List Poetry

This is the first poem assigned through my creative writing course at school. I was given a list of words and was expected to write a poem with all of them. If this makes no sense or doesn't seem like it has any reason to have been written, the list is why. Enjoy!

First Poem

I watched myself flip

Aluminum wrapped chocolate marshmallow blobs

On a grill, as rusty as the sky.

Surviving sun beams reached

To the roof of the Earth

Before everything was pulled beneath

The chartreuse blanket of twilight.

All the mini mallows

Had morphed into a puddle

Enveloping sprinkled chips of chocolate.

The arrogant starry boss

Of pushy Night

Elbowed tired Daylight

Off of it’s sunny shift.

A beaming moon,

A happy employee,

Ready to work and give the dark business

A bright side to its letdowns.

The hardened, potato-brown crusts

Superglued to the foil

Will never make a voyage within me.

Reflection:
If I just read this poem in a book other than Shel Silverstein's, I wouldn't see a reason for such a random poem to be written. Who writes about marshmallows? Well... actually, I happen to enjoy marshmellows and described a way I like to cook them. However, that thing about night being a bully, I don't really look at life through such a personified lens. I guess I was just going along with all of those people that like to pretend that vases can talk and animals can cook pancakes. *insert thumbs up emoji here* Finally, the "voyage within me" was a dramatic way to say that I can't eat that delicious burnt crust of marshmallow because it's stuck to the foil. I know. It's terrible. An abomination. To wrap things up (like aluminum foil), I shall voyage through the night and possibly finish writing the thesis for my next paper, due to the teacher that taught my CW course last year and now is my full English teacher this year.

Interesting. Sorry, all. I stink at writing conclusions.

Symbolism in "Masque of the Red Death"

          Currently, I'm reading and writing a research paper on "Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allen Poe. It would be an understatement to say that I am fascinated by symbolism and that Poe provides stories adequately stocked with it. I admit that my mood significantly deepens into dark and reserved but my excitement remains when I reread the story and I find just as much depth as the time before! 

          Prince Prospero- Have to say, love the name. If he was alive, he'd take the compliment, I'm sure. Prospero = Prosperous, ironically... The prince outruns the red death for several months while blocking the castle doors. His prosperity ends, however, when "Darkness and Decay and the Red Death [hold] illimitable dominion over all." Exciting, right? The grand party has changed hands to some less lively hosts.

          7 Rooms- There are a few interpretations for this. A popular idea that many critics argue is that the rooms symbolize the seven decades of life. I find this interesting because Prospero runs through all of the rooms to his death. He started in the first room on the eastern side and ran to the black room on the western side (Did that ring a bell? East and west, dawn and dusk, are commonly used to symbolize birth and death). Poe describes the castle; "The apartments were so irregularly disposed of that the vision embraced but little more than one at a time." I haven't read an article on this but I assume that this shows how people can't really look at more than one bit of their life at a time. When you were two, you couldn't expect where you are now. Now, you probably can't remember exactly what being two is like or really see what your future has in store for you. When you're middle aged, will you remember what it's like to be in middle school and everything that you did? If the mansion doesn't portray this, I am very curious to know why Poe included this piece other than to show that Prince Prospero is insane. Also, I mentioned that there was more than one interpretation for the rooms. The other is that the 7 rooms symbolize the 7 deadly sins. It's already obvious that Prospero is not the kind of guy that you want to be (considering that his kingdom is at least half dead from a plague that makes them bleed out of their pores, and he decides to throw a fancy party with his friends). Do you think it's creative to include that the prince designed his castle after his life style? 

(Black,   violet,   white,  orange,  green,   purple,   blue)

          Ebony Clock- (Finally!!!) This black clock is a real party stopper. Located in the western-most chamber, it chimes and makes everyone meditate on their coming death. No reveler realizes that Death is coming soon, but they certainly feel it. It's a wonder that Prospero didn't throw the clock out after a few months, considering that every time that it chimed, everyone stopped dancing. No one wanted to go into the room that housed it, either. "To and fro" is repeated in "Masque of the Red Death" to remind the reader of the clock and that the ball will end soon. The time eventually ran out for the masqueraders and the Red Death appeared in the rooms killing everyone in a wave. What a signature Edgar Allen Poe happy ending!

I loved the story (why I chose to do this tedious research paper on it...) and found a lot of depth in it. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a gruesome story or irony! It's short for even a short story and really good for a short story!

"And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night. And one by one dropped the revelers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. And the life of the ebony clock went out with that of the last of the gay. And the flames of the tripods expired. And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death [hold] illimitable dominion over all."

Two Outlooks (Two Voice Poem)

This still needs to be revised but I think that I have a good start in sound and meaning. I enjoyed writing the clashing outlooks of the optimistic and pessimistic. This type of poem is fun to write because there's a lot you can do with the sound rather than only having meaning. 

Free Free Free

Free

Free

Free

Free

Everything is Free

here in America

You can do what you want 

Things are cheap

Money is effortless

Just as long as you apply yourself right.

Why not?

It’s only the shipping and handling that costs

that of humans.

But we work to stop that.

