Thankful for...

   While it is important to stop and be consciously grateful for what we have all year long, Thanksgiving is a special time set aside to do just that.  Letting someone know they are appreciated can make anything they're doing just that more worthwhile.  Sometimes, it may not seem necessary to say, or its obvious that you appreciate someone, but putting it into words shows it a step further and can deepen a relationship.
   I am thankful for Maddy in my American Literature class.  I definitely pester her a lot when I don't understand something or just want a peers opinion.  Thank you Maddy, if you are reading this,  for tolerating me and for being a great partner.  Maddy has been very beneficial for me in this class by giving me helpful edits on my research paper and catching me up on any missed assignments or class periods. I love that she always appears to be realistically happy. Of course, I also enjoy admiring her unique clothing style during class.  I look forward to the rest of the year in this class, and I'm happy to have a great person to share it with.

This Land verse

Well I was rolling along those Michigan waters
on the lake I sit and ponder
The waves are calm and so inviting
This Lake was made for you and me

I walk along Michigan Avenue
See the buildings come into view
The dirt forgotten among the glorious things to do
This city was made for you and me

Nature Portfolio

1. The powerful force that gives and takes,

has come again, hoping to leave its mark.

It becomes harder to hold on as the grasp grows tighter,

threatening to pull us down, if we only gave in.

Sanity becomes scarce, blown in every direction.

What is there to hold on to?

What we know is ever changing,

warped and twisted by a power out of our control.

The weakness becomes evident; the conformity clear,

as the minds of society pool into one great gust of air.

Barriers are up trying to hide what is inside,  

but nothing blocks what the wind blows in.

We breathe it in and out without a second thought

of what it could be bringing or taking.

Sometimes a second chance, it provides,

while for the others, pain is what they breathe.

A stream of consciousness connected from place to place,

yet everyone is so unaware of the inner reliance of thought.

Is there anything that’s really our own?

Each day we live, more is taken in

and in each interaction, we put forth our portion.

When the whirlpool of thought becomes overwhelming,

the energy is focused into chaos and destruction.

Do we bring on our own natural disasters?

A maelstrom of ideas;

the ultimate test to see who can stay on their feet.

Balance is key in this world of the winds,

what we send out is what we receive.

Our minds are susceptible, so easily swayed

It’s a wonder we haven’t been blown away.

    30 lines

2.  The most beautiful thing I have ever seen was in Finland, when I was there last May.  I am part of the Chicago Children's Choir, and last year we were invited to travel to the Baltics with Bobby McFerrin, a famous, influential vocalist.  We had all been working very hard to learn his complicated music, but even in rehearsal we had started to feel the magical effect of the music, which would become evident at the performance later that night. Finland was our second stop, coming after Estonia, which most of the singers thought was the most beautiful. However, I found the beauty indoors, in a makeshift performance space in Finland.
    As soon as McFerrin started singing, all language barriers were brought down. I could see the same emotions playing across everyone's face: anticipation, happiness, sorrow. When the choir started to sing, I saw everyone shift forward, intrigued, questioning that we were just children. Suddenly the music became more intense, not so harmonious. Sure enough, I saw it clearly on everyone's face, slightly twisted features and unease. After a few more songs, this audience that McFerrin had attracted in a country very far from his home grew antsy. They wanted to join in, to experience the music first hand. Hands shot up when he asked for volunteers. Seeing this represented a trust in the room, trust that this was a safe place where people were free to express themselves through the language of music. About halfway through the concert all worries and outside thoughts had vanished. I noticed a change in the posture, like all the weight of everyone’s lives had lifted a little. Not one person secretly checked their phones or glanced at their watches. It was clear that nothing else occupied anyone’s mind but the pure bliss of the moment. It was as though a utopia had formed for the duration of the concert. I saw people turning to those next to them, people they wanted nothing to do with before the concert started, now smiling, all joined in song. Seeing this unity gave me hope; it gave me power.
    Word count: 352

3. Long before buildings started rising to the sky, the city of Chicago was entirely flat.  One day, a group of explorers set out on foot to see the rest of the country.  They traveled south for a week’s length before encountering the Ozark Mountains in Missouri and Arkansas.  These explorers were astounded by the giant, gray masses that stood before them.  They continued on their journey, finding these mountains to be in many places. After more exploration, the explorers were excited to head home and share their exciting discovery.

When the explorers told of what they had seen, the town burst into laughter.  This idea seemed so absurd that they wouldn’t listen to another word without proof.  The explorers were devastated to hear that no one believed them, but they didn’t end their journey there.  They went back to the mountain range and tried with all their might to pull the smallest one out of the ground.  With no luck, they reluctantly returned back to Chicago.

A few years later, the explorers came across a large pile of debris from the Chicago fire.  It strangely resembled the large, gray mountains they had discovered on their journey around the country. The explorers believed they had found the secret to making the mountains!  They piled the remains up as far as they could, but still no one was convinced.

