Nature Poem: The Autumn
Smile
The eternal autumn smile
Old yet juvenile
Let us down, not even one year
As colors of the wind
also appear
Hello orange, yellow,
and red,
goodbye green,
Bye-bye June, July, and August,
Hello Halloween.
Adios shorts, sunglasses, and flip flops
Hello hoodies and sweats
Jumping into pools no more
Jumping into mom’s
raked leaves, yes.
All the leaves are falling down,
Orange yellow red and brown
No spring nor summer beauty have such grace
As the earth does with
an autumnal face
Lowered
window blind overcomes the light
As overcoming summer days is an autumn night
The
renaissance quilt covers the land
The shadow of night advances as summer
days are banned
The wind blows a gentle kiss
As the heart forms a great bliss
The horizon is painted
gold
The wind does his work gentle, yet bold.
Looking out on to the river's reflection,
It is lovely out there, what a connection.
The trees blowing in the wind together,
A moment that lasts forever
Better than usual I felt
That night I got home
And with a tint of fall
and a pencil or two
I wrote this poem
Creation
Story: Rainbows
There is always a
rainbow to look forward to after a thunderstorm, something bright, mystical,
and magical to experience after a dreadful storm. To many children around the world before
storms were scary, something to hide from, there wasn’t a rainbow to soothe
them. Children would hide under tables, blankets, pillows clutching on to their
dolls, bears, and stuffed animals. Parents weren’t able to calm the screams of
their children. Storms would make their hearts beat ten times faster, the dogs
bark ten times louder, and the parents had ten times less patience. There was
one particular family, a very unique one, living in skittlesville, the Bows.
The Bow family consisted of seven little girls. The seven sisters loved storms;
they enjoyed playing in the rain. Not just one Bow or two, but all seven were
always excited to play outside during a storm. They loved the breeze it
produced, the puddles formed to splash in, and pretending to cry as the
raindrops streamed down their cheeks. The Bow sisters were simply lively and
energetic. Halloween was near, and they all wanted to dress up as their
favorite princess. Mr. and Mrs. Bow bought that year, a Cinderella costume, a
Belle costume, an Ariel one, as well as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine,
and Mulan costumes. The 31st of October they all headed out the
door, dressed up, grabbing their jack o lanterns baskets to collect candies.
Door to door they ran repeating, “trick or treat “holding out their baskets
accepting candies. All the children were as happy as the Bow sisters running
from door to door as well. That is until they heard a loud booming sound, soon
accompanied by a flash of light. All the children looked at each other in
silence, and began to shriek and run behind their parents as they heard another
boom. All the children threw their baskets of candies and begged to go home, as
they knew a thunderstorm was on the way. Doors were quickly shut, blinds closed
and the Bow sisters didn’t see what was wrong. They wondered why all the other
children didn’t enjoy storms as much as they did. They pondered the idea of why
someone would be afraid of just water. They invited the neighbors to come out
and play but they all said no with fear. The Bow sisters decided to bring color
and happiness into children’s’ eyes of the idea of storms. Bags and baskets
full of candies were left thrown on the streets, and so the sisters decided to
pass them out. They picked up as many as they could and began running through
the village. All together they ran with smiles, leaving candies in the front
steps of houses for children who left them on the street. Slowly children began
creeping out of beds, closets, and blankets to see if the rumors were true.
They gazed in awe from their windows as they saw the girls all in different
colors running in the storm with a smile. The girls would jump and laugh as
they ran down the streets. Children began joining them not needing to fear the
storms any longer. They followed the girls until all the candies were passed
out. Very few children had joined them but after every storm more and more
gathered to play in the rain. Hoping to gather more children, the Bow sisters
would run smiling after every storm around the town inviting children to come
outside, that there was nothing to be afraid of. As they gained the confidence
of many, the sisters were now referred to as rainbow. All dressed in different
colors, like the day they began to run around in their princess costumes, they
would run after every storm. “Here comes the rainbow,” people would say as the
girls ran past their houses spreading happiness and color to storms. The Bow
sisters continue their mission after every storm producing an arc of colors hoping
to produce a smile on children’s’ face and losing the fear they had for what is
a thunderstorm.
(Word
count: 681)
Responses:
To
Build a Fire Response:
To build a fire was a story of a constant dispute
between knowledge and instinct. There are many examples of the overconfident
man showing knowledge, lacking and over thinking his instincts. The dog however
shows many examples of instincts that reflect knowledge. There is a difference
between knowledge and instinct. Knowledge is what you learn over the years from
yours or other people’s experiences. On the other hand, instincts come
naturally. Instincts are actions that occur immediately. Instincts can be grown
into, while knowledge has to be taught. One isn’t taught to move your hand away
from the fire; it is an instinct to move it away once you feel it hot. In this
story the man calculates how long it will take for his arrival with the boys.
