Tuesday 27 November 2012

I am from poem

I am from poem
I am from vegemite sandwiches, and hot summer days,

from the vegie gardens,
from farms, and hay bail tag,

I am from the sea
from the yachts I leaped from time and time again
I am from the stingrays I touched for a dare

I am from cold winters
I am from the hand dryers we stood under shivering
where the

I am from the trees and rocks
And the horse poo we threw at each other

And now I must add concrete,
fear and anger to the list,
But I will always be from the sea, sweeping in and out.    

Thursday 15 November 2012

Poem


Eternal, forever lasting

Time passes too fast
We reach, try to grab the arrows
pull them down
they evade us
spinning out of control
never stopping.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

economy class


I am grateful for
friendship
and a roof
something to remind me of time

I am grateful for 
sadness 
and pain
something to remind me of time

I am grateful for 
happiness also
and enjoyment
something to remind me of time


And I am grateful for
economy class
so when It all gets to much
I can go back
and forget
about time

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Sarah kay List


10 things I am grateful for

  1. Skype, so I can keep in touch with my friends.
  2. My bed, well duh! why do you think?
  3. Shoes, so I can walk forever.
  4. Economy class, so I can fly home every once in a while.
  5. My friends, to release the burden of life upon.
  6. Trees, to escape the world.              
  7. My house, to keep me dry.
  8. The population of elephants in asia, still large!
  9. Skis, to enjoy life.
  10. Time, so that I know It will be over soon, and so there is a point. 


to be honest, I found sarah kay was just stating cliché after cliché after cliché. And having to trick students into writing poetry? I dont know.



Monday 5 November 2012

form vs function

I'll start with a quote from dad: "Poetry is anything that isn't prose and prose is anything that isn't proetry" Isn't he helpful.





Well, this is how I interpreted poetry and prose:
We have poetry and prose. We have the Eiffel tower and we have a HDB. The HDB is designed to effectively house people, which it is very good at, yet it keeps its structure (or frame) concealed. The Eiffel tower however is designed also to house people but mainly to Express its beauty and make people say "wow". A key aspect of the eiffel tower is that the structure (or framework) is shown off and made a unique thing of beauty. There will never be more than one eiffel tower, but there are many HDBs.

Likewise the newspaper article or essay is there to house the ideas like the HDBs are there to house people. Both the news paper article and the HDB do what they are designed for effectively, yet conceal their structure. The  artistic integrity of a poem tends to make it unique, as with the architecture of the eiffel tower, and a key aspect of poems and the eiffel tower is the visible and unique structure. In other words a poem is there to make people recognize the beauty of the structure, like the eiffel tower is there to be recognized for beautiful architecture.






















Wednesday 31 October 2012

one choice

If a drop of water begins at the top of a stream, with a big enough computer you should be able to calculate where it ends up by the time it reaches the beginning of the ocean. The question is, with a human being in the stream of life, can we make the same calculation?

 Some people say they make decisions based on "what most represents them best"(free will) but what influences what best represents them? Probably what they grew up with, or someone saying something when they were young. What confuses me is where it starts off. When you are born there is a red towel and a blue towel in front of you. What influences that choice? Surely you can not have been influenced by anything else? Is it genes? or is that towel the start of your life, your whole life? People have been debating for years about ideology. Do we have the ability to make decisions?, Is our whole life determined and predictable? I mean, we may feel like we are free to make decisions but maybe not. I'm not sure. I am really hoping that its not because if it is, well, whats the point? Does it all come down to one choice? Genes? Chance? Is everything predictable? What do you think?

Sunday 21 October 2012

comparisons...

Still havent decided whether 10 or 28 degrees suits me better!

Friday 19 October 2012

Art is anything you can get away with
-Andy Warhol

My favorite quote!

Friday 12 October 2012

What do you think of when you see this picture?


Different directions

Each one of the branches goes off in a different direction, yet they all come from the same place. And they will always remain connected.

fourteen trees, side by side

fourteen trees stand side by side. They are leaning slightly on an angle, all but one. The wind no doubt has been forcing them over. It takes courage to remain straight, defy the wind, especially when surrounded by leaning figures. Sometimes the effort of remaining straight tears you down just as quickly as leaning. Is it worth it in the end? What do you think?
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;        
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,        
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.        
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


Poem by Robert Frost.


I simply chose this poem to share to remind people to consider the less traveled path; and remember to take a good long look at each.  
     

Thursday 11 October 2012

A poem


By e.e. cummings

I thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(I who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

From E.E. Cummings Selected Poems, edited by Richard S. Kennedy

How the author has completely defied all rules of punctuation, It sounds like something I am always doing. The way the author has added so much meaning and has not given it away easily. In some ways he has created his own style of poetry.






















Wednesday 10 October 2012

My role model.


My role models are the trees. They are resilient, stand the toughest storms. They shed their leaves in winter, only to come out again even more beautifully in summer. They have done so much for the world, provided us with our life. They act with integrity, standing honest and tall, never failing to do their duty. They are independent, relying on no-one, always tall and proud. Even after being cut down they sprout new shoots and grow again, even stronger. They are your friends, your inspiration. They are there for everyone, one hundred percent committed. They are always there when you need them, always smiling down upon you.

