Monday, April 19, 2010

A title and a question...

The poem for this week answers the question in the title.  I think that is a pretty cool way to write a poem and is different from the poems that we have examined previously this year.  Please remember to say something in your comment.  You are capable of good thoughts, post them!  As always, at least four  sentences makes a comment!

Do You Have Any Advice For Those of Us Just Starting Out?        by Ron Koertge

Give up sitting dutifully at your desk. Leave

your house or apartment. Go out into the world.

It's all right to carry a notebook but a cheap
one is best, with pages the color of weak tea
and on the front a kitten or a space ship.

Avoid any enclosed space where more than
three people are wearing turtlenecks. Beware
any snow-covered chalet with deer tracks
across the muffled tennis courts.

Not surprisingly, libraries are a good place to write.
And the perfect place in a library is near an aisle
where a child a year or two old is playing as his
mother browses the ranks of the dead.

Often he will pull books from the bottom shelf.
The title, the author's name, the brooding photo
on the flap mean nothing. Red book on black, gray
book on brown, he builds a tower. And the higher
it gets, the wider he grins.

You who asked for advice, listen: When the tower
falls, be like that child. Laugh so loud everybody
in the world frowns and says, "Shhhh."

Then start again.



Happy Reading!

126 comments:

  1. I think this poem is really cool. I've never seen a poem written with the question in the title. That makes it very unique. I liked how the advice seemed real. I think this advice is coming from an author, and the question came from a child who wants to be an author. I like how the advice says to stand out. Don't be normal. My favorite part was "Aviod any enclosed space where more than three people are wearing turtle necks." : )
    Emily Gill

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  2. I liked this poem; it was very unique, because it had a question as a title. I think this poem was telling us quit being our boring old personalities. It is telling us to get out and be that young child who enjoys life and has that wonderful imagination. Just live life and don't care what other people think; just live life to it's fullest.

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  3. I like this poem . It talks about being an individual. It is inspiring not just to authors but even to songwriters like me. When I am writing a song a quiet room seems to stifle my creativity. You can be inspired by things you least expect to be inspired by. I have once been inspired by a butterfly landing on a tree. I like the part that says;laugh so loud everybody in the world frowns and says, "Shhhh" because it sounds like something I would do.


    Terah Gamble

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  4. I agree with both Will and Emily . I really like how Emily said " I like how the advice says to stand out. Don't be normal". I also like how Will said " I think this poem was telling us quit being our boring old personalities. It is telling us to get out and be that young child who enjoys life and has that wonderful imagination". I totally agree. Even adults should keep part of their Juvenile thinking because children believe ANYTHING is possible.


    Terah Gamble

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  5. I think that this is about how you should appreciate the small things in life. I also think that you also need to be wild like a little kid. You need a break and need to only please yourself. Think of others but not all the time. Be proud of what interest you and don't be afraid to do something childish.

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  6. I agree with Terah. I think that Terah is right when she said that you need to be an individual. I also think that this poem is talking about, how you don't need to care about anything. As you get older you care more. And just like the tower you seem to get more excited about stuff.

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  7. Hmm, this poem is very interesting. I have never heard of a poem with a question in the title. It seems the author is trying to give you bad advise as if he is trying to tell us that we should think for ourselfs. I agree with his idea of thinking for ourselfs because if we do not we neglect the free thinking part of our brain.

    Liam McNamara

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  8. After thinking about it some more I agree with Emily that the auther may be trying to tell us that we should try and be different everyo nce in a while. The part of being in a close room with more than 3 people wearing turtal necks is also was one of my favorite parts. When Emily talks about it being in the perspective of a child I do not totaly agree. Instead I think the auther is just referencing children because they do not care what anyone thinks about them.

    aramaNcM maiL (Liam McNamara backwards.)

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  9. I really enjoyed this poem. It was refreshing and gave me hope because the author’s tone made it seem like he/she was talking to a friend. This poem is telling me to keep the essence of life light and joyful with the door to the imagination wide open. When the author says that when the tower falls, laugh. This means to me not to take life so seriously, but to strive to live life with a smile on your face to roll with life’s punches. In addition, I also think that this poem was saying to have fun with the journey of writing and not let it consume your happiness.

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  10. I love this poem! I love how the author answered the question in the title. It also created a lot of good imagery. My favorite part was towards the end when the author says "When the towerfalls, be like that child. Laugh so loud everybody in the world frowns and says, "Shhhh." I think the author is saying even when things are going wrong just be carefree and don't worry so much. I also love the part, "Avoid any enclosed space where more than three people are wearing turtlenecks." To me she is saying don't fit in with the crowd. Overall I loved this poem and I thought it had a good message and a good answer to the title!

    ~Kara Williams

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  11. ~Kara Williams responding to Emily Gill's Comment

    I agree with Emily on how the advice seemed real. I also thought that she was trying to tell us to stand out. It seemed like she was giving advice straight from her heart. I also like the part when she says avoid enclosed spaces where more than three people are wearing turtle necks.

