Six Words Can Say It All

"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."

Edgar Allan Poe

Eleonora

"I believe that we are meant to move through the world with interest, and writing keeps me interested.

It is like comparing notes."

Julia Cameron

The Right to Write

     This quarter begins  our study of the short story and to kick-off the section students wrote six-word stories, a concept made famous by Ernest Hemingway when he wrote-

For sale: baby shoes, never used.

Here are a few student examples:

Angels are my type of thing.

Carly McGirt

Finally flying so high, I fell.

William Lampke

Falling in reverse is very confusing.

Ella Rosenberg

Lemurs go swimming, crocodiles get full.

Ian Fisher

Man killed by Subway at dinner.

Mike Guinn

He thought he could swim. Sinking...

Christian Giglia

Rides roller coaster, sleeps in hospital.

Sophia Kalyuzhnaya

Paperboy missing? Didn't hear the news.

Alexander Jones

Best cantrip: sing yourself to sleep.

Emma Carter

     Another assignment asked students to write a paragraph using a first line from one of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. Here are two examples: 

     Misery is manifold. It is too much to handle. People. Making others mad and sad is not what we are made for. Why can't we work on an agreement to make things right, and not make hate the thing between families around the planet?

-Jake Dudzik

It was a chilly November afternoon. I saw it, small and insignificant to some. But not to me. It was a shining beam of hope. I picked up the small diamond ring and put it in my pocket. If I sell it, I may have just enough money to get to America.

-Emma Carter

Words of the Week
click on word for definition

recusant
delate
uncanny
teratoid
cantrip

End of the Quarter

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman




Here are three exceptional pieces from this week:



I assoil you for hurting me

and walking away with glee

for in this world of hate and crime

being angry is for another time

William Lampke


The chameleon is a versicolor animal
that will draggle itself
they are fascinating to some
but not to me

Darian Bolten


He tried and he toiled
my plan was foiled
ruined the soup I boiled
but as a saint I chose to assoil

Emma Carter

January, 1953

New York, NY

Vivian Maier

"I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing

than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance."

E.E. Cummings

     Graham Cooke said, 

"A paradox is two conflicting ideas contained within one truth." 

A skeptic might say that a High-School student with a passion to work is paradoxical. I would say, "You have not experienced some of my students." Here are a few 'evidences' of the proof:

A Villanelle
by Cuinn McDermott


Light forever shall shine in the shadow.

Darkness shall fall when light shines in the dark,
when darkness rises and all is hollow.

When light shall fall and all will have sorrow.

The darkness destroys like a great whit shark,
light forever shall shine in the shadow.

Good people fall when land becomes shallow.

Their frail bodies decaying become dark,
when darkness rises and all is hollow.

When blinding sun shines cleansing all shadow.

Heavens rays obliterating the dark,
Light forever shall shine in the shadow.

The light will come restoring what's hollow.

Light rises when dark falls but some stay dark,
when darkness rises and all is hollow.

Light rises when darkness falls to shadow.

The light will rise but some always stay dark.
Light forever shall shine in the shadow,
when darkness rises and all is hollow.


A Villanelle
by Isaac Catchatoorian

Going day by day

Feeling so alone
Colors looking so gray

Drowning in my own blood

Thinking about my death
Going day by day

Lost, always wanting more

Basically living invisible
Colors looking so gray

Save me from this darkness

Blades are getting deeper
Going day by day

Does happiness even exist?

Puff,puff goes the smoke
Colors looking so gray

I am almost dead now

Someone save me quick
Going day by day
Colors looking so gray

Journey
by Alexander Jones

I was out of town, in a little village,

and I happened upon a general store.

I stepped in to buy a cool cola

but I found something more.

The store was being held up for money,

an old man said, "Do something, son."

He gave me a bat and I knocked out the robber

and then I knew I had won.

Everyone cheered and my cola was free

in fact, of the store I was given free roam.

But soon my adventures came to a close

and I proudly made my way home.

To Palter
by David King

She palters the poor merchant
for little does she know
karma is bad
for people who verbally slaughter

Two Poems

Inspired by the photography of Vivian Maier

Just For Fun

by Ella Rosenberg

Promise me, promise me

you'll be safe, write me

letters, think of me

when your days are dark,

just think of coming home

just remember the spark

Peaches a plenty, wine a full,

and then a shoe, so random and bold.

Maybe it's magic, maybe it's lies,

maybe an illusion, so funny, so old.

Perhaps it's a joke, maybe a prank,

maybe perhaps and jokes, illusions,

but still magic for a little mind.