At least after we make the cars doing so

gasless

smokeless

polutionless

Before they do all of their busy work

and inhumane activities

But that’s ok

because it doesn’t cost much

just a little pain,

just a little discomfort, 

for the whole human race.

*This poem discusses human trafficking and kidnapping which is a huge problem that not many people fully appreciate the severity of. Why do people have so much passion for inanimate things around us (which of course are important to consider, too) without working to fully extinguish such terrible underground cruelty? We stress making cars efficient but not informing our children to be vigilant. Progress in other ways is good and that isn't what I'm putting down, but I think  humans should look to protect eachother in all possible ways. What is a current issue that you want to emphasize as an immediate or coming danger to the well being of people in general; and how will you go about it?

Should I Grow Up Yet? (Spoken Word)

Should I grow up yet?

Too soon Too soon Too soon

I want to walk all places

all by myself

but

If I do that

no one else will be there to pull the rusty wagon

where I cross-leggedly sit.

Should I grow up, yet?

Not now Not now Not now

I want to stay up late

with grown-up people

but

No one will 

pick me up

gently over the shoulders

and tuck me into the silent bed.

Should I grow up... yet?

One more day, One more day!

One more giggling, pastry stealing day.

I could make all the sweets I want,

If I grow up.

But

It will make my shin sag,

my elbow flubber,

and suddenly

the cookie wouldn’t be so sweet.

Should I grow up?

I think it’s too late.

Responsibility is mine,

now that I’m grown-up.

The sugar cookie is mine to bite

but I’m scared that its poison

will make me fall

the height I’ve climbed.

I carefully pull

the sleeping child

in the rusty red wagon

and hope

and hope 

they don’t grow up too soon.

iPhone Discourager (Spoken Word)

Children, Children,

gather all around,

What I am about to say

will save your sanity.

Do not buy the iphone.

You can and WILL get addicted.

All of the free games

and expensive music available

provide endless entertainment

which, of course,

contribute to the stereotypical bus scene

where everyone is on their iDevice.

Naturally,

I put down my device

every bus trip

and check out the lovely view 

of a few mop stick width trees

and taco places

on my way home.

Sometimes I stare

at different people

to see if they notice.

So far, no luck.

Is everyone taking selfies

and hashtagging pacebus

on Facebook?

Are they playing Angrybirds?

Is this an attempt to escape

the stinky bus smell

of lay-offs and let downs?
They go on their phone

and forget a little about 

the financially struggling uncle in Nebraska

and their 15 year old

not yet graduated

expecting a baby boy 
daughter,

Not knowing where your next miracle plan is coming from.

Let me tell you one thing;

it’s not coming from Om Nom

as a reward for providing candy.

When you cut your ties to this world,

you cut the frayed ropes that say you’re humanly alive.

More people need to step

out of Sims 3

and into reality.

I know finding wormholes

to other dimensions is tricky

but I’m sure you can do it!

And all you people

envious of the modern iphone zombie

need to be grateful

for your limited talk and text capabilities.

The possibilities for me to shout

“Get a life!!”

are much decreased for you.

Still, listen to my message.

The iphone provides 

various opportunities:

You can access online books,

You can stalk Cody Simpson while eating a Big Mac,

You can also forget that sun shines in summer

and snow falls in winter,

but you should be able to choose

which opportunities to take.









What is an allusion? How many can you find in this poem?

A Sky of Followers

In my sky,

I see many followers.

Some observing,

some learning,

some playing trampoline on the clouds.

One man is conducting

in a brown jacket,

while all other blue jacketed people

play violin, viola, oboe.

Another brown-jacketed woman

is teaching a class

of blue jacketed children.

Only one child’s jacket

is spotted with earthy tones.

They are let out to recess.

The young girl is the first out.

She jumps from the top cloud

poof

poof

poof

to the lowest

where she came close to the ground

on her Cumulus.

She lays on her tummy

and scoops at the bottom,

dragging the marshmallow

along the sturdy ground

to see the flowers.

Some children follow her

but only as far as they can go.

They aren’t able to touch the ground.

They can’t drag themselves along.

One boy gets low enough.

He grabs the girl’s ankle.

A boy above him holds his leg

and the girl above him pulls his.

The chestnut-spotted girl pulls all of them

steady, steady,

toward the vibrant colors.

A whole parade 

of clingy kids

floats it’s diagonal way

toward a grounded place.

The boy holding her ankle

sees dirt and daffodils.

Some dirt must’ve defied gravity

because his coat of navy

became speckled with bark brown.

But he wanted more.

He wanted hard instead of cloud,

Definite instead of wisp.

The splotches grew.

He touched the ground.

The boy was filled with something solid and dense...

Power.

Standing with the girl,

he wanted to help the kids down.

And he knew they would follow.









What is the symbolism behind the blue and brown jackets? What can you tell about the people wearing the blue jackets by that symbolism? What is the difference between the things that the jackets symbolize? Hint: The difference is hard vs. soft, sturdy and reliable vs. wispy and changing. Connect the leardership in the poem to the frase: "Whoever stands for nothing falls for everything" (or you can change the phrase to "whoever stands on nothing...").