Poem: "Eerie Water"

1/27/10

I move slowly through the water
that pulls at my feet
making me mor tired

I have nowhere to go
the water is everywhere
I am walking just to stay alive

Is help on the way
or will the murky, brown water take care of me
washing me away

The smell is horrid
as I pass each of the 10 houses in my neighborhood
wondering if I am the only one alive

All I can do is pray
and hope
and beleive I can survive

Blood Dazzler: "p. 35-end"

1/27/10 ----- The second half of Patricia Smith's series of poems seemed to be much more eventful. I liked it more cause the storm was currently right on top of New Orleans and then the damage could be seen. Unlike the beginning of her series of poems, she left you with little doubt on the outcomes of them. The images that she portrayed really told the story behind the scenes of the storm. She never mentioned the media throughout the book. The details that would normally be forgotten were brought out to have an importance. Each poem added a different element that gave you a good overview of the feelings and turmoil surrounding Katrina. Overall, I enjoyed reading these poems. They gave me a different perspective on many things that Patricia Smith brought up.

Blood Dazzler: "Prologue-p.34"

1/25/10 ----- I like the perspective that Patricia Smith uses throughout each of her pieces. She tells the "story" of hurricane Katrina many ways. She tells us how the hurricane thinks as it gets closer to shore and gathers strengths. Also, she tells the story through a victim's eyes and even a dog. Her writing is very interesting. For me, it's almost confusing because of the odd phrases she uses. But in a sense, that's how it should be because hurricane Katrina was powerful just like her writing. You never knew what would happen next. In some ways, I think that her writing went a little too far. She used some profanity and racial gestures that I don't think were appropriate. Of course, they do make sense within the writing, its just that I would have rather wanted her to phrase things a little differently. For the most part though, I like her writing so far and am looking for to finishing the book.

Three 50-word "Snapshots" from Hut Sheet

The Sky

The sun is setting in the west. It's glow shines above the trees behind my hut and seems to make them stick out above all other things. The moon sits on top of the ocean and the stars twinkle overhead ready for night fall to arrive. Off in the distance, city lights brighten the horizon and you can only imagine the commotion within it.

Gentle Water

Wind whispers outside the hut that stands firm on the sand. The grains of sand seem to fade and disappear into the ocean that sits calmly along the shore. Splash. A fish jumps in the water possibly escaping a predator. Nature's beauty shows its true colors. The image in my head resembles a picture in a dream.

Home

My mother used to say to me, "Make sure your room is clean for our guests." I would reply, "I don't need to worry about that, they won't go in my room anyway." In my hut, everything will be organized and neat for any guests that may visit. The bed will be made tightly with no wrinkles in sight. Books and magazines nicely stacked and the dust-free shelves. Guests will walk in with the sense of cleanliness and feel like they are in true paradise.

Hut Sheet "Photo"

Paradise

As sunset descends on the ocean's edge as the hut glows from the sandbar. Sticks and straw are weaved between the mud that holds the hut upright. The door swings open and the windows sway back and forth in the breeze. A few stars can be seen overlooking the city lights in the distance. And the moon sets shadows amongst the land. Everything looks relaxed as the trees look asleep and the hammock inbetween them sits motionless. You can smell the air and almost taste the food cooking as the smoke rises above the hut. The only noise comes from the ocean's ripples sliding against the sand along the shore.

The Ninemile Wolves by Rick Bass

1/20/10 ----- I love Rick Bass' appreciation of wolves. It's interesting how he takes you through the wolves' history. He talks about how the wolves once thrived and were then driven out by humans or some unknown phenomenon unknown to us. Now the wolves are on the rise again and invading the US unknowing where they are headed. I like the way Rick Bass goes about writing this essay. He seems to understand how the wolves work. He knows what they eat, where they travel, and how they go about their everyday business. I believe that if people read this essay, they would also have a stronger appreciation for wolves. Yes, they are vicious, but if you really think about it, we are probably more vicious to them.

Refuge: "Epilogue"

1/20/10 ----- Terry Tempest Williams explains how her family has been affected by cancer. I feel bad for her and her family. If it is true, that the nuclear testings are the cause of all the cancer within her family then they should move as a family to a better place or gather a bunch of people and rally against the testing. I know the government mostly thinks otherwise, but it is a much bigger concern for everyone living down-wind of the testings. The plants and animals are being affected and there is nothing they can do about it. I personally don't like the idea of nuclear testing. I believe it is done just to scare other countries and let them notice how powerful a country we can be. Terry seems to be one of only few people who understands the harm that is being done. Many people think that getting cancer is just a way of life since they've been living in the midst of cancer their whole life. Something needed to be done to change the views of people and nuclear testing was something that needed to be stopped.

Hometown Photo

1/20/10 ----- This image represents where I grew up. The ice house museum is a monument to Cedar Falls. It is now called a museum and it has old artifacts of what Cedar Falls used to look like inside. For me, the Ice House Museum reminds me of home.
One thing that is emblematic of me is the area surrounding the museum. Everything is peacefull and looks relaxing and that is how I like to be. I can see myself just sitting on the bench watching the river flow by and not becoming bored at all.



"Photo"

Old and Sturdy

The museum bursts from the ground. Its sturdy frame reveals it strength and all that it has endured. The river lies under the watch of the building that towers over it. Nature seems to welcome its presence, for it does no harm. Trees sway in the breeze in the summer sky. No clouds can be found as the sun illuminates the day. A dark shadow is reflected off the water from the museum as it shows its power. The railing holds back the river keeping the museum safe. And the museum is surrounded by powerlines showing how it has stood the test of time.

Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place

1/18/10 ----- The Great Salt Lake is home to many species. Especially, birds are the most common. They thrive off the Lake's water and the marsh's and wetlands surrounding the Lake. Terry Tempest Williams grew up near the lake. She was fascinated with nature and how life and a beautiful land could coexist. The fact that she was Mormon and from that area meant that she had not gone out and seen much of the outside world. Most of her family was also living not too far away. I think that it would have been very peaceful to live their. Watching the wildlife would have been fun in a way. I felt bad for Terry when she saw the sight the burrowing owl's nest gone. This would only be sign of things to come. The modern society was slowly creeping in to nature's world. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was a great addition to the area. It preserved the land and the animals that inhabited it. Without the refuge, the area would most likely be covered with concrete and buildings. But for now, the land surrounding the Lake still thrives without being changed by modern society.

Everything is a Human Being by Alice Walker

1/13/10 -----Alice Walker talks about how humans have been selfish to the Earth. I beleive she is right. We have taken lots of the Earth's resources. We use them in harmful ways that only hurt the Earth. Can you imagine someone letting you have something of theirs and then you turning right around and using it against them. Nothing can be considered free anymore. We have taken all of the Earth's land. Whether it be a city or even a state park. We use all of Earth's resources. I think that Alice Walker was one of few that understood this. She observed nature closely and could tell how civilization had tampered with it. I liked how she talked about the Indians and how they were the only ones who treated nature with respect. Of course they had to build their homes and hunt for their food, but it seems like Indians alway gave back to the Earth.