Saturday, March 21, 2020

The Fly And #465 Essays - Emily Dickinson, A Vision, Free Essays

The Fly And #465 Essays - Emily Dickinson, A Vision, Free Essays The Fly And #465 Geoff Eng 219 3/4/00 The Fly and #465 Emily Dickinson in her poem #465, covers the subject of death in a way that I have not seen before. She delves right into the last sounds she heard when the narrator died, which was a fly buzzing. The last actions of this world are concluded by the assigning of keepsakes, the last few tears while waiting the King. And now, in the midst of this silence, Emily chooses to introduce the buzzing of a fly. This common household pest's incessant buzz becomes all the dying can hear. The fly is a significant part of the poem and in this essay, I will give examples as to why and how. I think the fly has special significance in the poem. Beelzebub was often portrayed as a fly: Lord of the Flies, and there is a strange tone about this poem, as though the dying person is a controller, an organizer, a cold person in fact, her last steps towards death were so calculated, The Eyes around-had wrung them dry-/And Breaths were Gathering firm/ for the last Onset-when the King/Be witnessed-in the Room.(ln 5-8). She is waiting for King (God) to come and take her to the after life. She has calculated death, then this pest interposes itself , Between the light and me(ln14) her peaceful transition to heaven was interrupted. The fly suddenly opens up the possibility that all is not about to proceed as expected, even after death. And the fact that this is also a posthumously written poem, when I died,(ln 1) suggests that there's some cause for the dying person not to be resting peacefully in heaven. Something went wrong, something interposed between 'the light' (a symbol of heaven) and herself. More than anything this poem is about the uninvited in our lives, it also has echoes of 'the fly in the Vaseline', the thing that always goes wrong. The death is planned out, the will is taken care of, and then the nasty fly joins her and destroys her peaceful death with its bothersome buzz. That buzz could be the unconfessed sins she hidden from god, but what ever it is, it has a profound affect on her afterlife by leaving her with this incessant buzzing. The room of the dying is haunted by an uncomfortable, daunting Silence. The comparison of this quiet to the the stillness in the Air between the heaves of storm(ln4) intensifies the feeling of anticipation for some frightening event. If you are out jogging in the summer and you start to see dark storm clouds looming overhead, there is a panic that comes, you could get caught in the storm. The clouds as beautiful as they may seem while inside, as soon as the storm begins, they let loose their power. I think the implied author is entering, in imagination; the very moment of death here is darkness itself. Which is why this poem is, for me, so chilling. So many of the poems insist on a life after death, a spiritual reawakening. But this poem ends on a note of obliteration and overwhelming darkness, accompanied only by the sound of the buzzing. The fly is also a symbol of decay and dissolution, and even of disease, and contamination. It's a brilliant idea, a common household pest, and also a powerful symbol of evil, uninvited and distracting. This image of distraction is particularly noticeable, especially on first reading the poem. Everything's going so much according to plan it's as though these people are on a stage reading their script, going through pre-conceived motions. And then suddenly there's the gatecrasher, the thing outside the script that completely distracts the dying person, and threatens to rob her of her moment of vision.... And then the Windows failed - and then/ I could not see to see - (ln 15) makes it doubly clear that the moment of vision (windows/eyes failing) has been stolen from her and that, in effect, the fly has won by becoming the very last thing the speaker hears, and imagines - I think the fact that she sees it as Blue is not because she can see it but because she is imagining it. The irritation

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Low Interest USDA Farming Microloans for US Veterans

Low Interest USDA Farming Microloans for US Veterans Thanks to of all places, the latest Farm Bill, U.S. veterans will find it easier to get low-interest Microloans​ to help them start and maintain small farms and ranches. With the United States running out of farmers, and a growing number of new veterans needing jobs, the farming Microloan program for veterans, administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, helps serve both needs. Advantages of the Microloans First of all, the 2014 Farm Bill specifically exempts the USDA Veteran Farmer Microloans from the more restrictive repayment terms required by other USDA Direct Operating Loans. In addition, the program offers more flexible access to credit and serves as an especially attractive loan alternative for smaller farming operations like specialty crop producers. Eligible Microloan applicants can borrow up to $35,000, with repayment terms that will not exceed 7 years. Additional loans are available to cover annual operating expenses and are repaid within 12 months or when the agricultural commodities produced are sold. Under the Farm Bill, interest rates for veterans’ Microloans are limited to 5% or the current interest rate for traditional USDA Direct Operating Loans, whichever is less. As of February 2015, the interest rate for a USDA Direct Operating Loan was 2.625%. The USDA has also seen to it that the Microloans for veterans will also have a simplified application process and less stringent requirements regarding farm management experience. No Farming Experience? According to the USDA, the Microloan program administrators realize that many veterans who apply for loans will not have the required â€Å"traditional farm experience† or have not been raised on a farm or ever even lived in a farming community. Also See: New Website Helps US Veterans Find Careers in Agriculture To accommodate them, the FSA says it will consider a veteran’s experience in small business or in any self-guided apprenticeship program as a way to meet the farm management requirement. â€Å"This will assist applicants who have limited farm skills by providing them with an opportunity to gain farm management experience while working with a mentor during the first production and marketing cycle,† states the FSA. What the Microloans Can Be Used For Eligible veterans can use Microloans for: Initial start-up expenses;Annual expenses such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents;Marketing and distribution expenses;Family living expenses;Purchase of livestock, equipment, and other essential materials;Minor farm improvements such as wells and coolers;Hoop houses to extend the growing season;Essential tools;Irrigation; andDelivery vehicles. Eligibility: What is a ‘Veteran Farmer?’ Under the 2014 Farm Bill, â€Å"Veteran Farmers† are finally recognized as a separate and unique class of farmer for purposes of USDA loan eligibility. Except for the requirement of military service, the definition of Veteran Farmer is the same as the long-standing USDA definition of beginning farmers and ranchers. According to the USDA, â€Å"beginning farmers and ranchers,† are defined as persons who have never operated a farm or ranch, or who have operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years. So, Microloans for veterans are available to persons who have served in the Armed Services – and – have never operated a farm or ranch, or have operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years. How to Apply for a Microloan Eligible veterans can either download the USDA Microloan application from the USDA website or pick one up at their local Farm Service Administration field office. Applicants who have problems gathering information or completing the application forms should contact their local Farm Service Administration office for help. After completing the required paperwork, applicants should submit the farm loan application to their local Farm Service Administration office.