Junkyard Quote (Week 15)

"I always say you can tell a lot about a school from their website, housing, and student organizations."  -me


"Justin will capture you're heart when he gets older, that's when his voicebox will drop lower and he will be ripped!!"-me, conversation with a friend about Justin Beiber


"You sound dumb. If people don't go to mega-churches then it wouldn't be a mega-church."- some dude on twitter arguing with someone about mega churches 


"Girl just Youtube it, there are plenty of hair stylist on there and they don't even want any of your money." - comment on my friend's status on facebook

Calisthenics (Week 14)

Collection of things that go together

He was...

the drumstick to my snare drum
the scaffold to my under-constructed building
the comb to my nappy roots
the shower to my cap
the flower to my pot
the paint to my brush
the mouth to my wash
the smell to my new car
the lift to my face
the moth to my flame
the salt to my watermelon
the crunchy peanut butter to my grape jelly
the cheese to my wine
the bread to my butter.

Junkyard Quote (Week 14)

"You're either a leader, follower, or a shadow." - Atarah


"mis-education is mis-education no matter if it's coming through a radio station, coming out of a book, or a teacher" - lupe fiasco ( heard this from a video I was watching on worldstarhiphop about if rappers are role models)


"So, marijuana is a gateway drug because I went from watching Weeds to watching Breaking Bad." - Atarah ( If none of you have seen neither one these shows then you should. Weeds is about weed and a family struggling to pick up the pieces of a dead father and husband. Breaking Bad is about meth and this chemistry teacher's strange twist in his life.)


""He already ruined your mascara. Don't let him ruin your night." - Carolyn Hanley, best friend from kindergarten 

Free Write (Week 14)

New York

I cried when my father died
he was born in New York
the best state ever established
all those busy streets full of
sex, drugs, and hunger!
I've always been jealous of him,
the farthest I've ever been
was to Jonesboro
and that's always a bore
and I snore pretty loudly in the
car when driving back with mom
drifting in and out of sleep
dreaming about how life would have
been if I was in the Breakfast Club.
There is an actual Breakfast Club
that requires members to pay monthly
$200 for 365 days worth of Berry Berry Kicks.
Dreaming of the Coldest Winter Ever,
I envy the snow my father played in,
the snow that fills the streets
then turns a dirty blackish color
it always confused me why white turns black.
I miss my father even though
I never knew him.

Free Write

i always thought the backside
of a dime was an image of
wheat or barley in a field growly freely.
as i got older, my life went
on from my childhood imagination
until one day i was paying
attention to a dime
and realized how wrong i was.
the back of a dime is not
an image of wheat in field,
it actually is an image
of a flower, the burning flame that sererandes
the Olympics and some type of plant-like substance.
anybody noticed how all of these
beautiful things are being
trapped in in circled by the words
"United States of America"
and ""one dime".

Junkyard Quotes

"Obviously menopause has effected your sense of smell." - Weeds


"I just saw the woman I'm going to marry. I know it. But I lost her." - Big Fish


" Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God you know me and have access to my dementia?" - George Castanza


"is he a cracker or is he a biscotti? - me

Improv (Week 10)

Bad Language by Dan Albergotti

We fear to speak, and silence coats the night air.
So we are dumb, as quiet as the kitchen pans
hanging on their cabinet hooks. What words
do we even have? The root of fuck is as much
to strike as to copulate. And sometimes ravish
is to rape. But when you're ravishing, you're
beautiful. Strikingly beautiful. Other tongues
do not help. Try saying "kiss me" on the streets
of Paris. God does not help. The Bible is full
of prohibition. Thou shalt not, saith the lord.
No sounds like know. To know is to understand.
In the Bible to know is to fuck. What do you mean
when you say no? I think I know. I want to know.
Understand me. You're ravishing. I want to know
you. Strike me. Don't leave me alone with self-
knowledge and these rich, fruitless, unspoken words.

Language is bad in the right situations by Atarah Rumph

Too scared to speak fearing it will
fuck up the mood, she continues to
lay on the bottom as his pelvic bone thrust
into hip bone. Damn he needs to eat
some collard green with pork and beans.
She needed to lose weight, but only in the
stomach area. Muffin top is just a cute
word to say not to look at. If they were
in a picture, the effect would be sepia
the way the basement had that
1987 feel to it. You know the one
where when you swept the dirt
off the floor, the wind would sneak it
back in. The worn out couch, ashtrays on the ground,
liquor bottled on top of the entertainment center,
15 inch television showing the scores to
the previous game of Mortal Combat, the smell of
fried chicken being warmed up, hormone levels rising,
understanding between two complicated young adults.
Waking up from a cat nap, his eyes greeted her body
and welcomed his hands to caress her nose.
They always spoke in sign language.  

Calisthenics (Week 10)

Why does pizza get to a house faster than an ambulance?

