Dialogue

 

The house was settling down for the evening. The smell of dinner was permeating the air; mom and dad were discussing the day’s events. I was doing my homework, trying to figure out the difference between the radius and the circumference of a circle, when out bounced my brother from the back room. With every step, he coughed. Mom didn’t look happy.

“Ryan come here, you need to take some medicine.”

“NO!” Ryan yelled.

“Yes, you have to stop coughing.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I understand, but you have to take the medicine. Go get some water, that will help.”

“Ok,” he sighed.

Ryan starts to take the medicine, then goes to the sink and spits it out.

“That is terrible! I’m not taking that!”

“You have to, it’s the only medicine we have for you, the other one is night-time, and I’m not giving that to you at 5:30 in the evening.”

“I want the one that tastes like Kool-Aid.”

“We don’t have that one, this is it.”

“Then I’ll cough, I’m not taking it!”

“You have to! Take it now, and quit being a baby.”

My brother yells, “I DON’T WANT TO!” as he runs down the hallway to his bedroom, slamming the door. Mom is close behind, mumbling as she goes.

“Ryan Austin! You WILL take that medicine RIGHT NOW!”

“NO!”

Mom walks out, looking defeated. She continues her way into the kitchen, and finishes up dinner.

Ryan comes out, smiling and coughing, knowing he will not have to take the medicine, unconcerned about annoying us all.

Test prep #2

To err is human; || to forgive, divine

~ Alexander Pope

Test Preparation

Metonymy

 

Out, Out a poem by Robert Frost.

 

The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard
And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,
Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.
And from there those that lifted eyes could count
Five mountain ranges one behind the other
Under the sunset far into Vermont.
And the saw snarled and rattled, snarled and rattled,
As it ran light, or had to bear a load.
And nothing happened: day was all but done.
Call it a day, I wish they might have said
To please the boy by giving him the half hour
That a boy counts so much when saved from work.
His sister stood beside them in her apron
To tell them "Supper." At the word, the saw,
As if to prove saws knew what supper meant,
Leaped out at the boy's hand, or seemed to leap-
He must have given the hand. However it was,
Neither refused the meeting. But the hand!
The boy's first outcry was a rueful laugh,
As he swung toward them holding up the hand
Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
The life from spilling. Then the boy saw all-
Since he was old enough to know, big boy
Doing a man's work, though a child at heart-
He saw all spoiled. "Don't let him cut my hand off-
The doctor, when he comes. Don't let him, sister!"
So. But the hand was gone already.
The doctor put him in the dark of ether.
He lay and puffed his lips out with his breath.
And then-the watcher at his pulse took fright.
No one believed. They listened at his heart.
Little-less-nothing!-and that ended it.
No more to build on there. And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.

 

 

Howl Imitation

I saw a generation that was more worried about "making it big" than working hard for their money.

Who thought "Honey Boo-Boo" and "16 and pregnant" were more acceptable television than "7th Heaven".

I saw a generation who did not believe in disciplining their children, yet complained when they were  out of control.

Who bought water bottled from a store, yet complained about having too much waste.

Who drank coffee and caffeine like crazy, then had to have a prescription to help them sleep.

Whose children wanted for nothing, then complain because the are spoiled.

I saw hard working people lose their jobs while the government said everything would all work out.

Who worried where the next meal would come from, called lazy because they could not find a job.

Who could not get help from the government, so had to choose between feeding their family, or paying the electric bill.

Who could not live the American dream.

I saw violence out of control, with no real solution except to violate law abiding citizens.

Who could not have a "fair" fight, or feel safe even speaking their minds.

Who were more concerned with appearance than ethical behavior.

Who stepped on any toes possible to make it to the top.

Imagist

Alarm clock


The seconds tick by
Impatiently waiting to be heard

Sestina

Sitting in the middle of the lake,
relaxing on the boat.
Soaking up the sunshine
while enjoying the light breeze.
Talking with the family,
and brushing away the sand.

Stepping on the sand,
as I jump into the lake.
Splashing the family
who remain on the boat.
As the waves moved in the breeze,
they reflect the sunshine.

The heat is radiating from the sunshine.
The trees are buried in the sand,
swaying in the breeze.
The depth of the lake
was apparent from inside the boat.
Quality time unmistakable with the family.

The smiles and laughter coming from the family,
along with the ever lasting sunshine,
made the time in the boat
priceless. The pebbles and the sand
stuck to my feet, and the lake
was calling my name. Our faces welcoming the breeze.

The quieting of the breeze
sent a message to the family.
It was time to ski on the lake!
The glaring of the sunshine
bounced off the sand,
blinding everyone on the boat.

The rocking of the boat
knocked against the dock, as the breeze
lightly touched the water. I sat in the sand
as the family
soaked up the sunshine
and played in the lake.

The boat sat quietly as the family
enjoyed the breeze. Clouds bringing a welcomed break from the sunshine,
as the sand sank into the lake.