Prose Poem:

I heard tell of the killer man. He was dressed in black they said. He was dangerous, this man. I didn't care for the stories. I went out on my way. I was to get to Montana in two days. I could waste no time. Along the highway I walked. Day in. Day out. Following the winding road. Exhausted, I stopped for a while to rest. The truck looked familiar. I noted the cross bones on the bumper. Where have I seen this before. The truck pulled over. The man got out. It hit me then, this was the killer man. Need I say more.

Blog 20: experimental poetry

When our two souls stand up erect and strong, by: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

When our two souls stand up erect and strong.
Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,
Until the lengthening wings break into fire
At either curved point, --what bitter wrong
Can the earth do to us, that we should not long
Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher,
The angels would press on us and aspire
To drop some golden orb of perfect song
Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay
Rather on earth, Beloved, --where the unfit
Contrarious moods of men recoil away
And isolate pure spirits, and permit
A place to stand and love in for a day,
With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.

Removing words:

When our souls up and strong.
Face to face, drawing,
Until the break into fire
At either point, -- wrong
Can the us, that we should not long
Be contented? Think!  higher,
The would press on us and
To drop some  of perfect
Into our deep, . Let us stay
Rather on, --where the unfit
 moods of recoil away
And isolate spirits, and
A place to and love for a ,
With darkness and the rounding it.

New version:

When our souls are built up in love and strong.
Face to face, we stand, drawing higher
Until the love breaks into a glorious fire
At either point, no one did the other wrong
Can this be us, that we should not long
Be far from contented? Think!  higher,
The world would press on us and be loud
To drop some of its perfect knowledge
Into our deep love, But please let us stay
Rather let us love on, to where the unfit
Moods of those people finally recoil away
And they won't isolate spirits, and remove
A place to belong and love for a while,
Without the darkness and pain rounding it.

Deep in the expanse of the hot African desert,

The sun beats down on the cracked ground.

And the fur on the back of the fierce lion

Sweats with the midday sun.

He has taken a firm stance before me

To show his dominance.

I take a step forward into his territory

Challenging his gaze with my own deep stare.

He questions my motive with a slight tilt of his head

And I react.

I raise my knife and trace his head from where I am.

There is no fear like my own.

I know the risk,

I have lived in this desert long enough to know the danger.

But I have no choice, this lion killed the one I love.

And has sparked a fire in me

That will not be put out.

I need to make my move,

For he is approaching me now,

And the look in his eyes warns me that he won't stop

Until he gets his fill of human flesh from my bones.

Purposefully I drive

The sharp edge of my knife into the heart of the lion 

And it is even. 

I agree with Dana Gioia, poetry is losing its significance in everyday life. In my own life, I have observed that poetry is similar to reading books in that only people that enjoy reading them will do it. Many people cannot get into reading or poetry, and will not go out of their way to read it. I enjoy reading, but only if it something that truly grabs my attention. It is the same with poetry. I often can’t follow through with reading something unless it is interesting to me. So, I think the best way to get people to read poetry is to make it appealing to them. This is the hard part because everyone has such different taste. However, that is also the beauty of poetry. It differs so greatly from poet to poet so it is able to capture a wide variety of audiences. Dana Gioia explains some ways to make poetry a part of American public culture. First she says that when poets give public readings they should spend time reciting other people’s work. She claims this will bring admiration to poetry in general and not just the specific poet. I also believe this may help to bring more attention to poetry as a whole. Gioia also says that public readings of poetry should include forms of art beyond poetry such as music. This will get people with interest in other forms of art to come to the reading and they may become interested in poetry through the event. Overall, I believe poetry is a dying art, but if poets can find a way to bring more public awareness to poetry then they may be able to bring poetry back into the American public.  

