Weekly Writing 2

I really enjoyed Van Gogh's Bed by Jane Flanders.  To be honest, most of the other poems were very confusing to me and over my head.  This one was a little over my head too but I enjoyed the style. She took very simple observations and turned them into a story that made me feel like I knew a little more about what was going on. Her descriptions were so vivid I felt like I was reading it through her eyes.

Rorschach

In-Class

ice-cream
mountains
goldfish
turkey leg
starship
cave
pelvis
tooth
walrus
cashew
ladybug
jellyfish
shoreline
waves
ice-cream melting
banana

As the waves crashed against the the shoreline it was obvious the walrus was going to die. It looked like a goldfish flopping on a table. It's eyes were as big as mountains. These were it's final moments.

But what did I care?

I continued walking, eating my banana ice-cream withh cashews on top.  The cashews always hurt my bad tooth, but I couldn't say no. I was licking the ice-cream melting down the cone when, "Ouch!!" I stepped on a damn jellyfish.

Was this payback for just watching the walrus die? It's not like I could have done anything to save it.


Part 2

Ladybug

Always a smile when you're on my arm.
You come in so quiet extending your charm.

You always seem to come and go as you please.
When I have a bad day, you put my mind at ease.

You bring me good luck in your own silent way.
Some say it's not real, but who are they to say.

Whenever you're with me I know I can't lose.
Let's make this official, lets say our I do's.

Art Gallery

Picture #10 - Building Center

Torn

Revenge is a must, we can't let this stand.
Bin Laden is the target, he's a wanted man.

Send the Marines, their snipers don't miss.
No, send Navy Seals, they'll bring us our bliss.

"Mr. President, did we get him?"
"YES WE DID!"

Hooray, hooray, the reaper came today.
We got our man, "USA! USA!"

As the night settles in my mind starts to wonder,
My God says we're wrong, we should love one another.

Am I wrong for the joy I feel in my heart?
Or is the world safer with Bin Laden torn apart?

The Things They Carried, by: Tim O'Brien

On the surface this story is about a platoon leader in the Vietnam war that distracts himself from the reality of war by pretending that a girl back home is in love with him and waiting for him. He knows this is not true but it keeps him from realizing the real hell he is in.
When I look deeper into the story I start to believe Mr. O'Brien may be using the war reference as a way of bringing the reader into a morbid mindset. To write this I think he must have experienced some great pain in the love category of life. Or maybe it was just a young love that he still holds dear. And if he truly was in the war then I am sure he still has demons. Maybe writing this story allowed him to express his feelings in a positive way. For all I know this might have been a non-fictional piece. I'm sure many soldiers made up relationships or just fake realities that helped them block out the reality.
I really enjoyed how he would (what I consider) restart the story several times. He would bring you to a climax and then go back to the things they carried and start over.  I felt like I read several different stories at once. I really enjoyed how detailed his description of the items they carried were. Especially when he told you the weight. I'm sure this was very important to soldiers. This part of the story would surly suck a military person in because they would be able to relate easily.
I personally do not have a writing style. This is all very new to me so I feel a little overwhelmed. One thing I realized when I looked over the other choices was that I enjoyed the story more than the poems. I enjoy being taken on the trip that the writer has laid out.  I still struggle with interpreting the meanings poems.

Faculty Reading

The faculty reading was a very new experience for me.  I have never been to a reading before and did not know what to expect. I showed up early and was the third person to enter the room. It was myself, Professor Ramos and Professor Rosemond.  I picked out a seat in the fourth row on the side making sure I wouldn't be an easy target in case they would be calling on spectators from the crowd.  Like I said, I was not exactly sure what would be going on.  As the reading began I realized I did not have to worry about being called on so I focused in on the readings.  Hearing so many in a row was a little confusing but one reading stood out to me because of her voice.  Professor Rosemond's reading reminded me of a movie with a narrator.  I could visually see everything she was saying because of the detail in the story and the uniqueness of her voice.  I could feel the awkwardness in the room (in the story) as the main character was having to perform all these things that he thought someone else would have to perform. Especially when it was time to take the casket out of the house.

Pandora's Box

Kat and the Little Black Box

In the busy world we live in, this box helps Kat stay ahead.  It gives her the edge against those that refuse to accept the New World Order.  The box is small with a world of knowledge hidden underneath its simple ebony cover.  Nothing special, at least not to us.  But without this little black box Kat can't be found.  This box.  This simple box knows more about Kat than her best friend.  It is her best friend!  Well, not really, it's only a box.


My Old Wallet

My wallet brings back happy memories of a time when I was considered to be "living the dream."  It is a symbol of a great time and transition in my life that truly molded me into the person I am today.  I have fond memories of my time working at Bay Hill. I met several of my true friends there and also met my wife during that time.  You could say that three children are now a part of this world because of Bay Hill.  Although my old wallet never seems to be full of the one thing a wallet is supposed to hold, it always brings riches to my mind when I pull it out.

My Old Wallet (STRETCH)
Jimmy pulled out his wallet. He knew he didn't have the cash but he made the gesture anyway. He looked up at the man that might be taking his life. As he did something fell from the wallet. It was a picture of his daughter. The man reached down and picked it up. As the man held the photo his face changed. He wasn't the same person that stood before Jimmy a few seconds ago. What had happened? Why was he not beating Jimmy within an inch of his life? The man paused, handed Jimmy back the photo and told him never to come back.

Introductory Acrostic

Pat Claycomb
aaccmoyltpb

A - Another Kentucky boy that bleeds blue.

A - Alarm clock, Adidas, Arnold Plamer,

C - Children (3), iphone, golf clubs

C - Casual

M - My kids rock.

O - Often found biting my nails.

Y - Yet to learn how to ice skate.

L - "Later."

T - Two slices of pizza.

P - Probably say dogs and cats but I never;

B - Been around a while. lol



PART II

P - Probably say dogs and cats but I never;

A - Another Kentucky boy that bleeds blue.

T - Two slices of pizza.

C - Children (3), iphone, golf clubs

L - "Later."

A - Alarm clock, Adidas, Arnold Plamer,

Y - Yet to learn how to ice skate.

C - Casual

O - Often found biting my nails.

M - My kids rock.

B - Been around a while. lol

REVISE

Probably would take a dog over a cat but I'm really just
Another Kentucky boy that bleeds blue and enjoys his
Two slices of pizza while playing with his three
Children, iphone, and golf clubs.
Later I'll get sleep but now it's time to turn off the
Alarm clock, put on my adidas gear and drink an Arnold Palmer,
Yet still can't ice skate to save my life.
Casually, actually constantly you will
Often find me biting my nails. But that's ok cause
My kids rock even though they think some of my jokes have
Been around a while. LOL