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  12. I agree 100% with Will Bryson. When Will explained that he thought the poem was talking about being an individual and letting lose I thought he understood it very well. I personally think that Terah also understood this sonnet when she explained her self. Most of all I believe this poem is talking about being who God made you and not being ashamed of who you are. I think reading their comments made me understand this sonnet better.


    Victoria Hayes

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  13. I think that Leigha's view of the poem says it best. She says, "to keep the essence of life light and joyful with the door to the imagination wide open." It sounds like it belongs in the poem. The poem and Leigha are saying that we should always be ready to create, and never try to stifle our creative ablities. I think that this poem is inspiring because it says to laugh and not be afraid to stand out.
    Emily Gill

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  14. I agree with what Will said that this poem is offering the reader advice to live life to its fullest. When he said that we have to get out into the world and be that child, I thought we should also be curious about the world around us too. I thought it was interesting when the author said to carry a cheap notebook with tea colored pages and a cat or a spaceship on the cover. This means to me that the simple things in life that make us happy are worth more than the expensive things that look great on the outside. I think one of the main ideas the author was trying to get across was to not make writing a job, but to let the words flow onto the paper by whatever inspires you and to have fun while doing it.

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  15. I think that this poem says that you should live your life while you have the chance. I also think it is saying that your don't have to have the best things out there to show others that all you need is a cheap notebook to keep thoughts to write down when you see something when writing. I also think that when the author says to take you notebook to the best place possible which would be on an isle with a child of 1 or 2 years. When he says this, I think that he means that ones who are looking for ideas will actually find ideas when they are around us instead of them saying shhhh and telling us to be quiet because they think that we should be learning things about them instead of Vise versa.
    -Addison Helms

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  16. Leigha, I think that you were right from when you said that this author was sounding friendly in his tone.Also I think that he said to be Joyful and also to live your life. Also I think he says to keep a smile on your face and go where life takes you. Also never ever fall into the ways of this world, be different for a change, because that will make all of the difference.
    -Addison Helms

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  17. I really like this poem, its very detailed. Starting a poem with a question is very creative. What I like about this poem is that it says how you should smile or laugh even in your worst times because people can be mad but you can say most of your life you smiled or laughed and enjoyed the bad times as much as the good times. Also it shows how children usually enjoy life even though something messes up.

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  18. I think that the story was about a man reading a funny book and starts to make noise so the people thell him to be quiet. I thought that the poem was hard to find a second meaning within, although that might just be because was listing to music when I was typing this comment. The blog seemed not that intrusting and lacking substance. Substance would have made the poem alot better and intrusting to read but it wasn't.

    ~~Anthony Gelardi~~

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  19. I really liked this poem. I think it was about not having the same boring routine every single day and living life as best as you can. I think that writer's use of a child building a tower off books was funny, espically when it fell over and you laugh. I think this was the best poem we have commented on all year.
    -Andrew Hadaway-

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  20. I like how this poem is like a question and answer type of poem. I think the author is trying to say that we should get out and explore the world instead of sitting around and doing nothing. His advice is not really life changing. His advice is more helpful in navigating through life.
    Christopher Meindl

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  21. I loved this poem. To me it talks about that you don't need to ever fully grow up and always have some kid left in you. When they talk about the notebook being cheap and having a kitten on the front, I think they mean you should never be afraid to have color and expression. You don't need to have and expensive dull "notebook", with notebook being a symbol of your life. When they talk about the little boy laughing in the library when his tower fell over, they are teaching us that when things are destroyed we don't need to always let it upset us. I loved the poem, it was awesome.

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  22. @Kara

    I could not think what the Author meant about the 3 or more people in turtlenecks till I read yours. I completely agree that he was expressing that you should always be different. It makes perfect sense that if everyone was the same life would be dull, so we always need to be original. That also fallows into the next part that we need to always laugh about things other people would get mad at, we need to be original.

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  23. This is one of the few poems that I fully understand in less than a minute. I think that the poem is telling us that we have alot of time to enjoy life in the outside world and everything that God gave us. Where it says about the notebook with a kitten or spaceship on front, the author tells us that we can fully open our imagination and our personality and feel like a little kid again. The way the title was writen caught my attention because I have never seen one like this.

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  24. I believe that this poet had a good imagination in this poem. That's the only reason why I somewhat liked this poem. I also believe that this poet used a lot of sarcasm, which I thought was the mood of this poem. But, all together, the poem was alright.

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  25. @ Liam McNamara

    I agree with what Liam said. After reading his poem, I too believe that the poet is saying we should think for ourselves. If we don't, we'll be to busy worrying about what people think of us, which doesn't matter. Well, that's my Opinion.