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Never ending cycle.

To be rich there must always be poor. Without the poor the rich would not be rich, and if there were no rich there would be no poor. You would think this a vicious cycle, but what we can do is raise our whole standard of living up. The worst thing is when you have something good and it is taken away from you. The problem is that no-one will ever be happy. I surpose that what makes you happy is when you are living badly, or in a worse state and something happens and changes that to something better. but that happines doesn't last long. It is human nature to always want, want more. First we must ensure everyone has the basics (water food cloths) and then what we must do is be grateful for what we have, and know that maybe 100 years back we wouldn't have any of the things we have now.

Friday 5 October 2012

I hate coat hangers

I hate coat hangers.
Doesn't It annoy you when you are putting your clothes away and theres a coat hanger in them?! Come on! That really irritates me. When you could just fold them or screw them up in a ball and stuff them in a draw, why you would bother to put a coat hanger in them is beyond me. You have two options, shake your cloths out and climb up into your cupboard so you can reach the bar, then hang your clothes up there on a spare bit of space, or you could take the time to take the coat hangers out of your clothes and then fold them or stuff them (yes I know I shouldn't stuff my clothes), when really all you should be doing is folding your cloths and putting them in a draw. I am incredibly irritated at whoever invented coat hangers. 

Aren't I lazy?    

Thursday 4 October 2012

life?

The one big question: Life. Whats the point? Its just going to end! Yet people still keep doing the things they are doing, keep going to work, keep buying shoes, keep cleaning. And then we say; we should be donating this money to those who are poor and in need (which I agree with) but then what difference does it make if they are going to die to, probably earlier than you. Its great to get good grades, get a job, make some friends, the usuale. But why? why do we even exist in the first place? Is it that we are a unique life form? The famous Greek philosopher, Plato, thought that the meaning of life was to attain the highest form of knowledge and that humans are duty-bound to pursue the good, but then, well, good for whom? man kind? Thats just going in circles. We could do some good for the world by not existingMany people have tried to answer this question, but no-one has been able. Some say to have fun. Others say love. A few say god. Emily says 42! Some say to leave this world a better place for you being in it. Well I havent made up my mind, and I dont think I ever will. Its one of those irritating, ambiguous and unanswerable questions. Damn! Please comment if you have any Ideas or suggestions or even answers.  images from
"Saying Images-Best Tumblr Quotes Pictures-Quote Pictures-Tumblr Pictures-Love Quotes." SayingImages.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://sayingimages.com/happiness-is-the-key-to-life/>."What Is the Meaning of Life?" Today's Featured Discussions. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://youthvoices.net/discussion/what-meaning-life>.


Tuesday 2 October 2012

why?



The one freedom we are born with is to decide who we are. It is us, not anyone else who determines that. We have that right and no-one can take it away from us. To be free to share our stories is amazing, just in itself. We share stories through books, blogs, vocal, and social networking sites. Each story we tell or share shapes who we are. When we share stories we find out more about ourselves and those around us. We tell stories to engage, to find something in common with someone else, to discover a new point of view. We share stories to let other people share our experiences, and feel what we feel. Not everyone chooses to share all of their stories, if they did there would be nothing exiting or interesting about a story.

Saturday 29 September 2012

"dont palm us off"

DILO: Palm Oil Plantations by C-Monster
It is all good and well to walk around wearing "dont palm us off" T-shirts, but then; if it wasn't for us there wouldnt be so many plantations. I remember driving back from sibu, laughing and joking and listening to music, while we passed kilometer after kilometer of palm oil plantations. looking around I could see about three quarters of the class eating chips ( dont get me wrong, it included me), bought from the local kampong. It isn't that people dont care, but because they dont realize, or think "its just one packet, what difference does it make". If they hadn't consumed that one packet there would be no such thing as plantations. But then there's the local people who wouldn't eat if we didn't buy there oil, and eat their chips and sweets. Its an excellent source of income for them and it involves them in trade, which is probably the best income they will ever have. So it leaves us with a question: should we eat the chips or not? I would love to hear what you think.

C-Monster. "DILO: Palm Oil Plantations." Flickr. Yahoo!, 26 Mar. 2005. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/arte/7487006/>.

my story in photos























Sunday 23 September 2012

Sibu


She couldn&#8217;t help but swing to the sound of her own hum. #rosie #sibu #love @itymms  (Taken with Instagram)The whole trip was about stepping out of our comfort zones, making friends, and having a break from school.  but what does that really mean? Does it mean to live harder than usual? We have been told that it is to do things you have never done before, or wouldn't usually do. But then is it still stepping out if you cry and say you cant do it? Different people have different comfort zones. For me, a week away from school, technology, homework, parents, tests, is my idea of heaven. But for some people that is stepping out of their zones. I think for the people in my class it was more of a challenge, haveing to do more things for themselves, which makes you reflect on how lucky you are, to be used to beds and helpers and showers, while other people have nothing so in that way I am so glad we went. I think we realized just how lucky we are. Life is truly amazing, and yet no-one knows why we live it. We saw sea turtles, occasionally taking one short, luxurious breath above, before plunging below into the depths, not knowing what awaits them, holding on to that single breath. Hoping desperately for another one. Not sure when it will arrive. I remember the stars on the first night, so many twinkling lights, reminding me of home. We dont see stars in singapore, as a result of the light pollution. Some times its good to get away.                                                                                   Photos by miss Paula (:

