Telescope

"a lady looking through a telescope while her maidservant holds an umbrella" by Hokusai

"I shall gaze upon the land,
or maybe upon the sea,
but really anything will do
any thing, other then you"

This she said to me,
as she stared  out her glass,
to which a glare is my only atack
my teeth shining black.

She really seems so rude,
insulting me like that,
But it is meant to be,
She is is surely greater than me.

Truth be told, I like it
being lesser, that is,
for had I been she,
I'm sure, everyone would hate me.

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
by Dylan Thomas
The force that through the green fuse drives the flower Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees Is my destroyer. And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose My youth is bent by the same wintry fever. The force that drives the water through the rocks Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams Turns mine to wax. And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks. The hand that whirls the water in the pool Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind Hauls my shroud sail. And I am dumb to tell the hanging man How of my clay is made the hangman's lime. The lips of time leech to the fountain head; Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood Shall calm her sores. And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind How time has ticked a heaven round the stars. And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.

Don't you hate it when you know something, but you just aren't the one to say it? Like for example, in class, if you know exactly what the teacher is teaching, and you think you can teach the class more correctly then the teacher, but because they are the teacher, and in a way above you, you don't speak up?  Or when your parents are yelling at you when you know your right, but you don't yell back because you'll get into more trouble.  I think that is what this poem is really about. 

I noticed that in a lot of Dylan Thomas' poems, the last few lines of a stanza repeat going throughout the poem, like in "Do not go gentle into that good night".  in this poem, the repeated line was: "And I am dumb to tell... how...".  This in itself is not worth much, but added the two lines before it, it means so much more. The first line in a stanza describes some metaphorical force in nature, where as the second line (& 3rd) describe that same force within him.  But in the ending of each stanza, he says that he would be dumb to tell nature about the force described.  

the Third stanza and all the ones after it also really stood out to me, because instead of describing nature, and then himself, he describes something different.  Replacing nature he described something calm, like "the hand that whirls the water in the pool", but replacing himself, he describes a similar thing to the calm, only bad, like" Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind". 

I think that the stanza pattern is very important to understanding this poem.  In a way, he is saying that he knows that the natural or the calm is correct, so he shouldn't even attempt to fight it.  In fact, he would be dumb to do such, But I disagree. I think that we should all have the right to speak out and be heard.  if we are wrong, so be it! We will learn from our mistakes.  We do not live to be put down by others.  Evolution happens by things being different, standing out!  

But maybe, say he knew that death was coming, that speaking out wouldn't help him in the long run, only get him scolded.  Why waste time , when you know that time itself is very limited. I assume that if you know life has to end, there is little point in questioning, as it will probably not affect you.  I suppose, It really depends on your side of life.  

I think this can teach us about how to act.  Sometimes, there is really no reason to talk back or prove someone wrong, because it really helps no body.   this could solve so many parent and child fights. The main reason that I've seen people get detention for is talking out of turn in one way or another.  But on the other hand,  we should also share our opinions, while we are young.  these two Ideas are almost opposites, and yet I feel they are both right.  it depends on who you are. 

What If He Hadn't?

As with all of my blog posts, this may be a SPOILER

We've all ha to make tough decisions. You know, the kind that one choice is "the right thing to do", but the other choice benefits you more? The kind they talk about all the time in elementary school? That one. I'm positive you've been faced with one of these decisions before.  Only, I would probably guess that your life didn't depend on the answer.

Currently, I am reading "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.  Hans, the main character's "father" lets a Jew hide in there house during World War Two.  If he is found out, the government will take him and his wife away, and probably kill them.  the reason that he is letting the Jew into his house anyway is because he made a promise with that persons mother to do what ever he could to help.  because of this promise, Hans decided to let him stay.

As I was reading his, I thought to myself, what if he hadn't? What if he had turned the Jew away? The Jew would have to try and find some other place to hide, probably fail, and in the end he would no doubt die.  As for Hans, of course if the police came he would have nothing to hide from them.  But I feel that by doing that, he is becoming an honorary Nazi himself, in a way.  He would be officially be no different than any other Nazi.  But the worst part is that he would be plagued by the guilt of that broken promise until he dies.

