Escape
Its force has the power to push you down,
And caused by men with trembling voices.
If one could be calm,
It would be at ease.
So please be sure to make the right choices.
We can survive if we side with nature,
And we can escape these binds and fly free.
But to free ourselves
Of those who hold us,
Can keep the snow from falling untimely.
The people around us who hold our chains,
Keep us from seeing the beauty about.
Try to look clearly,
And see what's within,
Then maybe you'll navigate the right route.
They themselves are all tied to each other,
Since obligations keep them from freedom.
The avalanche comes,
But we can escape,
By discovering that nature provides us wisdom.
The Most Beautiful Thing:
The Grand Canyon
I experienced the most beautiful thing when I visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It was scorching hot and sunny day, but there will plenty of ponds and lakes that shone so bright, it was difficult to stare at it for too long. Much of the land we passed on the road trip was barren and dry, with few patches of vegetation, but every so often, there would be acres of land with plant life from cacti to oak trees. It wasn't until I reached the Grand Canyon that I experienced the most beautiful thing. It was the hottest part of the day, but as I moved closer to the cliff's edge of the Grand Canyon, a satisfying, cool breeze rushed in to greet us. As my family and I squinted to get a better look at what we came for, we were struck with an astonishing sight. The Earth parted in a gigantic gorge that both touched the sky and dug into the core. The setting was full of curiosity, aligned with mysterious caves overhangs. From one place, you could only see a third of it, making me anxious to see the rest. It was so massive however, that this would prove an impossible task for one day. This was a sight like no other. The sky had begun to match the Canyon by the time I realized how long we had been beholding it. This only glued us to the spot more firmly. There was not a sunset directly over the Canyon, but this did it justice in a way. The sun gave the spotlight to the event we came for. Just then, we began to spot animals coming out into the red sky. They had been hiding from the heat of the sun, and now roam free. As mysterious as it was, the canyon filled with life, from small squirrels to large deer. The Canyon was providing us a show with different scenes at every hour of the day. I was entertained as I watched the gorge experience changes as time passed, but I soon grew attached to the experience, and I began to realize that the show was going to end. I was going to miss being atop the Grand Canyon, but the experience had sunk in so well, that I would feel it for a while after the journey. The sun had set completely, and it was so dark, I had nearly fallen in the gorge itself trying to stand up. The curtain of fog closed around us, signifying the end of our trip. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience.
Word Count: 438
Native American Creation Story:
The Chicago River
There once was a wild beast that inhabited the lands long before Chicago was our home. It was a snake so large, that it could simply crush any trees in its path to find water. The only way for it to sustain itself was to drink entire lakes. Many tribes around these lands who tried to live peacefully would find their source of water depleted entirely, and discover that this snake was responsible. Soon, warriors from all around the continent would search for this animal and attempt to kill it. Most of them were crushed after trying to pierce its scales, but it was destined that there would be a man to take on this quest. In a small village far away from the land where the snake roamed, lived a mother and her son, Chicago. She noticed that, as a boy, he would commonly wander away from home, even for days. She would worry, but he would always return. One day, the mother asked him to retrieve some water for the soup she was going to prepare, and to return at supper. When he arrived, there was a large empty void where there used to be a freshwater lake. Just then, he knew that the legend of the beastly snake was real and responsible for the depletion of his villages source of water. At that moment, Chicago vowed to find it and kill it before it returned. He knew it would be back as soon as it rained to continue drinking from the lake, but he didn't want it anywhere near his village. The son returned home, gathered his spear and left without his mother noticing. He followed the trail of the snake until he heard the sound of its snores. It was sleeping, and it was perfect timing to carry out his plans. He wasn't foolish enough to try and pierce its scales like all others had, but crawled close to its mouth instead. When he was close enough, he yelled to wake the snake. The snake was startled and just as it opened its mouth to eat him, he crouched down and held the long spear straight up within his mouth. When it tried to close its mouth, the spear prevented it from doing so, and the son jumped into action. As Chicago dove into the snake's belly, he drew his dagger and pierced it from the inside. The water inside the snake flushed him out onto the new river that formed in the snake's tracks, and he was victorious. When he returned to the his village, he found his worried mother waiting for him. He had come back from his adventure, just as he always had. She was concerned that the village would not have enough water for the coming dry season, but he reassured her with the tale of the river created by the snake's tracks. In a matter of weeks, the village was thriving next to the river, and it was now named after the brave son, Chicago.
Weather Experience:
Snow
As I warily strolled outside, my thick jacket held its own against the morning's chilly breeze. When I started toward the train stop, I studied the overcast sky and noticed it's bizarre color. It filled me with apprehension, and just then, I knew what was coming. Bitter gusts of wind began to pierce my coat, but it was too late to go back and retrieve my scarf. The frigid winds made it difficult to breathe when I hid my nose and mouth in my jacket in an attempt to keep warm. My cheeks were beginning to go numb and my fingers stiffed from the cold, despite my thick gloves. I was so busy battling with the cold that I didn't notice the first snowflakes had begun to fall. It wasn't until I reached the top of the icy metal stairs to the subway platform that I realized the coming blizzard. As I hid from the freezing wind by the walls of the train stop, I took a careful look at my surroundings. The glistening snow gently followed the pattern of each gust of wind. Each snowflake was individual with its shape clearly defined. Everything that once presented itself, was now coated in bleach-white snow. It was an entirely new world full of wonder.
Story Responses:
Snowbound
Word Count: 223
Snowstorm
Snowstorm by Ralph Waldo Emerson contrasts Whittier's portrayal of the snowstorm in nature. He describes a powerful event, rather than beautiful, that is "announced by all the trumpets of the sky". Emerson is telling us that this snowstorm is big, and it's majestic. According to Emerson, a snowstorm is just as magnificent as a king with power and dominance. While this view harps on the significance of the snowy nature just as "Snowbound" and "To Build A Fire" does, the story is less about it's generosity and beauty, but more about its importance. Nature is not something that can be taken lightly, as the main character in "To Build A Fire" did. It is a force to be reckoned with, and it shows through Emerson's description of it.
Word Count: 128
To Build A Fire
Word Count: 221
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