This poem relates to me a lot. I have some sort of procrastination problem where I leave a lot of my work to the last minute. Most of the time I finish my work at school, but if I don't it sadly is forgotten till the last possible minute. Distractions like the "brown bird [that] sang in the apple-tree" and " the butterfly [that] flitted across the field" grab my attention quite often which leads me off task. Math is the one class where that happens the most. I either find something to talk about to my friend next to me or I look outside at the sunny afternoon and talk to my friend about being out there instead of inside. I do get my work done, but not as quickly as I hope I would. Have you ever had one of those days where you just drift off into another world when you look out the window. You would do anything just to be outside to enjoy every bit of it, but instead you are trapped inside a dungeon called school. Hey, don't get me wrong, school has been a huge part of my life that has brought me to where I am today, but that bird and butterfly look so much nicer that a text book. I meant to do my work today, but the outside got the best of me once more.****Poetry Paragraph****
****More of Alex's Imput on the poem****
I find this the funniest thing. Even as I am doing this assignment I caught myself looking out at this beautiful morning wishing to be out there instead of being in front of a computer. The green grass and the "leaves are calling me."
I am going to go outside now because I can't hold on any further. As Richard leGallienne would say "what could I do but laugh and go."
++Connection will be given to you in class++
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
I meant to do my work today~ By: Richard Le Gallienne
I meant to do my work today-
but a brown bird sang in the apple-tree,
and a butterfly flitted across the field,
and all the leaves were calling me.
and the wind went sighing over the land,
tossing the grasses to and fro,
and a rainbow held out its shining hand-
so what could I do but laugh and go?
but a brown bird sang in the apple-tree,
and a butterfly flitted across the field,
and all the leaves were calling me.
and the wind went sighing over the land,
tossing the grasses to and fro,
and a rainbow held out its shining hand-
so what could I do but laugh and go?
Monday, May 7, 2007
"The New House"~ Poetry Entry #2
I can relate to this poem. I have moved from a house that I have been in almost my whole life up until now. I have recently moved to a new place 2 years ago, but I never forget my life in my old home. My old house was where all my childhood memories were. I lost my first tooth there, I had the chicken pox there, and after all my adventures on the outside walls I was able to go back to my home. Now that I have moved away, I always remember those moments I had and think that who ever is living there is making their own memories and adding on to that sentimental value of that home. What I also think about is the fact that I am in someones elses house. There memories are left in these wall, all the word that they have spoken, all the good and bad times they had. What the poem asks in the end though is "what among these shades will be left of me." There will always be a little of you left, and you will always have the memories of the time you spent there. That can never dissapear.
The thing that the author has done to give this poem that opposite look about moving into a new home is her choice of words. They are so dynamic and powerful in the text. " What words have smashed, against these walls, crashed, up and down these halls..." these words get you thinking about what the author is meaning. Is there some sort of arguement that has been left behind or is the smashing and crashing just the everyday actions that happen in a household. Feelings are shown through these words that make up the poem, and as a reader you can almost figure out how you want to depict the poem to be like. Strong words are what make this poem unique and mind tingling. You are able to take this poem into a more realistic setting and put it into your life. What has happened in your own home? What kind of feelings and memories "[yearn] below the ceiling lights?"
The thing that the author has done to give this poem that opposite look about moving into a new home is her choice of words. They are so dynamic and powerful in the text. " What words have smashed, against these walls, crashed, up and down these halls..." these words get you thinking about what the author is meaning. Is there some sort of arguement that has been left behind or is the smashing and crashing just the everyday actions that happen in a household. Feelings are shown through these words that make up the poem, and as a reader you can almost figure out how you want to depict the poem to be like. Strong words are what make this poem unique and mind tingling. You are able to take this poem into a more realistic setting and put it into your life. What has happened in your own home? What kind of feelings and memories "[yearn] below the ceiling lights?"
"The New House" By: Maya Angelou
What words
have smashed against
these walls,
crashed up and dawn these
halls,
lain mute and then drained
their meanings out and into,
these floors?
What feelings, long since
dead,
streamed vague yearnings
below this ceiling
light?
In some dimension
which I cannot know,
the shadows of
another still exist. I bring my
memories, held too long in check,
to let them here shoulder
space and place to be.
And when I leave to
find another house,
I wonder, what among
these shades will be
left of me.
have smashed against
these walls,
crashed up and dawn these
halls,
lain mute and then drained
their meanings out and into,
these floors?
