Friday, May 4, 2012
More Than a Pool of Salt Water
Author's Note: Many people underestimate the value of our oceans, which is why they are ignored. It can be challenging to look past those boring, unappealing aspects of oceans, but once we overcome that struggle, a new kind of world is opened up to us.
(red = semantic devices)
The ocean is a world
That has never been revealed.
And if we don’t pay close attention,
It will forever be concealed.
The ocean is a pearl,
For all people it radiates
The gentleness and grace that it obtains.
Yet its power, no one appreciates.
Like families during a reunion,
The sea rushes towards us,
Asking for some kind of
concern
But we only leave its future ambiguous.
For if we don’t take care of the ocean,
It will leave us alone for good,
And all that we have will be lost.
But because of our actions, it should.
We give it our loud silence,
And torment their feelings like bullies,
Why don’t we get the point?
The ocean doesn’t deserve any insecurities!
The sea shells shift smoothly by the
sea-shore as the sun slowly sinks under the horizon, painting the sky shades of orange and purple. The
warm, salty water slowly makes its way to shore, only to fall back with the
rest of the sea. It’s another peaceful evening, except for the splashes and
giggles of two sisters joyfully playing along the beach. No one knows who they
are, or why they come so often to see the ocean tide come rolling in each night.
But there is one thing everyone knows for sure, that they, these two ordinary
girls, love the ocean more than anything. They wouldn’t
exchange this wonderful scene even for billions of dollars, for they would give anything to see the sea. To have the
opportunity to feel the cool breeze brush against their face, the sensation of the
sand oozing between their toes as they run, is so heavenly.
Yet, even though they enjoy the ocean, their mother hated it
more than anything. “Why do you both care for the ocean, all you do it run up
and down the shore. How can that possibly compare the city we live in now? Seriously, who wouldn’t adore the stink of gasoline, the busy
crowds of people running up and down city streets, and the beauty of old,
broken-down buildings?” she
stammered. For some reason, she just wouldn’t understand.
After one of these hard-fought
disagreements, the girls would head straight back outside, ready for more. But
their mother’s words continued to pace through their minds. “I wonder if anyone else actually
enjoys the ocean.”, one of the two once said. The other replied, “On the
outside it may look like just a pool of salt water, but when you truly know the sea, just like you would know a
friend or a family member, you see the ocean’s true potential. Remember that,
and you know it’s worth being here.”
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Joy of Creativity
Everlasting Beauty
(This first poem is about what I thought of this painting)
A beautiful wintry scene,
Impossible to resist,
Showcasing many colors,
With character that's keen
The white for the snow,
The green as the trees,
The red for a cardinal,
Makes the whole piece glow!
But then there is black,
Deep lines across the page,
As if this scene were a window,
That has a large, frightening crack.
Then there is more I see,
An image deep within,
Of a lone ice rink in the woods,
Is it real? Maybe…
Yet, there is still that crack,
As if it were purposely shattered,
So now the damage has taken its toll,
It’s brought an eeriness that we can't take back.
What an interesting painting it is,
To have half of it good, and half of it bad.
Sometimes that's how life can be
But wait, it not only can be, it is!
So that is what I thought of this painting,
Jackson Pollock really made me think!
It's amazing how much you can learn from it,
This scene and its everlasting beauty.
Shattered Dreams
(This second poem is a summary of what story popped into my head as I looked at this painting.)
I don't understand why my life is shattered
Everything good just disappeared.
It has become completely tattered
The only thing that ever mattered...
…My childhood.
It’s my life!
Nothing makes me happier
For the rest is only strife
Its pain that of a knife
Because I only love my childhood
And my childhood loves me back
I had an attitude that said I could,
That is why it should.
The fluffy white snow that fell on the grass,
On those cold, snowy winters,
It was such a beautiful mass,
Always falling slowly as time would pass.
I'd bared so much laughter
I'd shared so many friends
As we'd take off down the rafter
Landing in snow banks soon after.
But now I've lost all that I had
And it probably won't return
My life has turned from good to bad
The joy has turned to sad.
The past was quite fun for me,
Sadly it has turned to gray,
For now I can't return, I see
To the beauty that wasn't to be.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I'm a Paintbrush in Action
Author's Note: This piece was a challenge for me. It took me a while to understand what kind of style I had to use to make sure it made sense. This piece is a personal metaphor, in which I have compared myself to a paintbrush. With my choice words and organization, I hope you will get the sense that I am like a paintbrush in many ways.
I am a paintbrush in action
Filling a page with a variety of colors.