-Cuinn McDermott

Paradox

by Sophia Kalyuzhnaya

You can be loud with silence

whispering a scream

quiet- a concert

talkative when mute

Paradox
by Christian Giglia

You have to lose to win
play golf on the course
The front is like the back
the driver is loud with the silence

Paradox
by Sara Ofenloch

you have to die to live
after death, life is found
end starts a beginning
when you live, you die

Paradox

by Jacob Dudzik

The front is backward

going, somewhere, just to return

going there for hours, days, months

leaving those forward, you know

Hamartia

by Carly McGirt

It wasn't hamartia
to find no gold
At least some of us tried
still, we had a great time
I can have a time popsicle
it was not that cold
It was a nice trip
with awesome minerals

Angel Falling
by Elizabeth Hemingway

She is an angel falling

How much pain her heart has shown
How much her heart is calling

How bright her spirit shining

For quite sure she does not know
She is an angel falling

Her soul rains, her spirit rising

Tries to escape from the cold
But she won't stop crying

Saving those, though she's breaking

Her voice rises, her sad song singing
Reaching the heart of the darkest foe

She lifts them, she is falling

She gives, they are free to go
It's sad that they keep calling
She is an angel falling

New Haiku

"To live is so startling

it leaves little time for anything else."

Emily Dickinson

1830-1886

     A few weeks ago, Nick Nunziata asked, "Mr. Carter, why don't we have a lecture day in Creative Writing like we do in Art? You could tell us about writers." A great idea. So, these past two weeks we have heard words and stories from Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes- two giants in the field of poetry. We also discussed and practiced free-verse, the Sestina and Haiku. Will Durant said, "Nothing is new except arrangement."

Here are a few new arrangements:

the whiteness and snow

it tends to always go slow

flowers spring again

William Lampke

snow starting to fall

the wind starting to blow now

it's time to get warm

Lindsay Frasciello

hot and blistering

kids playing in the water

long days with no school

Darian Bolten

red blossoms falling

morning dew is sweet and warm

the sun is rising

Cuinn McDermott

black ice and white snow

then the searing wind blows

snow melts, sidewalk shows

Elizabeth Hemingway

top corner, hard shot

can't stand baseball, too boring

back of the net, goal

Brad Andrews

the celadon tree

pale grey green I will miss

that tree will be missed

Jake Dudzik

he was a ruler

yet he was very spleenful

he will fall one day

Sara Ofenloch

don't eat celadon

wait, can you eat a color?

yes, I think you can

Emma Carter

his celadon skin

made me worry about him

go to the doctor

John Chirchirillo

Elements of Style

"Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style."

Kurt Vonnegut

"The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd."

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The Message

     Oh, the power twenty-six letters can wield. Writers know that it is the arrangement of the words which constitutes style- the writer's voice. Trinity students are seeking their voice and I am blessed to hear their early notes.

Maddie's Ability to Drown Out Noise

Madeline Keller

I struggle deeply

to focus

on things like

Math, Science, and Art

when people 

never stop talking

to leave me alone

with my thoughts.

A Prose Poem

Carly McGirt

     A long time ago there was a lady I knew who had cancer and was in the hospital for weeks. She had cancer and she died. My family and I prayed for her and I would always comfort, protect, feel sorry and show her love. She was one of my favorite people. I loved her like I love almost everyone the way they are. I really cared about her. I would take care of her while she was laying peacefully in the hospital dying. I started to cry because it's sad when people or animals die and I loved her so much. She was happy, good hearted and she loved the Lord, like me. She would always make me smile and feel joy. My family and I would go and visit her. She died from cancer. But she is peacefully with our awesome God.

My Love

John Chirchirillo

Love is painfully dry

but also moist, in a wonderful matrimony of

flour, berries, and sometimes chocolate.

From flat to puffy.

From England to France.

Scones and crepes are my love.

I Love You

Sophia Kalyuzhnaya

Funnel cake filled my festive mood,

when I saw you I went right to the counter

smiling.

I powdered that powdered sugar,

oh how I adore.

I make then I bake.

My love for funnel cakes is extraordinary.

Just the juicy, oily but delicious pieces of the

whole thing

make me happy.

Especially when you are accessorized with strawberries and ice

cream.

Oh, how I only

see you in carnivals, circuses, and festivals,

let's find each other.

We will be together one day, I promise.

I love you,

funnel cakes.

Poem

Alexander Jones

Two lovers, once young and lively, had now come far from delicious, flavorful bread. They sat in the toaster too long. They were now nothing but burnt toast. They popped out of the toaster oven after about twenty years, and they were both rock solid. They had been there for so long that they had nowhere to go. They were stuck with each other, burnt and still burning.

Love

Aaron McPeak

Love is hard and crunchy,

love is soft.

Love is cooked on a skillet,

love is brown.

Love is delicious.

Love is

bacon.

Untitled

Isaac Catchatoorian

Precariously opening her heart

scars that will hopefully fade

she has been fearful from the start

looking for the one God has made

lonely here and there

just one more chance would be fair

Untitled

Nick Miller

in the sun's glare

I was laying in the grass,

thinking, and sleeping.

looking at the clouds and wondering,

'how was the world created?'

Who was the creator?

and I wonder if the are happy with the

world.

