Shot at Poetry

For my summer school class that I took online all summer, we had weekly assignments. I chose to write eight pieces of poetry and two prose pieces. Here are a few of my poetry pieces that I wrote towards the end of the summer. None are too formal, and they are nothing to blab about, but through this course I learned to not hate poetry or be afraid. 

Each week we posted our submission to a discussion and everyone in my class read each other's works and made comments. A lot of the comments I got were that my ideas could be made in to children's stories, especially the one about the shark. At first when I read those comments, I was a little offended, but then I realized maybe that is a good thing. Instead of being able to write serious and deep poetry, which I do not like to read often, I am able to write witty and childlike poetry. I really enjoyed my summer school class and I can't wait to weave creative writing into all my future writing. 

Look For You 

I look at the stars to find you,

Where you are or what you are doing.

What is life like up there with the big man?

Do you fish together, and dream together?

I look around nature to find you,

There I wonder if you are looking down on me.

Can you see that I have a different path in life?

Is this something that would make you proud to see?

I look into the ocean to feel your soul,

Thinking and remembering ever moment we shared together.

The afternoons full of coffee or talking over our country style lunch.

Are you able to hear me all the way up there?

I will eventually look for you in heaven,

Where I hope you will be waiting to greet me.

Am I able to run into your arms after running to His?

I will always look for you, until the day I find you.

Lollapalooza

Into the Windy City we traveled

Bags packed with crop tops and floral headbands

Hair chalk and converse in tow

We piled in the hotel

Cramming way more than allowed

Grant Park was our final destination 

Our blue wristbands tightly wrapped around our wrists

Many backpacks filled with rain jackets and water bottles

Even sneaking in water bottles full of what should not be there

Sunglasses shielding our eyes from the sun beating down

We did not know what to expect

But what we experienced what phenomenal

Incredible live music from lunch to midnight

Filled with pure happiness and tons of laughs

Not one thing would bring down our mood

At night we left the park to head to the bars

Trying to get drinks with our wristbands from the festival

Walking to Subway at three in the morning

Passing the hobos and street wanderers of Chicago 

Finally reaching the room and crashing into our beds

This was a weekend I will never forget

Every moment was completely soaked in

The friendships are even stronger now

And our next two years will be unforgettable

Lollapalooza, this is my ode to you

I love you, Lollapalooza

Vegetarian 

No, thank you,

I do not care for you.

No drips of oil, no grease stains,

From all of you I must refrain.

No, thank you,

I used to love you so.

But now I am much greener,

My life is much cleaner.

No, thank you,

I will pass on eating you.

Rice and beans now curve my appetite,

To the animals now, I am polite.

No, thank you,

I do not eat meat.

And although this was quite the feat,

I do know this journey will not know defeat.

 

You

My eyes opened wide,

From the presence of your love.

My heart more aware of You,

Noticing little things that are a constant reminder.

No trial or tribulations will separate us,

My sins always forgiven.

Your love is unfailing and never ending,

Even when I stumble and fall.

The father of all,

The maker of the world.

My right hand man, my best friend,

My companion, my guardian.

While thinking I needed to impress you,

With an act or sudden life changing event.

I searched you out for the longest time,

Before I realized you were always next to me.

Now life with You is incredible,

And knowing we have all of eternity.

For You to be you, and me to be me,

I am forever thankful for You,

The stories, the words, the prayers, and acts.

My life would not be,

If it were not for You.

Are You My Friend?

Are you my friend, sir?

You have such big teeth.

I have never known you to know defeat.

The way you move with such determination and speed,

Others moving out of your way when they see you coming.

Are you my friend, sir?

Your skin is so slick.

Most are fearful of you,

It must hurt your feelings,

When not knowing your sensitive side, others flee.

Are you my friend, sir?

I would like to pet you like a dog.

I would like to glide my hand across your gray body.

I would like you to greet me with your many teeth.

I would like to be your friend, Mr. Shark.

Are you my friend, sir?

Viva Las Vegas!

I've developed a strange love for the city of Las Vegas. It all began the summer before my freshman year of college. My dad, who works in the trade show business, had a customer attending a show in June. He often travels to Vegas and as a senior/graduation gift to me, he said that I could come with him! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, my dad said my two best friends, Jennifer and Marissa, could come with us too. Then I really think it can't get any better, but it does. My dad buys all three of us tickets to see Celine Dion perform in the Colosseum at Caesar's. It was a dream come true and I couldn't contain my excitement!

It was unreal that I was able to go to Vegas for a week with my two best friends and my dad. My mom and sister had to stay at home (sorry you didn't graduate high school in 2011). We hit almost every attraction and hotel on the strip, taking a million pictures along the way. Here is the blog post.

