March 6th

Class Activity

Write four different poems about doing one single activity. This activity can be anything, but I want it to be something you at least enjoy. Each time using a different emotion. Write one as if you were sad, one as if you were angry, one as if you were scared, and one as if you were happy. These poems do not have to have any sort of standards or length. The idea is channel your inner emotions and see where they take you.

Examples of Activities (if you’re stuck!):

Going shopping

Playing a favorite sport

Visiting Relatives

Being in a relationship

Playing in the snow

Going swimming

Listening to the same song in every mood

Example: The activity I chose going for a walk through the woods.

Sad:

Trying to relieve the pain with each step

I can’t tell if the fast pace of my walking or the days errors

are the reasoning behind the tears building up in my eyes

I try to use the freshly fallen leaves snaps and early birds chirps

to fill up my head, while drawing the thoughts out

But while looking around I can’t help but notice

the way the trees slouch, almost with their heads down

sitting by the river, admiring the view, usually gave me time to think less

but now it gives me the time to think far too much

Angry:

I stomp through the forest with no compassion

My face as red as the fall leaves that surround me

I make sure to purposefully destroy every twig that comes along my way

The birds chirps annoy me, the displacement of the earth underneath my feet annoy me

The way the trees move with peace, almost as if they are one up on me

That REALLY annoys me

Thrashing around, having an all out fist fight with nature

Trying to release the steam that is building up inside, I feel it’s pressure

and with no signs of slowing down, I also am soul witness to it’s patience

Scared:

Okay,

This is not okay

It’s dark,

too dark

And I’m lost in the woods,

too lost

this is when my mind decides it wants to be a trickster

twigs snap, are those my feet?

that almost sounded from behind me

I give it the classic whip around

to find nothing, but dark, desolate, air

The hairs on the back of my neck stand

goosebumps travel their way across my body

down my arms and up my legs

but am I man, right?

I shouldn’t be scared, should I?

Happy:

I take off down the trail in a frolic

my gallop picking up as I move along

the feeling of the whipping warm air in my hair and through my loose clothes

The majestic pines and the charismatic birch all dancing along with me in enthusiasm

I look up to the sky and am greeted by few clouds and vibrant blues

High saturations and many hues

The birds chirping a song that almost seems they had

written it specifically for me the night before

I close my eyes, true happiness

that kind of warmth that you feel and you feel in your heart

that makes you realize there is so much more to yourself

cause there is no single organ that can produce the feeling I am feeling

Chenoa Jackson

Walking through the woods

Happy

I want to take a different route this time

I turn off the marked trail

I’m going to go adventuring

Time for something new.

The world is so much greener off the beaten path

The air is sweeter

The wind is nicer

I sense adventure

Energy pulsing through

Into my heart

I can feel that these woods

Are not like any other woods

These ones are magical

Laughter fills the air around me

Such a peaceful place

To walk

To think

To dream

Everything is perfect

The woods resound with a welcoming sound

Scared

Where am I?

Have I come by here before?

Admit it you’re lost.

Okay, I’m lost.

I’m talking to myself now,

I’ve been alone for too long,

It’s getting darker now,

The sun is almost gone,

Shadows seem to loom out at me,

Like specters waiting to drag me under.

The snap of a branch sounds behind me,

I spin looking for the source,

It’s only you out here silly.

I know, I know.

At the same time I don’t,

I feel like I’m being followed,

Like I’m being watched.

Another snap sends me running,

I have to get out of here,

My heart is pounding in my chest,

Threatening to burst out.

Then I fall,

Fall on my face,

Into the fallen leaves.

Heart racing I roll over,

Something’s following me.

Why am I here?

I was supposed to be having fun,

But I’m not.

Something is following me in the darkness,

Just out of sight,

I know it’s there,

I want out,

I want to get away from here and never return.

There it is again,

There is something following me.

I need to get out,

Mind racing I run.

