Mary+S

​ My name is Mary Steele and I went to Edgewood High School. For our final project in Creative Writing we each made this web page as a sort of a scrap book for whatever writings we were really proud of at the end of the year. So here is a collection of some of my favorite things I have written this year and in previous years. Enjoy :) 


 * Hatteras **


 * //Last summer I worked all summer at the Cape Hatteras KOA in Outer Banks, NC with a ministry program called Summershine. The expierence was life changing and all around amazing. I met friends for life from all over the country, and then some. I think this poem was one of the easier to write because it was such an important time in my life and I loved every minute of it.//**
 * //I tried to make the first two stanzas busy and exciting because my summer was exactly that, and I never wanted it to end. The third stanza is my favorite because my friends and I actually chased the waves. It was surprisingly a lot of fun and made us feel like little kids again. I put it as the third stanza because we only did it at night when the waves were only barely visible from the moon light, and a lot of times darkness signifies endings. Also because this is one thing that I miss the most. The chirping crickets in the last stanza are symbolic for my family and everyone back at home that was waiting on me and calling me back. I love this poem!//**

With the sun high overhead Waves crash rapidly into the shore While children and their parents Slash playfully at one another.

The day is busy with rainbow umbrellas And the occasional Hollister-Surfer trotting by. The wind wisps through my hair and the sun Smiles upon my cheeks; This day could last forever.

In the darkness of the night we Chase the sounds of invisible waves And sprint away when they come back And bite at our toes.

I close my eyes and listen to the silence Of the ocean, with every crashing wave And chirping cricket in the summer sky. I know this is day has drawn to a close.

I turn and walk away.


 * Antonym Cinquains **


 * The cinquains were a little more difficult for me to write because I couldn’t think of any good topics to write about that were total opposites. I finally came up with Bitter-Sweet, Taking opportunities or not, and love-lust. My favorite thought was Bitter-sweet because I took a bitter-sweet memory I have a turned it into a poem. Summer of 2008 I met this boy who I worked with and I thought was really great. Two weeks later I had to move to Kentucky and he just dropped me like a sack of potatoes and so I had these great memories of the summer with him in them, then I was alone in Kentucky with no one.**
 * I think the cinquains were assigned to challenge us, and it did. But in a good way. In the end I enjoyed writing all three sets because it was something different and something we had to be ‘deep’ about.**


 * Memories, **
 * Blissful happenings **
 * Jumping, laughing, holding **
 * A perfect moment in my life **
 * With you. **


 * Nightmares, **
 * Sudden endings **
 * Sulking, crying, pushing **
 * A terrible time in my life **
 * Alone. **


 * // I live //**
 * // Full potential //**
 * // New opportunities //**
 * // My life ahead of me with time //**
 * // Good-bye. //**


 * // You die //**
 * // No potential //**
 * // Passed chances everyday //**
 * // Your end imminent without pause //**
 * // Good-bye. //**


 * I love **
 * Your heart inside **
 * Teasing, caring, loving **
 * Unconditionally yours, I’m **
 * With you. **


 * I love **
 * The way you look **
 * Your eyes, smile, body **
 * Till something better comes I'll stick, **
 * With you **


 * Around when? **
 * //This poem was fun to write because we just had to write about some significant things that have happened in our lives. I used to think when I was little that I had a pretty mundane life. Full of everything but excitement. Now I see that it was full of excitement and memories and everything else that came along with a childhood.//**
 * //This poem was free-verse so we didn’t have any guide lines except for the repetition of “Around Then”. I found out though that it helps with the flow of the poem and makes for a good timeline.//**

Around 1991 I was birthed by my mother Around 1996 I felt betrayed because I had a baby sister. We named her Michelle Around 1998 I did nothing but play in the sprinklers and climb trees Around 1999 I found out the hard way why no one wears platform shoes anymore Around 2000 I was a defender on my first sports team ever. “Way to use your head!” was just another way of saying, “Sorry you just got hit in the face!” Around 2001 I thought my grandparent’s house was the target of 9/11 Around 2006 I was adopted Around 2007 I had the perfect summer Around 2007 My faith was reinforced Around 2008 I learned what love is not Around 2008 I got my heartbroken, dreams crushed, and life ruined all in one week Around the same time I learned effective ways to not make new friends. Around 2009 I spent the summer on the beach and then got to go //home// Around 2010 I will become an Aunt Around 2010 I move forward with life