I remember once in elementary school, a fifth grader took my lunchbox which was mine since nursery school.  I wouldn't eat my lunch if it weren't packed in that bag.  I loved that lunchbox so much, I couldn't stand someone taking it.  I wanted to go up to her and tel her that it was mine, my lunchbox, but I thought that she might beet me up.  I had no Idea what to do.  either I face her and get my lunchbox, or I save myself from being bullied and loose one of my favorite things. I decided to confront her.  It turned out that she was a really nice person, and she had thought the lunchbox was hers.  she gladly gave it back to me.

If I hadn't gone up to her, I would have lost the thing that meant so much to me  forever.  I would have never gotten it back.  If Hans hadn't let the Jew stay, he would never be able to forget his guiltiness.  If you don't make the right decisions,  you can be affected for life. There are so many things I wish I had done, but I didn't.  I guess that's just life.

pride and foolishness

 as with all of my blog posts, this may be a SPOILER

We've all had an experience like this: when we know that we can do something,but when we attempt it, we cannot do it at all.  For example, today in band, I looked at the new song that we got, a West Side Story compilation, and thought to myself, 'wow, this is going to be an easy song.'  only, when I started playing it, I totally messed up.  I seriously underestimated the difficulty of the song.

I am currently reading The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak.  Liesel, the main character is still learning how to read.  When the teacher says that there is a reading test, she tests everyone but Liesel.  Liesel, out of pride, decides to read in front of he class anyway, which gets her in trouble. 

I think that this really shows something about people, and about pride.  Proud people will do things, foolish things,  without really thinking  about the results first. This always ends badly.  I guess what I am trying to say is to think before you do something, or it may turn out badly.  I think that most of the worlds problems could have been avoided if people did this. 

But then again, maybe it's good that Liesel did this.  It all lead to her beating someone up and gaining respect from that.  Had Liesel not done that, fellow students would have kept teasing her about her inability to read, maybe eventually leading to bullying.  It can be important to do things like this sometimes, but none the less, think them over first. In the end, it's all up to you. 

the worst job of WWII

(If you haven't read"The Book Thief", spoiler alert)

For the past three months, It has been sitting on my bookshelf, waiting for me to read, and yet I never end up reading it.  I had bought is for summer reading, but I never got to reading it, so it's just been waiting there for me to read it since June.  But now I have finally decided to read "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.  seeing as I started reading it about a half hour ago, I have gathered very little about the plot, but there are only two things that you will need to know for reading this blog post.  The first of those things is that it takes lace during World War Two. The second thing, which I am just assuming, is that (SPOILER ALERT) it is narrated by death (at least I think it is, from what I have read).

 On the back of the book, It has a line that says: "Death has never been busier, and will become busier still".  This line just made me think, death would have to be in so many places at the same time, and he would never be able to take a break.  According to Wikipedia, over 60 million people were killed.  World War Two lasted for about six years, meaning on average about ten thousand deaths per year.  Death would never have a break. 

just to go back to a slightly lighter topic,  this is very much like Santa Clause.  Santa supposedly delivers presents (or coal, depending on if you were good or bad)  to every child in the entire world on one night: December twenty fourth.  This is totally impossible, just like death being able to pause and notice things during World War Two.  In order to do these things, they would need many little helpers to do their job.  I know the idea of having little mini deaths running around everywhere seems crazy, but that would be the only possible way.

It is impossible for death to do his work and still pause, just like it is impossible for Santa to deliver all of the presents i one night.  None the less, these (supposedly) happen. How do you think death dose it?

By the way, happy christmahanakwanzaka!

Why I Didn't Cry for Dobby

Unless you didn't go on the trip to Harry Potter,  you can read this post. Otherwise, SPOILER ALERT.

