Anthology #3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbNeIn3vVKM

In this beautiful National Georgraphic video, the most rich in life and biodiverse portions of the ocean are explored, coral reefs. Not only from a scientific standpoint are these structures marvelous, but from a perspective standpoint of the human eye. These reefs seem to highlight the innocence and beauty of oceans as a whole, stressing the vulnerability that still exists in such vast inhabited waters. The colors of the coral reefs are composed from all kinds of different hues and tints, which are emphasized by the glimmering light from the surface.  It is almost as if the reefs can be compared to giant cathedrals, where the stained glass windows cast beautiful arrays of light upon the masses inside. Also, the reefs act as major habitats to animals, furthering the idea that oceans act as the mighty shelter that houses all creatures of the sea. As mysterious and dangerous as the ocean may seem to most, at the same time it treats its abundance of life to spectacular sights and habitats such as this. The reefs give schools of fish places to congregate and gives the average fish a fair chance at a home. It can be easily inferred that the ocean can easily act as the grand care-giver of this planet.

The Ocean’s Power

The dark ocean waves,
clashing amongst each other,
above the ocean floor
that dose not have a bother

Not a worry in its nonexistent mind,
not a care, but only to its swimming friends,
but when a disaster strikes
the creatures will fear there world is at end

But not for any to fear,
the ocean has a special power,
a power that humans can not comprehend,
so unique it causes them to cower

The ocean releases its power to heal all,
to heal, from the dark waves to the ocean floor,
the process may take from days to centuries,
but when all is done, it is left for all to adore.
This poem speaks portrays the ocean as an all-mighty power that reigns over all of the sea creatures, a power that almost acts as a heal-all. The narrator describes that "when disaster strikes the creatures will fear their world is at end," but the ocean is not worried during this time. The ocean does not fret because it "has a special power" that is unable to be seen by man or beast. The narrator describes this power as a good power, one that will heal all wounds and forbid all troubles. However, this power is described to take "from days to centuries" to be fulfilled, but when it is finishes then everything will be beautiful. This way, the ocean seems to acting as if it is the god for all of the life living within it, continuously watching over its children.

I SPILLED MY THOUGHTS AND THEN MY SOUL

I spilled my thoughts and then my soul
On the
Atlantic Ocean
Today
The Atlantic Ocean
Washed my thoughts
Away first
Then Afterwards
The Atlantic Ocean washed my thoughts
Away
In this poem, the short and detached form creates a sense of sporadic and quick thoughts. The narrator says that he "spilled my thoughts and then my soul" into the Ocean, but then continues to say that the Ocean "washed my thoughts away." However, that same line of "The Atlantic Ocean washed my thoughts away" is repeated twice, almost as if the narrator blindly repeats it because he has no train of thought after the ocean had washed it away. Also, the style of writing plays a large role in the presenting the message of the poem. The poem consists of many 1 to 3 word lines, which stress the idea of the narrator's thoughts being very jumbled up and detached. This message is received because in a normal poem the lines would be very smooth and flowing, not almost randomly placed on separate lines. Both of these tools that the writer uses in this poem are effective in creating a sense of the ocean being a giant vacuum that will suck up and wash away anything left astray.

Reading log #5

Lebron James had nothing less than a completely stunning high school career. He became the most famous high school athlete, perhaps of all time. He was even referred to as "The Chosen One." The magazine cover in my previous post said that when Lebron was a junior, he could've been an NBA lottery pick. So at the end of his senior year...would he be the number one overall pick? The answer was yes. Everyone was wondering "which team would acquire the 'Chosen One'?" That was soon to be determined by the NBA draft lottery. The NBA draft lottery determines the order of the first few picks in the NBA draft between the worst teams the previous season. The worse you finished, the greater odds you had at drawing the number one pick. With a bit of luck, the number one overall pick was aquired by the Cleveland Caveliers...Lebron got to stay in Ohio. Instantly, Lebron signed huge deals with Nike and other athletic sponsors. His endorsements with Nike easily equaled 90 million dollars total. His future was sure to be a bright one.

Note #2

Ocean is as one with the world

As I Stare out into the Sea,
I can feel the soft oceans breeze
the warmth from the sun
the grass dances with the whistling wind
the ocean is filled with thoughts
and mysteries,
I feel the cool water
the ocean is alive filled with lost souls
washing emotions up onto the shore
My feet sink in the softness of the sand
The ocean is made up of dreams
and achievements,
My mind lies in the heart of the ocean
The rocks are bones
Out in the open the waves settle and
wait for their attack,
I feel as one with the ocean
as the ocean feels like one
with the world.

Izabelle Sheridan

Through extensive use of vivid imagery and personification, Sheridan effectively communicates the thought of the ocean being simply another being and part of the vast world in which we live in. Sheridan personifies the ocean as being something that is alive and has a soul since it is "alive filled with lost souls," and "washing emotions." The ocean is incredibly vast itself, but the author puts the size into perspective of the planet when comparing it to human beings such as myself. From this thought, Sheridan is able to draw comparisons between people and the ocean as well. Figuratively, the ocean contains "rocks" and "bones," while also containing a heart in our minds all dwell. Such inferences can be drawn when one looks beneathe the literal concept of the ocean. With oceans comes literally a "soft ocean breeze" and "warmth from the sun," but Sheridan sees it as a normal human being that is longing to find its appropriate fit into the world around it.

