Sunday, February 28, 2010

Eat, Sleep, Write, Read

Eat, sleep, write, read. Do we really need anything else in life?

So my friend Sarah talked me into it...I am starting a blog for my writing. Ok, It's actually going to be a reading/writing blog because I think they go hand in hand. So today I think I will post a poem or two. I have been taking a Creative Writing class and have learned quite a lot about myself as a writer. For one, I am much better at writing stories than poems, and I think I tend to think in novel-form. I have also recently discovered my genre. This is big for me because I have spent my whole life wanting to be a writer and not being able to figure out WHAT I want to write. I think I am a YA Fantasy fiction writer. I love fantasy, and I love the idea of a teenager reading a book instead of watching tv and discovering that they LOVE reading. I spent a HUGE part of my childhood with my nose stuck in a book, and it is my favorite place to be.

So before I post my poem I want to talk a little about a book I just finished. It was amazing. It was unique. It was disturbing. I couldn't put it down. It was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. If it were up to me I would make you stop reading this right now and go out and buy it.
This book is set in the future in America about 100 years after some uprising. The book goes into more detail about it, but I don't want to give too much away. Basically, as a punishment, the "Capitol" makes these districts pick one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 to be sent to huge arena and fight each other to their death. Their are 24 contestants and the last one standing is promised a life of riches. Think Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" meets Lord of The Flies. (if you have not read either of those, shame on you ). it is very disturbing to think of children brutally murder each other, but what keeps you reading is that you desperately want to see a revenge and rebellion against the Capitol. Also, the main character, Katniss, is amazing. Finally a female character who is smart and strong and a survivor. I don't want to give anything away because this book is full of twists and keeps you on the edge of your seat, so just run to the library and read it....trust me.

Okay, so the first poem is an Object Poem. So far I have gotten the best grade on this one out of all my poetry submitted for my class.

Silver Lining

A box

Sits centered on my dresser top

A gift

Given to me by a dear friend

A square

Four inches lined with metal beads

A secret

Covered in rough silver fabric

A reflection

Shattered by tiny glass mirrors

A mystery

Enclosed within the wooden walls

A darkness

Softened by rich, soft, black velvet

Empty

Waiting patiently to be filled

--Quinn Hay


And here is another poem just because. It is a Borrowed Line poem and needs a little work.

She Walks

I.

She walks in beauty, like the night*

With shallow breath and teary eyes

True love never knew her pure fright

As her demons taunt her with their lies

And her darkness slowly takes over the light

She walks in fear as part of her dies

II.

She cowers in weakness, alone in the shade

With calming breath, she sets her fear aside

As all of her demons lurk in shadows and fade

And she grasps at the truth that her heart had denied

She walks in truth, feeling lost and betrayed

III.

She dances in strength, a dawning new day

With steady breath and salvation in sight

The love for herself a love that won’t sway

As the darkness gives way to the light

And her past shadow of self begins to decay

She walks in beauty, like sunlight

-Quinn Hay


*Borrowed from "She walks in Beauty", Lord Byron

and if you are interested , this is the original poem I borrowed it from, which is currently my favorite poem of all time.
George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron. 1788–1824
600. She walks in Beauty
SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light 5
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face; 10
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow, 15
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
So be sure to leave some comment love. I love discussions about literature so bring it on!