Interview on Beliefs

Untitled from Claire W on Vimeo.

At the end of the year.....

Authors note: This closure piece is a reflection over the past two years I have been in middle school with Mr. Johnson. As much as I look forward to high school, part of me wishes I could stay in middle school just for the sake of still having Mr. Johnson as my English teacher.

As cliché as it sounds, it is difficult to see how my two years of middle school have passed by so quickly. It is easy to remember the night before my first day of seventh grade -- nightmares about being late to class running through my mind. The teachers were welcoming and helpful to the nervous seventh graders, but I still went home crying and hating middle school. Yet being able to enjoy middle school is not the only way I have grown.

On the first day of classes fourth hour held a surprise. Gone were the teachers who expected you to do the assignment exactly step by step. No more was I in a classroom where teachers held my hand as I completed their self-created projects. I had Mr. Johnson now.

Two years have past and without a doubt I feel prepared for high school. When looking at the poster in this room above the Speak cabinet, those qualities seem to describe how I feel about my writing. I have gained the ability to read and understand novels more independently than when I walked in as a beginning seventh grader. Literature now seems to hold so much more depth than it did before for me. So now as I look forward to high school and the freedom to come, I am excited for the chance to learn more.

There may be time

Authors note: When I wrote this piece, my inspiration was someone who I love that as time goes on, may spread us apart. I wanted the reader to imagine somebody who they love that could possibly be taken away from then.

There may be a year

Or two or three

But there may be a day

Left for just you and me

We may have a lifetime

To celebrate what we love

But there may just be time

To wait for the above

Your childhood will be missed

The comfort you once gave

It will never be forgotten

All the love I will save

So now as we wait

For time to pass by

Live well and live all

Promise you'll try

Don't Forget

Authors note: After Mr. Johnson mentioned how the older you get, the faster time seems to get. This suddenly made me realize that each school ends sooner and sooner. Before long we will all be graduated, but will we always remember each other? I tried to make the lines longer in the end to show how sometimes we just want moments to last in life.

Don't forget that laugh or smile sitting

That empty silent seat beside

Those common faces so bare and dull

are they still alive?

Don't forget those awkward times with others

The ones you often wish away

They remember them just as well

did they feel the same way?

Those times and days when all was bleak

Yet one smile, a joke made you laugh

Those sitting there right beside

did they take joy in that grin?

Don't forget those single days between

The endless single hours

And at the end you all were cheering

how long did that last?

How long did it last before you remembered

The photos stained with your tears

You remember those times you wish you'd forget

did you finally?

Remember the love and the pain and loss

The death that you felt inside

Those ones that you hated unrelentingly

do you miss them?

Remember those times you laughed and smiled

Those days when nothing would bring you down

And the people you were with who witnessed it

remember them

Recording of Emilated Poem

http://voicethread.com/share/1972202/

Saison d'Autumn

Author's note: I tried to write this poem in french just to see how hard it was. Below it is a translation.

Link to voicethread

Avec les feuillages des coleur brilliant
et arbes des verte terre
Je regarde le mou et belle saison
devenis le froid hiver

Translation:
With the leaves of bright color
and trees of green earth
I watch the soft and beautiful season
become the cold winter

Finally Truth

Authors note: This poem represents all the lies that had been told to Truman. There are two quotes that the director of the show said in the movie that showed his need for control over the show and Truman. I incorporated both of them into the poem. Also, the last line was not spoken in the movie, but it seemed as though it should be assumed.



O're the ocean he traveled to see
that which had made him what he be
That which has almost been his death
And that which then gave his breathe

Of all the lies ever was told
He had never been all that bold
To have such courage for he was scared
For what beyond the world shared

He accepted the world as it was given
Not over the bridge had he ever driven
For water had stole from him a dad
One who was sheltered from all sad

The water that once had been his life
Began to cause him such a strife
His father was gone and what to become
but a heart that had gone cold and numb

And so as secrets began to unfold
The truth that once had never been told
Was finally spoken for all to hear
"In my world, you have nothing to fear."