 * Around then I learned to live.**


 * How is Laughter Like Peanut Butter?**


 * //There were a few different choices we could write about for this poem but I felt like laughter being like peanut butter would be most fun for me to write about. At first I didn’t see any similarities between the two but then I realized it wasn’t talking about literally, but metaphorically. I got to thinking about Jiff commercials and memories I have with peanut butter sandwiches at my grandparents and things like that and it all just flowed together. I tried to make it kind of symbolic for deeper things, and personally I think I did an alright job.//**
 * //With this poem I learned how to look deeper than just the surface of things and make connections with feelings not just substances. I looked at what made me laugh and put those feelings into the peanut butter. I liked writing this poem because the topic was a stretch for me and made me think more creatively.//**

Laughter satisfies the hunger, When there’s no food left in the house. It fills your tummy And dances across your taste buds.

Laughter sticks with you, On a rainy day, or a sunny one. It makes you talk funny, Even when you try fighting it.

Laughter warms your heart After a complete serving; Total satisfaction From such a mundane taste.

Laughter brings back memories Surfaced by the opening of a jar Without hesitation A smile appears across your lips.

Peanut butter entices laughter With every satisfied stomach And mumbly mouth Peanut butter is the waves and laughter the ocean.

// Innocence // //This was a picture poem. For my picture I saw a group of boys standing in a crowded alley that just looked trashy or unsafe. They were all standing in a sort of formation while everyone else watched. I got the idea to pick one of the boys out and write the poem from his perspective. So the poem is his situation and train of thought. It battles whether or not he will give into the seemingly inevitable life style all around him, or if he will stand up for what he knows is right and walk away. At the end I mentioned his mother because one thing kids always think about when they’re doing something wrong is what if my mom finds out? So the fact that she doesn’t care just added to his confusion of which way to go.// //I liked this poem a lot because it allowed you to use your own mind to interpret what was happening in the photo, and it could be absolutely anything and you still wouldn’t be wrong!//

Innocence is bliss Like the sweet aroma of your first kiss When the world barely nips at your toes Is when you realize the crinkles in your nose

But as time grows on you become weary Each day you look out the window and all is dreary. Hope is hard to find but money even harder Really, who’s to kid? You can’t all be a martyr.

You see many things but food is a rarity In the darkness of each hour there is only disparity Crowded homes filled with bad influences Leaves you nothing to do but put up your fences

Life dealt its cards and you came up short Now you look around and see no way to abort “Just go with the flow and keep your mouth shut” That’s what you’re told to do when you’re in a rut

Standing in the alley as rats run by You look around and see no one bats an eye They all stand there with their shoulders square And look down the alley with a frightening stare

Fight or flight is running through your head Your mother doesn’t even care if you’re in bed. One of the five you’re all in a pact And now you’re stuck on which way to act.

From this poem I learned that imagery is an amazing tool to understand how to use and it can change the entire mood of a piece of writing. I also learned it can be hard to describe something and have everyone see it how you saw it. However rare this is I think it is okay because with writing you leave an open space for interpretation. My interpretation will not be the same as a reader who has never seen this place before, but that doesn't mean their interpretation is wrong. :)**
 * Jockey's Ridge **
 * This piece of writing is an imagery piece. We were given the challenge to write an entire page about a historical landmark and I chose Jockey's Ridge State Park. I feel that this was a very wise decision on my part because I have been to this park and I have emotional connections with it. I think it made it a lot easier to write and I tried to portray the love I have for this park through the images I describe throughout the piece.

The rolling hills stretch for what seems like miles, climbing up then back down in an instant; ever changing like the wind. I take a deep breath in hoping to capture this scent from memory; salty ocean breeze tickles at my nose. Sand tip toes over the tops of my feet on its journey to a new place. The sun glistens off the sand crystals and blinds the naked eye. Horizons of the soft, white powder seem light years away and only grow with time. Footprints fill the spaces to the horizon. Some walking alone, some in a cluster, others are veering off on a path of their own. he occasional jumble of paw prints explains the screaming and laughing at the top of the dunes. Each set of footprints leads to a separate family, a separate life. They gather here and there. Some dining on a picnic lunch while others fly kites in the effervescent wind flow; each one its own unique shape or design. Wind scatters the crystals that once outlined the families’ paths. Unaware of the dissipating footprints around they continue to play. Frisbee’s and kites fill the windy breeze and carry with it the smiles and happiness from vacationers. Down the horizon a group of teens embark on a trust walk, all blindfolded and grasping at mid-days air as they trip over themselves. They giggle and scream as they fall, one after another until they are all left sprawled across the sand. Another group of friends stand hand in hand a top the dunes and prepare to take a leap over the steep slope of the sand. Peaks from a hidden castle poke its tops out and spy on the sun as it shines down hard on the afternoon sand. Traces of strangers’ names lay bare in the sand and remind us of the vast world we live in. I stand at the top and stare down at the reflection of the sun beaming off the water; so calm and peaceful, untouched by wandering paths. It gleams yellow and ripples at the winds strength. The cat tails wave back and forth as if preparing for attack on an unexpecting mouse and entangle themselves more with each wave. If I close my eyes I can hear the crashing of each wave on the opposite shore line. It’s rhythmic sound inching me closer to sleep with the fall of each wave. The wind whispers its own melody and dances in and out of my hair and fills my ears with muffled silence.