Sunday 16 September 2012

vignettes








Yesterday I went to the elephant show; there, for the first time, I got to feed them, and touch them. Elephants don't feel rubbery like I expected, but more bristly, like a scrubbing brush, and their trunks are smooth and soft. Ever since I was young I have had a fascination with these creatures. At the zoo I watched them effortlessly lift huge logs, just with their trunks. I think elephants should be a role model to all of us,  as their teamwork is amazing, they are almost always happy and rarely lose their temper. I love watching them play and have fun. Maybe people can take some inspiration from these amazing creatures...






Climbing up and up and up, sometimes its a pity it has to end. Or that you can’t go any further because you are too heavy. The disappointment when you realize It won’t happen, and the pleasure of knowing there are more to climb, more opportunities. And of course the joy of success when you reach the top and no-one can see you. My friend and I used to climb almost every tree on her farm. At my old house we had a huge apple tree which was great fun to climb, though the apples tasted like sour cardboard, and when we were younger when someone came over they were dared them to eat them. My friend has a big tree house in the top of her pine tree, but we found better trees to climb. Before I left to Singapore we were up one of her trees and I had her mums saw, trying to saw a branch of, so as we could slide all the way down the tree from the top to bottom like a slide when her mum drove in under us and we had to pretend we weren’t there for half an hour while she unloaded the shopping (we weren't allowed to have the saw). Climbing always has been, and I think always will be, my passion.

  
I really am not sure why I love it so much, but I do. Maybe its the sensation of going so fast in complete un-control, or the snow covering me. Or perhaps its something else, which remains undiscovered. My first experience of skiing was when I was nine when I went to Mt. Baw Baw with my friend and her family. I spent two days with her there skiing and chatting and falling over. we made slushies out of snow and cordial. I have since become obsessed. My second experience was when my aunt and uncle took me with them to falls creek for a week with my cousins. That was especially good as I got to miss a week of school. I took the plane back home by myself as an “unaccompanied minor” which was new for me as usually I go on the plane with a Parent. Anyway, it turned out fine as all I had to do was sit there.  







I am sure everyone has experienced being sucked into a book. The question is why? Why do we as a human race get entranced by books?  
  
 I was in grade three, silently reading, and my class was quite noisy, so I had tuned out. No-one told me we were going to Art so I was still reading, thirty minutes after everyone had left. Slightly embarrassing, but proves what a good book has the power to do. A good book is the only way to escape the world without leaving the room. I like reading, and I don’t currently have a favorite book. Over my life I have really enjoyed the book thief, rangers apprentice and the witches of eileanan. The last two were favorites when I was younger, but the book thief was defiantly well written. I usually read for enjoyment but sometimes just to escape. I used to read a lot, but now I just don't have the time. Perhaps this is one of the biggest mistakes I will ever have made.         


Wade, Nathan C. "Tarangire Elephants Playing in Water." Flickr. Yahoo!, 07 June 2009. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/nwade615/3603970692/>.    


Citation added:
Sorounge. "Big Tree." Flickr. Yahoo!, 23 May 2012. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/soranpo/7249503626/>.
         

Haagensen, Thorbjørn Riise. "Skiing the Powder." Flickr. Yahoo!, 03 Apr. 2012. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/35187935@N08/7041559221/>.   



Flickr. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/dioctria/3563262395/sizes/z/in/photostream/>. 

Thursday 13 September 2012

English class so far....

English class so far....
Something I have enjoyed is coming into class and having the chance to silently read. I really enjoy reading and I think this helps us get into the right mood. Maybe something we could add would be ten minutes to recommend books, authors and share what we are reading, so as to find out about new books which people are reading, and perhaps discover a completely new author.  

Tuesday 11 September 2012

what is good writing?
 As this is my first blog post, I think this is a good topic, as my blog will be to post all my writing, and to share it. Different people have different styles of writing, some more dreamy and ambiguous, others sharp and get to the point quickly. Some think it is good grammar, sentence structure and spelling, and although they are important parts of writing, I disagree.  This itself is an extremely ambiguous and complex question, and I would like to see what you think.......
ownership, sharing, intellectual property rights...... well, I am not exactly sure how to answer.
Perhaps we should be mentioning Author after we have used or modified their work? or is it deeper than that? Maybe we should collaborate with the author, or ask permission first, and let them decide in which way the credit due will be delivered. And the culture ship of owning to one of sharing.... it could just be what sort of person you are. some people are happy for anyone to use, change and modify their work, even without credit; whilst others wish to be recognized for their ideas. I surpose it depends on your purpose. If you had created a digital artwork and were hoping to sell it you probably wouldn't want to have people changing it for fear of having their version sold and not yours. The human race are very self centered. I don't think It really makes a difference, online or not, but then that's just my opinion; and I don't know much about those rights.