Yet fear was what had caused this show
His need for control had made him so
And as Truman opened the door
I'll never come back again he swore

The Truman Show and school

Authors note: When we were watching the movie, my main thought was how unfair and inhumane it was that they were making his life a TV show. It also scared me that he didn't even know what was happening to him.


As children we are taught to follow certain rules. 'Don't talk to strangers.' and 'Don't cross the street alone.' are examples of non-negotiable rules. At school it is required for us to 'use our inside voices' and 'walk in a straight line' at all times while inside the building. Each teacher has a list of rules that hang in their room proudly to remind students of what not to do. School starts at a young age and slowly drills these rules into us. In third grade, they push harder for us to learn these rules saying that fourth grade is much worse in their punishments for not following rules. When we reached sixth grade, we were constantly reminded of the difficulty in middle school. Finally as eighth graders, teachers are always telling us of how difficult high school will be. After high school there will be the trouble of college. Our school says they are preparing us for "College Readiness" with our learning targets. They say they want to prepare us for the real world, yet they keep us so protected at school. Just as it is in the movie, our school is constantly making sure that everything is happening in the right place and the right time. We think that school is a reality; the teachers teach us about all that is going on in the current world. But is school reality? I was thinking that school is a lot like this movie because everything is so protected to be made perfect. School seems to be teaching us what they want us to know, though, just as the producer is doing with Truman's life.

Never give all your apples

My poem was inspired by the poem Never give all the heart by William Butler Yeats. I took his idea of not wanting to give something away and the consequences that would occur if you did and made a satire.

Never give all the heart:

Never give all the heart, for love

Will hardly seem worth thinking of

To passionate women if it seem

Certain, and they never dream

That it fades out from kiss to kiss;

For everything that's lovely is

But a brief, dreamy, kind delight.

O never give the heart outright,

For they, for all smooth lips can say,

Have given their hearts up to the play.

And who could play it well enough

If deaf and dumb and blind with love?

He that made this knows all the cost,

For he gave all his heart and lost.

My Poem:

Never give all your apples, for good

You'll never be thinking you should

To hungry poor children so sweet

Certain, and they would never eat

That it hurts some from day to day

For all that is juicy I pray

Is a cool, crunchy, kind delight.

O never give your apples outright,

For they, for all poor souls can say

Have given their apples up to the play

And who could eat with upright head

If full and rich and plump with red?

He that gave it knows all the loss,

For he lost all his apple sauce.

El Alcazar

Author's note: This poem was based off of the poster in the back of the room. I looked at the tower and imagined a princess who was left there to die.

I know why I am here

The fate of all the lands

And all that I hold dear

resting upon my hands

And now that I am gone

A single flower dead

The rest quiet their song

And nothing to be said

In life what have I done

To call upon this death

No Hell I can't outrun

And gone my single breath

My soul will linger here

So restless and unsure

All love will disappear

Along with all else pure

Creation

After studying the Christian view of the creation of the world, I was inspired to write this poem.

Beginning of the morning

The light a gift for all

So soft so strong it is today

A beautiful creation

Another day has come and gone

To leave another morning

Another day for night and sky

A beautiful creation

The day is gone another comes

Alive are plants and trees

Separate are the land and sea

A beautiful creation

Another gift another blessing

Let light guide us in our lives

The darkness hides in fear of light

A beautiful creation

Yet another day is here

The fish swim in the sea

Birds are flying overhead

A beautiful creation

Another day again is here

The last and final gift

A beating heart and love for all

A beautiful creation

The seventh day of rest and peace

So blessed is it now

We sing of praise for the time we have

What a beautiful creation

Mr. Kumar

This was a response to the prompt "Discuss Mr. Kumar and Pi's description and respect for him."

