Culminating Poem

Sharing feelings is like giving part of yourself;

painful, heart-wrenching, and reflective.

Like a chapter of a book stored on a bookshelf,

giving me a chance to go through it and relive.

I'll admit tears sprung to my eyes sometimes,

it is hard to face the past of death a grieving.

For many, to forget such a thing takes lifetimes.

I retell it my facade of strength slowly unweaving.

Opening my heart to anyone isn't easy.

I like to hear other peoples problems and comfort,

but being the helped only makes me feel queezy.

Coming to terms with death has taken time effort.

I am not fully healed, nor will I ever be,

but knowing I will one day see her reassures me.

I used a somewhat sonnet form to write this poem. It has 14 lines, and I use ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme, but there is no specific meter. I wrote about my difficulty actually getting answers down in that forum. Emotionally it was a serious challenge for me, but it has helped me get back in touch with my emotions. I also really enjoyed this exercise because it reminded me of how much I love and admire my grandmother, even when she has passed away. I hope for more activities like this one, despite how emotionally draining it was for me. I hope people find my poem relatable and can sympathize with the emotions I went through.

Activity C

Cabin Bliss
Being at the cabin is wonderful,
in fact, it's a dream.

Driving up the three hours
is an experience within itself.
As we travel the hundreds of miles up north,
the colors of the leaves are bright green,
and full.

Once we reach the famous Pease Road,
we turn right with exuberance.
I am overwhelmed with excitement.

Down the steep gravelly road is the log cabin,
I call it heaven.

Once we park,
I dread carrying all of our groceries,
and luggage up the steps and into the cabin.
It's a treacherously long process,
and I would much rather hop on the boat,
 and go for a dip.

Once my chores are completed,
I put on my swim suit and head toward the dock.
Now begins my vacation; swimming in the deep lake, and jumping off the jet skis.

No cellular communication, no mobile devices.
Just me, my family, and the wilderness.
It's the greatest time of the year.
It is the most beautiful time,
and the most serene.

Activity B

Ignorance of Church "Service" Projects
I was recently reminded about the misconception
that homeless people gather around homeless services. 
I haven't been to church in a long time,
but I went this past Sunday.  

The Sunday School class that morning was discussing
the homeless ministries the church was involved with,
which seemed rather fortuitous to me,
being a subject I am somewhat familiar with.

As often happens in these discussions,
the subject of where the homeless
choose to be homeless, comes up. 
One person brought up San Diego,
 and said that the weather there
certainly must be attracting a lot of homeless people. 
But then another person countered that Seattle
has a large homeless population
and the weather there is less than ideal.  

So then it was mentioned that
Seattle must have good social services for the homeless,
and that must be what is attracting homeless people there.
But then it was brought up that Nashville also
has good services for the homeless,
yet Nashville does not have nearly the homeless population
that Seattle has.

I think it's important to note that
people who comment on the quality of homeless services
really don't know what they are talking about.  
They only know about homeless services as
they are relayed to them from a third party. 
They don't actually take a first hand look at the services
provided for the homeless,
neither do they take the time to determine
if the services described to them are real or exaggerated,
or if they are actually meeting the needs of the homeless.

Most people don't really know
what it is that homeless people
need. So,
their assessment of services,
especially comparing one place to another,
is factually baseless. 

They just don't know what they are talking about.


http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/

Activity A

Mr. Cheng's Poem

Is there a tune more happy

than a daughter’s windchime laugh?  

A silence more crushing

than her rolling tear?  

Is there a breeze more cooling

than a son’s slumbered sigh?  

A thought more awesome

than the question that he asks?  

And is there a truer joy

when I am the clown?  Shame

when I accuse

and rage?  Peace

when I pull up the sheet?  Pride

when I strike the flint? 

I made these kids

and I make these kids.  

And they make me.