Me: Hi mom sorry I missed your call. (iambic tetrameter)
Mom: Sure you are (sarcasm). I bet you were busy with Jack. (iambic tetrameter)
Me: No, I was actually getting ready for work. (iambic pentameter)
Mom: Ok. Well I was wondering if you were coming up this weekend. (iambic heptameter)
Me: I'm not sure yet. I need to find out my work schedule. (iambic tetrameter)
Mom: Ok. How is school going by the way? (iambic tetrameter)
Me: It's going good. I got an A on my patho exam Thursday. (hexameter)
Mom: Sweet. Only an A huh? (iambic dimeter)
Me: Ha ha, sorry to disappoint you. (iambic trimeter)
Mom: I am kidding, that is awesome. (iambic tetrameter)
Me: Thanks. Well, I gotta go or I'll be late for work. (iambic pentameter)
Mom: Ok, call me when you get home. (iambic trimeter)
Me: I will, I love you mom. (iambic trimeter)
Mom: Love you too. I will talk to you later. (iambic trimeter)

Most of the conversation was iambic, but the type of meter varied greatly.

A Girl Sold into Sex Trafficking 

The despondency showing on the small girl's face

A tear falling from God's eye

I didn’t know what to do when they came

I could see the hesitation in their eyes

Before they spoke I knew of his demise

They didn’t even have to say a name

I never expected it to happen so soon

The fear that crept up in me was real

Why did this happen it wasn’t the deal

We had only just gotten married in June

I don’t know what I am to do with my life

This man was meant to be here next to me

The future looks so grim from where I stand

What will happen to all that we had planned

I will no longer be loved as his wife

For my days to end quickly is now my plea

What a day to be watching the sunset!

Sitting on a tree stump in the woods,

Overlooking the torrent of water in the river.

Embers drifting away from the campfire.

Gathered around with all of my family,

We enjoy ourselves beneath the sky.

A bird is seen soaring through the sky

As we gaze upon the red sunset.

No one else, just me and my family.

Away from city life as we gather in the woods

Sitting by the warmth-giving campfire.

Still, the tickling of water is heard from the river.

The fish jump restlessly from the river

While hawks circle around in the sky.

Marshmallows brown in the heat of the campfire-

The only light source besides the sunset.

Sweet is the stillness of the woods

Filled with nature and my glowing family.

How great it is spending time with my family,

Camping next to the majestic river.

A lot is to be said about the serenity of the woods-

Connected to the world by the over-looming sky,

And the predictableness of the sunset.

Ending the day huddled around the campfire.

Sharing stories by the campfire-

Exchanging memories about our family.

I have never seen such a beautiful sunset-

Making its decent over the river

With distorted images of the above sky.

All surrounded by the vastness of the woods.

Animal echoes travel through the deep woods

And are heard by us gathered around the campfire.

Bats scurry for food up high in the sky.

While from below, stories continue about family.

The cool air drifts from the waters of the river

And hits us as we admire the sunset

My favorite things- the woods and my family,

Circled around the campfire nearby the flowing river.

Overshadowed by the sky and the closing sunset

Ode to the 0.5mm mechanical pencil

By Megan Larson

An instrument of power,

None can fully see.

With the potential to

Sculpt paper into works of art,

Or to pen volumes of

Miraculous works whose

Words strike passion in

The unwavering eyes.

Delicate to the touch,

Much like a gentle hand-

Gliding across the page

With grace and ease.

A line of beauty, neither

Thick or thin but

Of the upmost quality

Of both vision and

Precision.

Number 2 you may be,

No one knows for sure,

But surely you will

Fill my test with the proper

Lead. And if I shall

Run out there will be

No speck of worry

Because by the simple

Press of a finger,

Out the lead will come

And we will write once again.

Comparing Orientation and Bartleby, the Scrivener

            These two stories have very different portrayals of what a boss is like in the work place. In Orientation, the boss is blunt and very authoritative; he says things as commands rather than options. For example, “You have no business in the Custodian’s Closet,” (pg. 48). On the other hand, the boss in Bartleby is more passive and tends to ask his employees to do things rather than telling them. For example, when talking with Bartleby, he says things like, “Why do you refuse?”, “Is it not so?”, and “Will you not speak?” (pgs. 412 and 413). This comparison, infers that bosses who are more passive will not get as much obedience out of their employees as bosses who are authoritative will.

            These two stories vary in how productive the offices are. In Orientation, it seems like productivity is very important even if this productivity has consequences. For example, there is a serial killer working in the office and the boss just tells the new hire, “He is, in fact, our fastest typist,” (pg. 49). In Bartleby, the boss keeps Bartleby around the office even though he is not working or bettering the company anymore. He even gives him an extra month’s check when firing him so he would be able to get along before finding another job. This difference between bosses shows that bosses who are harsher in how they do business are often more productive, but don’t seem to care about their employees as much as more passive bosses.

