Non-Fiction Short Story

For the Non-Fiction short story I chose "Driving Lessons," because it was a powerful piece that kept me intrigued throughout. It shows the beautiful connection through mother and son, and a mothers fear of letting go. It was beautifully captivating with the words that Karen Lewis used to describe the situation her and her son faced. It was touching that the author had raised her three sons alone, and just her love and passion for her boys. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece, it was a change reading non-fiction.

Little Things

Little Things

Early that day the weather turned and the snow was melting into dirty water. Streaks of it ran down from the little shoulder-high window that faced the backyard. Cars slushed by on the street outside, where it was getting dark. But it was getting dark on the inside too.

He was in the bedroom pushing clothes into a suitcase when she came to the door.

I'm glad you're leaving! I'm glad you're leaving! she said. Do you hear?

He kept on putting his things into the suitcase.

Son of a bitch! I'm so glad you're leaving! She began to cry. You can't even look me in the face, can you?

Then she noticed the baby's picture on the bed and picked it up.

He looked at her and she wiped her eyes and stared at him before turning and going back to the living room.

Bring that back, he said.

Just get your things and get out, she said.

He did not answer. He fastened the suitcase, put on his coat, looked around the bedroom before turning off the light. Then he went out to the living room.

She stood in the doorway of the little kitchen, holding the baby.

I want the baby, he said.

Are you crazy?

No, but I want the baby. I'll get someone to come by for his things.

You're not touching this baby, she said.

The baby had begun to cry and she uncovered the blanket from around his head.

Oh, oh, she said, looking at the baby.

He moved toward her.

For God's sake! she said. She took a step back into the kitchen.

I want the baby.

Get out of here!

She turned and tried to hold the baby over in a corner behind the stove.

But he came up. He reached across the stove and tightened his hands on the baby.

Let go of him, he said.

Get away, get away! she cried.

The baby was red-faced and screaming. In the scuffle they knocked down a flowerpot that hung behind the stove.

He crowded her into the wall then, trying to break her grip. He held on to the baby and pushed with all his weight.

Let go of him, he said.

Don't, she said. You're hurting the baby, she said.

I'm not hurting the baby, he said.

The kitchen window gave no light. In the near-dark he worked on her fisted fingers with one hand and with the other hand he gripped the screaming baby up under an arm near the shoulder.

She felt her fingers being forced open. She felt the baby going from her.

No! she screamed just as her hands came loose.

She would have it, this baby. She grabbed for the baby's other arm. She caught the baby around the wrist and leaned back.

But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard.

In this manner, the issue was decided.

Raymond Carver's, Little Things was intriguing from beginning to end. The use of imagery allowed me to picture what was actually happening. I like how he compared the outside as getting dark and grey to the inside of the house which had a dark feeling to it as well. He has a great use of words to make the reader feel and experience the motion while reading the text. I feel that the title is connected to the "little things" that made them fight and made him leave the house, as well as the baby being just a "little thing" with a very big meaning. I think it is interesting how carver ends the story ambiguously, it makes the reader have to come up with their own conclusion to what happened next. I enjoyed reading this short story, it was definitely a dark one and I can see why Raymond Carver is a true legend when it comes to short stories.

Out of the Collected Stories, I chose "The Sea of Lose Time," because I have a fascination of the ocean and it's unknown. This short story was really interesting how it was portrayed. I thought it was neat how the characters "traveled" to the the bottom of the sea to visit some form of afterlife. These pictures represent the ocean which is a vast space of never ending wonders, and these jellyfish which can be so mesmerizing to watch yet deadly if touched. I really enjoyed this post and looking through my pictures to find the perfect ones to fit "The Sea of Lost Time."

The Time When I...

Was a Rhinoceros..
- This was a hard one to think of, because I feel as if I have always been my own individual and never followed the herd. I guess you can say when I was in junior high, I'd try to follow the trends of what was cool to wear, say, and act. That didn't get me very far. I have always learned at a young age, to not be afraid of who you truly are and what you stand for. Yes, I'd get teased for the nerdy appearance and always having my nose in my studies; however, I feel that made me who I am today. And because I didn't care what others thought once I hit the high school phase it has lead me where I am today. I guess looking back, its not bad to be a Rhino every once and awhile.


Was Berenger..
- I have always had a big heart full of compassion for people with disabilities or elderly people. Because of this, since I was young I have always gone above and beyond to assist them in whatever they may need while out and about. There have been quite a few times where I was out while growing up and saw people with nothing better to do either making fun or harassing someone with disabilities or an elderly person. I took a stand and put them in their place. I don't tolerate that kind of low life behavior, it is just wrong. Still to this day I have no problem speaking up to someone who has that kind of nerve. It is great when it embarrasses them too!

Poetry Song Lyrics

Yeah.... it's my life.... in my own words i guess....

(Verse 1)
Have you ever loved someone so much
You'd give an arm for
Not the expression
No, literally give an arm for
When they know they're your heart
And you know you were their armor
And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm her
But what happens when karma
Turns right around to bite you
And everything you stand for turns on you despite you
What happens when you become the main source of her pain
"Daddy look what i made"
Dad's got to go catch a plane
"Daddy where's mommy?"
"I can't find mommy, where is she?"
"I don't know, go play, Hailey baby, your Daddy's busy"
"Daddy's writin' a song, the song ain't gon' write itself"
"I'll give you one underdog, and you got to swing by yourself"
Then turn right around in that song, and tell her you love her
And put hands on her mother who's a splittin' image of her
That's Slim Shady
Yeah baby Slim Shady's crazy
Shady made me
But tonight, Shady's rock-a-bye-baby, huh...