The explorers knew they would have to do something to match the great wonder of the mountains.  They gathered the greatest architects and the most skilled builders with the idea of a building that rose up very high.  After three years of work, when the construction was finally complete, the explorers eagerly awaited the verdict of the town.  The people of Chicago looked on in awe, seeing this mountainous wonder.  Soon, more of these buildings were built and known as skyscrapers, the mountains of the city.

word count: 313  

4. The white blanket falls,
making any familiar shapes
unrecognizable

I take my seat at the kitchen table,
already feeling as a part of
history.
This moment is being talked of
though it hasn't even been lived.

I feel that girl,
who has been pushed away for sometime now,
rising to the surface,
ready for a day of play.

I feel the pressure to take advantage of each moment:
Soon a man rises out of the snow
and I feel the chill on my face
as we fly forward.

We lie in the street,
any fears evaporated long ago,
with only the stretch of sky,
visible through the weighted down branches.

The hours whiz past,
and with rosy cheeks
we strip ourselves of wet clothing,
and embrace the sweet, warm rush down our throats.

Soon the the girl I know returns,
and the small hiccup from our
repetitive schedules
blows away with the snow.

5. Response to The Corn Planting:

   Nature is shown as the grounding element of the world in this story. The earth represents life, death, and all that is in between. It goes far beyond the tangible substance, holding human connection and memory in its soil. Another idea presented is the simple comfort in what is known to you or something you love greatly. The Hutchensons have so many expectations from the earth and what can grow from it, that planting new life was the only feasible thing to do in their eyes, regarding their son’s death. I think these concepts are extremely relevant and always will be. The earth is such a clear epitome of human nature and the cycle of life. Our survival depends greatly on our trust in nature and Hatch Hutchenson, who “had been on that one little farm since he was a boy” (p. 817) understands the simple fact that our lives are in the earth and what it provides us with. This story also reminded of the relevant discussion I had this morning about the pros and cons of drugs and alcohol. I find it interesting that since Will is described as being “immediately popular” (p. 816) in Chicago, it doesn’t seem out of character at all that he is attending parties very often and he dies at a party where there was most likely drinking. My immediate association from this society is that drinking is very cool and accepted.
word count: 239

Response to Nature:
  I really love all of the concepts brought up in this excerpt because they are so philosophical and interpretative. Nature is seen as something suitable for all spans of emotion, reaching to each extreme. From the way Emerson writes I can really feel the majestic essence of nature. He makes nature live on a page by comparing it to the concepts that it gives, such as reason and faith. "I am glad to a brink of fear" (390) was very confusing to me.  I interpret it to mean that it is scary to experience such pure joy, because it may feel almost unnatural since it can be such an uncommon or forgotten emotion. It could also be the fear of the power taking him over, releasing his control of his mind.  I like the way Emerson uses God more as a comparison to help the reader understand the magnitude of nature, rather than a religious concept. Even the word God is so interpretative these days, but to me I really feel like Emerson was expressing a power beyond tangibility. Also in the way he says "I am nothing," (291) I think it's not a feeling of insignificance, but the idea of perspective and stance.  I believe in the power of our minds and the control we have over how we perceive something, much like the idea that nature's power also comes from man.  All of these concepts are very relevant to anyone who thinks about the world in a less black and white way and takes the time to appreciate things in such depth.
word count: 264

The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls response: 

      The tide is a constant in this poem; nothing that occurs is large enough to have an effect on nature.  In some ways, this poem shows the sad truth about the world to me, a truth that I feel can be changed or disproven.  The message I get from the repeating line, “the tide rises, the tide falls” (275-6) after each time of day and when the traveler dies is that life goes on, without any notice of one less life.  I think that many people in society, feel that they have no effect on the world, and this makes me very upset and frustrated.  I hear my friends caught up in stress or college fears, instead of thoughts of how they can leave a positive mark on this world, starting now.  The overall tide may not have been affected by this traveler, but he could have stuck his finger in the water, causing the slightest change in the tide and having a chain effect down the body of water.  It is this detail that people must remember, and strive to have an even larger impact on the world.  Longfellow did a great job of describing this life pattern in so few and simple words, really making me feel the blunt truth of how independent nature is without humans, but how humans still can, and do, change natural cycles. 

 word count: 229 

To Build a Fire response:

       I don’t particularly like this story because it just depressingly shows a man caught up in his stupidity and pride.  The author stretches out the journey very long, just making it that much more agonizing for the reader.  I don’t think this story was even necessary to get any message across.  People with any common sense should know from the start that it is not smart to go outside and walk all day in 50 degrees below zero weather.  However, there were a couple parts that I found interesting and thought provoking.  In this story I find myself rooting for the dog, who wants to listen to his instinct because “this man did not know cold” (625).  I learn from this that animals probably do have the best intuition about nature because it is their key to survival, whereas humans often push it aside.  It is also interesting to think about what people do under dire circumstances, such as the man’s attempt to kill his dog for the dog’s body heat.  It is scary what people may do when facing death.  Animal’s instinct and human’s actions when facing death are still relevant because they are part of our nature.  The rest of the story is not very relevant because the whole expedition probably wouldn’t even take place with all of the modern technology and travel methods. 