Now as we all know, in the movie "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", Dobby, a house-elf (whatever that is), is killed. If you were sitting near me during the movie, you would know that I sighed, after the many screams when Dobby dies.  A few people came up to me after the movie to ask me why I enjoyed Dobby's death.  One person actually had the nerve to go up to miss Robbin's and tell her that I was happy that Dobby died. Let me make this clear now: I was not happy when Dobby was killed, albeit I was not particularly sad either. 

First of all, "Dobby" is a fictional character, not a living (or in this case, once living) creature.  That would be like if Margaret Wise Brown decided that the 'Quiet old lady who was whispering "hush"' were to be killed half way through "Goodnight Moon". There is no doubt that I would be disgusted, but nothing to scream about, seeing as I know that It is not real. All she is is an odd knitting rabbit sitting on a ricking chair.  Not real.  Now, do you mind telling me when the last time you saw a house-elf was? never? Oh my, well that's odd, neither have I! Actually, I don't know anyone who has!  Odd, right? I am very sorry if I just ruined your favorite children's book for you with graphic images, I just wanted to prove a point.

Another factor is the I have not read all of the books.  I don't think that I have met one single person who says that they do not like Harry Potter, and nearly every single person who has read the seventh book claims that they cried when Dobby dies.  Weather this is true or not, I am afraid that I shall never know, and I really don't care anyway. I don't think that the people that had not read the book had such a connection to Dobby as the book readers. I find that in a way, you cant experience a story in a movie the way that you can in a book.  I have a feeling that if I read the books, I might have felt like screaming myself! 

Basically, I did not wish for Dobby to die, rather I had few feelings for him at all.  Dobby is a fictional character, and nothing more.  I, and most people, find that reading a book is a totally different experience then seeing a movie.  I hope that now you understand  why I sighed at Dobby's death.

On Cats and Food Rations

Meow.  Meow!  MEOW! Gosh, when a cat needs food, they will never stop pestering you.  A few minutes ago, while I was standing in the kitchen waiting for my tea water to boil, Elliot, my cat, comes sprinting in and does just that, pesters me for more food.  Being the lazy person that I am, I didn't bother leaning down to fill up the cat bowl, I just poured the food from about three feet away from the bowl, scattering food everywhere, as well as in the bowl.  But Elliot, instead of eating from the bowl, decides to eat the pieces of food that lay all over the floor.  This made me wonder: is Elliot tidying up her eating area, or is she reserving her resources?

I am reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel.  At the moment, Pi, the main character, is stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after a shipwreck (as he has been for a long while).  Pi, being more or less alone on the boat meant for 32 people for 3 days, appears to have a bonanza of supplies and food, but i have a feeling that this is not so.  If Pi's calculations are correct, the food and water would only last him for about 100 days.  By looking at the Wikipedia article, I saw that (SPOILER ALERT) he was on the boat for well over 100 days, in fact, more then twice as long.  He appears to be consuming more then the recommended rations per day.  He has no idea how long he will be on this boat.

Maybe Elliot was being smart by only eating food off of the floor.  Perhaps she was being cautious. What if suddenly me and my family went away on a random vacation without feeding her? Had she eaten the food in the bowl, she would have no food for later (seeing as I probably would have swept the floor before leaving), but by eating the stuff on the floor, she saved food for later.  What I am trying to say is less that you are being frugal, but that you should be ready for everything.  Last year, I remember having a math test that I didn't know about.  I was saved by the myriad of notes in my math notebook (I cannot say that I have the same for this year – gulp!) which I used for last minute studying saved me. 

To sum this all up, be ready for anything.  Don't waste, like I feel that Pi is doing, but save.  You probably have what you need, so don't waste it before that's the thing that will save your life.  like the Boyscout motto (I am not a boyscout, but I just know this): Be Prepared.  What seems useless now may one day save your life!


Just telling you, this does not mean that you should hoard all of your used candy wrappers and broken shoelaces &c.  Also, I do not think that my cat was really (consciously) being frugal, seeing as a cats brain is about 5cm large.