    ~Rebel Alliance Ent.~

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  26. I thought that this poem was unique. I think that the poem was telling us to go out and pretend to be a little kid again. He is trying to tell us that even though we may think we are to old to have fun, in the inside we all want to pretend to be a little kid again. As important it is to work, having fun is another important thing in life.

    Andrew Simpson

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  27. I agree with Will Bryson. The poem's title is indeed unique since the story is answering it. Like you, I thought that the poem was trying to tell us to have fun and stop being boring. I think that it is important to have fun even though we have work to do. Without fun, we wouldn't be able to do all of our work effeciantly.

    Andrew Simpson

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  28. I liked really liked this poem. I think this poem is about how you should not let you life become boring and have a little fun every once and a while. I also think it is about how you can never grow out of your imagination. It uses the child as an illistration of how little kids aren't afraid to be fun and imaginative.
    ROBERT THERRELL

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  29. @ David
    I totally agree with you. I think the poem is about how sometimes we should just forget about our problems and enjoy what we have been given. It reminds me of the song "Those Nights" by Skillet which is about how we should sometimes just put our lives on pause and concentrate on some more important things. The illistration with the child works well because children never spend their time worring about life.
    ROBERT THERRELL

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  30. @ Will Bryson
    I went off what you said in being youself. I couldn't agree with your last part though. I don't think it was saying live your life to the fullest. I thought it ment don't worry about what other people say. Just let God guide your steps and trust that he leads you into the right direction.

    xXBoboXx

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  31. This poem was pretty interesting as far as the words the author chose to use. I definitely liked the poem though it was pretty good, I liked the way he was very detailed with what he said, the way his words put like a picture in my head when I read it. I don't know about that last part with the kid in the library and everything because I thought that was a little too much. As far as the rest of it I thought it was good and clever and what not but then again that's just my opinion...I got no room to judge.

    Shamar Williams

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  32. I really enjoyed the uniquness of this poem. It was different and I liked that. It kept my attention the whole time I read it. I believe that the author wrote this poem with the main intent on telling people to be themselves and live freely. Do what you like and care not about what people think.

    Hannah Beth McKeel

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  33. I really really liked this poem; I think it has an amazing meaning. The title is asking for something to do, bassically saying, HEY! I have nothing to do, I'm just hanging out! What do I do?! And the poem answers back, I LOVE IT! I think the author is saying in this, stop piddeling around, and go have fun! Have a life! I love the analogy at the end about the child building a tower with books, how it says to laugh like this little child. Have Fun! Inadvertently proclaims the author, laugh, love, live, but don't spend your dwindeling time wondering what you could do, just get up and search, but do something!!!

    @ Hannah McKeel:
    I totaly agree with you! This poem is totally unique, and i think that's half of what make sit awesome!!I deffinatly agree with what you think about it saying tdo what you care about not, what people think, I didn't even think of that!

    Ashlie Renae 6th Period

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  34. I thought this was a pretty interesting poem. I think it is trying to say be yourself and live life to the fullest. Have fun while living, be a young, wild, and outgoing child throughout your life. I really liked the part when it talked about the tower falling and laughing so hard everybody goes "shhhhhh". Over all this poem was great.
    By: Katlyn McAnally

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  35. I agree with Hannah saying that she liked it because it was different. I think that doing things differently is a great way to stand up and encourage people to not be scared to do things your way. You need to live your life the way you want, not follow the crowd. I admire the people who do things differently sometimes.
    By:Katlyn McAnally

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  36. I thought that this poem was a great poem because I have never read a poem that the title is a question. It is also unique because it answeres the question in a really cool way. I think that the advice was to get outside because staying inside is no fun and that you need to use your imagination and wright something. I think that the Author was trying to reach out and inspire young people to get out and wright because it is a good way to wright what your feeling.

    BY: Jamie Condon

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  37. This poem was interesting. I had to read this poem twice to get the full grasp of it. I think this poem says that you should be yourself but have fun with it. I really liked this poem because it reminds me by the little child that is always going around and doing things he wants to do no matter the troulbe it may bring. Since it seems I am always in trouble.

    Joseph Lawton

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  38. I am responding on Katlyn McAnally's comment. I totally agree with what you are saying in all ways. Its funny how you and I get the same things from this poem. I can totally see you being the one who just burst out in laughter as you are in your own state of mind, as in no one else is there.

    Joseph Lawton

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  39. I really enjoyed this poem. It made me laugh. I think the author is trying to let us know that school is only boring if we make it that way. If we find the positive, fun, and exciting things about it, we'll laugh and really enjoy ourselves. Even if the things we find are simple (such as building a book tower and watching it tumble), it's still important. I also think that maybe the books falling could symbolize a mistake. Maybe the book on the bottom of another wasn't stable, making the tower crash to the floor. Laugh at your mistakes. Laugh at yourself sometimes, and then turn around and keep going (build another tower).