            These two stories are different in what they portray about interactions between co-workers. In Orientation, the co-workers seem to know everything about each other’s business, but not in a healthy way, it seems like a very hostile environment. When the boss gives the new hire a tour of the office, he tells him all about the personal lives of those who work there, even if the information is ugly. In Bartleby, the co-workers are very close to each other and even the boss, and it seems like they get along well. For example, when Bartley is not doing his work, the boss asks everyone in the office what he should do about it. This comparison of the interaction of co-workers between the two stories shows that in smaller offices and where the boss cares about his employees; there are better unity and better relationships. 

"A & P"

This story is about a young man who works as a cashier at a supermarket. The man has a seemingly boring job so he has plenty of time to people watch and make observations about them. He is very judgmental of the customers, particularly the three girls in the story. He has both positive and negative things to say about them. The story goes into detail about what the boy is thinking about these girls. From a feminist perspective, one might say that this boy was devaluing these girls by merely thinking of them sex objects instead of fellow human beings who might not want to be viewed as such. If I were a feminist, I might think that this boy was out of line in how he looked at these girls and it is men such as him that turn our culture into a sexist culture wherein women do not hold as much value as men and are only seen as sex objects. However, in my opinion, I believe the girls had just as much fault in this story as the boy. Boys have a natural tendency to be attracted to girls and have strong sexual desires. Whether we like that as females or not doesn’t matter, it is the truth nonetheless. So, knowing this about males, we should act accordingly. For example, if women don’t want men staring at them and thinking about them inappropriately, they should dress in a manner that won’t attract attention. I’m not advocating that women walk around in gunny sacks, but they can dress appropriately for where they are going. For example, they can avoid wearing a bathing suit to the public grocery store. On another note, this boy received a lot of criticism from the readers for judging the customers. However, I don’t think it is fair to judge him so much for doing that because who can honestly say that they don’t size everyone up that they meet. Humans naturally judge people on appearances and make first impressions about them. 

"The Story of an Hour"

Mrs. Mallard's comments:
1. "Is anybody available tomorrow night? I'm dying to get out of the house."
2. "My husband is always away at work, someone keep me company."
3. "I am so bored!"
4. "Does anybody know a good dinner recipe?"
5. "I'm very worried. The railroad has had a disaster and my husband hasn't been back for hours."
6. "I can't believe my husband is dead."
7. "I will miss my husband, but I am excited to live my life again."
8. "The weather outside today is beautiful."
9. "I think I'll go for a walk today, maybe try to meet more people."
10. "I am going into town today. I can't wait to be out and about again."

http://www.j-walk.com/other/goodwife/
"This article has some good points."

Meme:
Love this pattern! I might put this on my wall.

Orientation

This is the carside area, you aren’t supposed to put your personal belongings or any food or drink in the cupboards, but everyone does anyone so try not to, but feel free to. This is primarily the carside’s computer, don’t use it unless you are in a hurry and want to be glared at. This is the kitchen; the cooks don’t bite, but can be very rude. Don’t tell them to hurry; they will only get frustrated with you. Don’t ask James about his ex-wife, this doesn’t go over well with him. This is the drink station; don’t take too long getting your drinks. There are up to eight servers at any given time that need to use it. This is the dining room. It can be split up into 8 sections, depending on how busy the restaurant is. This is Bob, the bartender; he is extremely friendly, and helpful. This is our manager John, you will need his help many times throughout the night. You need to use his card to void items and discount birthday desserts. Don’t mess up too much though or John will become very frustrated with you and you will have a ‘chat’ with him. Always keep yourself busy, even if there is nothing to do. At least look like you are working hard. You can always roll silverware and stock ketchup, sugar, or salt and pepper. Talk the hosts if you get a chance. They are very nice and are often bored so strike a conversation with them when you have nothing to do. However, you never have nothing to do when a manager asks (wink wink). Get used to guests being unhappy. It is only their common nature to be upset about something. Just get the manager involved and apologize profusely. Your fellow servers are pretty cool and will help you if you get overwhelmed. Don't hesitate to ask them for anything. 