Emotions Poems

The Night Walker
I walk the dogs at night.
Darkness surrounds me,
except the slight flicker of a street light.
It seems too quiet sometimes,
my imagination runs wild with possibilities.
A wimper in the distance,
is it a baby crying or a mouse squeeling?
I keep walking determined to get home.
My pace quickens, but home seems far.
The leaves rustle in the wind,
they blow past my face, making it hard to see.
The dogs are small, useless I think,
but they are as alert as I am.
Noises surround us as we scurry home.
How many miles left I wonder,
hoping for just one.

10 Ways of Looking at the Sky

1.

The clouds billow like waves,

rolling around like kids in the snow.

But the snow is blue and the kids are white and fluffy.

2.

Sometimes I look up and it is dark,

like someone is unhappy and their

face turns bright red.

3.

Tiny droplets fall from this expansive space

like its crying out in sadness.

Yearning for the bright yellow circle.

4.

When the bright yellow circle is out

in December, it's playing tricks on our eyes.

You walk outside and it feels chilled.

5.

It is endless this blue space up there.

And at dusk it turns from blue to orange,

to purple, then black.

6.

In the city you are less visible.

Glass building reflect your image,

although it is not quite as beautiful.

7.

When the droplets begin to fall,

it is surprising come November,

 when they are in fussy star shapes.

8.

And when blossoms form on trees

in the spring, you turn back to

damp droplets with roaring winds.

9.

Somedays I wake up and fell grey,

so I ask you to be blue

and carry the bright yellow circle.

10.

I am thankful for your blueness,

but somedays,

I wish you could be pink...

my favorite color.

Modernism Poem (based on presentation)

Breaking away from the normal is what we do. Modernism is really cool.
No rhyme, no meter, just fun and games. Expressing yourself will never be the same.
Imagism is fantastic; creating images in the mind with metaphors. No rules, nothing.
Hulme, then Pound. The newfound poetry was spreading like wild fire.
Free of romatic constraints, a new era was born.
Modernism.

modernism poem

                                                                           Brightness
                                                           surround                   us everywhere
                                          but somedays                                         not as much.
                             I wonder sometimes                                              how something can be so bright,
                                   but I know it                                                           is so that I can see things.
                                    I am thankful                                                     for the light.
                                           No rain                                                   just sun.
                                                Happiness                                 exists when
                                                            there is                   much sun
                                                                        Brightness
                               
                    

Sonnet

The dog went forth into the night,
he found a friend his name was jack.
They came upon a scary fright,
the cat jumed out and gave a whack.
It wasn't kind, it wasn't cool,
what kitty did was wrong and mean.
Unfair and cruel the kitty broke the rule,
it caused the dog to ache and break it spleen.
It took a while fore dog to fully heal,
but once he did no longer did he cry.
He ran and played with wonder and with zeal,
for cat was dead without a single "Bye."
The dog lived long and with his friend,
he danced and pranced until the end.

Elegy

I Will See You Someday

I go to school day to day, it's the same routine, weekly.

I come home, and do my homework, then I practice my music.

It's a fulfilling lifestyle, but sometimes I remember your face and I realize a part of me is missing.

It's been two years, but the memories feel like just yesterday.

Baking cookies in your kitchen, and swimming in your freezing cold pool.

We laughed and cried, we sang and prayed. We were pals, and distantly we still are.

Gatherings at Christmas are not the same without your beaming smile, and loud laugh.

Sometimes, I wish I could see you again, but I know it will be a while.

It hurts to say it, but I am beginning to forget the sound of your voice.

Sometimes, if I am lucky, I can hear it when I dream.

No matter where you are now, I know you are with me somehow.

Your spirit resides in me and the family, so I am constantly reminded of your love.

It has been two years, which feels like ten,

 but you taught me to have faith, and so I know that someday I will see you again.

RONDEAU

Bark Says the Dog

Bark says the Dog, who cannot walk.

His furry friends begin to talk.

The life of Dog is very rough,

No longer does he walk enough.

He wishes he were like the Hawk.

He moans on the edge of the dock,

while his furry friends walk the block.

Nothing remains but boring stuff,

Bark says the Dog.

All day long he stares at the clock,

praying some day he will soon walk.

He cannot see beyond his fluff,

life of this Dog is very rough.

He sits and chews on owners sock.

Bark says the Dog.