War Poem

[[This is another poem I wrote in High School (circa March 2009) in the same class as "Yellow." The assignment for this one was to have a war poem. That was all the description said, so I wrote this. I'm not sure if it really reflects how I feel, but my teacher said it was the most powerful of our poem project and she didn't have any editing tips!]]

War Poem

Gripe and complain, gripe and complain;

You're all hypocrites.

You cry for peace and even make signs,

Draping yourselves with symbols of love

Claiming to live what you preach.

You're all hypocrites.

.

You gripe and complain at the news on

Your way to buy toy soldiers. Your children

Watch you to learn, but how can they while

You also promote them to play with

Tanks and battleships?

.

You love your children, as well you should, yet

You praise their sketches and pictures of war.

You tell them to play and hand them a gun. What's

That? It only shoots water, you say? Then

You turn to your spouse and gripe and complain

About a far away desert. You say they want to

Come home and they hate the heat, but

Your son plays the same game in

Your own backyard.

.

Instead of your tangible figures, you now buy

An animated army--slaves to your controller.

The scene becomes more graphic, but

You only think to get a higher score. You never question

The principle of the game, however

You gripe and complain when actual

Decisions of war are made.

.

Gripe and complain, gripe and complain;

You're all hypocrites.

You cry for peace and even make signs,

Draping yourselves with symbols of love

Claiming to live what you preach.

If you're going to gripe, then don't play the game;

If you play the game, then don't complain.

Yellow

[[This is a poem that I wrote back in High School. The assignment was to write a free verse and non-rhyming poem that reflected a mask of "the real me." My teacher's advice was to put more literary devices in it, but I haven't yet; a friend of mine was pestering me about not posting something new, so I had to put something up soon. Sorry that school is a little bit busy...]]

Yellow

Yellow. What a happy color.
Just the sound of it is the Wal-Mart Smiley Face.
It makes you smile when you see it,
Or maybe it's the low prices...or the service?
In any case it is the color that I try to symbolize my life after.


Yellow is energy throughout the day.
Yellow is rich and plentiful.
Yellow was used by the Chickasaw Tribe--my Tribe.
It is their symbol of piece and hope, along with white.
Yellow is kindness to a stranger.
Yellow is trying to make everyone feel welcome.


But, oh man sometimes I just want to ask,
"Why can't you just jump into the activities
Without making me feel obligated to
Give you special attention?
I've introduced you to loads of people!
Get comfortable already!"


That's when I go from Yellow
To Orange
To Red
To sometimes even Black.
But this is rare and often not manifested.


Green is the color of my eyes and life.
Could there be a better combination?
I think not.
But this is my pride talking,
Which mainly comes out in Red moments.


Large green eyes full of life and exploration.
Eyes large enough to see opportunities in all situations,
And open enough to try new things, and all things.


Not so complimentary to my life-filled eyes
Are the bags of exhaustion
Underneath, due to my willingness and interest
In doing everything I can.
"You're starting a new club?
I'll join!"
"You need help painting your house?
I'll be there!"
"In need of someone willing to do odd jobs, you say?
You got her!"


Dark circles sometimes overtake the life in me,
Trying to bring me down,
Trying to make me quit.


But Life will prevail!
As long as there is a Yellow smiling face,
Giving support and confidence,
Green will continue to grow.
I will continue to live and be Yellow.