Reading log #4

Overall, Lebron's high school experience was one that would be valued forever. He developed the closest bond with his teammates, and his coach, Keith Dambrot, who now coaches the Zips of the University of Akron. Lebron was quoted in the book saying "I enjoyed the experience so much. I loved playing in big games and putting on a show for the crowd." Well, putting on a show is exactly what he did. Lebron would fill up the gym for all of the home games, and little kids would show up with "King James" signs and yelling his name. Lebron was well aware of the dangers with being such a sought-after recruit. He had to constantly remind himself not to accept any favors from recruitors or coaches, or the NBA for that matter. Lebron was put in a tough spot because he was the most famous high school basketball player in the nation and he had to follow the rules that everyone else had to. One of his most upsetting memories was losing to Cincinnati's St. Bernard Roger Bacon High School in the state championship.

Note #1

“Any fool can get into an ocean . . .”

1925–1965 Jack Spicer

Any fool can get into an ocean

But it takes a Goddess

To get out of one.

What’s true of oceans is true, of course,

Of labyrinths and poems. When you start swimming

Through riptide of rhythms and the metaphor’s seaweed

You need to be a good swimmer or a born Goddess

To get back out of them

Look at the sea otters bobbing wildly

Out in the middle of the poem

They look so eager and peaceful playing out there where the

water hardly moves

You might get out through all the waves and rocks

Into the middle of the poem to touch them

But when you’ve tried the blessed water long

Enough to want to start backward

That’s when the fun starts

Unless you’re a poet or an otter or something supernatural

You’ll drown, dear. You’ll drown

Any Greek can get you into a labyrinth

But it takes a hero to get out of one

What’s true of labyrinths is true of course

Of love and memory. When you start remembering.

 

 

This poem directly compares the vast ocean to a flowing poem, in which a person of little knowledge and experience would fall a victim to the great traps and unfamiliar habitat that the ocean presents. Immediately, Spicer directly compares the ocean to a confusing labarynth and a poem rich in literary elements, saying that poems riptide-like rhythms and "the metaphor's seaweed" are extremely hard to navigate through. Such a comparison establishes a feeling that oceans and poems alike can both drag you around in different directions (literally and figuratively) and can cause you to get stuck when faced with unfamiliar obstacles, whether it be a forest of seaweed or a confusing metaphor. Further on in the poem, Spicer then completely replaces the word "ocean" with "poem" in order to impound into the reader's mind that oceans and poems are practically the same things. Spicer also states that one must be a "Goddess" in order to escape the clutches of the ocean, almost as if the ocean is a trap that consumes all  foolish mortals that falls within its clutches. Spicer then ties this idea into poetry by saying that when out in the middle of the "poem" you must be a poet to get back. This means that in order to escape, or fully understand the poem, you must be or think like a poet. Any man foolish man can wander out to sea or start reading a poem, but you must know how to swim or know how to interpret poetry in order to get back. Similarly, Spicer begins to close by saying that "Any Greek can get you into a labyrinth, but it takes a hero to get out of one." Spicer not only tries to communicate the similarity of the ocean to poems and labyrinths, he tries to bellow out that a person must truly be able to understand and grasp the concept of what he is doing in order to get the whole experience. Anyone can get themselves into a situation as such, but it requires much more experience and preparation to be able to complete such feats.

Anthology topic

I am going to be focusing on the topic of the ocean for my anthology. The ocean is a vast and treacherous place, but can also offer a sense of peace and beuaty.

Some examples would be:
-Poems about the ocean and human interaction with the ocean as well
-Photos or photo collections of ocean habitats
-Videos pertaining to certain aspects of the ocean

Reading Goals

-Read at least two books on my own this quarter
-Read at least every night
-Read books with meaningful messages that i can apply to my daily living habits
-Read to my dog once a week since he loves me so much

Reading Log #3

Organized sports and AAU basketball were the two most important things that helped Lebron live a somewhat stable life. When he was little, Lebron played pee-wee football in Akron and enjoyed playing and making new friends. Eventually, later in high school, Lebron became an all-state wide receiver and could have gone pro in football, if he so chose. Organized sports taught Lebron a very valuable lesson. He learned and valued discipline. He was always disciplined in sports and he incorporated discipline into everyday life. AAU basketball, a huge, nationwide basketball program sucked Lebron in at an early age. AAU basketball is fun to play, mainly because you could play with whoever you want, play however you want, and its taken seriously too; not only by players, but college coaches as well. While playing AAU basketball, Lebron was flooded with college coaches that desperately wanted "the chosen one." Lebron met Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, and Willie McGee in AAU ball, all players he'd go on to play with at St. Vincent St. Marys High School

Reading log # 2

Lebron James lived on Hickory Street; a small under-achieved street in Akron, Ohio. It was definitely a tough place to raise a small child as a single parent. "Most of the residents earned minimum wage, maybe a little better, and because they were frequently under-educated for the jobs available in the area they were often among the first to be unemployed when the economy as bad." But somehow, with the generous help of others, Gloria managed to persevere and raise Lebron into the excellent man he is today. Gloria had lebron when she was a teenager, and had no choice but to keep moving and relocating, asking anyone generous enough for help. Even though they were living a tough life, Gloria did the best she could to keep Lebron as happy and healty as possible. Eddie Jackson, a friend of Glorias at the time, (they later started dating when Lebron was 8 months old) and her mother, Freda James were the two most helpful people to Gloria during this time. Eddie fell in love with Lebron. He acted as his father figure.