The Curse. by Arthur C. Clarke.

The first time I read this science fiction short story written by Arthur C. Clarke, I found it difficult to understand, because of the way in which the author expresses himself and because my lack of knowledge about the topic. The Curse is set on a little town which had been destroyed by a detonating bomb. Apparently, the cause of this war is water as always has been. Despite this nuclear destruction, the only things that remain safe are the Church’s gravestones, particularly Shakespeare’s. But why Shakespeare? I wondered, then as I continued reading, at the end of the story appears The Avon that is a river in the Midlands of England which adjoins Stratford-upon-Avon the birthplace of Shakespeare. It was only then that I understood my previous question, perhaps the author wants to show us through his piece of writing that not only are we destroying buildings and places with our harmful actions but we are also destroying the historical content and the meaning that these places carries in itself, in this case the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon which is visited by millions of tourist for being the place where the famous playwright and poet, Shakespeare, was born and above all where his gravestone stays. This may be the fact that he may not rest in peace.

en.wikipedia.org

From a Nightdress to My baby cousin.

Last year after my baby cousin was born I received a beautiful silk nightdress for my birthday party.As soon as I tried it on I began to think about it: smooth texture like the water in a calm river, fragile fabric, my little baby cousin’s delicate skin, soft little hands, my baby cousin’s eyes filled with life, joy and innocence but not others, my baby cousin’s look examining the new world, her skin as warm as the breeze of autumn. I had never imagined that I could write about my cousin in this way but while I was writing I realised how I miss those days of my childhood without worries experiencing every single thing in this world as new and magic.

Anthology

List Poem.

Animal Farm.

I can hear the Animals in my farm
Meowing Cat
Woofing dog
Mooing cow
Bahing sheep
Crowing cock
Clucking hen
Quacking duck
Oinking pig
Braying donkey
I can hear the Animals in my farm.

Image Poem.

Come Sun

Come sun, shine
Illuminate things
Warm us
Bring happiness.

Sunbathe skin
Grow flowers
Dry floods
Light up smiles

Come sun, shine
Dry tears
Irradiate joy
Come sun, come.

“I am from” Poem.

I am from the pearl of the north.
I am daughter of the powerful and brightly rays of the sun.
I believe in the Promised paradise after death.
I dream of reaching the top of the mountain of my goals.
I hate the coolness and darkness of winter nights.

Poems

Love's Philosophy, by Percy Bysshe Shelley. ( 18th Century)

The fountains mingle with the river,
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In another's being mingle--
Why not I with thine?

See, the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower could be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;--
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?


I found this poem very interesting due to the fact that the author uses elements of nature to come across her message. Percy Shelley reflects through her poem that according to the law of this world we are joined to something or somebody ,that nothing in this world is single that is why she feels disappointed for not having found her other half.

Diciendo qué cosa es amor, by Jorge Manrique. (15th century).

I

Es amor fuerza tan fuerte
que fuerza toda razón;
una fuerza de tal suerte,
que todo seso convierte
en su fuerza y afición;
una porfía forzosa
que no se puede vencer,
cuya fuerza porfiosa
hacemos más poderosa
queriéndonos defender.


II

Es placer en que hay dolores.
dolor en que hay alegría,
un pesar en que hay dulzores,
un esfuerzo en que hay temores,
temor en que hay osadía;
un placer en que hay enojos,
una gloria en que hay pasión,
una fe en que hay antojos,
fuerza que hacen los ojos
al seso y al corazón.


III

Es una cautividad
sin parecer las prisiones,
un robo de libertad,
un forzar de voluntad
donde no valen razones;
una sospecha celosa
causada por el querer,
una rabia deseosa
que no sabe qué es la cosa
que desea tanto ver.


IV

Es un modo de locura
con las mudanzas que hace
una vez pone tristura,
otra vez causa holgura
como lo quiere y le place;
un deseo que al ausente
trabaja pena y fatiga;
un recelo que al presente
hace callar lo que siente,
temiendo pena que diga.


V

FIN

Todas estas propiedades
tiene el verdadero amor;
el falso, mil falsedades,
mil mentiras, mil maldades,
como fingido traidor;
el toque para tocar
cuál amor es bien forjado,
es sufrir el desarmar,
que no puede comportar
el falso sobredorado.


I have chosen Jorge Manrique’s poem because he was a popular poet of the 15th century. I particularly chose this one because It called my attention the way in which the words rhymes with the others and how he clearly depicts the two kind of love , the true and the false one, through the poem.

The Warrior Woman and The Easter Hat by Nancy Chong.

Hi Mates!!

This is what I have written about my essay. It would be very helpful for me your commets.
Thank you!!
Ely.

Essay.

Introduction: The idea of migrating to a foreign country is not a new issue. For ages people have left their homeland behind escaping from wars, poverty and racial prejudice. USA has been generally chosen as the best place to settle in. In fact America is viewed as the Promised Land because of its powerful government and international language. These two are the factors that make it an attractive land to start life again.

Although immigrants may leave their country with a goal in mind, to work hard for their future generations’ economic welfare, there may be something that money cannot erase from their memories, that is: their unforgettable place of birth.

Thesis: “When in Rome do as Romans do”: this could be applied to the way Nancy’s mother, the main character of The Warrior Woman and The Easter Hat, tries to fit in the American society being herself a Chinese citizen. The fact is that she should behave like most American people do following their customs, traditions or culture in spite of the fact that she feels a Chinese resident in flesh and blood.

Boule de Suif by Guy de Maupassant

The story is set in the Franco-Prussian War where a desperate group of French civilians tries to escape from Rouen which has been recently occupied by the Prussians. The ten travellers decide, for various reasons, to leave Rouen and flee to Havre in a coach.

During the first part of the story, the narrator explains the background of each of the occupants of the coach who talks a great deal about resisting the invaders but they ultimately run away rather than stay in the town. This first section of the story also establishes that the most patriotic passenger is Boule de Suif herself, a fat prostitute and unpopular character in Rouen, while the Aristocrats and Bourgeois betray their country in order to end the war and return to their comfortable lives. Likewise Boule de Suif reveals to be the most patriotic and morally admirable character in the way she resists the Prussian officer’s sexual advances.

On the other hand, the travellers try to persuade Boule de Suif to sleep with the officer in order to let them continue with their journey, filling her head with arguments and saying that it would be for the good of the country. What’s more they try to convince her that it is not morally wrong to sleep with the officer in order to let the travellers and most important the nuns leave to look after the French soldiers.

Finally When Boule de Suif accept to sleep with the Prussian officer, the rest of the travellers throw a party without her and when the coach leaves the next morning, they treat her with disgust. Although she shares her picnic basket with the travellers at first, they refuse to share their food with her at the end of the novel despite the fact she has freed them. Her self-sacrifice in sleeping with the German officer underlines her personal courage which Maupassant contrasts with the hypocrisy of the other travellers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boule_de_Suif