I glide across the canvas joyfully,
Bringing energy and passion into what I do.
My work inspires others to bring out their own personalities.
I am a paintbrush in action
I am a paintbrush in action
Filling a page with a variety of colors.
I glide across the canvas joyfully,
Bringing energy and passion into what I do.
My work inspires others to bring out their own personalities.
I am a paintbrush in action
Friendship is Powerful
Authors Note: I have recently read a book called “Owen and Mzee” which has taught me a lesson that will change my life forever. This short story really spoke to me, it made me realize how important friends can really be. After reading this response, you may even feel the same way.
As you live your life you will always make mistakes. Every person’s goal in life is to succeed at one thing or another. By learning from those mistakes, you can become one step closer to truly succeeding in your journey through life. This can even become a lifetime goal for you, but only if you are dedicated and willing to work toward it.
I have recently read a book called “Owen and Mzee”, which has taught me that everyone in this world is connected. We are all given the chance to become close friends, but think of how many people actually take that chance? Those who take risks are the ones that will usually succeed in life. If you are able to make a new friend, one that you could have never thought you’d have a close bond with, you will most likely end up becoming grateful for the decision that you made. It can truly change your life.
From this story, I understood what it is like to have someone always be there for you. When I saw this 130 year old tortoise and this baby hippo become great friends, I knew that it couldn’t have been science as the cause, it was these two animals looking at the real purpose of life. This is exactly what all people should do, to always have someone to get rid of all the hardships and disappointments in life. The bond between these two creatures is a huge sign unto us, that we must live our lives with others, not by ourselves. We also learn that we are all people, we are all working together in this world, a sense of trust must come between us all if we are ever to succeed.
Owen and Mzee have both taken part in this inspiring story. Owen was a true role model for me because he never gave up on himself. He was young, and had no mother to go to for help. His mother was probably out there dead for all that he knew. Yet, he didn’t just lay there in the seaweed, creeping closer to his death, he fought for his life with all of the energy that he possibly could have given. On the other hand, Mzee did a wonderful thing by accepting Owen’s presents. Most of Mzee’s kind always liked to keep to themselves, but Mzee was dedicated to starting a new trend, even when Owen may have been annoying at times. They were both willing to accept each other as if they were their own kind.
In the true story of “Owen and Mzee”, you will learn that friendship can change your life. It is so easy to take a chance and make a new friend. Who knows? Maybe if everyone in the world was brave enough to do what Owen and Mzee did, our world could become a better place once and for all.
As you live your life you will always make mistakes. Every person’s goal in life is to succeed at one thing or another. By learning from those mistakes, you can become one step closer to truly succeeding in your journey through life. This can even become a lifetime goal for you, but only if you are dedicated and willing to work toward it.
I have recently read a book called “Owen and Mzee”, which has taught me that everyone in this world is connected. We are all given the chance to become close friends, but think of how many people actually take that chance? Those who take risks are the ones that will usually succeed in life. If you are able to make a new friend, one that you could have never thought you’d have a close bond with, you will most likely end up becoming grateful for the decision that you made. It can truly change your life.
From this story, I understood what it is like to have someone always be there for you. When I saw this 130 year old tortoise and this baby hippo become great friends, I knew that it couldn’t have been science as the cause, it was these two animals looking at the real purpose of life. This is exactly what all people should do, to always have someone to get rid of all the hardships and disappointments in life. The bond between these two creatures is a huge sign unto us, that we must live our lives with others, not by ourselves. We also learn that we are all people, we are all working together in this world, a sense of trust must come between us all if we are ever to succeed.
Owen and Mzee have both taken part in this inspiring story. Owen was a true role model for me because he never gave up on himself. He was young, and had no mother to go to for help. His mother was probably out there dead for all that he knew. Yet, he didn’t just lay there in the seaweed, creeping closer to his death, he fought for his life with all of the energy that he possibly could have given. On the other hand, Mzee did a wonderful thing by accepting Owen’s presents. Most of Mzee’s kind always liked to keep to themselves, but Mzee was dedicated to starting a new trend, even when Owen may have been annoying at times. They were both willing to accept each other as if they were their own kind.
In the true story of “Owen and Mzee”, you will learn that friendship can change your life. It is so easy to take a chance and make a new friend. Who knows? Maybe if everyone in the world was brave enough to do what Owen and Mzee did, our world could become a better place once and for all.
The World Is Beautiful
Author's Note: Everything in the world can be beautiful. Especially the nature that appears all around us. I wrote a poem describing this beauty and how it can be seen within each flower or plant that we see.