    ~Becca 6th <3

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  40. I like this poem, because it is basically saying to me, live your life. It also makes me think of when you keep trying hard you will be happy because they were describing that when they said the little boy built the tower and the higher he got the more happier he was. This poem is saying to be yourself, because if you be yourself you will have success. It also is saying that no one can stop you from doing what you want to do. I love this poem.
    Henry Hill

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  41. Henry Hill @ Kara
    I agree strongly with kara because she is saying when things don't go your way, just still enjoy life. I also agree when she says the author is saying don't hang with the crowd because she is putting in a way saying that you should be yourself. The imagery is so strong in this poem too because this poem compares life to things that happen in life just like the kids and the crowd. As I read the poem again it is actually answering the question and Kara caught my attention on that. That was a great reflection by Kara and I agree with her 100 percent.

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  42. I really liked this poem. The poet answered the title which was a question. I think this poem is talking about even though sometimes are intentions are to do something else then we get bored and we find that little kid inside of us that laughs at the dumbest little things in life. This author to me is trying to reach to into you and just relax because sometimes its okay to be a little kid for a while.

    Mirandaaaaa

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  43. I agree with Will Bryson 100%. I really like that he says that the author is trying to get us to step out of our confert zones and use our imagination. I think this poem can be aplied to everyday life just like Will said when he says to live life to the fullest and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I really liked this poem! :D

    Mirandaaaa

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  44. I think this poem's purpose was to remind them of the child inside of them. The first sentence was basicly telling people to leave their worries and stresses behind. Go out to the world and look around! I think when adults grow up they forget about all the simple things that make them happy. Like in the line that says..... And the perfect place in a library is near an aisle where a child a year or two old is playing as his mother browses the ranks of the dead. I felt like this was compairing how carefree the child is to his worry some mom.

    -sara damas-

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  45. I agree with Katlyn McAnally. The books falling down are like when you laugh and fall down. The books brought so much joy to the child even though for just a second. I also agree with how the poem is saying live life to the fullest. In the first couple of sentences where it was telling people to leave their offices I felt like it was screaming enjoy life! However I still dont get how the title of the poem relates back to the poem!

    -sara damas-

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  46. This poem was really interesting. I thought the most cool thing about the entire poem, though, was the fact that the title was the question the poem answered at the end. It was a very inspiring poem to young writers and the poem, in a way, shows that life is too short to just do nothing. You should get out and do something and have fun.

    -James Cannon

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  47. (Responding to Jamie Condon's post)
    You're exactly right! That's exactly what I thought; that this poem shows that you need to go outside and do something. I also think you're right about the writing thing. The poem does, in a way, inspire people to write their feelings. Good job.

    -James Cannon

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  48. This poem was wierd. It was realy confusing and random. I want to know why it kept going off on random topics. I didnt like it because i like my poems to be based on one topic generally but this poem was different and it was easy to understand.

    KRISTIN BAYNE

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  49. I agree with Kara Williams. The poem really did go with the title. It was carefree and I loved it.

    KRISTIN BAYNE

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  50. I thought that this blog was pritty interesting. It showed somebody at a new start and what they should start out doing. It was a little hard undering standing the blog. I thought it was funny more at the end of it when the person was laughing and the people told him to be quiet and then it said start it over again. Basically help someone start a new beginning.Daniel Taverna

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  51. I would have to agree with what Emily Gill is saying about the blog. How it was different and unique. How it was asked with the question and it just kept going on, following till the end of it. It was a good poem to read. It was real in a way talking about how to get started with life.Daniel Taverna

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  52. I agree with what cameron said because I feel like that's kind of like waht my comment was getting at. He said that he like how the author was imaginative and I feel like he was too. However he still felt like the poem was just alright, which I did also just for the simple fact that the guy went a little over the top. All in all though we both thought the poem was okay.
    Shamar W.
    ~Rebel Alliance Ent.~

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  53. This poem is really weird it answers the title but some of the advice is weird. I think its weird how the athor says to avoid more than three people in turtel neck sweters in close confinement. The athour has some good advice like to carry around a notebook. The author seems to act like the people he is reaching to throught the poem are wrighers.
    Greg Trykowski

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  54. Shamar I agree this is a very good poem. I think the part with the library wasnt to much though. I agree that it was a clever poem. I dont think that you have no room to judge though I think things like poems should be judged it help others know how to make things better.
    Greg Trykowski

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  55. I agree with Kara. She explained her opinion on what she thought the turtleneck part was about. I can actually relate that to what the poem is saying and talking about. As she said, the author answers the question throughout the whole poem. How to enjoy life even when people arent doing the same. It's about being different. Great opinion Kara Williams!(:

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  56. i think this poem is about people that sit around and do nothing. it sounds like its giving advice to them or just telling them. maybe it was just being sarcastic. it was easy to understand.