(Chorus)
And when I'm gone, just carry on
Don't worry, rejoice
Everytime you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that, I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And i didn't feel a thang
So baby don't feel no pain
Just smile back
And when I'm gone, just carry on
Don't worry, rejoice
Everytime you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that, I'm lookin' down on you smilin'
And i didn't feel a thang
So baby don't feel no pain
Just smile back...

(Verse 2)
I keep havin' this dream
I'm pushin' Hailey on the swings
She keeps screamin' she don't want me to sing
"You're makin' Mommy cry"
"Why? Why is Mommy cryin'?"
"Baby Daddy ain't leavin' no more"
"Daddy you're lyin'"
"You always say that, you always say this is the last time"
"But you ain't leavin' no more, Daddy you're mine"
She's pilin' boxes in front of the door
Tryin' to block it
"Daddy please, Daddy don't leave, Daddy, no stop it"
Goes in her pocket, pulls out a tiny necklace locket
Its got her picture
"This'll keep you safe, Daddy take it with ya"
I look up, it's just me standin' in the mirror
These fu*****' walls must be talkin'
Cause man I can hear 'em
They're sayin' you got one more chance to do right
And it's tonight
Now go out there and show 'em that you love 'em 'fore it's too late
And just as I go to walk out of my bedroom door
It turns to a stage
They're gone, and the spotlight is on
And I'm singin'

(Chorus)

(Verse 3)
Sixty thousand people
All jumpin' out their seat
The curtain closes
They throwin' roses at my feet
I take a bow
And thank you all for comin' out
They're screamin' so loud
I take one last look at the crowd
I glanced down
I don't believe what I'm seein'
"Daddy it's me, help Mommy, her wrists are bleedin'"
"But baby we're in Sweden"
"How did you get to Sweden?"
"I followed you Daddy, you told me that you weren't leavin'"
"You lied to me Dad, and now you made Mommy sad"
"And i bought you this coin, it says NUMBER ONE DAD"
"That's all i wanted, i just want to give you this coin"
"I get the point, fine, me and Mommy are goin'"
"But baby wait..."
"It's too late Dad, you made your choice"
"Now go out there and show 'em that you love 'em more than us"
"That's what they want, they want you Marshall they keep"
"Screamin' your name, it's no wonder you can't go to sleep"
"Just take another pill, yeah i bet you you will"
"You rap about it"
"Yeah, Word, K-K-Keep It Real"
I hear applause, all this time I couldn't see
How could it be, that the curtain is closin' on me?
I turn around, find a gun on the ground
Cock it, put it to my brain
Scream "Die Shady" and pop it
The sky darkens, my life flashes
The plane that i was supposed to be on crashes
And burns to ashes
That's when i wake up
Alarm clocks ringin'
There's birds singin'
It's spring and, Hailey's outside swingin'
I walk right up to Kim and kiss her
Tell her I miss her
Hailey just smiles and winks at her little sister
Almost as if to... say....
(Chorus)


I chose Eminem's song When I'm Gone, not only because it's one of my favorite songs of his but the meaning is so powerful. Being from Detroit, loving Eminem is just natural; however, that doesn't apply to everyone. He sometimes comes off as exploiting his life too much through his music, but to me I see it as an art form and a definite passion. This is poetry to me, spilling all of your feelings through what you do best, as for Eminem it's rapping. This whole song is an allusion to him and his life. He living that alter ego rapper and trying to be a husband and father at the same time. His mind is playing tricks on him, and the song is all a dream sequence referring to his life. These lines show where he comes out of it and realizes it was all in his head: I turn around, find a gun on the ground/Cock it, put it to my brain/Scream "Die Shady" and pop it/The sky darkens, my life flashes/The plane that i was supposed to be on crashes/And burns to ashes/That's when i wake up/Alarm clocks ringin'/There's birds singin'
There is also Irony with the title of the song, and him referring to his life. He is connecting the two because his life has always been filled  with fame, drugs, and alcohol, that will eventually get the best of him when all along he wasn't seeing the important things in life, his kids and wife. In response to that, he is stating when he is gone just to carry on, that he will be looking down at them and to carry on. 
His songs are all really powerful and strike me as great meaningful poetry, when listened to or just read. I really enjoyed this assignment!

Spring Poem

Spring Observations

Green slipped out from under the white –
Splashed in early other colours,
And gave up lambs, who
Bleated tirelessly on the subject.

Screams from the nearby park
Told of newly playful children, with
Bleary fathers; clattering mothers,
Undersense befuddled by a perfume –
It was the budding blossom.

And younger men perked up at
Early bosoms once again parading –
More blossom – audacious blooms:
Sexual selection back on stage.

It was happening with the birds,
Only there was more decorum,
More order – a greater sense of purpose;
Unwitting duty.

I turned over the soil – warming
Under the cautious sun –
Yellow still nubile,
Though coping with its shyness.
My first beads of sweat were oddly ambivalent:
Surging vigour forcing out the
Stubborn winter indolence.

Inside, a warming smile worked
Up towards my mouth, lips, eyes.
The kitchen window rattled:
Lunch was ready.

By: Mark R. Slaughter

I chose this poem because it gives you all of the senses of spring. When reading it you can see the green green grass, hear the children finally playing in the park, smell the new budded flowers, and feel the warm glowing sun. I love the end talking about lunch, it reminds me on a beautiful spring day having a fresh sandwich and some lemonade, while taking in all of the smell and admiring the sights and sounds! This poem reminds me of how excited I am for spring to roll around! (: 

Pablo Neruda

Out of Neruda's Odes, I chose Ode to Clothes. I chose this ode because, it is very creative how Pablo integrated the clothes with his life. When he put the clothes on every morning they became part of his soul and move with his every move, like they are one. The first two lines are my favorite, because I can just imagine the clothes hanging over a chair waiting in the morning haze to be embraced and put on. I really enjoy his writing style, it is intriguing.