In a paragraph or two, describe the setting of somewhere you know well using the language and tone of someone who is happy, depressed, puzzled, and scared. Here are happy and depressed. The others will come later. I went back to my living room again.
Happy
I opened my front door and entered the living room, cheeks all aglow. I felt inspired. I glanced around at the room where I had come up with the story idea. It’s a great room, full of color and cheer. In the beginning the idea of so many bright colors had scared me but I’m glad my best friend had talked me into it. At first when I had started to paint the walls bright yellow, I cringed inwardly. But when finished painting, I could almost feel the warmth of the sun and I loved it. Now, I sit down in my big yellow story chair and put my feet up on the multi-colored ottoman with a modernistic design. Matching pillows are scattered throughout the room on all the couches. Here I have spent many happy hours reading to my boys and survey the cheerful room. Directly across from me, contrasting the yellow walls, is an electric blue couch that invites you to jump into the tropical scene that hangs above it. I often imagine myself stepping onto that island to frolic on its beaches. To the right of this couch on the wall perpendicular is a red loveseat that matches the red in the roof of the tropical vacation house in the painting above it. It too, brings back fond memories and aspirations of future sojourns in places just like it. Directly opposite, a treasured table sits under the picture window. Growing up, I spent many hours around this table with my family. On top are displayed my three golden yellow ceramic Koi fish. Looking at them always brings out my good spirits. In the center of the room is my coffee table with its many drawers on the sides and family pictures on top, along with an array of my toddler’s picture books.
Depressed
I open my door a trudge in the front door, dropping my bags near the big chair with its tacky ottoman. What was I thinking when I picked out this furniture grouping? A red couch, a blue couch, and the big yellow chair with its multi-colored ottoman and matching pillows that are thrown around the room. The colors assault my eyes, grating my nerves. I can’t even think about relaxing in a room like this. Under the window is the old dingy table that we used to eat dinner on while I was growing up. Some would call it a family heirloom. I see it for what it is: a poor excuse for an inheritance. On top sit the fish sculptures I bought on clearance at some store at the beach. I liked them then; now they just remind me of how unfulfilled my life feels with their big gaping mouths always hungering for more. In the middle of the room sits a big coffee table filled with small drawers on two sides…great places to hide a bunch of useless crap. My sons love to hide their little treasures in them and then find them again as if they were uncovering some sort of hidden treasure. Sigh. I wish I had a tenth of their enthusiasm. I wasn’t always this cranky and miserable; after all somewhere inside is the person who thought all these colors were tasteful.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
My Serenity
I think this is finished. Now I have to make excuses to my teacher for why its so dreadfully late. I think I'll just not even go there. Ugh!!!! Maybe just the mention of toddler and infant will do the trick? Double ugh!!!! got to get over that if I ever want to make a go of this writing stuff!
The Inland waterway cuts through our town, bringing with it a quiet serenity yet stirring our restless hearts. I love to go up to the park that sits on its shores when I need some time to think things through. It is a refuge from my sometimes mixed up world. The pleasure boats that churn their way south through the locks serve as a reminder that everything is temporary.
Today is one of those days that I need the refuge of my special place in the park. I hurry past the playground where a rowdy band of toddlers screech and giggle their way through a game of tag. On the other side of the park is the canal where a parade of white sales flutters in the breeze as they wait to go through the locks heading south for a summer of carefree travel. The sound of the skippers calling to one another fades when I step onto the wooded path that leads to my special place.
I remove my shoes so that I can feel the mixture of fine sand and pine needles massaging my toes. It is peaceful to be walking along the path with the sound of the water gently lapping the shore. Towering pines give me relief from the heat of the late afternoon sun and dull the noise that emanates from the park area. Several herons add to the tranquility as they gracefully alight in the tall grass and survey the scene before them without making a sound. They keep a wary eye on me as I ramble through their domain, only stirring when the silence is broken by fish jumping out of the water.
Breathing deeply, my lungs are filled with the sweet scent of honeysuckle that permeates the air. I can almost taste the sugary nectar of the flowers. Not wanting to risk the fiery stings of the honey bees that swarm through the vines with a clear intention of making off with all the bounty found within, I continue on my way.
Rounding a bend in the path the beauty is interrupted by a rusty barge languishing on the opposite shore. In years to come, it will hardly be noticeable as it sinks ever further into the mud and muck and is overtaken by trees and marsh grass. Even here, the elegant herons add beauty and quietude.