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  57. At the beggining of the poem, I think it is saying that it's okay if you don't have the best things. I also think it is saying it is okay to be original. In the middle of the poem, I think it talks about how people settle for less, and don't get what they deserve. At the end of the poem, I think the advice is to let you know its okay act like a little kid, and to enjoy life while you can, and not to take things so seriously.

    -Julia

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  58. I agree wih wills poem a little bit about stop being bored. Like i said on my comment about doing nothing I think it relates in a way. when it says everyone in the world I think thats a metaphor. Its a cool poem because the title is a question.

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  59. @ Will Bryson.
    I agree with you when you say that the poem was very unique because of its title. I liked how you said "Just live life and don't care what other people think; just live life to it's fullest." I think it was interesting how you said to quit being our boring old personalities. Lastly, I think that everyone, no matter what age, should use there imagination.

    -Julia

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  60. I think this poem was kind of hard to understnad, but after i read it a few times, I got the poem. I think this poem is telling us to live life, not to think of life tourture. people should think of it as a FUN EXPERIENCE!! appreciateit. Live life like theres no tommorow, explore the world. Explore life, but litly, do not exagerate. Also is great when people fail at something, because form their failures, you succeed.

    Emely Ruiz
    2nd Period

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  61. I really like what this poem is saying. It didn't take long for me to figure out what I thought it is saying. I think it is saying that when we have nothing else to do we should go find a place to think. It's ok the act like a child again sometimes. You don't always have to follow the crowd.
    ~Katie Cumbia

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  62. @ Becca 6th <3

    I really agree with Rebecca. While I was reading her poem, i realized that she thought the same as I did. I loved when she said Even if the things we find are simple (such as building a book tower and watching it tumble), it's still important, I think that what you build will grow. When she said "laugh when you make mistakes" it reminded me a lot of life, your mistakes will lead to success.
    Emely Ruiz :)

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  63. This poem was very interesting. When I first read the poem, I notice that the poem was like a to-do-list for the person who was asking the question. After I read the poem a couple of times, I tried to put the place of the person answering the question was like a boss or manager. A higher authority. Over all, this poem was better than last weeks poem.

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  64. @Katie
    I like how you put the poem's meaning in to short words. I agree with you on when we have nothing else to do, we just need to find a place to think. I also liked how you said you don't always have to follow the crowd. Reading your comment helped me understand the poem better.

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  65. I think this poem is saying that when deaaling with obstacles in life, yes, they may knock you down and, yes, they may delay you just a bit, but get up and try again. The little boy just decided to stack books and the higher he got the happier he became. If you put your focus on your goal and keep taking the necessary steps to reach your goal, of course you are going to get happier the closer you get to your goal but you have to also realize that the closer you get, the harder it's going to get. Even though it may get harder you still shouldnt give up because everytime you start back again you get stronger and learn more from what delayed you the last time.

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  66. I agree with Molly because when you are a child, you don't worry about what people think of you, you only focus on what you are doing that moment and accomplishing it. I also agree with Leigha. I think that sometimes we take life too seriously, when instead we could be enjoying the simple things that God has placed before us. Sometimes we fall because we need to realize that we are blessed and should appreciate things we dont usaully even think about.

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  67. I liked this poem. It is very unique. I think it is saying to us, to be an individual, just be yourself and enjoy life. This poem had a lot of imagery. My favorite part was the very end.
    --Kaitlyn Nycole Henderson

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  68. I totally agree with Will Bryson! I really like how the poem was answering the title of the poem. I agree with you about living life to the fullest and making the best out of everyday. As a child, you don't worry about anything and you don't mind what people think about you. Being a child is like being in a different world, because you use your imagination.

    --Kaitlyn Nycole Henderson

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  69. I thought this poem was very interesting. I think its saying that sometimes you just need to go back to being a kid again. You shouldnt care about what other people think about you. Just be yourself.Overall i thought this was a very good poem.

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  70. I agree with sara damas. I was thinking the samething about leaving all your stress and worries behind.I also agrre with the part about the child being carefree. After reading her comment i have a better understanding of the poem. Thanks sara!

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  71. I really liked this poem. It was the BEST one so far. I think it was talking about live your life as a kid again. Where you do things and your not afraid what people say or think. Sometimes I wish I could just go back in time where I could be a little kid, so that I didn't have to think about what people thought of me and life would be fun and less stressful.
    ~Courtney Allen~

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  72. I agree with Katlyn McAnally. I think we should live our lives to the fullest and have fun. I also thought it was interesting. For some reason I thought the notebook thing was funny about buying the cheapest, with the kitten or space ship on it.
    ~Courtney Allen~

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  73. This poem is probably one of my favorite poems of all times. I think that this poem is saying to leave the boring, rule following you behind and life life to the fullest extent possible. You only get one life and you need to live everyday as if it was your last no mater the situation. The poem is telling you to think and do outside of the box or you will get stuck in that past and not with the present. Don't let the world leave you behind, leave the world behind.