Then for Christmas 2012 I was surprised with a piece of paper that read "BUY CELINE DION TICKETS ASAP!" I started crying. My dad was again going to Las Vegas, this time in January, and said I could come with him and bring a friend. I took my friend and sorority sister Hunter with me and we were there for about five days again. We hit all the same attractions and hotels, but everything looks different in Vegas in January compared to in June. This time we saw Celine Dion again, but had even closer seats than before and it was unreal! This is my blog post about my second time in Vegas!

I don't love Las Vegas just because of Celine Dion (yes, she is adds to the excitement), but I love the culture and environment. I love the decorations in each hotel on the strip, all the things to do, and people watching. Everything is so extravagant there. Whether I'm riding the bull at Planet Hollywood or dining at the Wynn, I love every aspect of Vegas. Here is my ode to one of my favorite cities, and Viva Las Vegas!

The gondolas easing down the canal,

St. Mark’s square filled with restaurants and famous chefs,

Human statues subtly winking at you,

The painted sky with clouds that move,

The sun always shining down on the Venetian.

Green dolphin sculptures smiling as you walk by,

The Beatles music flooding the inside,

While the erupting volcano booms outside,

Walk out back to see the white tigers and white lions,

Jungle fever is at the Mirage.

Stop by the Trevi fountain to toss a coin and make a wish,

The Colosseum with Celine Dion performing every night,

You should take a break with dessert or coffee from Serendipity3,

Or swim like a Grecian in the high-rise pools,

The Gods and Goddesses are not the only ones allowed in Caesar’s Palace.

Eating at the scrumptious sushi restaurant overlooking the water,

A Pirate ship show on display every night,

Two boats fighting and one does sink,

While dining here, you witness a defeat,

Feel like the captain of a ship at Treasure Island.

To see the mountains and lights take a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower,

The photo opportunities are nothing short of incredible,

Walk under the Arc de Triomphe,

Or take a bite at Mon Ami Gabi and sip some French wine,

Paris, Paris is like venturing across the world.

The colorfully blown glass to decorate the ceiling,

And Cirque du Soleil performance on water,

Ginormous water fountains reaching the top of the hotel to familiar tunes,

And botanical gardens further inside decorated differently each month,

You can not miss the Bellagio, especially if you are an Ocean’s Eleven fan.

Las Vegas is not only for the sinners,

It is for the people who appreciate culture as well.

Venturing through the different countries with just a few steps,

There is always something new to see.

Sin City is sinless for me and I would not have it any other way.

La Luna

This week in my summer school class we learned about the structure of a poem and we challenged to use repetition. I saw the cutest little crescent moon tattoo on a girl's wrist on Pinterest, then scrolled down a little more to see a quote about how the moon always loves. That's where I got the inspiration to write this poem, and now I want a crescent moon tattoo! Let me know what you think of the poem by clicking one of the boxes underneath the poem; your response is anonymous, I promise.

La Luna by: Chandler Clarkson

tiny crescent moon tattoo
so dainty on my wrist
reminds me there is a bigger world
than i ever knew to exist

the moon know who you truly are
with her you have nothing to hide
this daily reminder to love the night
so perfectly placed for all to see

no need to be fearful of the sky
the moon is always there
like a friend or lover, so close to me
i love the sky so deeply

embrace the moon for she sees all
along with the One that matters
tell her your secrets or wishes if you please
la luna will make you feel at ease

tiny crescent moon tattoo
so dainty on my wrist
reminds me there is a bigger world
than i ever knew to exist

Cup of Soul

So, here's the first submission to my summer school class. The topic was language, so I chose poetry. The only two options we have are prose and poetry (not really sure which one I like better, neither are my favorite) but here is what I wrote.. I could not decide what to write about and with it being our first week I was a little nervous so I stuck with something I know pretty well: my morning cup of coffee, that I often spread throughout the day as well.

Cup of Soul

The camaraderie you bring me

The places I go to find you

I seek you to bring me joy

The sweet taste you bring me

The beginning to my day

You’re like an old friend

Reminding me of kisses from my mom

Before I boarded the bus

Or an afternoon at my grandpa’s house

You’re always there

With not a drop left to spare

My coffee time in the morning 

I am really enjoying this class right now. The week after that I wrote very personally about my high school experience, and this week about a close friend of mine who is about to embark on a new journey. This creative writing class makes me think in ways I am not necessarily used to, and the journals we write each week actually give me ideas for poems. Another new activity to check off the list: online summer school. Something I tried to drop the very first day, but as the days go by now, I'm really enjoying it.