 * Just Keep Swimming...

I really liked this poem because it was fun for me. Our group had to write about Edgewood and they wanted me to write a poem about swimming. This made me super excited because someone actually knew about our swim team which was unheard of in the past. So I wrote the poem using feelings or thoughts that I had through the season. I really liked it. **
 * I used AABB rhyme scheme on this poem. I learned that even with the same format poems can be completely different. I also learned that poems as a group have a big effect on the meaning as a whole. Like swimming would still be swimming, but with the rest of the groups poems it was Edgewood swimming. J **

And the race is on! Pushing forward with pure determination Flying through the water like a little torpedo At this rate we could swim to Toledo!

Stroke after stroke until you’re down the lane Here comes the tricky part, don’t put yourself to shame. Spin and flip and turn and push One thing I learned; don’t push from your tush.

Muscles screaming “Stop, just stop!” But that’s not how it works if you wanna be on top. Mind over matter is what you think Push yourself to win, or stop and sink.

Skill and Coordination are great aspects too Different than football, it’s not like a zoo. Arms extended, kicking from your knees When a thought pops in your mind; man I’ve got to pee!

Focus, Focus, No breathing yet! Air will come soon, no need to fret. Drive into the wall lungs about to burst Look up at the board, you’re in first.


 * Reflection **


 * This poem is called reflection not because it is a reflection of my work but because of the reflection I see out of his eyes. I really like this poem because it shows that I didn't just know what kind of personality he had or the sound of his voice but I knew the imperfect shadows on his eyes and how he tries to hide all of his feelings. I saw things most people just wrote off. It also shows the way the memories come back to me, which I really like. I don't just see one, I see them all in a stream of thought that speeds like lightning in my mind. But more than anything I like the last line of the poem because no matter where life takes the two of us I can always see how he really feels behind his mask just by looking into his eyes, and then I know what is truly inside.**

Suppressed memories rise to the surface every time I see your face, Glistened with that smile.A smile that used to find me through all the others, that knew every trace of my features. Feelings flood my mind as the images run like a stream through my head, pausing impatiently on especially vivid ones, and then sprinting off into the repressed once more. As an alcoholic is captivated by the sweet aroma of whiskey I am taken captive by your very presence. The joy of your posture, so influently bright and the imperfect shadows upon your face illuminate features unseen by most. The toss of your hair so ignorant and sweet, and your eyes masked just enough to blur the trace of hatred with love, shine green to the depths of my soul and reflect back at me what I know to be inside.

In this poem I tried to make the fish sarcastic and a little bitter toward the surfers for being a 'wanna-be' fish. When in all actuality we all know surfers are not...or aren't usually trying to be fish, just enjoying the waves.**
 * Wanna-be **
 * With this piece of non-fiction we had the challenge of writing an important memory of ours from another person/things point of view. I chose the first time I went surfing, from a fishes point of view. I really like this piece because personally, I think it's funny. Also because who would have thought how things look from a fishes stand point? A lot different from mine that's for sure.

This time of year just fascinates me. The water warms, bringing with it umpteen amounts of tourists. They’re like individual streams in this vast ocean, moving against the crash of waves trying to venture out even further. And then you have the “wanna-be’s”. They come out here with their artificial fish shaped bodies and lounge around on top of the water. They’re too stupid to even go under water. You’d think if they were that determined to be ‘fish of the sea’ they’d know we don’t breathe above water. But no, they just lay there waiting around for a wave to come then freak out like a fish out of water. Boy, are they backwards. Their arms start flailing around and their legs kick at the water like they want to kill it. Somehow though this act of panic makes them move forward and the wave comes and sweeps them up! This part I just don’t understand at all…they stand on their artificial fish bodies and walk like Jesus on the water back to the shore! They really don’t understand the concept of being a fish. Maybe they’re trying to invent a new breed…the Jesus Fish. Not working out too well if you ask me. I’ve never seen a fish walk on water…now jumping, that I can do. But walking? We’re no Ariel. That is the only thing that really gets me about summertime. I love watching kids play and get entranced by the waves, but the “wanna-be’s” I just don’t understand.