What feelings, long since
dead,
streamed vague yearnings
below this ceiling
light?
In some dimension
which I cannot know,
the shadows of
another still exist. I bring my
memories, held too long in check,
to let them here shoulder
space and place to be.
And when I leave to
find another house,
I wonder, what among
these shades will be
left of me.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The sun witness~Poetry entry #1
I chose thispeom because this kind of thing happens in life all the time. When people go and do something nice for someone else something good will usually happen, but when we do something mean or we are ungreatful some sort of "karma" takes over. One senario that happens a lot in life is the one about the begger in the poem. We will walk by a man or woman who is quite poor and dirty and we will continue on giving them a blind eye. Even I am guilty of doing so, and surprisingly enough after doing so one day the rest of my day was rotten. We don't neccesarily have to give money to someone we don't know, like a begger, but we can always walk by and say hello instead of ignoring or avoiding them. This poem showed me that we can't always expect good things to happen if we don't do something good first.
will often ask for something good to happen if it benifits themself, usually, like the character in the poem. She asked for light to shine on the white grass and everything else. She is benefiting from the light only because she did something nice, but there is a saying that we get what we give, so if we give kindness we get kindness. The sun stayed out for a long time until the girl "Tucked in her silk saree to avoid [the] stains" of the beggers. The sun saw this and hid behind the clouds, only because of the girls rude actions. The poem shows a good lesson that effects people everyday, when you do good things good things will come, but if you show rudness expect it back.
will often ask for something good to happen if it benifits themself, usually, like the character in the poem. She asked for light to shine on the white grass and everything else. She is benefiting from the light only because she did something nice, but there is a saying that we get what we give, so if we give kindness we get kindness. The sun stayed out for a long time until the girl "Tucked in her silk saree to avoid [the] stains" of the beggers. The sun saw this and hid behind the clouds, only because of the girls rude actions. The poem shows a good lesson that effects people everyday, when you do good things good things will come, but if you show rudness expect it back.
THIS IS THE POEM~#1
The Sun Witness By:Nurunnessa Choudhury
Long ago a young girl
wearing a saffron coloured saree
walked gracefully
on her way
she moved the square stone
from the white
near-dead grass.
By the lightning speed
of her black hand.
Silently, with her gaze,
she commanded the sun
to send its light
down upon everything,
even the white grass.
The sun accepted
her easy command
and came down with humility.
Day after,
she passed beggers in the street,
and tucked in her silk saree
to avoid their stains.
Seeing this,
the sun hid behind clouds,
and rain came,
unexpectedly, like tears.
Long ago a young girl
wearing a saffron coloured saree
walked gracefully
on her way
she moved the square stone
from the white
near-dead grass.
By the lightning speed
of her black hand.
Silently, with her gaze,
she commanded the sun
to send its light
down upon everything,
even the white grass.
The sun accepted
her easy command
and came down with humility.
Day after,
she passed beggers in the street,
and tucked in her silk saree
to avoid their stains.
Seeing this,
the sun hid behind clouds,
and rain came,
unexpectedly, like tears.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
The Tribes of Palos Verdes* By: Joy Nicholson
Medina Mason and her family are newcomers to the beach community of Palos Verdes. This community is all about fitting in and sadly Medina doesn't seem to be fitting in well with the other people at her school. Escaping from the life that she has at school, Medina comes home to an even more stressful environment. The relationship between Medina and brother seem to be deteriorating due to the drug based life Jim, her brother, has been getting into and the demanding emotions of Medina's mother. Relations between her family are falling apart, but Medina has found herself her Utopia. Surfing has brought a new happiness into her life and it seems right now that it is the one thing that is saving her from insanity. Her new found passion has been bringing Medina to extraordinary heights. She is proving to herself that she is one of a kind and that the input of others doesn't matter. There isn't one girl surfer in Palos Verdes, and since there is none Medina is going to work to be the first girl surfer. By watching the bay boys, a well known group of surfers Medina is gaining the skills that she needs to get to the top.
This book is so captivating. It has me hooked. The character Medina is one interesting person, and her attitude makes me want to read on. I feel as if something is going to happen that is going to have Medina step out and do something bold. The imagery that the author has made is making me feel as if I am along side Medina. I feel as if I am too learning how to surf and having that energy flow through me while I ride the first wave of the morning. Imagery is one of the main parts of the book that gets the reader really involved.
