I wrote a personal essay about my "first college date" when our apartment did a dinner night with one of the boy apartments in our ward. Since its 7 pages long, I wont post it.
For our poetry unit, we had to write five poems. Here is the elegy I wrote for grandma.
FOR THE LOVING DEAD
The bright Spring sun shines down upon the gathering,
A group of friends and family, some quietly mourning, others celebrating
A life of love.
In a quiet, calm cemetery, set in a lone countryside—
The resting place for our beloved awaits.
Most know the happiness awaiting the righteous above,
Others know only sorrow in their loss.
Beautiful lady,
Engulfed in linens, surrounded by her legacy,
Remembered by loving words and memories.
Earlier in life, love returned to a broken heart,
But all too soon, she’s left alone again, the result of
Fighting a losing battle.
Always diligent, always strong, never selfish—
Caring for those around her.
Each week, she cleaned the church she loved, making it sparkle
Never neglected, but always lit with brilliance, cared for by
A loving heart.
Teaching her young children how to work hard
And stay diligent to what is good and true.
Four hour drives just to see those she loves
Trips to the store, climbing trees, eating dinner.
Always waiting
Arms open wide for precious children to run
And be enveloped in a loving embrace.
But life takes a toll. Even one so full of service. All remember—
Loving moments, gentle hands, independent of others.
Defiant of death.
Nine long years drag on, each becoming a little slower
All at once, it becomes too much to resist.
Oh, but all can see it now! A beautiful reunion
Between husband and wife many years apart. Her perfect spirit
Part of heaven.
Sadness on earth felt uncertainly with the knowledge of her happiness.
Her influence remains for all to feel. She loves all, even in death.
I also liked this one I wrote about the Great Wall:
THE GREAT WALL
The landscape drifted by, unchanging.
My eyes searched every inch, straining,
Hoping beyond hope that I would be the first to catch
A glimpse of the ancient relic.
Sitting on the cool bus
Trees and bushes rushed by, obscuring
My view of the hilltops.
Finally, a glimpse—a section
Jutting up from the smooth horizon,
Overgrown by years of nature,
Reclaiming its hold on the scene,
All majesty of bygone years stripped by Her power.
Slowly, the sad remnant sank back,
Hiding within the hills that embraced it.
The bus slid to a halt and I stepped off,
Struggling to breathe in thick air.
The trail wound up, climbing ever higher,
The end lost somewhere in the hills.
Forcing my tired legs on, I reached the long stairs.
With each step, my legs protested, questioning
The logic in which I continued my quest.
Quickly—almost instantly—my shirt clung
To my skin. I stopped and looked up longingly,
Anxious to continue, I knew I must rest.
Trudging on, stepping on each worn step,
I reached the summit and walked out into bright sunlight,
Eyes stinging with perspiration. Before me spread
A wondrous sight. Extending on for miles,
The pile of stones represented a legacy,
All but lost to the historic country.
Flowing with the landscape, ever expanding,
The Great Wall stands proudly,
Its gray stone contrasting against the green background.
It has continued on for years long past
And will continue on when we are gone.
I also wrote a short story completely in dialogue, but I'm still editing that one. For my final project, I wrote the first chapter of a novel. Actually, it was suppose to just be a short story, but half my class thought it was a chapter, so thats what I'm making it. I'm a little stressed out about that one because its worth half my grade and I don't get a revision (like with all the other assignments).