This is an example of knowledge, something he was taught to do; he is able to
calculate the time it will take him. An instinct however was the feeling of
panic. On page 628, the man can’t clutch hold of the birch bark in his pocket.
He then begins to panic at the thought of his feet freezing. It was a normal
instinct to panic of fear when things are going wrong. Since it was his
immediate reaction and feeling, it was an instinct. The dog had instincts as
well. The dog felt hungry, so he went to look for food. Although he might get
lost, his instinct was to look for food, knowing it was necessity. What was
interesting to me was that the man in this story had no name. I believe this
was intentional of the author. I think that the author was referring to man,
the human being in this story. In my opinion, it was implied that this man is
man itself. Humans are overconfident in their abilities forgetting what you are
naturally born with. Sometimes we are blinded by technology and other advances
that we forget the basics of survival. He refers to the man as “folly of a man”
meaning foolishness of man. I agree with this concept of man being foolish and
blinded by luxuries, forgetting the necessities in life. We are dependent on
technology in this century. To survive we don’t only need what we know, or what
we have learned but also our natural feelings, our instincts.
(Word
count: 386)
Response
to The Tide Rises, The Tide falls:
The tide rises, the tide falls is about moving on.
In this poem it begins by saying that it is darkening meaning that night is
coming in, and a traveler goes to town. It continues by the waves erasing the
footsteps of the traveler in the sand, and the tides continue to rise and fall.
This poem describes how life keeps going no matter what. The tides didn’t stop
rising and falling after the traveler. The traveler came back and the tides
were the same, constantly rising and falling. When one dies, life keeps going.
This poem relates to the ideas of the poem of Thanatopsis. They both describe
how life moves on after death. They describe how no matter what, everything
will always be the same. The tides made minor changes, for example, the erasing
of the sand footprints, but they kept on rising and falling. Although there
were many things going on at once, the tides continued to do what they do, at
night, and at day. We should be like tides after footprints of our lives erase.
After are loved ones are gone, we need to continue doing what we do. We need to
live our lives happily, and normally. Life moves on, and the tides continue to
rise and fall.
(Word
count: 214)
Response
to Grass:
In this poem the grass symbolizes time. It tells how
time covers all and how the dead are forgotten over time. It mentions some wars
that occurred in Austerlitz, Waterloo, Gettysburg, Ypres, and Verdun.
Eventually the bodies, the people are forgotten about. This is shown in how the
people ask the conductor where they are and what was there. As no one knows the
grass is disguising history. Wars and the people that died in war are forgotten
over time. The author emphasizes how the grass is saying to let it work, how it
covers all. As they shovel and bury the dead, its job is to cover them all. As
they ask what place is this and where are we now, it demonstrates the grass’
anger towards humans as they selfishly and foolishly forget of the great people
who lie underneath. I believe this poem is criticizing those who forget of the
past. In reality we can’t forget the past because it will repeat. If we are not
aware of the result and causes of previous wars, they will continue to occur,
and repeat. As we look at the grass we must remember who is underneath us and
the struggles they went through to get there.
(Word
count: 210)
Response
to Thanatopsis:
Beginning with the title, “thanatos” is Greek for death, and “opsis” is greek for view. The title of the poem is translated into
a view of death. Imagery of graves and tombs take place in this poem due to the
fact that it is describing death. The earth is described with nature being a
beautiful grave, always decorated for the dead. The author is saying this
because once we die we become part of the Earth as we are buried underground.
The flowers above us in nature decorate our graves. We shouldn’t fear death
either. Everyone experiences it, rich and poor, no matter what everyone dies.
We all join together in the end underground. One should accept death when it
comes because it is a final resting place; it is like going into an endless
dream. The author describes death as an “eternal resting place on a magnificent
couch.” This doesn’t mean that once we die we are playing video games and
watching TV on our couches. The couch is symbolizing our grave. It refers to
where we go when we die; it isn’t a scary or awful place but a comforting and
cozy place. It describes death as a pleasant nap instead of an eternal prison.
(Word
count: 207)
Response
to Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening:
Like many of Robert Frost’s poems he has both a
literal and figurative meaning in this poem. Literally he begins by saying he
is walking in the woods and in a house that doesn’t belong to him, while the
owner is gone. Figuratively I believe he is saying that the woods belong to
everyone because it is meant for enjoying and not owning. Then he explains how
the horse is confused at how Frost can enjoy the simplicity of a frozen lake on
a dark evening. I think by this he is expressing his feelings with symbols. I
think the dark evening symbolizes depression while the horse’s thought are the
emotions and unexplainable feelings of the relationship he shares with nature.
