Essay #1

 For A Dreamer;

An Essay About How “For A Dancer”, “A Dream Deferred” And My Life All Relate

Pine Point School

Ninth Grade English

September 15, 2011

By Schyler Davis

Have you ever wondered how a song, poem and your life can all relate to each other, even when they seem completely different? You can make any song and poem relate to your life by listening to the words. Try to think of important moments in your life, and try to relate a line from a song and poem to it. The song “For A Dancer” by Jackson Browne, and the poem “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes both relate to my life because I have dreams and goals I want to achieve, but sometimes I come across obstacles; also, they relate to each other because the song and poem are both about having something important cut short.

       One of the reasons that    “A Dream Deferred” and “For A Dancer” both relate to my life is because of jump rope. I really want to make the USA Jump Rope World Team, to compete in Florida this coming summer, and making this team is important to me because of the experience of meeting people from all over the world. If I made this team, I would probably make it in double-dutch since that is my strongest event, but my double-dutch partners go to different schools, playing other sports [allit.]. It is hard to find time to practice because we all have different schedules, and practice is very important because at tryouts we have to hit a perfect routine to even be considered for Team USA. However, the song’s lyrics “keep a fire burning in your eye, pay attention to the open sky,” compare to my life because to me they mean don’t give up on your dreams. I think the lyrics also mean that the possibilities are endless. I believe we are good enough to make the team, and we will give it our best shot. The poem “A Dream Deferred” connects to my life because of the possibility of not making the team. In the lines “what happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” makes me think about will this opportunity still be here in two years, which is when USA Jump Rope Worlds will happen again. I am almost positive the opportunity will still be there because we will be older and better, but just the thought of it not being there is disappointing. “For A Dancer” and “A Dream Differed” both relate to my life in important ways that I have never thought of until now.
       “For A Dancer” and “A Dream Deferred” also relate to each other in many different ways. They are about what is gone, what won’t come back, and what might await in the future [allit.]. The song is about how you always thought that person would be there but they aren’t anymore, and the poem is about how your dream has to happen later. Both of them talk about what it’s like to not be able to have what you want most. Also, they both refer to each other because they talk about purpose. “For A Dancer” is about finding the purpose of your life, and “A Dream Deferred” is about the purpose of your dream. Finally, they link to each other due to sadness. In the song, you lose the person you thought would always be by your side, and in the poem, you have to wait on your dream. Both of those are sad. The song and poem are very similar; you just need to take a moment to compare the two.
           Now you are aware how a different song, poem, and life can all relate to each other. ”For A Dancer” and “A Dream Deferred” are both by different people and still pertain to each other. My life, at first glimpse, is nothing like that song or poem, but when I thought a little deeper about it, I could make a comparison. I have learned that you will always come across obstacles, but you have to remember to keep dreaming and to never give up.