Love

Jake Dudzik

Love is like a chocolate bar.

It tastes good

but it makes you lose control

when you have had too much.

With its milk chocolate outside

and wafer filling inside,

you are sure to have a sugar rush.

So much love

and so much chocolate

in this world.

But not everyone likes it.

This is the End

By Elizabeth Hemingway

This is the end

I can see it now

My death is upon me

My heart starts to pound

Im thirsty

Im hungry

But theres no food or water in sight

This is the end

I can see a bright light

I look up at my captor

And I then i start to beg

For him to grant me mercy

But he just shakes his head.

I fall to the floor

For sure I am finished

Then my captor says "Get up son"

"Youve only been in timeout for ten minutes."

A New Day

"Why should we write? We should write because it is human nature to write. We should write because writing brings clarity and passion to the act of living. We should write because writing is good for the soul."

Julia Cameron

The Right to Write

A sampling of student work from week one:

AlphabetamericA

by John Chirchirillo

America

became

confused,

dumb,

evil,

fat,

greedy,

"heroes"

in

justifying

killing

loving

mammals.

Now

our

propensity

questionably

resembles

self-

terrorizing

ulteristic

vultures

wanting

xenogenetic

zealousness.

Everyday

by Madeline Keller

Everyday. People

pray. Scared

of sin. Don't

let it in. Here

we wait. Hiding

hate. Afraid

to die. And

face our fate.

Warfare

by Cuinn McDermott

War destroys life

Air warfare is full of unknown danger

Rarely do people come back unchanged

From all countries arise war

All war is foolish

Red blood covers the ground

Everyone is gone

America

by Sara Cazorla

Amazing birds chirping

Miracle wishes

Excellent people

Remembering sweet memories

Interesting thoughts

Clapping hands

Applause all over the world

Music

by David King

Making tones always

United across the world

Sadly auto tuned

Intervention for musicians

Classy people lose it


Celebrity
by Darian Bolten

Constant fans, screaming
Electrifying crowds
Liars happen a lot
Even more end up doing drugs
Big movie stars
Reacting when something happens to them
International fame and fortune
Too many break ups and make-ups
Yes, they can live normal lives


An Abcdarium
by Isaac Catchatoorian

Among this sad world,
Boisterous beings (although very rare)
Claim themselves: never bored

Denoting the negative,
Enriching our lives,
Furthering the positive

Gratefully living,
Hoping for the best,
Intellectually perceiving,
Jokingly being

Kindness is their key
Loving all those 'round
Motivating us to try
New things we see

Opening our minds
People come together
Questioning why one doesn't like another

Running to the finish
Stopping no time soon
Turn back now
U will be sad when you lose

Venturing to new heights
Worrying not about fail
X-emplifying true leaders
Young,
Zealous beings who will always care



Celebrity
by Emma Carter

Constantly fighting
Everyone is watching
Lights always flashing
Even the best can fall
Being so well known can
Ruin your spirit
Integrity is rare
Trust is scarce
Your worth is in the hands of the world

Alphabet poem

By Elizabeth Hemingway

A

dults think they know everything. I just don't understand them. For example, they love

B

abies. I can't imagine why? They can't do anything and everyone loves them just

C

uz they're babies. But they're useless

D

uh.

E

veryone knows that all they're good

F

or is crying, sleeping, and

G

awking aimlessly at things.

H

ow is that cute?

I

don't know why adults are so hung up on them, they only turn into to toddlers who

J

ump on the furniture and make a huge mess of everything. Like my cousin mickey

K

now what else I hate about toddlers? They get away with everything because they're

L

ittle. "Oh..little Mickey couldn't have done that.."

M

ickey didn't know any better" "Mickeys just too little to know its wrong.

N

o, he's EVIL.. Did you ever think that maybe he understands perfectly?

O

r that he's waiting to strike again?

P

lease, adults never think things through. But I know the truth. I'll get him to

Q

uit his evil doing once and for all!

R

ight after I get out of time out. Right now I'm forced to just

S

it here waiting for him to strike. Nothing else to do but watch the

T

imer...

U

gh... I just know he's out there, laughing at me. It's his fault. He messed with the

V

acuum cleaner, not me.

W

ell... guess who got blamed? Me. He just does whatever he wants. Like breaking my

X

-men action figures. Then if I fight back, he frames me, and no matter how much I

Y

ell that I'm innocent, they don't listen. Well... He better not be playing with my toy

Z

ebra. I will stop him, one day I will stop evil doing. I swear. After the timer rings that is...

The power of words

By Elizabeth Hemingway

Words are powerful

They can bring you up with one sentence

Just as easily as they can take you down

They can make you feel on top of the world

And they can crush your hopes and dreams

Break your spirit

But the happiest words of all

Are "I love you" from the mouth of the one

Most close to you

And the words that hurt the most

The ones that can change your life

Are those two so very small yet so very powerful words

"Good bye"