Gazing at the elegant lilacs makes me wonder,
What kind of world would this be if there were only thunder?
We’d lose all of the warm morning sunlight,
That shines proudly, long and bright.
With this beautiful light that we receive,
We are destined to believe,
That the world completely comes to life,
Without this thunderous kind of strife.
The plants earn their color,
Instead of looking duller.
Especially with each fragile petal,
In the soft soil, these flowers settle.
Drawing precious animals to their side,
The lilacs find it impossible to hide
From the insects that they regularly meet
As they gracefully land on their feet.
There is true beauty that lies within these insect’s wings
When they feel the soft breeze as it sings.
With the patterns that reflect each other,
The insect’s wing style is brought forth because of its mother.
The creatures sit peacefully as they eat the delicious pollen,
And sip the water droplets that have recently fallen.
With their stomachs completely satisfied and full,
The world then looks everything but dull.
Happiness is brought forth from the beauty that lies within the ground,
You can see these pleasant plants all around.
The world is quite a beautiful place you know,
When you see the wonder that will continue to grow.
Gazing at the elegant lilacs makes me wonder,
What kind of world would this be if there were only thunder?
We’d lose all of the warm morning sunlight,
That shines proudly, long and bright.
With this beautiful light that we receive,
We are destined to believe,
That the world completely comes to life,
Without this thunderous kind of strife.
The plants earn their color,
Instead of looking duller.
Especially with each fragile petal,
In the soft soil, these flowers settle.
Drawing precious animals to their side,
The lilacs find it impossible to hide
From the insects that they regularly meet
As they gracefully land on their feet.
There is true beauty that lies within these insect’s wings
When they feel the soft breeze as it sings.
With the patterns that reflect each other,
The insect’s wing style is brought forth because of its mother.
The creatures sit peacefully as they eat the delicious pollen,
And sip the water droplets that have recently fallen.
With their stomachs completely satisfied and full,
The world then looks everything but dull.
Happiness is brought forth from the beauty that lies within the ground,
You can see these pleasant plants all around.
The world is quite a beautiful place you know,
When you see the wonder that will continue to grow.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Tragedy of Christmas
Author’s Note: When you wake up on Christmas morning, the first thing that you think about is what presents you have received. But what do you think Christmas is like for your presents themselves? Not many people think of what it would be like to live the life of a toy or book. As you read this story, you will find what kind of life my present may have lived as I found it lying under my Christmas tree.
Everything is dark. Literally, pitch black. I can’t see a single thing, yet I hear a ton of muffled voices coming from outside the cramped cardboard box that I’m nestled in. Well, now that I think of it, this box is quite uncomfortable. A plastic wrapper covers me entirely, and some bubble wrap and cardboard in scraping against my sides, making it impossible for me to move at all. Why do people just think about safety, not comfort when it comes to packaging?! I just have to get out of here before I die of becoming claustrophobic. As I am thinking about how poor I am and how I deserve rights and all of that, I feel someone lift up my box and move me out into an area that is freezing cold. How can the temperature change that fast? I become so confused. I decide that if I am this perplexed and scared, I should just take a break. The next moment I found myself fast asleep. But unfortunately, I had no idea what kind of life I would begin in the next couple of days.
When I woke up, everything was still dark. Uhh! I was getting really annoyed by now; this was not the kind of life I wanted to live. A life where I would live in this stupid box forever, that is. All of a sudden, I felt the box being lifted up again, yet, this time it felt different. I could hear a ripping noise, almost as if someone were tearing paper. Then the top of the box lifted up, and bright morning sunlight streamed into the box, hurting my eyes. (Well, my eyes are technically my screen in your perspective, I guess) Anyway, as I looked up, I saw a human staring down at me, a huge smile spread across her face. She screamed with delight as she tore the plastic wrapping away. Believe it or not, it actually felt good. It was nice to finally see someone who appreciated me so much, and cared about me more than anything at that moment. But to my dismay, I would not feel like this for much longer.