 * The Impossible Race!

This is my social justice non fiction piece we wrote for elementary students. I like this piece because we had to be creative and take a big issue and turn it in to one that can be understood by children. My main social justice issue I wanted to capture in this story was you should never underestimate yourself because of where you live or how much money you have or whatever the circumstances may be. You can always be who you want to be and the sky is never even the limit on your dreams. I also threw in there that true friends are always there to help you when you need them. I don't particularly enjoy the story itself just what the story told.**

There was a dog named Leo Leonardo. Leo could do anything he wanted. He was the tallest and coolest dog around. He lived in the Cloud 9 section of Canine Street and he was so cool his fur even shined! Lonny, Lance, and Lola were Leo’s best friends, they went everywhere together! Whenever Leo wanted to try a new trick Lonny, Lance, and Lola were right by his side. Sam watched Leo do cool things all the time and wanted to be just like him, but Sam didn’t have a shiny coat, and he wasn’t tall like Leo. He didn’t live in a big dog house or have a lot of friends either. He had Simon. His only friend and next door neighbor. At school one day Leo wanted to beat the school record in their Agility Course! Lonny, Lance, and Lola told everyone about it and the whole school came out to watch. In the front row were, of course, Lonny, Lance, and Lola and sitting behind them, Sam and Simon. Everyone was buzzing with excitement! “I hope he beats it!” “He’s got to be fast!” “I wonder if he can do it!” “Attention Everyone! Can I have your attention please?” Leo yelled and a hush came over the crowd. “Today I will break our school record on the Agility Course. Are you ready?!” At his words the crowd exploded with excitement and cheered Leo on! He took off! He ran up the teeter tooter, through the tunnel, jumped over the hurdles, ran around the cones, and sprinted to the finish line in the nick of time!! He had beaten the record! Every dog cheered and barked as Leo trotted around, proud of his accomplishment. Even Sam and Simon. “I wish I could do that.” Sam said. “What are you talking about? You can do anything, Sam.” Simon replied. “No I can’t. I don’t have a shiny coat or a loud bark. I’m not tall like Leo, and I don’t live in Cloud 9. Leo has all the school to help him along too, but none of them know me.” Sam said in defeat. “Non sense!” Simon replied, “You have me! I will train you!” So Sam and Simon worked hard everyday to get ready for his big moment. They ran the Agility Course over and over….. And over and again…. They ran it so much Sam could do it blind folded! The next day was their BIG day and Sam was so nervous he could hardly eat breakfast. “You need your energy,” his mom told him. When Sam got to school Simon was waiting for him outside. “Everyone is at the course already! Are you ready to go?” he asked Sam. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” Sam responded nervously. Simon was right! Every dog was at the school’s Agility Course waiting for Sam. Even Leo, Lonny, Lance, and Lola!! The crowd was nervous for Sam as he got ready to begin. “Do you think he can do it?” Lance asked. “No one is as fast as Leo!” Lonny said. But Leo stood up and yelled, “Go, Sam! You can do it!” Sam was so happy Leo had cheered for him that he sprinted through the course as fast as lightening! The crowd exploded with excitement again as Sam reached the finish line… He did it! He made a new school record!! The crowd stood on their hind legs and cheered for Sam for a long time! Simon ran over and gave his best friend a hug, “You did it!” he yelled. “Only because you helped me.” Sam said back. “Sam, you can do anything you want. Don’t ever doubt yourself because you don’t have shiny fur or because you don’t live in Cloud 9. You can do anything you want as long as you try hard and put your mind to it!” Simon told him. “Thanks, Simon. You’re the best friend ever.” Sam and Simon walked through the cheering crowd, proud of their accomplishment.


 * Forgiveness and New Beginnings**

I wrote this poem after I realized that God will take any pain you have away and I am so grateful to have this understanding. I used ABAB format, and I really love this poem :)

Lift it up to God and he'll take it away all the pain and sorrow you feel each day. The past is over now and it's time to move on Whatever happened before, all of it is gone. Today is a new day, a smile waiting to happen so thank God for his love and with with satisfaction.


 * Bruised

They never seem to face soon enough. One fatal blow when you least expect it, leaves you bleeding on the sindide, visible to the world**