-because food is important for the survival of humans
-because the pizza delivery guy wants his tip
-because people don't want to eat cold pizza if they have to
-because ambulances always get stuck in traffic for some strange reason
-because the paramedics were too busy smoking
-because hunger is a more important emergency
-because most pizza delivery vehicles are cars
-because the hospital is located in the city
-because all of the ambulances were full
-because everyone requested this specific day to not be on duty
-because the pizza man's second job is driving the ambulance
-because people always get excited to see the pizza guy
-because ambulances cost too much to fill up
-because after this delivery the pizza guy is off for the night

Response 2 (Week 10)

Response to Ben's Free Write, "The Perfect Bar"

I've never been to a bar but I would love to go to this one just to see the interior and personalities. It sounds like an upscale, sophisticated bar contrasted to the typical bar that is shown in movies. I think most people that like to go to bars sometimes wish the bar would be as described in this free write instead they encounter emotional drunks, women dressed slutty, cheap drinks and interior. I question the spelling of cheap in this. It may just be an honest misspelling but I looked up the word "cheep" and I think it could definitely fit into the description you are giving.

Response 1 (Week 10)

Response to Ebef's Improv to Kate Northrop's "The Pure Beauties"

Ebef, I admire how you improved and used the same form of the original poem. I know that whenever I try to improv someone's poem, I can never stay true to the original form. I would have liked to read more of your own language in some of the lines that you chose to keep some of Ms. Northrop's words. I think by using your own language it would clarify the "they" and "our" that shows up throughout the poem.

Sign Inventory (Week 10)

Kate Northrop's "The Film"


Come, let's go in.
The ticket-taker
has shyly grinned
and it's almost time,
Lovely One.
Let's go in.

The wind tonight's too wild.
The sky too deep,
too thin. Already it's time.
The lights have dimmed.
Come, Loveliest.
Let's go in.

and know those bodies
we do not have to own, passing
quietly as dreams , as snow.
Already leaves are falling
and music begins.
Lovely One,

It's time.
Let's go in.


-three full stanzas along with one mini stanza made up of two lines
-"let's go in" is repeated in the first, second, and fourth stanzas
-the first word of every beginning stanza is capitalized except for the third stanza
-questionable language: "and know those bodies/we do not have to own, passing/quietly as dreams, as snow./Already leaves are falling"
-significance put at the end of the poem:" It's time./Let's go in."
-20 lines
-enjambments throughout
-

Junkyard Quotes (Week 10)

“That old saying, how you always hurt the one you love, well, it works both ways” -Anon


I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be "happy." I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter and to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all. -Leo C. Rosten


"the heart wants what it wants" - on an episode of the game, said by TeeTee


"Q: how come we neva play sex evolution?

A: i didnt know that was a game and they have books that can evolve sex"- conversation someone had with my on facebook. 

Free Write (Week 10)

Good Morning

Woke up to a tantrum-throwing alarm clock
he demanded I wake up
as persistent as I was to push him away
he was twice as persistent for me to wake up
to the sweet smell of the garbage can
that pervertibly stares at me outside my window.
It's Monday,
Monday is the you need to forget about the endless nights
you stayed up because your best friends were in town
that you guys had to catch up at the nearest club, wipe out
all of the left of crust from your eyes,
drink two mugs full of green tea,
beginning of the work week day.
Running like a speeding bullet,
trying to catch the train
it hit me,
I didnt eat any Berry Berry Kicks
and my mom popped into my head
and recited: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
Breathing like a fish out of water
I was finally on the damn train. 

Calisthenics (Week 6)

Metaphor Substitutions

1) Calling from the far shore
- announcements from the far shore
-calling from the border
-hollering from the far lakeside

2)Burning the wood
-kindle the wood
-ignite the forest
-smolder the wood with ice

3)Smug by the fire
-gratified by the fire
-haughty by the swain
- self-righteous by the warmth

4)knocking the wind out of someone
-knocking the wind out of a tree
-knocking the wind out of mill
-knocking the wind out of someone's helplessness

Improvin' (Week 6)

"Song 378" by Dan Albergotti

They say grace is amazing
They say fools rush in.
Pope was a wise man. This is a song.

This is a song because it says song,
says song insistently, says sibilance.
Hisses a background for sharp notes.

It says there is a note that marries

skulls to smile, despair to hope

if only for one trembling moment.
It sounds the diphthong between birth
and death. This song says mystery.

When the great composer was asked to name
his favorite music, he said, No music.
The dead and dying sing a silent song.



"untitled" by Atarah Rumph

They say fools rush in.
The rushed in fools
are they who rushed into sin
while sipping on a mocha frappuccino.

Hissing for sharp notes,
she held his red, multi- pocketed
windbreaker under one arm
while the other arm was occupied
with his child collection of animated movies.

