“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

The title simply means that in order to prevent future problems you must deal with your current problems and do your best to eliminate them. Within the story, the love struck adolescent is envious of others, dwells on the painful past and chooses to wallow as oppose to experience things for her. These emotions only augmented until the night in which she chose to become intoxicated. The alcohol or gold as she refers to was her only antidote, her only way to re-grip reality and maintain a firm grasp. Therefore, this was her way of dealing and inevitably eliminating the apparent crisis. I believe that the saying changed from its original meaning for the title because it pertained a little more to the story even though it portrayed a similar message. In this story, the severity of the one situation enabled her to bury her problems, it literally took a measurement of liquid to cure her of the depression like state.

Response to Kuppie's Poem

The Lake
The Lake by Alex Kupchak
Walking along the big, blue lake
I kindly see a small white snowflake
The sound of the water, sailing up to the rocks
Canadian Geese flying in flocks
The smell of the cold, fresh clean air
Blowing into my face, oh so bare
Icebergs falling from the cliff
People escaping but imagine if...
Footsteps of exploration trenching through
I look to the lake and it's bavarian blue
I touch the snow, my body shivers
Before we cross the short frozen river
The fun may be over but i won't forget
The memories that come which i shall never regret


see comment for response to poem

Response to Atwoods "Happy Endings"

Margaret Atwood’s happy ending’s was a very sadistic and slightly satirical way at looking at happiness. Even though a lot of the content within the story itself was controversial and disagreeable, its message was clearly unable to be ignored. It stated on a general spectrum that humans can never truly be happy. According to this story, and life itself humans are not capable of wading into waters of certain temptation and immorality. Even the utopian stories teeming with compassion, bliss and forgiveness lay a foundation of darker statuses. Behind this “happy story” lies the legitimate story with all its lies, secrecy and betrayal. In other words, even though many seem to have a conclusion similar to scenario A, there is something of abhorrent nature that has yet to be uncovered similar to all the other scenarios in this short story. It is almost like that the pursue itself, the pursue of happiness is what keeps us occupied and content. Yes this is an extremely pessimistic outlook on life but Atwood’s short story makes a compelling argument about what happiness really is. Also, Atwood makes it clear that the average female that is place inside this “romance” genre are nothing but love struck, oblivious or completely naive to world around them and what lies further down the road and are only focused on their happy ending (which would inevitably come true). Instead of being headstrong and striving for what they want, these women remain spineless and live an adequate life but are always yearning for something more, something greater than their current situation. In conclusion, despite some graphic details, I enjoyed this short story. I think the main reason it was enjoyable because the plot was attempting to swerve from the usual ending of success and bliss and differentiated to a plot that looked at reality from a grim and valid standpoint.

Creative City-Pier Giorgio Di Cicco

Creative City

to look, and not avert one's gaze;that is where all the art is, the passionand the city. people who do not look,cannot see canvas, or poems or
notes for happiness.
art does not begin with art,but in the eyes. the eyes are everything;when you look up at another, and look away without a smile,
you have killedeverything you want tobring home, oh citizen.




(look to comment for response to this contemporary poem)

Numb

Awaiting our soon departure, I wince at the window adjacent
The thought of the cold penetrating my skin, disabling my body
Opening the doors, the icy glass shatters beneath each step
Stinging my nose, a stumble while maneuvering through the snow
Regardless of my hood shrouding my numb countenance, I heard
The waves rolling gently towards the frozen shore, the geese chattering
Stirred by the overwhelming and bitterness, I was obliged to look up
As my eyes came toward the horizon, a misprint caught my eye
I bent down, my numb joints let out a whimper, and traced the print
Piercing my finger, the mark, disrupting the snow, caused intrigue
Amongst this barren landscape, there was in fact life, abundant even
I shuttered with a sudden emotion of seclusion and isolation
Desperate to seek refuge, I turn around and my eyes met the skyline
Spilled orange with mauve stains, I pause for a moment
The cold then tightens its grasp on my throat and I break away

A misconception, eh?

I came upon this man one day
Quite flushed as he did come to me
He yelled, a place we shall soon go
With cold, fierce bears, strange talk we’ll see!

With bears, you say, what else is there?
My word, I’ll tell, need not to fret
The winds, the snow, with more I think
No fruit, they’ll eat whale fat I bet!

Your right, dear friend, no yum for them
A house of ice where ‘nucks are born
Their schools, absurd, teach a to zed
Big great igloos I could have sworn

When ice does melt, the whales go dry
Despite the ice, the snow remains
For all these meals they’ll eat flapjacks
So much syrup I’d go insane!

Young man, where lies this cold dark place?
This pic does seem just north of here
You’re nuts, photos, postcards, that’s all?
Foolish, I say, you’ve never been near!

A Dire Splendor

The ground beneath crunches at a somber pattern

My icy breath pierces the barren ambience ahead

A longing for warmth is shattered by the shrieking winds behind

Unknowingly, a grin crosses against my seemingly numb countenance

United perhaps? Are we not? Enduring this monotonous serenity

Whether a mere duration or eternity, an appreciation is earned

The tree to my right, releases a snow drift from its loosening clutch

A quick slip on the lustrous surface, followed by an unprecedented blink

Suddenly, an entirely altered landscape is presented

Below a strategically set number of layers, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride

Awed by a strangely familiar splendor, my vexatious chills gone

Jogging, he smiled at me, his face stained red with the merciless cold

Around him gentle rays reflected of the colorless earth, a squint became necessary

A new perception then erupted, a compassion misplaced, found

The landscape surrounding me, incredible, but it a different way

The striking view allowed a realization of the purity and innocence

This winter scene reckoned splendor available in the nation of true virtue

Moments later, another slip, the view still remained, undisturbed and wondrous

I then continued walking and listened intently only to the crunching ground beneath

Alligator Pie

Alligator pie, alligator pie,If I don't get some I think I'm gonna die. Give away the green grass, give away the sky, But don't give away my alligator pie.

Alligator stew, alligator stew,If I don't get some I don't know what I'll do.Give away my furry hat, give away my shoe,But don't give away my alligator stew.

Alligator soup, alligator soup,If I don't get some I think I'm gonna droop.Give away my hockey stick, give away my hoop,But don't give away my alligator soup.

Dennis Lee