STRONG Response from a Teacher

A phenomenal response to Rick Perry, from a phenomenal teacher and friend.

Hey folks! I just wanted to share this with everyone. My best friend Josh filmed this today in response to Rick Perry's "Strong" campaign. His words are poignant and gracious. Please share and share alike! Lets take this baby viral! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGsoGpYfkOE

Nash Elementary Assignment

Silly pic of our group

During the semester, we were given an assignment to write for a child in fourth grade at Nash Elementary. After we wrote, we read our piece to a fourth grader and asked for them to give feedback or add to the piece. Here's what I came up with:

What do you dream of when you are awake?

So many shapes your dreams can take.

If you had to choose only one,

Would you choose the shape of the moon or the sun?

Would you ride horses, or be King of the beasts?

Would you dance in the middle of streets?

If you had no rules or cares in the world,

What would your flag look like unfurled?

Susannah and me!

When the dust has settled from all of your fun.

All the calamity of the day is done.

Which door will you slip through to find your escape?

As you arrive into slumbers dreamy landscape.

Will you float into the middle of the ocean?

Carrying along no stress or sad notion.

No worry or burden to limit your float,

No sails, no engine, not even a boat!

Just you, the sea, the moon and the fish,

In the glittery blue, is that your wish?

Gaze as the diamonds dance in the sky.

Go on, dance along, they’re not too high!

Nash group with us!

When all of your dancin’ time is done,

Here comes a train down track 31.

On it you jump without hesitation!

What’s missing? That’s right! Aviation!

In seconds you travel across the sky,

You didn’t know it, but this train can fly!

Away you go, flying through the night.

The sun approaches, the moon says “good night.”

When softly you awaken, refreshed for the day,

Another chance you have to live it your way.

Take with you no worries, sorrows, or concern,

Today is a new day, new journeys, and turns.

The shapes may change, that's ok too.

Which shape is it now, could it be a kazoo?

You are the superhero of the day,

Your mind gives you freedom in every way!

First Day of Creative Writing

I wrote this the first day of creative writing. It's still one of my favorite things I've written. 

 

your life is your life

you cannot take it as you exit

you cannot decide when it will end

choose a succulent life

you can do that

decide that each morning is your first

each evening is your last

sway your hips

dance

love

do it all with abandon

without regret

you can slip into the life of another

if you’d like

make it a good character

do things you’ve only heard of

live in a circle

not a box

nothing goes without cycle

even abrupt exits have fluidity

you can make this choice

you are allowed to-after all

do not recoil or retreat

grab life by its pulse and harness it

you can do that, too

live as if you’re dancing

each issue has a new rhythm

embrace it

change it

adapt to it

make up your own steps

or freestyle

Flash Fiction

This is a piece I wrote in class when asked to take a topic and write without being overly wordy. I believe the assignment asked for us to stay under 100 words... Here is my attempt:

He stands at the head of the class. Mumble. Mumble more. Mumble quieter. Students ask questions. Beige answer given. Eyes heavy. Visions of Mitochondria don't dance in my head. Cellular division? Why do they divide? Are they in this class? Melba toast. Some find it tasty. I find it bland and oppressive. Phagocytosis-good word! Say it again, please? Wait, I think I hear interest? Nope. Beige turned to ecru. Student asks other question. Mumble beige. Mumble Melba toast. This is all so important. Why don't the words enter my brain? They are spoken, life breathed into them, then shaken out like an etch a sketch. More words. More ecru. Eggshell. Nothing exciting. Now we experiment? What livens dry toast? Cinnamon! Nutmeg! Vanilla! NO! Too vibrant. Toast livens toast. White, dry, teeth breaking, toast. To experiment, we get to look at onion. Wow. Be-still my heart. 

Introduction-for Creative Writing Class

Hello! My name is Summer Semmens, and I’m working on this blog for my Creative Writing class. I am a 36 year old, divorced mother who has gone back to school at Tarrant County College in order to better the future myself and my son, Oscar. I look forward to graduating for the first time in May and transferring to a university to study Speech Language Pathology.

I’ve honestly never been in a class that has made me feel more at home and among friends as this one does. I’ve often thought of it as a support group of sorts. That being said, I’ve been asked to discuss why I appreciate the written word as well as what I like about writing. How to begin…

First and foremost, I love reading pieces of work from writers before me. It is an amazing feeling to read words written many moons ago that are just as inspiring, if not more so, than when they were written. Some of my favorite writers are Sylvia Plath, Charles Bukowski, Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou, Tom Robbins, David Sedaris, Jack Kerouac, and countless others. I feel it important to also mention that although these authors are important, equally important are the class members that I have gone through the semester with. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being in class with everyone as well as reading their work. What a fantastic group of individuals I’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon! Professor Tricia Barker has been one of us throughout the semester. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we gather in a circle and either write or discuss writing. Professor Barker has made a point of doing each assignment she has given us. What an inspiration she has been for all of us! Professor Barker, thank you!!! You’ve reintroduced me to amazing literature that I’ve let take a backseat in life. Thank you so much for rekindling my love of literature!

I am going to add a few pieces that I’ve written in class. Please feel free to let me know what you think! Good or bad, it’s all relative!

Thank you for reading!

Summer Semmens