A collection of animated movies
that scream life, liberty, and justice
is new in this abandoned world.
His shirt flies past her face.
they say fools rush in. 

Free Write (Week 6)

Dear pieces of me,

I miss you guys sooo much. I really have no idea when ya'll left and why but I really do wish you would come back. Honestly, I havent been drowning or frowning, i've just been confused. It's like I know something is missing but when I start looking for whatever it is, I cant seem to find it; or you guys. If I didnt treat you guys with the respect and love as the other parts of me then I'm truly sorry but being confused and knowing something is missing isnt such a great life. I though i found you guys on the corner store but that was someone else pieces. Or maybe you guys left me because ya'll's purpose was served already. Well what ever the excuse or situation may be, I would have loved a hug and a goodbye. But just in case you guys think of me as much as I think of you, I just wanted to let you all know that I miss you.

Love, me

Junkyard Quote 21-24 (Week 6)

"And I dont mind when we fall out just as long as we fall back into it so I hope we neva put an end to it even tho ur really not into it......" 
- My friend and I were having a conversation about a girl he likes but doesn't think she is interested in him


"i thought you were my passion but every day I learn more and more about you & i realized it isnt you"


"thought I was on a roll but ended up rollin' back to square one, I guess that's what I get for impersonating the feds"


"A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave." - Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Response 2 (Week 5)

Response 1 (Week 5)

Calisthenics (Week 5)

Free Write (Week 5)

This foul ladybug screams my name
near my bedroom window
I heard her vigorous buzzing
from her loud vacuum of sex
it must be mating time
walking outside with just the skin of my feet
the desolate worm crept between my toes
slimy, grimy, but comfortable
that's how it felt
looking into the moon's eyes
I started to feel a connection
then quickly looked away
heading back upstairs
I adjust my frustrated pillow
kick my ignorant socks off the bed
and dream about happy pickles.

Improvin' (Week 5)

Junkyard Quote 17-20 (Week 5)

Sign Inventory (week 5)

Improvin' (Week 4)

Dan Albergotti's "Among the Things He Does Not Deserve"

Greek olives in oil, fine beer, the respect of colleagues,
the rapt attention of an audience, pressed white shirts,
just one last-second victory, sympathy, buttons made
to resemble pearls, a pale daughter, living wages, a father
with Italian blood, pity, the miraculous reversal  of time,
a benevolent god, good health, another dog, nothing
cruel and unusual, spring, forgiveness, the benefit
of the doubt, the next line, cold fingers against his chest,
rich bass notes from walnut speakers, inebriation, more ink,
a hanging curve, great art, steady rain on Sunday, the purr
of a young cat, the crab cakes at their favorite little place,
the dull pain in his head, the soft gift of her parted lips.

Things She Needs to Work for by Atarah Rumph

Response 1 (Week 4)

Response to Christine's Free Write: How to Show Your Mother She Raised You Right

I enjoy the tone the speaker has throughout the entire draft because the tone has a bit of sarcasm in there. I just have a weird connection to this poem because without knowing I do some of the things listed just so my mom would think she raised me right. I would like to suggest that instead of "a sport's bottle", in the revisions the "sport's bottle" gets a name like Gatorade or Powerade. I'm interested in seeing the rest of the listing since the writer isn't done. The idea of expansion for this poem is a great idea. 

Calisthenics (Week 4)

These lines come from random sources such as: Vogue, EcoBeauty, I wish I had a Red Dress, Happiness, and my psychology textbook

The swing rhythm was breaking up into a cool-jazz rebop

when a small commotion was happening at Daniel Hersheson Salon

lips feel bare to the touch but the flush of color won't smudge on his shirt

but she finally decided the spirits of sexual healing must be revealed.

When communication is cut off, she kicked his lying bum

out of the house since he refused to give up his mistress.

After three years worth of Blue Bell's butter pecan ice cream

and cheap microwave dinners, she always experimented with

twisted updos and braids and sometimes you just

have to wear heels.

Free Write, Week 4

Merry Father's Day


I was just an embryo when my father left. I had anencephaly for a few weeks from my mother’s heart bleeding once she noticed all his clothes disappeared like a ghost from their small closet. I would have slapped him with my tail if I wasn’t so comfortably warm in that place I like to compare to heaven. That was back then I was trapped and cramped for space but now I’m out, healthy, living, and continuing to grow without any of your love. One day I picked up a gun, contemplating shooting my brains out to the sun because I was tired of having to point out that you were never there to share any of my childhood memories with me. Tired of waking up in the middle of the night without mom being sleep in her bed because of her third job as a waitress at a restaurant to try to keep the lights on. Balancing stress, mom just couldn’t teach me how to be a man. It seems as if you forgot that physically and emotionally, me and the woman you once loved are completely different. Though it was hard, she tried her best to make me understand the good and the bad in both sexes. I was saved by someone even though I didn’t know their name or where they lived but all I knew was that they prayed. No bullets in the gun that I wanted to end my life. Relief seeped through my skin as I cried on my mother’s bosom. I used to loathe not knowing you as a man and as my father because I ached for your love but now I love you unconditionally for whatever you were and were not because it made me a better man than mom could ever imagine. 