    Jacob Jones

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  74. @ Will Bryson
    I really liked your comment and what you got from this poem. You said to "Live life to the Fullest" and i believe that everybody should do this no matter what. I think that you and i really understand what the poem was trying to get through to us. This poem teaches a very good moral to everybody.

    Jacob Jones

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  75. I thought the poem was really good, better than the others. I think the poem was about not to listen to others about what you have to do. And dont wait to do something because it most likly will not happen agian. I also thought it said was to live life to the fullist.

    michael holland

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  76. I agree with jacob jones about needing to live to life to the fullist. And to think outside the box. I as well agree not to dwell in the past and stay in the present. And to not to leave be left behind.

    michael holland

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  77. I thought this poem was hilarious but it had a good point. Be different, thats how you stop staring out with nothing to do. You live. I also like the writters style. This author's words don't go over my head I understand them, I feel like I could actually write something like this for once.

    Emerald Garrett

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  78. This poem was very interesting to me. I think what the writer is trying to say, is that when you go to school and you don't know how to act, you should be calm. You should be yourself. I also like the ending because to me it's a metaphor for life. That each time you work for something and you see it grow, it makes you happy, and if it fails, laugh it off and try again.

    Chelsey A.

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  79. I would like to agree with Michael Holland, that the poem is explaining you should live life to the fullest. That you shouldn't care what others think and listen and do the things you feel comfortable doing. I think that life isn't just about what others think, it's about what you make it to be. And you can't live life, constantly thinking of what others will think.

    Chelsey A.

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  80. I think this poem is trying to tell us that we should enjoy every little detail in life. from the kind of notebook you have to where you study. but it perplexes me that it says go out into the world but also go into a library watch a little kid and start over doing the same thing. maybe it means share the joy of that little kid, or maybe not. in-fact how is doing the same thing over and over again (going to the library to study only to watch a little kid stack books while his mom zones out every day only to be shushed by the librarian)
    going out into the world. while this poem contradicts its self Im probably over thinking it.

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  81. @ Emerald.
    i agree that this poem has a good point. and I could write a poem like this (maybe). Its funny and witty. but at first i understand the words but after i start to think about it the words go over my head!!!

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  82. I like this poem alot! My favorite part was the last 3 sections that talked about the little kid at the library. When I finished reading, just thinking about that little kid and all thoughs books falling made me smile. I enjoy reading poems that leave a smile on my face.

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  83. @ Holland Morris
    Well first, I dont think you were over thinking the poem. Although, I wasn't able to follow what you were saying completely. I didn't understand how the poem contradicts its self. That part was a little fussy, but I think you totally understood the poem.

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  84. I agree with Holland. We should enjoy the little things in life, because maybe it's the little things we should be most focused on. There is a saying that I have heard, "When God throws a curve ball, don't duck, you just might miss something." Life as we know it is short. So we need to make the best of it.

    Chris Meindl

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  85. To me, this poem means that you shouldn't let someone tell you how to live your life. You should have a good time. You only live life once and you shouldn't let rules tell you how to live your life. Get the best out of life and be the best person you can be. -Randy Bridges-

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  86. @ Nat

    That was my favorite part too. It made me feel that children know how to have a better time than adults because adults are too concerned about what other people will think of them. That kid laughed even though he knew he had to stay quiet. They adults were too busy following the rules to have a good time. Sometimes you just have to do your own things and not care what anyone thinks of you for it. -Randy Bridges-

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  87. I love this poem, it's like showing everyone's childish and imaginitive side of themselves. I think the author is trying to show how you don't always have to be so secure and serious, and that you can still have fun as if you were a 5 year old. Like when he says don't sit by 3 people wearing turtle necks because he wants you to loosen up and enjoy life and imagine things that you would when you were so young. This made me think about how I'm a 15 year old, but still wake up on Saturday mornings to watch Spongebob and Hey Arnold. I really love this poem.

    -Davarius Hampton

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  88. I really enjoyed this poem because for the first time I thought I really understood it. When I first read it, it took me a while to figure out what it was saying but then I realized. To me this poem is talking about how people should show who they are and not worry about what other people think or say about you. This poem really made it clear that God makes everybody different for a reason.


    Victoria Hayes

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  89. @ Emily Gill

    I totally agree with Emily. This poem was not only a giver of advice thought I think it was meant to be a little funny too. I have read poems that answer their own questions but never one so down to Earth like this is. I hope we get more poems that are like this. It actually sounds like a student wrote it ^.^
    $Emerald Garrett$

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  90. Terah Gamble,

    I completely agree with what you said about quiet rooms stifling creativity. I love wring poems and songs, and if I don't have color or laughter, it's all pointless to try to write.
    The little things, like laughing in a library, are what count the most. I once told somebody that just watching fireworks can make my day. It makes life worth while because in that one moment, everything is happy and right, and it's extremely inspiring.
    ~Becca - 6th<3

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  91. Oh my goodness, that was possibly the coolest poem I've ever read. I think that it is talking about keeping the child in you. I believe that it's trying to say that you should never really and truly grow up. You have to grow older, but you should keep some things in your life childish.