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find”

O’Connor’s short story, A Good Man Is Hard to Find, has many examples of being Southern grotesque. I think the story was even a little radical for the time period it was written in. It seems like this story takes place around the 1950’s when people were overall pretty conservative and old fashioned. So a story such as this one would have probably come as a shock to most people. The misfit himself can  be described as Southern grotesque because he definitely has his flaws and doesn’t act like a normal person would. He shows no sympathy for the family, but instead has an extreme personality that drives him to kill the whole family. This type of behavior by the misfit makes the reader feel both appalled at him and somewhat sorry for him because he seems to have lost his sense of reality. The misfit fits the definition of a secular grotesque in which someone will choose not to follow God and instead look to kill the soul and live for the body. The misfit shows how he has rejected God’s will when he tells the grandma that Jesus ruined everything and it’s best just to live for pleasure and do whatever you want because there is no way to know if He did what He said and died on the cross. The misfit’s form of pleasure is meanness which he carries out in killing people. This is an example of a grotesque character. The setting of the short story has aspects of being Southern grotesque as well. At the start, the family passes by a black boy and the grandma shows her racial bigotry by calling him a ‘pickaninny’ and saying that “little niggers in the country don’t have things like we do”. So, this short story has examples of being Southern grotesque in its plot and in its characters. 

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" concerns itself with the concept that it can be acceptable to require the individual to sacrifice for the greater good. In the short story, the villagers treat the lottery as if it is a normal event in their society. They all seem ready to give up their lives and no one seems reluctant to participate in the lottery. In our society, people are forced to do some things that are meant to help to America run more smoothly. For example, everyone has taxes that they required to pay the government. The government then goes on to spend this money on programs and events that will ultimately help America as a whole. 

"Boy"

Always treat ladies with respect. Open the car door for them and pull out their seat at dinner. Learn how to be a gentlemen and you will do well in life. Never show disrespect for your elders, they deserve your utmost obedience. Don't associate with those who choose to become intoxicated and do all sorts of drugs, this will get you nowhere in life. Hold yourself to higher standards then the others your age. Don't stay out all night with your friends causing trouble and worrying your parents. Pull your pants up when you are in public so as not to look like a hoodlum. Always say please and thank you and never leave the table before you are excused. When you go to church wear your best and leave an offering in the basket. Cussing is not becoming, it will only make you look like a fool. Do not have idle hands. Instead, learn how to work hard. Mow the lawn on Tuesdays and don't forget to take the trash out every day. Go to school and pay attention so can make a decent living for yourself, and not end up like a hoodlum such as the ones you hang around with now. When you are older, you will need to be the head of your household. Best to learn now what it means to be a man. Trust your intuition and always have strong morals to stand by. Don't be easily persuaded, always use your head. Trust in your God to help you through hard times and never lose your faith. These are just some of the things to keep in mind boy as you grow older.

Introducing Myself

1. My greatest asset is my hard work ethic.
2. My friends will tell you that I am clumsy.
3. People like me because I'm genuine.
4. When I am older, I will buy a very nice old pickup and own a cabin in the woods.
5. Five years from now, I will be a Nurse and hopefully start a family.
6. When I want to, I have the ability to be a very quick learner.
7. A famous person I admire is Travis Pastrana because he is fearless and incredible on a dirt bike.
8. I have trouble dealing with failure.
9. I appreciate it when teachers respect students and don't take themselves too seriously.
10. I really need to learn to relax sometimes.
11. My favorite class is sociology because the teacher encourages us to challenge what we are taught is the ultimate "truth" and I sit next to a handsome man that is my boyfriend.
12. My pet peeves are people who drive slow, overly cocky people and burping.
13. When I am sad I seclude myself from others and listen to music.
14. The most influential person in my life is my brother because he is taking major leaps of faith in his life right now.
15. If I had one hundred dollars, I would spend it quickly on something fun because that's not a lot of money.
16. It is difficult to learn guitar.
17. I have no regrets about sticking up for what I believe is the truth in my life.
18. I regret not being the person I am capable of being.
19. I like classic rock, particularly these songs: Life's been good by Joe Walsh, Kashmir by Led Zeppelin, and Rush.
20. My favorite color is blue.
21. My favorite place on earth is somewhere I haven't yet been, I'm guessing. Although, I love Montana and Arizona.