Junkyard Quote 13-16, Week 4

"If I went back to high school, I have to make sure I have a bulletproof vest." - Mindy

"every hello is like the preface to a 20 volume love letter" - Some girl's blog on tumblr (http://crushtheinfamous.tumblr.com/post/3139803313)

"she was babysitting the opportunity" - I believe one of my friend's said this but when i saved it in my phone i didnt put a name

"I've been right. I've been left. I've been wrong. I've been left behind. I've been up but mostly down." - Middle Class Rut

Response Post 1, Week 3

In response to Candis' Calisthenics, Week 3

The poem that came from the random lines from random sources was packed with loads of images. There is the image of male menopause, which I laughed at. The image of a murdered girl. Also the image of someone smelling the dawn drafts. The arrangement of the lines that made up the poem was interesting, but I would like to see som of the lines moved around more. There is no doubt that there is enough material for this to be a very interesting piece of work. I would like to suggest that the second line become the first line and the fourth line become the third line. I think with a few revisions and playing around with the lines that this could really blossom into an awesome piece. 

Free Write, Week 3

I thought it was abstract

so how come when I 

go to CVS the day before

the dumbest holiday ever created,

by humans of course, 

I can touch the bears, candy stored in boxes with pretty ribbons,

red, pink, and white pencils and pens, and the list goes on?

why didn't they just leave it the way it should be, untouched but well loved.

Sign Inventory 3, Week 3 (Dan Albergotti's "Lessons of th Elements: Air"

• The specific title of this poem is "Air" but the first line of the poem makes me as the reader assume the speaker is talking about going under water. Even though the speaker did not say "water", I automatically thought water.
• Air seems to be the element that the speaker wants to save him from "drowning".
• The poet establishes a struggle in the life of the speaker. "I was an old man drowning/in his hospital room, going down". 

Junkyard Quote 9-12, Week 3

"You keep penetrating the question!"
- My friend Tyrone said this to me this weekend because I kept nagging him with a question while him and my other friend were trying to talk about something else.

"I'm such a hypocrite, thank goodness I can admit it."
-I said this to myself because I had a conversation with a friend about why females go back to complicated things and a few days later I did the thing I was preaching about.

"any female who puts her hand on a male, with the intentions of violence, is only looking for attention"
- my opinion to someone's relationship issues


"Q: how come we neva play sex evolution?"

"A: i didnt know that was a game and they have books that can evolve sex"

Junkyard Quote 5-8, Week 2

"Someone should have warned you/When things start splitting at the seams and now/The whole thing's tumbling down"
-Cee-Lo Green, "No One's Gonna Love You", Lady Killer

"Opening up this can of soup with caution."
- I said this while having a conversation with myself about something that's been on my mind lately


"There hasn't been school for a while so it's going to be a little awkward." 
-ABC News.


"We aint married but tonight I need some consummation"
-Kanye West, "Devil in a New Dress", My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Response to

Response to

free entry 1, week 1

Trees get cut down every day. it's not the end of the world. even though that's what it seem like when all that's left of the big beautiful tree is a stump. The village people were so stumped as to why their special tree that had been in their family for hundreds of years was murdered and left with evidence of it's death. the tree used to provide food, shelter, and more wisdom than any village elder could. All the women of the village began walking through the forest striving to find a better, more worthy, more beautiful tree that will help keep their husbands and children and elders alive and healthy. 

Sign Inventory 1, Week 1

Improving 1, Week 1

Calisthenics 1, Week 1

Cows

Cows milk

Cows milk is stolen

Cows milk is stolen from the cow

Cows milk is stolen from the cow to be given to humans. 

Hate

Hate is

Hate is an abstract

Hate is an abstract emotion

Hate is an absract emotion caused by

Hate is an abstract emotion caused by poisons in the skull.

Sleep

Babies sleep

Babies sleep as much

Babies sleep as much as bears

Babies sleep as much as bears during hibernation.

Junkyard Quote 1-4, Week 1

"You're genes do not determine your fate"
-Professor Laplante, UWG

"Makers have a different attitude than takers do"
-Pastor Anthony, Oasis Family Life Church

"Now that I'm up and tired of recycling this limited amount of breathing air that's compacted in this room, I want to go mingle with living souls"
-Atarah Rumph


"Once you choose hope, anything's possible."  
-Christopher Reeve, I looked this up to put in my homework assignment for Sports Psychology