Yves meester's

This is my analysis of the reading:

 

The poem “Cross” is about Christianization in Pacific. The poem is directly referring the hate of cross and complaining about it. The first stanza, “You are killing me, you are destroying my traditions” is direct to express that Christianity has been affecting the poet’s traditions. The destroyed traditions should be indigenous traditions being replaced by Christianity’s traditions. As the poet mentioned in the stanza, “You thought I was ignorant…I was primitive…My traditions were disgusting”. The Cross think their traditions were the only one that all people should adopt and if someone did not approve then means they were ignorant and primitive. In the final stanza, “Cross run away from me…take your ideas and your civilization and go back to where you belong”. The Cross is strongly affecting the people who do not believe in Christianity. The colonizers brought the new traditions, and they think indigenous traditions are ignorant and primitive. In a way, I think they want to replace the indigenous traditions to their own.

 

I think the poem is really powerful to portray the hate of cross. I cannot really relate to it because I am not religious. What I can relate is the hate of something negatively affects me. If you do not approve me, then do not judge me. This is like I am not Christianity, then you call me as ignorant and primitive. This is kind of insulting me as a person and my religion. People should respect each other as who they are and what they believe in. This is just like some people think they will go to hell or heaven when they died. However, someone jumped in and said: “You are ignorant, there is no such thing as heaven or hell”.

 

 

My creative response:

 

School

 

School I thank you

You are saving me

You are improving

My cognitive competence

I thank you school

 

Because you never take credit for dedication

And you never giving up on me

And accepts me as your child

You thought

I was talented

You thought

I was independent

You thought

My achievements

Were dependable

You thought

You were just accomplish your mission

But you never thought

Of your accomplishment

 

School I admire you

I bless you

I thank you

Save your modesty

And your unselfishness

And never give up

On where you belong

 

Reflection:

 

In this week, I have written a short poem based on “Cross” written by Albert Leomala. The original poem is compelling to portray the hate of cross. It contains with abundant direct depressive hate. I can’t receive the hate from the original poetry; it was too strong for me. The “hate” of cross inspires me to write something to appreciate. School became my priority to feel grateful, there was too much stuff to appreciate, but I want to start with my school. I hated some of the school I used to go, but I still want to thank them for having me. They provided many that I don’t have and they helped me to be a better human being. I think people should feel more grateful for everything that helped them to learn and improve. In the world, you shall have tribulation, but success is what usually comes after tribulation.