Why Soetry?

Drawing closer to the end of our university lives, I bet people have been asking you these questions:

'what kind of jobs are you looking for?'
'what is your career goal?'
'are you going to get a masters degree?'

and you have been answering them over and over again.
Answering these questions, I'm always happy to tell people what's in my mind.

Well, there are a few kinds of jobs I'm interested in,
but my ultimate career goal is actually


CHARITIES.


No, not being a volunteer but working for charitable organisations after graduation. I wish to work for charities and I've been very determined since my freshmen year at university. Taking part in the Students' Union and the Hong Kong Federation of Students, I became more aware of what's happening around me. My social awareness was enhancedd and I became more determined to work for the needy.

Entitled Soetry, this portfolio of mine explores 9 poems about social issues. 'Soetry' is a word I coined for poetry about social issues. Under the themes Poverty, War/Social Conflicts and Inequality/Discrimination, the nine poems make us rethink and many of the social situations they portray still exist in today's world.

'The Song of the Shirts', 'The Cry of the Children' and 'London' are poems about poverty written between late 18th and 19th Century. The first poem by Thomas Hood depicts a worker being exploited while the second poem by Elizabeth Barette talks about child labour. 'London' by William Blake is juxtaposed with the song 'Streets of London' by Ralph McTell.

As for poems on war and social conflicts, I've chosen 'Anthem For Doomed Youth', a famous poem by Wilfred Owen, written for the soldiers sacrificed in World War I; 'Ground Zero' by Hudson Owen depicts the 911 event happened in New York and 'Silent Night', a Chinese poem by renowned poet Wen Yiduo. The poem was written when Japan invaded China and I include it as an English translation done by me.

Last but not least, on the theme of inequality and discrimination, 'Let America be America Again' by Langston Hughes and 'Joy in the Woods' by Claude McKay.
Hope you'll enjoy my portfolio and feel free to leave any comments!

Have Fun!

Patrizia