The character's personality is the other thing that seems to get me really into the book. She has this outlook on life that seems true and engaging. The way the author make the character act and think just gets you so involved. I almost feel like an undercover reporter getting the big scoop on Medina's life. Although her life isn't all glamorous, it seems more real to me than if it was all glamed up.
One part of the book that I found the most enjoyable was near the beginning. The reason why it was enjoyable is because it made me laugh. The mother and father of Medina seem to be going through a rough patch in their relationship and the mom doesn't seem to like it all too much.
"On the plane, coming to California for the first time, my mother sits with my brother, looking out the window. My father talks to me across the aisle, glancing at the red-haired stewardess. He's rubbing his hands together over and over as if washing them.
"Guess what Palos Verdes means in Spanish," he says, "It means green sticks. Don't you think that's a funny name for a place princess?" He looks at the pretty stewardess again, catching her eye and smiling. My mother looks out the window toward Michigan, ignoring my father's cheerful banter. After a few minutes, she flags down the stewardess.
" My husband would like to meet you," she says.
This part of the book really made me laugh. The mother is so sarcastic and funny, but really moody. She kinda adds this little twist to the book and Medina's life.
The Tribes of Palos Verdes is a great book so far and I am very excited to read more tonight. Already on page 42 and ready to finish the book. I would recommend this book already to anyone who wants a few good laughs and who wants to feel as if they were riding a wave in Palos Verdes.
By: Alex Rasmussen
This book is so captivating. It has me hooked. The character Medina is one interesting person, and her attitude makes me want to read on. I feel as if something is going to happen that is going to have Medina step out and do something bold. The imagery that the author has made is making me feel as if I am along side Medina. I feel as if I am too learning how to surf and having that energy flow through me while I ride the first wave of the morning. Imagery is one of the main parts of the book that gets the reader really involved.
The character's personality is the other thing that seems to get me really into the book. She has this outlook on life that seems true and engaging. The way the author make the character act and think just gets you so involved. I almost feel like an undercover reporter getting the big scoop on Medina's life. Although her life isn't all glamorous, it seems more real to me than if it was all glamed up.
One part of the book that I found the most enjoyable was near the beginning. The reason why it was enjoyable is because it made me laugh. The mother and father of Medina seem to be going through a rough patch in their relationship and the mom doesn't seem to like it all too much.
"On the plane, coming to California for the first time, my mother sits with my brother, looking out the window. My father talks to me across the aisle, glancing at the red-haired stewardess. He's rubbing his hands together over and over as if washing them.
"Guess what Palos Verdes means in Spanish," he says, "It means green sticks. Don't you think that's a funny name for a place princess?" He looks at the pretty stewardess again, catching her eye and smiling. My mother looks out the window toward Michigan, ignoring my father's cheerful banter. After a few minutes, she flags down the stewardess.
" My husband would like to meet you," she says.
This part of the book really made me laugh. The mother is so sarcastic and funny, but really moody. She kinda adds this little twist to the book and Medina's life.
The Tribes of Palos Verdes is a great book so far and I am very excited to read more tonight. Already on page 42 and ready to finish the book. I would recommend this book already to anyone who wants a few good laughs and who wants to feel as if they were riding a wave in Palos Verdes.
By: Alex Rasmussen
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thanis
Artist have such a hard time getting their art work out there if there is no one there to help them. Jessica, a college art student, was at a museum where she was looking for inspiration for her art. Closing time was nearing and Jess was ready to leave when she found a pendent on the floor. When she found this pendent she didn't believe the owner was coming back for it so she brought it home. During the night her phone rang. A mysterious voice was on the other line. A lady phoned Jess and asked her to meet up with her at a coffee shop to get her pendent back. Jess went to meet this mysterious lady and luckily for Jess the lady gave her a chance of a life time. This lady said that she would be able to make Jess well known to the art world and make her big. Confused on whether or not she should go with a stranger, Jess asks for her name to make the situation less stuffy. "Thanis" replied the stranger. Jess, excited about the opportunity agreed to the offer. She packed up her baggage and left London and her boyfriend and made her way to the train station where Thanis and her would have a summer full of art and mystery.