    @Davarius
    I completely agree with Davarius, I think that the poem is talking about how you shouldn't be with a bunch of uptight "coffee-house" people in turtlenecks, because they will probably stifle you. You should keep some child in you. I agree that the author is talking about how you should just enjoy life and stay loose. Just chill out, stay pretty mellow, and lose your seriousness for just a bit.

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  92. I thought that this poem was really uniqe. I liked how it asked a question in the title. I also liked how the author didn't just give a short answer with no effort in it. He gave an answer that you really had to think about. The answer could mean something different for everybody.
    -Hayley Ross

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  93. @ Emily Gill
    When I read it I didn't even think about who the question might have come from. After I looked at your comment I can understand how you could think that the question came from a child, who wants to be an author. I also agree with you about how the question in the title is really different. "Aviod any enclosed space where more than three people are wearing turtle necks." I also thought that was funny.
    -Hayley Ross

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  94. I agree with Julie Ramirez. I too think that starting a poem with a question is very creative. I also agree with her last sentence "Also it shows how children usually enjoy life even though something messes up." This was a great poem I hope everyone see's the imagery that I saw myself.

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  95. I really likes this poem. I think the author is trying to tell us that we should all just enjoy life. We should pay attention to all the little things. We should just be happy. I really like this poem because it made me smile.

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  96. I really i agree with Jacob Jones comment because i think the same thing! This poem for me was all about how we should live our life. We only get one so we should spend it happy. I also like what Jacob said about how we shouldn't live in the past but stay in the future.

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  97. I think this poem is just talking about how we need to give up the duties of everyday life and need to go experience things like we used to as a child. Everything was better then when you weren't held responsible for your own mistakes. Like in the last stanza where it talks about how when it falls, you should laugh even though everyone else will just frown and 'shhhh' you. It didn't make much sense until the end. The first few stanzas confused me.

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  98. @ Athene
    I think what your saying is exactly what I tried to say. I think that the author is saying you have to grow up but its always good to keep some childish qualities with you when you do. I also understand what it means by more than three people with turtlenecks too. The author used them to show what it could be like if you didn't learn to keep some childlike characteristics with you. You don't want to be the average, everyday, uptight person.

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  99. This poem was better interesting. I think that it was talking about doing anything you want to do, and not letting anything stop you from it. I also think that it talks about living your life to the fullest, but not letting things mess it up. It's saying that you don't have have the beter things to live your like full of happiness. My favorite part of the poem was 'It's all right to carry a notebook but a cheap one is best, with pages the color of weak tea and on the front a kitten or a space ship.'

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  100. @ Athene

    I kind of agree with what Athene is saying. When I read it again, I can see where she might get never wanting to grow up. I think that she is right about the things that you should always keep in your life even if your not a little kid anymore. Just because someone grows up, doesn't mean that they have to stop liking something.

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  101. I love this poem and think it is very deep. it speaks to everyone and tells them to show a child-like interest in life. Love life like a child and never cease to find awe in the world around you. The author is telling you to take each day with wonder and excitment, no matter who judges you.

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  102. @ Madison Keller
    I agree with your comment. I liked how you said you should pay attention to the small details. Children seem to do that very well. We should all find wonder in the small things in life like children.

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  103. @ tatiana

    I read her comment and agree with her. I think she was right about that you don't have better things to live your life happy. What I can comprehend from her and the poem is that you don't need anything new or better to live your life happy. You should just enjoy what ever that you already have and whatever is around. I also agree with her on letting no judgment mess up your life or put a limit on the way you enjoy life. We should try our best to ignore it and move on.

    david s.

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  104. This is one of the best poems I've ever read. I think that it is to keep the child within. To get to heaven you must be like a child. I believe the overall idea of the story is not to let yourself grow to old (spiritually)

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  105. I agree with Savannah completely! You should never let your self die spiritually, even if you are dying physically. I Like how she said "Love life like a child." You should never be ashamed of who you really are.

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  106. Mica Clark
    I enjoyed this poem very much. I had to read it twice to understand the meaning. At first, I thought the writer was giving other writers advice. Like the best tools to write with, or the best place to write. Then he started mentioning a child's spirit. I like how he did this, because I learned when you were a child, you never had a fake smile.

    @ Tatiana

    I strongly agree with everything that you have written. I did not think of the poem this way. He possibly could have meant you don't have to have the better things in life to be happy. Also, he could have mentioned the child because they always live life to the fullest. Thank you for your insight!

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  107. I really enjoyed this poem. I enjoyed it since I just finished an extremely boring project. I cant say right now whether I want to relax or jump for joy. This poem seems like it is telling you to enjoy the small things and be free and have fun the waa you want to. Don't be afraid to loosen up every once in a while.

