The

Duet

By: Lili Bell Bisera Poetry Anthology 2017

 “ Damned if you do,
damned if you don´t. ”
-Lorenzo Dow

To:

My sister,

Chloe

who sees both.

 Table of Contents
1. Introduction to my theme of duality

2. Sonnet : Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen + annotations

3. Sonnet : Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen Analysis

4. Translated poem : La Adelita (Spanish)

5. Translated poem : La Adelita (English) + annotations

6. Translated poem : La Adelita Analysis

7. Mentor Text : Half Full or Half Empty?

8. Allusion Poem : School

9. Any form : Choices

10. Any form : Popular Vote

11. My favorite Poem Project : The Paradox by Paul Laurence Dunbar

12. My favorite Poem Project : The Paradox Analysis

13. Works Cited

 The Duet
Today´s narrative is deeply divided and polarized. 2017,
much like the rest of history is told in a duet with the
soundtrack written by the people. It always comes down to
perspective, whether it be controversial topics, history or
camera angle. The entity with the most power takes over the
song to best tell their side of the story.

In the poem ¨Anthem for the Doomed Youth, ¨ poet Wilfred

Owen comments on the juxtaposition of prayer and hope to
the harsh realities of war.

In the folk song and poem ¨La Adelita,¨ the lives of peoples
during the Mexican revolution. More specifically it deals with
the similarities of romantic love and love of country by
contrasting a beautiful young woman with the dark dangers of
war.

All of my poems reflect the duality of life, and its many

choices often being presented as bifurcation. The poems take
on the lenses of a teen, a citizen, a student, and a human to
represent the many sides of every story.
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 A sonnet: Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
comparing the soldiers and their
situation to cows who are sent in
groups simply to be slaughtered for
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? ← the ´greater good´ of a populus

Only the monstrous anger of the guns. ← personification of guns

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle ← alliteration

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells,

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,--← commenting on the absence of
religion and its comfort in death

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; ← contradictory imagery,

choirs meant to be beautiful
and practice but bombs go off
And bugles calling for them from sad shires. with no order or grace

What candles may be held to speed them all? ← commenting on the absence of
religion and its comfort in death,
These ´men´ that are fighting are still
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes children, with so much life left to live,
Candles burned in prayer for these
boys burn bright like the light in their
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. eyes when they die.

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. ← imagery/ analogy of life coming
to an end, like the end of a day

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Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen Analysis

Anthem for the Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen is set

in the first world war. The poem details the death of a
young man during the war and contrasts it with how is
death would have been received if there was peace and he
was home.

Dunbar juxtaposes the delicate process of death and

mourning within a non war zone, with the harsh process of
death and inability to mourn within the pandemonium of
the battle field.

The tone of the poem conveys the bitterness and lack

of moral in the troops. He contemplates death and how
war affects lives, and ponders if the war bring honor to the
men are their lives too high of a cost? Dunbar´s
perspective shapes his story and this poem, explaining one
side to a massive story. Adding his words to the part of
the historically winning side.

3
 La Adelita Original Text
En lo alto de una abrupta serranía,
acampado se encontraba un regimiento,
y una joven que valiente lo seguía,
locamente enamorada del sargento.

Popular entre la tropa era Adelita,

las mujer que el sargento idolatraba,
que además de ser valiente era bonita,
que hasta el mismo coronel la respetaba.

Y se oía, que decía,

aquel que tanto la quería:

Y si Adelita quisiera ser mi esposa,

si Adelita fuera mi mujer,
le compraría un vestido de seda
para llevarle a bailar al cuartel.

Y si Adelita se fuera con otro,

la seguiría por tierra y por mar,
si por mar en un buque de guerra,
si por tierra en un tren militar.

Y después que termino la cruel batalla

y la tropa regresó a su campamento,
se oye la voz de una mujer que sollozaba,
su plegaria se escucho en el campamento.

Al oírla el sargento temeroso,

de perder para siempre a su adorada,
ocultando su dolor bajo el esbozo
a su amada le cantó de esta manera:

Y se oía, que decía,

aquel que tanto se moría:

Y si acaso yo muero en campaña,

y mi cadáver lo van a sepultar,
Adelita por Dios te lo ruego,
que con tus ojos me vayas a llorar. 4
 English Translated: La Adelita
On the top of the rocky mountain
there was an army camped
and a courageous women followed them ← courageous b/c they are standing against
fallen in love with the sergeant. their home country

Everyone appreciated Adelita

who loved the sergeant
as she was courageous and beautiful ← her bravery and beauty sets her reputation,
even the colonel estimated her. and she upholds it

And they heard that it was told ← mutual love and respect
by him who loved her so much:

If Adelita wanted to be mine ← they are to be married despite the irony of that
if Adelita wanted to be my wife they are being disloyal to their country and despite
I’d buy her a silk garment the setting of a war they want to have a celebration
to take her to dance in the caserm.

And if Adelita went with another

I’d follow her over land and sea
with a battleship on the sea
and with a military train on land.

And as the cruel battle was over ← A woman’’s husband was killed in the battle
and the army retired to the camp and her pain can be heard throughout the camp
the sobbing of a woman was heard
her crying filling the whole camp.

