Poetry

Courtney Olexa
November 3th, 2014
Blog #4 English 11

              Remember How We Forgot?
              By: Shane Koyczan

              The poem is describing how once when we had been young and wish that we could grow up already, and now that we are older we forget every little thing we had been told. "Remember how our parents told us never to look directly into the sun". This may never had meant a lot to us back then but now its memories that make us wish we could go back into time and be young again.

              There is a lot of imagery in this poem that can come from old memories where you are connecting with his words, "And we all wish Recesses would last a couple years or so". I can guarantee that every child that had gone through elementary school would wish that.

              I like this poem because I can connect with it, and the poem describes how we have to remember old memories and dreams we once thrived for when we were once a kid. This poem took me back to many old memories. "Remember how we forgot? Once upon a time we were young."




              Pretty
              By: Katie Makkai

              This poem is describing how society describes pretty by "Woman who will prowl thirty stores in six malls to find the right cocktail dress" just to be pretty. Woman who spend thousands of dollars changing themselves entirely, just so they can live up to societies standards of "pretty". Mothers having to tell their daughters that wanting to be "pretty" is not an option. Having to explain to them that it will ruin their lives believing something that everyone has hope for.

              This poem could be a Lyric because it expresses the feelings that the author has towards society and their definition of being "pretty". Having to explain to your daughter(s) when they come running to you asking, “What will I be? Will I be pretty? Will I be pretty? Will I be pretty? What comes next? Oh right, will I be rich?”, that you can not be pretty and if you do want to be "pretty" than you have to be rich to be able to buy all the next line designer clothes.

              I like this poem because it shows how wrong our world is and how much society is changing us for the worst. When people say "Just be yourself", How are we suppose to be ourselves when we choose to do so and people judge us for not doing it right?



             
              Trolls
              By: Shane Koyczan

              This poem compares trolls to cyber bullying by explaining that "your keyboards [turn into] catapults". This means that writing your mood or anger towards someone and that "turning freedom of speech into freedom of cruelty" is okay, that you are saying hurtful and awful things to someone that "[It's just] freedom of speech".

              This poem used a lot of metaphors and that because it was a darker type of poem it really got you thinking of what you have done and how much of an impact it could have on someone that cyber bullying another person, it also has a lot of effect on the person reading or listening to the poem.

              I think this poem can be a really big eye opener for people who have been the victim, been a witness, or someone that has been the bully themselves. It gives a lot of impact on the reader and shows that one poem can make a difference in anyone's thoughts or perspectives of cyber bullying.

            
               

Homework Blues

  

Courtney Olexa
November 3, 2014
Blog #3 English 11

Homework Blues

       As I shuffled into the classroom, I knew that Mr. Van Camp would never believe me. I looked at my scuffed shoes and mumbled, “My homework is not done, Sir. I do have a good excuse though."

       " This is not the first time your homework has not been completed. Perhaps," Mr. Van Camp suggested, "it's time to speak with your parents."

       "Please, you have no idea what will happen to me if you phone my home," I moaned. It looked as if he was going to fall for my story.

      "Well, let's hear your excuse. It better be good."

      I felt a split second of relief, knowing that he was going to give me a chance to clarify myself, I began to speak.

      "That is why It would be a very bad idea for you to call home" I explained.

      Mr. Van Camp had this odd look on his face, and then he spoke. "Ah, I see," and that's all he said.

      Confused, frustrated and worried, wondering what his next words would be. 

      "I believe your parents need to be informed of the complications of why your 'Book Club' comes before your English work," declared Mr. Van Camp.

      All I was thinking at that moment was, "Why.. Why was this day just getting worse and worse for me every second I am standing here.
   
      Mr. Van Camp had cleared his throat, waiting for a response from me.

      Everyone said he was a nice calm teacher that is understanding. But I must of been wrong.

      As the tension started building up within me, he let out a laugh. Then I was confused and insulted that he would have the nerve to laugh at me! I was stunned out of my mind.

     "I am kidding," he exclaimed, "I understand the dilemma you are going through, and I will give you an extra week to finish the work."

     I didn't know what to say. So all I said was, "um, thankyou?"

     Mr. Van Camp got up out of his foam chair, and left me standing there in a stunned silence.  

     
     

Guilty or Not?

Courtney Olexa
October 20, 2014
Blog #2 English 11

 

Guilty or not?

            “Oh, she’d answered all the questions, but that wasn’t the same as telling the whole story. How could she, when it still wasn’t clear?” Gabriella alleged to why her boyfriend is currently in Jasper hospital. She is one of the characters in the short story “Bluffing” by Gail Helgason. Liam who is a self-absorbed arrogant mountain guide who thinks he so high end and is very over confident with his work. “One day,” he would exclaim “[I will] have [my] photo in Glossy Magazines for high-tech outdoor gear. Prestigious companies [will] seek [my] endorsement.” Gabriella had been so content about wanting to settle down and put a lease down on a house with the one she loves, but Liam clearly only has interest in himself and his job. “I’m glad. I thought you would have been here before this,” states Liam. He has not paid attention to Gabriella and her visits to the hospital for the past three weeks after the bear attack during their hike up to the lake. Knowing that Gabriella is a biology teacher and that Liam is a mountain tour guide. You would assume that Liam would be more educated in the outdoors and know what to do and what not to do in a predicament with a Grizzly Bear. But as a result, Gabriella was the one who did the right thing in this situation. “I meant for the bear to come after me instead of you” exclaimed Liam. To Gabriella’s defence she has heard enough of Liam and his falsehoods. Does she still believe that he is going to keep wanting to tour guide and want to travel to New Mexico after the incident? Or will she leave him if he doesn’t want to sign the one-year lease demand because she believes it will keep “holding them [together].”

Smoking Out Depression

Courtney Olexa                                                                                  
October 1, 2014
Blog #1 English 11


                                                                           

Smoking out Depression

            Aging is a natural part of life but not everyone ages gracefully. This aging lady who is trying to maintain her youth by her fine clothes, jewellery and smoking is doing quite the opposite by her apparent addiction to cigarettes. Knowing that the jewellery she wears has been passed down from generation to generation and that one day she will have to give up a piece or two of it too. Having to let go of her prise possessions and give them to who? Who will they be passed down to? Why would she want to let herself trust someone she doesn’t even know? But then again her ancestors probably said the same thing; meaning her. Every morning getting up and applying the same amount of lipstick and a new color of eye shadow. Just knowing that she would soon be heading out to go release all of the evil spirits inside of her body. Making her feel like a new person every day. All the creases beside her eyes, between her eyebrows and around her lips make her realize she is not young anymore and that soon after many of these years of freeing these vile essences, she will soon not have to do that anymore.