and fix your problems. In Next to You
Gonzalez says, Meat to your burger, /Im the chip to your salsa (1, 2). Gonzalez suggests that
her sister is the meat to her burger and the chip to her salsa. When eating a burger you cannot eat
it without the meat and when eating chips you usually accompany it with salsa. They cannot be
one without the other. This is the same with sisters because they cannot be one without to the
other.
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Through the use of apostrophe in her poem A Star in the Sisters like Friends
Collection, Gonzalez provides us with a striking message. Gonzalez states, Oh you star so
bright. / What to do without your light? / The cause of my flight (1-3). The narrator is
addressing a star which is not present or existing. However, that star represents the sister. In the
second light the narrator asks the star what they would do without their light which really is
asking the sister what they will do without them. The point of a star is to provide light. Without
the star there is nothing that could be done. Therefore, it means what they could possibly do
without their sister. The final line of this haiku says The cause of my flight (3). This line is
referring to the star being the cause of the flight which is referring to how the sister is the cause
of where they are now. The flight would be referring to the sisters success in life. This haiku is
technically telling the reader that without the stars light, being the sister, they cannot move
forward and take that flight. This haiku connects with the messaging because it expresses the
importance of sisterhood and how one cannot be one without the other.
Thirdly, through the use of simile Gonzalez expresses how important, pure, and rare their
relationship is. In It Grows is says Pure and rare it grows, /like a daisy in the spring. / The
beauty it shows (1-3). This simile is comparing how the narrators friendship grows like a
daisy in the spring (2). Naturally, in the spring it is the season in which flowers bloom and grow
such as daisies and these daisies are referring to the relationship on how it just grows. This
relationship is pure and rare because it is not the type of relationship that sisters have with each
other nowadays. This simile comparison shows how the relationship or friendship grows.
Lastly, through the use of onomatopoeia in All of That Gonzalez completes her
message. The boom, whoosh, and smooch. /Memories that just add on, /that pile up throughout
(1-3). Through the use of onomatopoeia Gonzalez uses boom to represent the hard times in the
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friendship between sisters, the whoosh representing how the time flies when having good times,
and smooch represents the intense and sentimental good times between sisters. These moments
represent the memories and good times in your relationship with the readers sister.
Gonzalez uses repetition to show how special sisters can be. She states in Since Day
One, I knew since day one. / The baby would be special. / I knew since day one (1-3). This is
repeating the fact that she knew that the baby, which we could infer is her sister, would be
special. The poets choice to use repetition is mainly to emphasize how she loved her sister ever
since she was born. This is important, because this clearly reflects how valuable a sister can be.
Through the use of metaphor, apostrophe, simile, repetition and onomatopoeia Gonzalez
gets us thinking on how your friendship with your sister is important in your life, and it is
beautiful and rare. Sisterhood just keeps growing, and the memories will just add on. Gonzalezs
Sister Collection of haikus really leaves the reader thinking about what type of relationship they
have with their sisters.




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Areli Gonzalez
Ms. Cha
English 10 Period 1
23 February 2014
Poetry Unit Reflection
Recently in English 10 we have been working on our poetry unit. At first when I heard
that we were having a poetry unit I was not thrilled. Lets just say that poetry is not my strength.
When it comes to playing around with words in order to make a poem I am not the expert.
However, things have changed ever since we started this project. I have started viewing poetry in
a different way. Poetry offers people the chance to change sympathy to empathy, and I have
learned that poetry is really important today.
How can I change sympathy to empathy? Ever since this question was presented to me,
I was completely flabbergasted. Now that I know the meaning of both sympathy and empathy I
believe that I can answer that question. First of all, sympathy is when you understand what others
are going through because you have gone through the same thing yourself. On the other hand,
empathy is when you recognize what someone is going through and you comfort them. When
you are being sympathetic towards someone sometimes you dont realize that you are being
selfish and that you are probably making the person feel worse. When being sympathetic you
relate to them you put your experiences forward instead of helping others out. When being
empathetic you put your personal experiences behind and you help out the other person. In
poetry it allows you to change empathy to sympathy because poetry allows you to let it all out.
When you write your poem about a certain topic such as a break up someone else will read it and
that poem can make others feel better knowing that it will be all right. Poetry allows you to
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assure people that no matter what you are going through it will be all right. When reading poetry
it gives you a sense of comfort. Poetry help you realize that you are not alone.
Poetry is a way to express yourself. No matter how you are feeling or what you are going
through it help you get it all out. Sometimes I view poetry as a different language. Like every
new language you are trying to learn it takes time. Poetry takes writing to a new level; it takes
time and patience in order to understand it. Moreover, poetry is like a puzzle, you have to put all
of the pieces together in order to get your finished product. I think poetry is important to the
world because it allows people to express themselves and let all of their emotions out without
having to explain everything in a straightforward matter.
This poetry unit has really changed the way I view poetry. Poetry used to be like my
enemy; it was too hard to figure out and when I finished reading it I always felt like there was
something that I did not quite get. However, this unit helped me break down poems and helped
me understand them better. What really helped me out with this was the annotations of the
poems. Now when I write an analysis about a poem I actually get into it. You could that poetry
is my new best friend. Lately, I been finding myself read poetry just for fun; its a way to relate
to stuff going on in everyday life. Plus, poetry gives me a sense of comfort.
Robert Frost said, Poetry us when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has
found words. This quote above from Robert Frost is exactly what this unit has taught me. May
you be the next to find love in poetry.