The sergeant heared it, and fearing ← the sergeant is upset for the woman and
to loose his adored forever fears that his Adelita may face the same pain, so
concealing his pain in himself he hides his fear
he sang like this to his lover:

And they heard that it was told

by him who was dying so much:

And if I died in the battle ← The sergeant sings to her, that if he dies he
and my body was buried there wants a proper burial and mourning
Adelita, I ask you for God
to come there and cry over me. 5
 La Adelita Analysis
La Adelita is a folk song set during the Mexican revolution,
from 1910 to 1920. The poem is about woman named La Adelita
joins the rebellion and falls in love with the leader of the
movement.

The themes portray the duality of humanity. The blending of

different themes, characteristics of women and the emotions of
men, detail a story from the Mexican revolution. To create a full
and beautiful story many of the sides are shared finding a
delicate balance to convey:

Throughout the poem the author, unknown, plays with the

soft physical features of the woman and delicate emotions of
her romance. However it is contrasted by the war and her
courage.

Another theme within the poem is within the male presences,

they idealize her, like the other women. For them while they
fighting a war their attention is split between a brave young
woman and winning the battle for freedom.

6
 Half Full or Half Empty?

I am a failure
And I refuse to believe that
It will be okay
I realize this may be a shock, but
Dreams come true
Is a lie
It never gets better
In 30 years, I will tell my children that
I have my priorities straight because
Death
Is more important than life
I tell you this:
Once upon a time
Humanity has hope
But this will not be true in my era
The people are lost
Experts tell me
I am hopeless
I do not conclude that
There is progress
Sadness will reign
No longer can it be said that
We are strong
It will be evident that
I am a headcase
It is foolish to presume that
All is good
And all of this will come true unless we reverse it.
7
 School

We go to learn yet we scheme

Finding more to it all

Lessons learned leave lasting

Meaning on our morals

But most the important one does not follow a lesson plan

Built to build community, spread kindness

And foster creativity.

However stress is controlling and

homework starts ruling.

Sleep my nemesis, avoiding me to

steal away those peaceful mornings.

Education for All

8
 Choices
"Actions speak louder than words"
and yet, "A pen is mightier than the sword"
Like a quiz in a teen magazine, nerds --
happier with every answer bringing them forward:
Be progressive but don't have too much originality.
This group worships tradition so fill their mold.
But don't lose your individuality
cause that group prioritizes the bold.
Lift up the voices of the minorities,
but do not neglect your cry
Now you have two families,
remember diction is important in an ally.
And always be mindful of your attitude
as to not be labeled rude.

9
 Popular Vote
Popular Vote
Refusing to defend the people,
armies of fear deplete the peace,
openly challenging his country.

With news of bleeding safety

He ravages freedom with
prehistoric vision,
proud over the carnage of
knowledge.

Promises forgotten,
Struggling families bear the cost.
Restoring painful prejudices:
terrorism with powerful
conviction,

Forgetting the power of people-

stealing our future to
¨Make America Great Again¨
(Found Poem: Text from Donald Trump´s Inaugural Address)
10
 The Paradox - BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
I am the mother of sorrows, Speak to me gently or curse me,

I am the ender of grief; Seek me or fly from my sight;

I am the bud and the blossom, I am thy fool in the morning,

I am the late-falling leaf. Thou art my slave in the night.

I am thy priest and thy poet, Down to the grave will I take thee,

I am thy serf and thy king; Out from the noise of the strife;

I cure the tears of the heartsick, Then shalt thou see me and know me—

When I come near they shall sing. Death, then, no longer, but life.

White are my hands as the snowdrop; Then shalt thou sing at my coming,

Swart are my fingers as clay; Kiss me with passionate breath,

Dark is my frown as the midnight, Clasp me and smile to have thought me

Fair is my brow as the day. Aught save the foeman of Death.

Battle and war are my minions, Come to me, brother, when weary,

Doing my will as divine; Come when thy lonely heart swells;

I am the calmer of passions, I’ll guide thy footsteps and lead thee

Peace is a nursling of mine. Down where the Dream Woman dwells.

11
 The Paradox Analysis

The Paradox was written in the late 19th century, lines

throughout the poem contain a different paradoxes. It is
meant to confront the stereotypes placed on the African-
American community, while drawing attention to the fact
that the black and with communities are the same.

I have come to interpret as empowering, that while

seemingly opposite ideas, people or concepts one can
overcome stigma and stereotypes to achieve goals. This
poem with paradoxical statements creates balances for
each force, metaphorical stating that a balance may seem at
odds but if one is willing to push past the stereotypes they
can reach that equality.

In the latter half of the poem the narrator becomes a

hero or parental figure, trying to protect and guide
¨brother¨ through a rough time or situation. Another
theory is that the narrator is helping someone into death,
talking them through it and staying moral support.

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 Work Cited
1. “Basic Facts About Elephants.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016,

defenders.org/elephant/basic-facts.

2. “The Mexican Corrido.” Poemas Del Río Wang,

riowang.blogspot.com/2008/07/mexican-corrido.html.

3. President Trump's Inaugural Address, Annotated.” NPR, NPR, 20 Jan.

2017,

www.npr.org/2017/01/20/510629447/watch-live-president-t

rumps-inauguration-ceremony.

4. “Sonnets.” Sonnets of World War I,

www.sonnets.org/wwi.htm#100.

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