When meeting someone for the first time, you may get a first impression immediately just by their appearance. When Pi describes Mr. Kumar in the novel Life of Pi, he is an interesting man with an interesting shape. A triangular head and body stuck upon two sticks called legs. An odd shape, yes, but if you were to get past the first impression what would you find? A man full of knowledge and a love for science is what Pi sees behind the façade of an oddly shaped person. Though Mr. Kumar is an atheist, Pi does not mind as long as he has faith in something. The weak are those who claim they are too strong to put their faith anywhere for support.

As an atheist, Mr. Kumar believes that God is not real. He said himself to Pi one day, "Religion is darkness." "Why tolerate darkness? Everything is here and clear, if only we look carefully." Mr. Kumar then pointed to a rhino standing in front of him referencing him as the light in life. It shows that his "religion" is science.

Once, Zeno the Stoic said that it is better to feel nothing than to feel good or bad. If you believe this, you could also say that it is better to put your faith in nothing than to put it in something good or bad. When Pi is thinking about his talk with Mr. Kumar he says to himself “It is not atheists who get stuck in my craw, but agnostics. Doubt is useful for a while." "But we must move on. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation." Pi is saying to that life by doubt or to put faith in nothing, you are making life as hard to live as you possibly can.

If ever in life were you to take a leap of faith, where would your faith be? This question is one that would have a variety of answers. The point that Pi or Yann Martel is trying to get across is that if you ever have to be asked that question, you should know exactly where you put your trust and faith. Not the trust you have in a bank for keeping your money safe, but the faith that you may realize that something is greater and more powerful than yourself and you trust it with your life. Pi's respect for Mr. Kumar is not about his knowledge, but that he has faith in something he loves -- that he could take a leap of faith with science by his side.

Wunderkammern

This sculpture was from the Milwaukee Public Art Museum and showed a wooden cabinet surrounded by trees that are leaning into it. I found that is looks as though the green and life of nature is giving into man and evolution.

The green of nature

It's beauty and life

Love and innocence

Mystery and hope

A silent breeze

Blowing softly across

Whispering of history

A mystery

Of evolution and death

An innocent surrender

Bending softly

To improvement

To technology and hate

War and loss

A world of fear

A silent surrender

Firelight

This poem represents someone being young and innocent sitting by a fire roasting marshmallows. I've done this with my family many times when I was younger, so the innocence reminds me of those times.


As youth and love collide
Amongst the flame lit night
I feel you by my side
But not within my sight
The crackle of the log
The melody for the night
Beside me lies a dog
Enjoying the firelight


Our marshmallows melting
Our faces aglow
By the fire's light shining
We feel the warm blow
Wild in the air
Beneath the starry sky
Tonight there is not a care
Beside the fire's sigh

The stars above my head
The blanket beneath my chin
I argued when you said
It was time to go in
Now laying in my bed
Ready to go to sleep
Goodnight warm fire red

It's time to count the sheep

I do.......

This summer, I went to Illinois with my family to see my cousin get married. The wedding was beautiful, and my cousin, Nick, and his bride-to-be, Katie, seemed so happy. It got me wondering about how much effort is put into a wedding, but more importantly, what are the bride and groom going through.

The Bride
The crowd waiting through the doors
The tears running down your cheeks
The man you love standing at the aisle

The Groom
The crowd in front of you
Attempting to stay strong
The woman you love standing just behind the doors

an important decision before them
a choice
a life together
or a life apart
all binded by two simple words
"I do"

Poetry

Check out some of my poetry on my poetry blog. Click the link at the top of the page.
Thanks!

Pale Assassin

Eugiene is forced to leave France after many troubles with the Revolution, yet at last minute, she is forced to save her older brothers friend instead of her brother. She learns the meaning of sacrifice, going from an aristocrat to barely being able to eat a meal.

You cannot trust anybody
Nobody can help you
Just you
you and your brother
alone in this world of evil
yet there is a light
a brightness
a glimpse of hope
England is your freedom
from the guillotine
from arranged marriage
from the Revolution
leaving behind your brother
to free his friend
to save a life
and risk another
to find that light
a brightness
that glimmer of hope

In Florida, there are so many different personalities, especially with all of the tourists. Each attraction brings different people to see it, and they bring their personalities, that’s how they all get together. It’s interesting to see how each person reacts to the other tourists, whether they have ideas that agree, or whether they agree to disagree on everything. Everyone is different, many are similar, nobody is the same, and everyone disagrees sometimes.