Many things happened at the house where Thanis resided. Cats appeared out of nowhere and people were saying things to Jess that made her uneasy about being there, but the studio that Jess got to work in was too remarkable for her that no matter what people said she didn't want to leave. Jess was alone at home a lot of the time and didn't like to work all the time, so she would sometimes wander and check out the house. She found pictures of people in one of the rooms and to her surprise, one of the people looked a lot like Thanis. She had asked Thanis a lot about the people who use to live in the house and about the mysterious cats that roamed around,but Thanis gave her little information. All that she told her was the names of the people who last lived there, Peter and Eva. It was nearing the time where she was finished her work, a spiral of silver with a arrow through it was what Thanis asked her to make. Lots of weird things happened to Jess while at the house and she was getting nothing out of Thanis about why these things were happening until one day Thanis said they were to have company and the art work was to be finished by the evening. Jess met with Peter and Eva and other people of the family, and that was when things really started to make sense to Jessica. Mel, a friend that Jess made, had said to her that herself and many other people thought that Thanis was a witch, and to much to Jessica's surprise Thanis was. Thanis wanted Jessica to regain strength to her people. The spiral that she made connected Thanis and her people to the earth's energy, and Thanis wanted Jessica to stay and live amongst her and the others, Jessica agreed. After going through a wild ride through the land, air, and sea, Jessica is now having some second thoughts about agreeing to stay with Thanis.
The story Thanis was really interesting for me. The author had a feel of pulling me back while I was reading, as if she didn't want me to know too much fast. Her writing had me clueless, yet so involved as if I was walking with Jessica through her life. Although the book itself had really small chapters, it seemed to work very well with the way she had the events going. My favourite part of the book is when Thanis took Jessica through the earth, air, and sea. I was going so fast in my reading that I felt like I was on a roller coaster.
The characterization for Thanis was well put together. The author gave me little bits of information about Thanis that let me gradually get to know her. In the begging the author made Thanis seem so lady like and well pronounce, but really it was her loosing her energy and becoming weak.
Although I am not finished the story, I have to say that this story has been one of the best books I have read so far this year. It is now in my top 10 books; now I have 7 favourites.
Many things happened at the house where Thanis resided. Cats appeared out of nowhere and people were saying things to Jess that made her uneasy about being there, but the studio that Jess got to work in was too remarkable for her that no matter what people said she didn't want to leave. Jess was alone at home a lot of the time and didn't like to work all the time, so she would sometimes wander and check out the house. She found pictures of people in one of the rooms and to her surprise, one of the people looked a lot like Thanis. She had asked Thanis a lot about the people who use to live in the house and about the mysterious cats that roamed around,but Thanis gave her little information. All that she told her was the names of the people who last lived there, Peter and Eva. It was nearing the time where she was finished her work, a spiral of silver with a arrow through it was what Thanis asked her to make. Lots of weird things happened to Jess while at the house and she was getting nothing out of Thanis about why these things were happening until one day Thanis said they were to have company and the art work was to be finished by the evening. Jess met with Peter and Eva and other people of the family, and that was when things really started to make sense to Jessica. Mel, a friend that Jess made, had said to her that herself and many other people thought that Thanis was a witch, and to much to Jessica's surprise Thanis was. Thanis wanted Jessica to regain strength to her people. The spiral that she made connected Thanis and her people to the earth's energy, and Thanis wanted Jessica to stay and live amongst her and the others, Jessica agreed. After going through a wild ride through the land, air, and sea, Jessica is now having some second thoughts about agreeing to stay with Thanis.
The story Thanis was really interesting for me. The author had a feel of pulling me back while I was reading, as if she didn't want me to know too much fast. Her writing had me clueless, yet so involved as if I was walking with Jessica through her life. Although the book itself had really small chapters, it seemed to work very well with the way she had the events going. My favourite part of the book is when Thanis took Jessica through the earth, air, and sea. I was going so fast in my reading that I felt like I was on a roller coaster.
The characterization for Thanis was well put together. The author gave me little bits of information about Thanis that let me gradually get to know her. In the begging the author made Thanis seem so lady like and well pronounce, but really it was her loosing her energy and becoming weak.
Although I am not finished the story, I have to say that this story has been one of the best books I have read so far this year. It is now in my top 10 books; now I have 7 favourites.