Michaela Hutchinson:

Scared:

I sit straight, back away from the seat

My hands grip and twist on the wheel before me

I try to stay focused

Look straight ahead

But my eyes dart

Back forth

Back forth

They’re just trees, just shadows

You were fine this morning

The same drive in the opposite direction

But now it is dark

It is late

I am a girl alone on a dirt road

In the middle of the woods

Of the night

No houses no light

No anything

No anything

My hand shifts down

And I hold the button to turn the volume up on my radio

Until I can’t hear myself think

Just ten more minutes

Ten minutes

I push my right foot down and

My car easily increases its speed

I’m sure I could make it in six

Sad:

Keep it together

Keep it together

But the berating of myself is futile

I can’t

I never can

A sob bursts from my lips

And I blink rapidly to get the tears out of my eyes

I need to see

I squeeze the steering wheel

Stupid

This is stupid

Then my mind plays it over again

The fall

The snap

The pain

And all I want is to curl into a ball

To get home and out of this car and

Hide under my blankets

Until the hole in my chest fills

She died

My tears are not stupid

I try my best to focus on the road

Looking for animals when I remember

Out my rearview mirror when I remember

I don’t rush

My dad will ask why I was crying

He’ll roll his eyes when I tell him

And I’m not quite ready for that

I got enough of it at the theater

So I’ll get it out here

In the privacy of my car

Where no one will judge my pain

Sydney

Happiness

You let me pick the seats,

I climb up the carpeted stairs,

holding your hand, guiding you.

The lights already dimming,

because you were late,

but I don’t care anymore.  

My arms are covered in goosebumps,

the cold air coming from every direction,

or maybe it was you, that could be debated.

I lean back in the chair relieved,

it is dark and the film is playing,

but we are finally here together.

Your hand tightens around my numb fingers,

your touch warming them, bringing the feeling back,

and I look at you my lips turning towards satisfaction.

Emptiness

This summer night is warm,

I stand inside to escape the heat,

the cold air relieving my skin.

Staring at my cell phone

staring at the time,

staring at the blank screen.

I would get an update,

Twenty minutes, ten,

now five, just a minute.

You step into the room,

a wide grin on your face,  

wet hair, and high tops.

I hand over the slip of paper,

you reach out for my hand,

and I let your fingers graze mine.

But in that moment I feel nothing,

your touch doesn’t mean a thing,

in that moment I realize you’re like them all.

Danielle Baxter

Scared:

I hesitantly dip my toes in

Inspecting the depths below

Now is the time

I plunge into the brisk water

Legs tangled

Panic sets in

Kicking

Happy:

Submerging myself deeper and deeper

Soaking in the rays

Watching the world from below

Emma Haywood:

“Waking Up”

Dreams shift

as something stirs

atop my physical form.

A twitch of the nose

and here we go,

as surroundings fade

spin

and crash.

Something whispers

in a language unheard.

Brushes my lashes,

and warms the brow.

Is this here?

Is this now?

Disgruntled I

awake to find

a kitten on the prowl.

Whiskers twitch

as noses itch.

Light reflects

in orange fur

cast out of the sun.

Another time

another way

today

it has begun.

“Waking Up”

A blast of shock

runs over my eyelids.

As images fade to orange and yellow.

Mellow thoughts mold into chaos.

“Emma, Get up. Time for school”

A moan echoes;

partly angry

with forecasts of dread

and despair.

Overall emits a cry of “I don’t care”

To cover the burning stare of

“Get me out of here.”

Eyes open partially,

and slam shut in response.

This is too early

This isn’t what I want.

A few more minutes.

Then I’ll recuperate.

“You’re being melodramatic.

Emma, it can’t wait.”

Another cry,

more forceful.

Something between a bear and a whale.

An attempt at rising,

failed.

Slipped from bed to floor

A bump on the head

and a knock at the door.

“Emma, what the hell are you waiting for?”

A pillow’s thrown,

head’s overgrown.

Migraine hits and depression sits.

Demanding to be heard.

I’m only sleeping

I can’t hear you.

I’ll pick up where we were.

“Dream” I scream.

“And let me be,

School just isn’t worth it.

“Emma, you’re going.

Like it or not,

how often must we rehearse this?”

Crack your back

and rub your eyes,

Make an excuse

make up some lies.

I do not need to socialize.

I do not want to socialize.

Let me live right where I lie.

This isn’t my day,

but it was my night.