I reach my spot and snuggle into the small alcove off the path. Tiny crabs and water bugs scatter in every direction, though some of the crabs stay close by in the crevices of driftwood pieces as if to challenge my intrusive presence. Hiding among the wheat grass, I imagine myself one of the tiny residents of this sandy sanctuary. Moments later the creatures return, grudgingly accepting my presence in their world. Leaning back on a small tree, I relax and take in the captivating beauty of what surrounds me. The sun begins to sink into the horizon adding a dramatic orange blaze to the stark blue canvas. I close my eyes and listen as the tree frogs and crickets begin their nightly concert. There is nowhere else I’d rather be at this moment.
The Inland waterway cuts through our town, bringing with it a quiet serenity yet stirring our restless hearts. I love to go up to the park that sits on its shores when I need some time to think things through. It is a refuge from my sometimes mixed up world. The pleasure boats that churn their way south through the locks serve as a reminder that everything is temporary.
Today is one of those days that I need the refuge of my special place in the park. I hurry past the playground where a rowdy band of toddlers screech and giggle their way through a game of tag. On the other side of the park is the canal where a parade of white sales flutters in the breeze as they wait to go through the locks heading south for a summer of carefree travel. The sound of the skippers calling to one another fades when I step onto the wooded path that leads to my special place.
I remove my shoes so that I can feel the mixture of fine sand and pine needles massaging my toes. It is peaceful to be walking along the path with the sound of the water gently lapping the shore. Towering pines give me relief from the heat of the late afternoon sun and dull the noise that emanates from the park area. Several herons add to the tranquility as they gracefully alight in the tall grass and survey the scene before them without making a sound. They keep a wary eye on me as I ramble through their domain, only stirring when the silence is broken by fish jumping out of the water.
Breathing deeply, my lungs are filled with the sweet scent of honeysuckle that permeates the air. I can almost taste the sugary nectar of the flowers. Not wanting to risk the fiery stings of the honey bees that swarm through the vines with a clear intention of making off with all the bounty found within, I continue on my way.
Rounding a bend in the path the beauty is interrupted by a rusty barge languishing on the opposite shore. In years to come, it will hardly be noticeable as it sinks ever further into the mud and muck and is overtaken by trees and marsh grass. Even here, the elegant herons add beauty and quietude.
I reach my spot and snuggle into the small alcove off the path. Tiny crabs and water bugs scatter in every direction, though some of the crabs stay close by in the crevices of driftwood pieces as if to challenge my intrusive presence. Hiding among the wheat grass, I imagine myself one of the tiny residents of this sandy sanctuary. Moments later the creatures return, grudgingly accepting my presence in their world. Leaning back on a small tree, I relax and take in the captivating beauty of what surrounds me. The sun begins to sink into the horizon adding a dramatic orange blaze to the stark blue canvas. I close my eyes and listen as the tree frogs and crickets begin their nightly concert. There is nowhere else I’d rather be at this moment.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Faces
faces, faces: faces walking by
empty eyes - some say hi.
faces walking by.
how many times do we look in their eyes?
don't look now - heavy sighs.
we don't hear what's in our ear.
turn away; what do we fear?
what's the problem? why should we care?
we walk on by - it's their despair.
don't even try to understand.
wander forever lost in our own private land.
faces, faces: faces walking by
catch their eye - I say hi.
faces walking by.
look up! see what you can see.
reach out - love can be.
listen closely to what they say.
expect a miracle - come what may.
take the time to believe.
they walk by - no longer grieve.
faces, faces: faces everywhere
look in their eyes - you'll find they care.
empty eyes - some say hi.
faces walking by.
how many times do we look in their eyes?
don't look now - heavy sighs.
we don't hear what's in our ear.
turn away; what do we fear?
what's the problem? why should we care?
we walk on by - it's their despair.
don't even try to understand.
wander forever lost in our own private land.
faces, faces: faces walking by
catch their eye - I say hi.
faces walking by.
look up! see what you can see.
reach out - love can be.
listen closely to what they say.
expect a miracle - come what may.
take the time to believe.
they walk by - no longer grieve.
faces, faces: faces everywhere
look in their eyes - you'll find they care.
Image
Image
I smile.
She smiles.
I wave.
She waves.
I wink.
She winks.
She's not real.
Am I real?
She can't love.
Do I love?
I love.
She can't.
I'm real;
She's not.
We both turn and walk away.
She into oblivion;
I into life.
I smile.
She smiles.
I wave.
She waves.
I wink.
She winks.
She's not real.
Am I real?
She can't love.
Do I love?
I love.
She can't.
I'm real;
She's not.
We both turn and walk away.
She into oblivion;
I into life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