Friday, March 2, 2007
"The Cask of Amontillado"
"The Cask of Amontillado" is a story of revenge. This revenge had to be well plotted out and executed at the right time, or all time would be wasted. The main character has been building up a hatred for a man by the name of Fortunato for quite some time; however Fortuanto has no awareness of such hatred. It was about dusk, one evening durring the supreme madness of the festival season, where the main character was to impliment his diabolical plan for revenge. The main character knew that Fortuanto was a wine finatic, and was a huge boaster about his "talents". By tricking Fortunato into believing he was to ask Luchresi, a man of whom Fortunato did not like, to taste an Amontillado wine, he was able to hook Fortunato into offering his own assistance. The two men walked down into the vaults where the wine was being stored. The damp, cool, and isolated vaults was a perfect place to conduct his revenge. Along the was the main character was able to undergo the first phase of his plan, getting Fortunato drunk. Deeper and deeper the two men went down in the vaults where, at this point, Fortunato was beyond mental capability. Leaving Fortunato in a niche, the main character started to build a wall to enclose Fortunato in the vaults forever. Building stone, Mortar, and the aid of his trowel, the main character built the wall and sat down by skeletons that rest agianst the wall.
This story by Edger Allen Poe was one that I really enjoyed. Althought it was kinda emo, I saw that it fits with my personality at times. I feel as if at times I do the same thing where I am talking to my self in my head planning on a way to get back at someone. While reading this short story I saw some figurative language that the authour portraied. The part of the story where Fortunato said that the wine wouldn't kill him gave me a sense that something was going to happen to him later on in the story. It was quite ironic that something did happen. The main character got Fortunato well under the influence and what Fortunato really loved, in the end killed him, with the help of the main character of course. Not only did I like the fact that Poe used irony as the main loop of things, but I also enjoyed the whole frame of things. The anger that the main charcter had was really powerful to me as a reader. The saying "Nemo me impurne lacessit" [ no one attacks me with impunity(witout being punished)], made me really feel what the main character was feeling. Fortunato must have done something really big to the main character to get him that peeved off. So, in conclusion to what I had to say, I would like to add that out of the three short stories that we read this one gave me the most out of my time. I got to feel what the main character felt, I was able to understand what was happening and I enjoyed the plot of the story as well. Now it is time to give my fingers some requiescat.(Rest)
By: Alexander Rasmussen, Friday, March 3rd, 2007
This story by Edger Allen Poe was one that I really enjoyed. Althought it was kinda emo, I saw that it fits with my personality at times. I feel as if at times I do the same thing where I am talking to my self in my head planning on a way to get back at someone. While reading this short story I saw some figurative language that the authour portraied. The part of the story where Fortunato said that the wine wouldn't kill him gave me a sense that something was going to happen to him later on in the story. It was quite ironic that something did happen. The main character got Fortunato well under the influence and what Fortunato really loved, in the end killed him, with the help of the main character of course. Not only did I like the fact that Poe used irony as the main loop of things, but I also enjoyed the whole frame of things. The anger that the main charcter had was really powerful to me as a reader. The saying "Nemo me impurne lacessit" [ no one attacks me with impunity(witout being punished)], made me really feel what the main character was feeling. Fortunato must have done something really big to the main character to get him that peeved off. So, in conclusion to what I had to say, I would like to add that out of the three short stories that we read this one gave me the most out of my time. I got to feel what the main character felt, I was able to understand what was happening and I enjoyed the plot of the story as well. Now it is time to give my fingers some requiescat.(Rest)
By: Alexander Rasmussen, Friday, March 3rd, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
"No Renewal"
The short story "No Renewal" is set in the year 2049. An elderly man is solemnly celebrating his unknown 50th birthday while looking out to the world that has changed drastically from the time he once new. This short story displays certain difficulties of man vs. society, and man vs. technology. Both of these are being intertwined in this new world he is living in. From being a place where nature flourished, and resources were strong, this man is relflecting his life and seeing everything he once new dissapear. His society is changing. People are demanding more that is not being made anymore and there is limmited space to live on. People are struggling to supply things that may benifit the human race in the present and the future. Because of peoples miss use of earth's materials, this man is un-able to see what he use to see, such as animals, trees and the view of the ocean he once looked upon. But, this man is getting older and is loosing stuff himself. From looking out to his changing world, he thinks to himself how old he is now. It is his birthday and he doesn't know his own age. This man has to go back and look at his birth certificate to remember his age. Things are changing so fast that this man is having troubles catching up. As he sits there, in his rocking chair sipping his winter mint tea, he relizes that this earth is declinging from the simple way of life and moving to a dangerous future. Earth has "No Renewal".
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Testing Post
Hello,
This is my reading journal. I will post my ideas about what I have read on this blog, and nothing more unless otherwise noted.
~Zander
This is my reading journal. I will post my ideas about what I have read on this blog, and nothing more unless otherwise noted.
~Zander
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