The horse’s bell shaking symbolizes the conflicts Frost has. He only hears the
wind, making him feel alone. At the end of this poem I he has realized that the
woods are a beautiful place but also a depressing place. He ends the poem
saying he has miles to go before he sleeps, meaning that he has a lot of living
and much more to do before he dies. One needs to enjoy life to the fullest, and
do the most one can before one dies.
(Word
count: 207)
Weather
Experience: A Shower of Happpiness
Turning
was I
Eight
years old
Birthday
princess
With a tiara of plastic gold
Balloons
everywhere
Cake
and roses
Smiles
on everyone
As we took pictures in different poses
Having
a great time we were
Typical
party in the park
Suddenly
then came
A shadow of dark
Everything
was ruined
As
a shower fell down
Nothing
cheered us up
Not even the clown
We
began packing up
And
I got hit in the back
To
make matters worst
I turned around to realize it was Jack
“What
was that for!?” I screamed
“Let’s
have fun,” he said.
“It’s
raining!” I argued
“Oh,
c’mon, don’t let this get to your head”
Soaking
wet we were
As
water balloons we threw
Dancing
in the rain
My disaster was now a dream come true
Soon
I learned that rain showered happiness
This
was the best birthday yet
Definitely
a day
I will never forget
Most
beautiful experience:
The dusty corner on that ear piercing, creaky wooden
floor that would never let me get away with anything. No sneaky nights with
this floor, something my parents appreciated. They were vertically lined up
that all lead to the chipped off white door. Once turned, the lock on the door
was almost as ear splitting loud as the creaky floors. My mom yelled for me, it
was time to go, time to leave where I had spent my whole life, my home. The most
beautiful thing I have ever seen was an empty house. What made it so special was
the feeling it gave off, not the sight. It is not about the destination but
rather the journey to get there. I headed out the door to go to our new house
as the UPS truck was going to follow us. Before I closed the door, of course
there was the loud creak of my step. I looked at what was our living room, and
my life flashed before my eyes. Next to the heater there used to be a couch,
the one I would plop down on every afternoon and complain about my homework
while doing it. Over to the right there was a glimpse of the kitchen where my
mom spent most of her time. That empty kitchen used to be our family time,
banging of pots by my little cousin, my mom cooking while watching her soap operas,
and my dad waiting at the table for dinner as excited as a five year old on Christmas.
Down the hallway was my room, first door on the left. That door was slammed
shut so loud when I was mad, that room was filled of pillow fights, sleepless
nights, diary entries, and simply happiness. Walking down further was my parents’
room. A door permanently colored on, the scribbles never washed away. That door
was opened as I searched for security from monsters under my bed when I was
younger. From the kitchen to the living room was a long hallway, especially on
my 6th birthday. The cake never made it from the kitchen to the
living room, as my sister slipped and my puppy was enjoying the cake on the
floor now instead of us. Three honks interrupted my flashbacks, it was time to
go. I looked at the empty house one last time. A home I would never forget, I spent
both joyous and devastating times there. I closed the door, and ran to the car
waiting for me. “What took you so long,” my mom asked. “Oh, nothing, I was just
making sure I didn't forget anything.” I smiled looking at her positive that
from that house, I would never forget anything. Looking forward to a fresh
start I gladly said, “Let’s go.”
(Word
count: 466)
Response
to 3 essays:
I especially enjoyed the poem by Robert Frost. He
wonders how people can just hear and not care about the noise that trees make. Trees
make noise by wind blowing through it, but people don’t notice it. He believes
that the trees desire is to leave, their noise are their pleas for help. Trees
have their roots, however, and are unable to fulfill their desire to leave,
while their branches are trying to reach out somewhere. Trees constantly are conversating
but it’s just meaningless noise to people who hear it. I think this is really
interesting because it makes me realize the things we take for granted. It
related to American Forests, because it talks about the burning of forests. These
two essays have a relationship. Robert Frost speaks of how trees aren't listened
to and asking for help and American Forests explain how trees are taken down
carelessly by humans, not listening to the trees. In American Forests, the
writer feels that trees are taken down by white men just for their benefit.
This again relates to Robert Frost’s ideas of selfishness as people don’t care
nor listen. Both these essays lead to the ideas of Thoreau in his essay
Walking. In this essay Thoreau explains his ideas of people not being able to
enjoy nature because of others carelessness. You can’t enjoy what others are
ruining, and restricting. The land is for all; nature shouldn't have
restrictions, and shouldn't be getting cut down. As Frost and American Forests
explain our carelessness leading us to destroy our lands will soon be a picture
that Thoreau fears of us not being to enjoy land, because there won’t be any
left.
(Word
count: 280)