  Word count: 226

Response to Myths:

            I really love the myths “The Earth on Turtle’s Back,” “When Grizzlies Walked Upright,” and “The Navajo Origin Legend.”  All three express nature to have come from something divine, or a powerful and magical force.  I find these legends to be very exciting and I think they reflect my belief that there is energy in every natural thing on earth or that there is more to nature than science.  I’m sure most people would find these stories to be irrelevant to the modern world because of many scientific discoveries and theories about creation, which could definitely disprove the imaginative legends.  However, there still are many religious and spiritual believers who may find truth or relevancy in these legends.  I particularly love the line, “She was not as strong or as swift as the others, but she was determined,” speaking of the muskrat in “The Earth on Turtle’s Back.”  This shows that our minds really hold most of the power and that it is in our control to succeed if we only set our mind to it.  I think it is great to always ponder where things originate from, even if we can never truly know.  The importance isn’t necessarily in the answer, but the journey to find it. 

  Word count: 208

6. I noticed that the three excerpts, “Walking”, “The Divine Soil”, and ‘The Force that Drives the Flower”, all have very distinct opinions of certain aspects of nature.  Right from the beginning of “Walking”, Thoreau says, “It requires a direct dispensation from Heaven to become a walker,” as a sort of warning or disclaimer to those about to read the piece.  In other words, he doesn’t believe everyone has the capacity to fully appreciate and experience the walking he describes.  Burroughs unique opinion in “The Divine Soil” is that “the spiritual has its roots in the carnal.”  I agree with Burrough’s belief that not everything can be shown by science nor just based on religious theories. It is a mixture of science and spirituality that make up nature.  Annie Dillard sees plants in a very powerful light, even showing the idea that humans can be powerless to plants and their natural strength and taking joy in this fact.  She says, “primitive trees can fight city hall and win,” making an analogy to something most people can’t do, and that plants would be able to do at a very young age.  I feel that each of these excerpts show ideas formatted from years of life experience in the natural world.

Community Stories

To Be Young Black and Gifted:
   Hansberry definitely seems to see her community where she grew up as a family and a culture, which she has learned many things from. Being the youngest child with a large age gap from her siblings, she had to find ways to entertain herself when she became too much of a "nuisance" to her siblings. This shaped her summers into the her many memories of playing outside singing rhymes and seeing all of the families out on their back porches. Hansberry largely respected her father, seeing him as a strong figure who was very smart, respected, and incredibly brave. Though openly showing signs of affection was not common in her family, at her father's funeral, the whole family was caressing each other.
     Hansberry's parents instilled many ideals into her, stressing the importance of family and their race. They gave her ideas about life and her place in it, saying life "was something that one did," (p.770) and to live it and keep it interesting. These ideals can be seen in the letter she writes at the end of the passage. Hansberry's father was involved with the NAACP and she describes the family's perseverance standing up for their rights. Living in a predominantly white neighborhood, they kept their stern attitudes and remained strong against the hate.

University Days:
   Thurber's economics class did not live up to his expectations, because while it was challenging for him, he had to hear the teacher going much easier on the star football player.Even after the many hints given to the player to help him keep his grades up in order to be allowed to play, he still was not able to answer. Thurber did not live up to the expectations of his Botany or Military Drill classes. He had to take both courses more than once. Thurber was never able to see cells through his microscope in botany, but after four years of military drill, he finally knew and could do the drills well.

Country Roads by John Denver
Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains, shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my mem’ries, gather ’round her
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the mornin’ hours she calls to me
The radio reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin’ down the road I get a feeling’
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads 
http://www.lyrics007.com/John%20Denver%20Lyrics/Country%20Roads%20Lyrics.html

    This song is extremely nostalgic as John Denver sings about going home to West Virginia and all of the great things about his home. It is a rural area and the singer speaks of West Virginia as "she," the place where he grew up and that now beckons him. The tone of this song when sung is like a crooning and it is very passionate. Not many specifics are given about the singer's home, it is just clear that it is a place that he wants to return to. The "country roads" definitely have a large role as the link between where the singer is then and his home.

Here is New York:
    The strength of White's introduction of defining New York by what it isn't comes from his pure honesty of not trying to glorify the place, but showing it as it is. The cities beauty is found in the simple amazing fact that it is all able to co-exist, with so many people, so much electricity, and the difficult climate being three of the many factors.  A tourist may only see the filthy surface of much of the city, naming The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty as the beauty of New York. There are many things that could be seen as problems about the city, such as the fact that everywhere one goes seems to be so overpopulated, each person competing for the same food, electricity, schooling, and transportation as the next. The citizens understand this way of urban life and living in such close contact with one another. Although the city does exist as a unified, crowded domain, it is also divided into even closer entities. Each area has picked up its own culture and customs over the year, with all of their essentials only a short walk from their doorsteps. This is similar to Chicago, where nick-names can be used in everyday conversation to generalize each neighborhood into their own reputations. A new flavor is present wherever you go, providing different entertainment and variety.