As she slowly lifted me up, her eyes got bigger, and she stared me down, taking in every detail. Her hands were soft and warm, like a blanket surrounding me. I felt her thumb reach for the bottom button on my side. With the press of that button, I showcased the starting page and pictured the owner’s manual across my screen for her to read. I hoped she would read it and take the time to learn how to control me, but instead she just skipped everything and went on talking to her mother (or at least I think it was her mother) about other lame stuff; such as the games, books, movies and all of that. Wasn’t she going to even pay attention to the real me? I then realized how awful this was going to turn out to be. She continued to talk and download apps and books for a while. You have no idea how annoyed I was by the time she was done. Unfortunately, it didn’t even end there! She began playing the games right after she downloaded them! What kind of world was this! I mean seriously, I am so tired and exhausted! After about an hour, she finally pressed the power button once again and I was turned off. As she ran into another room, I looked around to get a good feel of where I was exactly. Yet for some odd reason, I couldn’t see as well as I could before. Everything was blurry all of a sudden. How could this have happened? As soon as I had asked the question, I had an answer. Of course! It is so obvious. How would I ever be able to see if I had this girl’s finger prints all over my screen? Wait....I never had thought of what that really meant though. Will I ever be able to see again? Uh...Oh...! I was soon realizing, even listing, all of my new disadvantages. I was truly devastated as to how my life would be changed forever.
Well...I guess that there could be some advantages now that I think of it. Just not quite enough I’d say. At least I got my overall wish. You know, to be loved. This girl couldn’t have done anything differently. It’s not like she meant to do all of this to me, right? Even though my life would be different, I had to deal with it no matter what. This whole thing may have been out of control at first, but now I had to take responsibility and do what was right, even if I hated doing that. I was left there to think about what my life would now be like from now on. I guess this was my new life. This must truly be the life of a Kindle Fire.
Everything is dark. Literally, pitch black. I can’t see a single thing, yet I hear a ton of muffled voices coming from outside the cramped cardboard box that I’m nestled in. Well, now that I think of it, this box is quite uncomfortable. A plastic wrapper covers me entirely, and some bubble wrap and cardboard in scraping against my sides, making it impossible for me to move at all. Why do people just think about safety, not comfort when it comes to packaging?! I just have to get out of here before I die of becoming claustrophobic. As I am thinking about how poor I am and how I deserve rights and all of that, I feel someone lift up my box and move me out into an area that is freezing cold. How can the temperature change that fast? I become so confused. I decide that if I am this perplexed and scared, I should just take a break. The next moment I found myself fast asleep. But unfortunately, I had no idea what kind of life I would begin in the next couple of days.
When I woke up, everything was still dark. Uhh! I was getting really annoyed by now; this was not the kind of life I wanted to live. A life where I would live in this stupid box forever, that is. All of a sudden, I felt the box being lifted up again, yet, this time it felt different. I could hear a ripping noise, almost as if someone were tearing paper. Then the top of the box lifted up, and bright morning sunlight streamed into the box, hurting my eyes. (Well, my eyes are technically my screen in your perspective, I guess) Anyway, as I looked up, I saw a human staring down at me, a huge smile spread across her face. She screamed with delight as she tore the plastic wrapping away. Believe it or not, it actually felt good. It was nice to finally see someone who appreciated me so much, and cared about me more than anything at that moment. But to my dismay, I would not feel like this for much longer.
As she slowly lifted me up, her eyes got bigger, and she stared me down, taking in every detail. Her hands were soft and warm, like a blanket surrounding me. I felt her thumb reach for the bottom button on my side. With the press of that button, I showcased the starting page and pictured the owner’s manual across my screen for her to read. I hoped she would read it and take the time to learn how to control me, but instead she just skipped everything and went on talking to her mother (or at least I think it was her mother) about other lame stuff; such as the games, books, movies and all of that. Wasn’t she going to even pay attention to the real me? I then realized how awful this was going to turn out to be. She continued to talk and download apps and books for a while. You have no idea how annoyed I was by the time she was done. Unfortunately, it didn’t even end there! She began playing the games right after she downloaded them! What kind of world was this! I mean seriously, I am so tired and exhausted! After about an hour, she finally pressed the power button once again and I was turned off. As she ran into another room, I looked around to get a good feel of where I was exactly. Yet for some odd reason, I couldn’t see as well as I could before. Everything was blurry all of a sudden. How could this have happened? As soon as I had asked the question, I had an answer. Of course! It is so obvious. How would I ever be able to see if I had this girl’s finger prints all over my screen? Wait....I never had thought of what that really meant though. Will I ever be able to see again? Uh...Oh...! I was soon realizing, even listing, all of my new disadvantages. I was truly devastated as to how my life would be changed forever.
Well...I guess that there could be some advantages now that I think of it. Just not quite enough I’d say. At least I got my overall wish. You know, to be loved. This girl couldn’t have done anything differently. It’s not like she meant to do all of this to me, right? Even though my life would be different, I had to deal with it no matter what. This whole thing may have been out of control at first, but now I had to take responsibility and do what was right, even if I hated doing that. I was left there to think about what my life would now be like from now on. I guess this was my new life. This must truly be the life of a Kindle Fire.
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