Inspirational Happenings

"As you grow up your mind should be like a room with open windows.  Let the breeze flow in from all of them, but refuse to be blown away by any one of them."-Gandhi


I wrote this following poem/story in class.  My mind was wandering as it usually does, but in this case it led me to a really good thing a poem. As hard as my teacher tries to keep our attention I often lose focus, but am in some way inspired by what is being said in class, or my observations.  This poem was inspired by a drawing I started of my teacher. I made her into a bird, and then stuck her foot in a bowling ball (image soon to be provided).  A poem quickly followed with my reaction to the present situation and the desire to be free to dream. So, here it is...


"Free to Fly"


Shirley was a little bird with many dreams and aspirations
She let her imagination fly her places 


Many others didn't understand
They'd say, "Get your head out of the clouds!"
"You are a bird, but you must calm down"

"Keep your feet planted firmly on the ground."

Shirley'd respond, "But I am a bird, meant to fly and be free."
Shirley soon forgot how to fly


She took their advice, and the weight of their claims brought her down
Grounding her to the earth like the weight of a bowling ball 
While leaving her as weak as the bowling pins
A bird that could once fly and dance in the sky, now lay
Tossled and knocked around at the mercy of other's hurtling throws
Clanks! and Bangs! everyday, 
Her dreams began to float away


So when you think of telling someone they aren't free to fly
Think of Shirley the little bird, and it may make you want to cry
(Or at least less likely to pry)

After writing this poem/story, I felt inspired to make the best of my circumstances and embrace my intuition/creativity even if it leads me in directions others may not understand. If we sacrifice being ourselves we lose and so do others. The following picture exemplifies this perspective. The assignment was to take pictures of ways in which soil is created (which I did), but also found time to make my own art. I picked these "weed-like" flowers, and placed them on a forgotten fence, and I think the positive result speaks for itself.