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  108. I agree with what Austin says after reading the poem through again. I didnt realize till he had said something that the writer is basically talking about the spirit of the child when he is not exactly mentioning it. Thinking like a child isn't wrong. thinking like a child could possibly be better for you.

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  109. I think this poem means no matter how much life beats you down you should always hold on. I think it means sometimes we do everything because we are told to. The author is saying that sometimes it may even be wrong. That we should have some faith in ourselves instead of trying to recieve it from others. sometimes life is tiring and you feel restless , and then you ask questions. questions you expect others to answer , but the only one who can really answer it is you.

    sarah fooshang

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  110. @ leigha

    I completley agree with you. The author was telling us not to take life seriously and be open with joy and imagination. Sometimes we kill ourselves inside with the harshness of life. In doing so we become dull and forget how it feels to be happy.

    sarah fooshang

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  111. This was one of a kind. I have never seen a poem with a question in the title. I think it is saying when your a child take advantage of it. Being a child doesnt last forever. We should laugh and not let life get dull.

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  112. @ Sarah Fooshang

    I agree with sarah when she said we should have faith in ourselves. Waiting for other people to have faith in you could take a lifetime. As long as we have faith in ourselves we could do anything. SHe is right, we have to answer our answers. We are the only ones we can really really on for the right answer.

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  113. @ Austin Hearn

    I also agree with Austin. We shouldnt let our spirtitual selve get to old. We must keep that inner child. We must not forget hot to have fun and laugh.

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  114. I believe this poem was discribing he had little things to look forward to. he's saying that the people around him have become dull. Even though everything seems bleak he is encouraging us to keep optimisim. Sometimes life gets sucked out of us. Troubles shoulden't keep us down. We should always have imagination.


    sarah fooshang

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  115. @ emily
    I agree with you. He is telling us to stand out when others seemed to all act alike. The theme of this poem made me think of little gray blobs. The author was the rainbow blob. It really made me have this whole picture of everyone acting alike and the one unique person out there.
    \
    sarah fooshang

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  116. I think it says to be forever young. You may be old on the outside. however, your still young and beautifull on the inside. It also says to me dont be afraid to laugh
    -Ben Sessions

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  117. @austin Hearn
    I agree are spirits dont get old. If they do it is by choice. We always have a kid inside. We should let him out sometime
    -Ben Sessions

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  118. The author in this peom is telling the world to go out into the world. get out of the class and the house go to a place where you can be alone and no one will destract you. go to a place where you can write. The author then tells us about a boy and how he stacks the book so high that they fall and he laughs and doesn't care what people think. this is how he is telling us to write. write freely and don't even care what everyone else says or thinks about it.
    Joshua Puckett

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  119. @ sarah fooshang

    I can see where you get what your saying about everyone becomeing dull around him. But what about him talking the kid playing with the books. I can also see what you saying about how we should all have imagination.
    Joshua Puckett

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  120. @ sarah fooshang

    I can understand what your saying when you say everyone has become dull around him. But what about when he was talking about the kid building the tower with the books he would pull from the shelfs. I also understand when you said that we need to use more imagination in every thing that we do. But again i think you forgot the kid playing with the books.
    Joshua Puckett

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  121. I thought this poem was actually pretty cool. It's like he was telling someone what they should be doing but he is really saying what he does. It's like he is saying that no matter how old you are, you are still a little kid inside sometimes. I agree with him, we should all get out once and a while and discover things.

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  122. @ Josh
    You kind of basically re-told the poem. If you really read it, you can see some hidden messages that he is trying to tell you. To me, it's like he is showing us how he is an adult but still a little kid inside. I agree that he says not to care what other people think, though.

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  123. I like this poem a lot its unique and thought provoking. I think the author is telling other writers to leave there apartmets and desks and go out into the world. The authos is telling others to get inspiration from the things in the world. The author talks about enjoying the things around you too when you write to laugh loudly in a library. The point is to go out and enjoy writing i think to laugh at the little things and to draw inspiration from them.

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  124. @ liegha
    Once agian i completley agree with you you word your thoughts far better than me but i notice we get the same things out of these writings. Your right about how you think the author is talking about to keep the essence of life light and joyful with the door to the imagination wide open. Your completely right when you said you think the authors is trying to communicate not to lose happines in your own writing. Go out and enjoy life i think is the main point here.

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  125. I think the author is trying to answer a question with a question and he/she is getting nowhere with it. I also think that the poem means that we should go outside and enjoy the outside world instead of staying trapped inside a house or inside a closed compartment for your whole life. The poem got to me and now its telling me to have fun with the world and nature because one day it will be destroyed and then I will regret wasting my time inside.

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  126. @ Josh

    I agree with Josh because he says that we should write freely no matter what anyone says about it. You should live life without regrets and do what you want with it. Ignore the people who try to shun you and the people who treat you horrible. The world is a big story write freely!

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