In a trip to Florida with my family, I happened to see where my cousins enjoy spending their vacations. While my family was staying with my grandparents, they were in a all-inclusive resort, just off the Gulf of Mexico. The beach was beautiful, the hotel was huge, and there happened to be a sand sculpture that looked for like a painting. There was everything on this sand sculpture, including many different and unique animals.

My cousins, one was eleven and the other was nine, were looking at it and calling out different animals they recognized, while I was just enjoying its beauty.

“Look, there’s a fox over here!” my cousin Zoey shouted. She is the same age as me, just a grade below me, and a lot shorter. Out of nowhere, a girl that couldn’t be older than eight came over and was also looking at the sculpture.

“That’s not a fox, that’s a dog, what would a fox be doing on a sand sculpture?” she said in the rudest British accent you can imagine. Why she decided to come over here and start talking to us as if we were three I don’t know, especially since I towered over her. They decided to start arguing over what animal it was, while I decided to let them sort it out. I was simply there to make sure nobody got hurt. Luckily nobody got hurt, and the girls parents called her and her little brother back. Did I mention that the animal ended up being a raccoon?

I still wonder where that girl is now, and if she came from Australia, England, or just happens to have a British accent while living in America. It is possible she still looks back at this day laughing and telling her friends just as I have. She could regret arguing and wish she had just calmly discussed their different ideas. Still, where ever she is, where ever anyone is, people will always agree and disagree on many things.

Orphaned at age 12

Death is never an easy obstacle to get over. Right when you think the pain is gone, it comes right back. This is in the view of an ignorant, yet curious, twele year old boy. He still has yet to get over the loss of his five dead family members.

Life is never easy in the sense that everything comes and goes. I've never been able to understand why people die, that is I still don't know why. Why do such innocent people leave this earth when there are people that love them so much, is a thought that crosses my mind lately. Still, this is one of the questions living people may never know.

I am not an only child, in fact, I have three other siblings, not that we get along. Being the oldest has its advantages, in my case, living. Also, I will never underestimate the power of having a simple cold. So many things in life are unpredictable, I've learned to deal with it and move on.

"Owen, get your bags and keep moving, otherwise you will not get any supper," snapped my caretaker, though she still has yet to realize the weight of a dead family.

"Whateva', I am busy," I replied in hushed monotone. This is all after the 'incident', and still, my future does not look bright.

I don't bother remembering my family, the pain will hurt too much, all I know is, life goes on. Life goes on, but for me, it ends. I plug in my headphones and turn the volume to high, nothing is going to penetrate my wall of sound. This is the way I stay until I reach my new home. This is the way I stay until I walk into the pitch black house.

College is too soon for me

As many of you probably know, my brother is a senior in high school. This means that I get the pleasure of trips to many colleges! I can never understand anything the people from those colleges say, so I tune it out. One time, as my family and I were listening to someone speak at Marquette, my dad and I got bored and left the room. We decided to go into a room with displays about science, the field my brother wants to major in. We started looking around at the displays, then got talking with one of the professors there. Suddenly, he asked me what I wanted to major in. Obviously I haven't given this much thought, so I kept silent with a confused look on my face. Luckily, my dad spoke up for me, explaining how I was only in 6th grade (at that time). Somehow, I came across as a senior in high school.

Also, this Saturday, I was able to go to Marquette again so my brother and his friend could take a test for a scholarship. This time it wasn't as eventful, though my dad did fall asleep twice while they were talking.

Though these trips to colleges are very boring(I also have to get up early), they are also getting me ready for when I have to go to college. They give me the opportunity to see what colleges are like, and how to react. Not that I pay attention, but you can learn a lot from just visiting.