See you soon.

eternity10302 Comments

“I will miss you so much. Take care and love ya.”

Here I am, sitting on this particular rock, the place we used to share together, and enjoying the last piece of sunshine of the day. I cried.

Stepped into my room – 105, my brand new junior life started. I smelled your lotion, and then laughed as we used to do. Then I played that song which we used to sing along to together. I miss you, my roommate.

“Good morning everyone!” “Good morning…!” No more exaggerated but joyful laughter as the beginning of a canty day. I miss you, my sweet Serry.

“I want you, you and you to run four miles while everybody else go for Backgate please.” I joined crosscountry team this year, but you left. We miss you, our best runner Reika.

“What’s for breakfast today?” “Your favorite Waffle!” I’ve been used to sitting here, the seat next to you, but not you anymore. No one will get the meal for me and then wait with a tender smile before I get there. I miss you, my superman.

The things are still there, but men are no more the same ones. The days we spent together are only for once, however, even though we try to hold it as tightly as we can. Memories will never vanish.

Win a few, lose a few. That’s life.

“I hope this gives you power, bravery, and warmness. And I’ll see you soon.”

Here I am, running through this particular forest, the place we used to strive together, and greeting the first streak of amber moonlight. I smiled.

Yes, I’ll see you soon.

“Ribbit”

frog31 Comment

rthhht

A tadpole swims around in a pond.

It wonders where its mother has gone.

Eventually the tadpole forgets.

The tadpole grows legs and begins to kick.

The tail stops growing and gets very short.

The tadpole tastes air and pines for more.

Soon enough the tadpoles arms are there.

Where they will take her she knows not where.

The tail is now but a nub.

The gills now seem like a dud.

She climbs onto land without gills

And begins to hop into the hills.

She has eggs and lays them in the pond.

They will wonder where their mother has gone.

ghth

Lover

theycallmedame1 Comment

If all you need is love
Then what is oxygen
And air?

What is food
And shelter
And safety?

What is security
And education
And support?

You do not need love
But crave it
And want it

But maybe that’s what necessity is.

Old Hands

displacedlocal3 Comments

His old hands are ready. He lets out a sigh and reaches for his paintbrush. For him, painting has evolved from a hobby into an obsession.

His weathered fingers clutch the brush carefully, examining the shape and age. He views his subject. His grip tightens as he combines colors into the shades he desires.

His first stroke comes with a splash of a deep blue. The brush has become an extension of himself. He takes another stroke, slowly mixing in white paint until his deep blue has become as pale as the midday sky.

The cool air blows across his face. A face that has been weathered by a life lived and time passed. Each crevice in his skin is a symbol of his experiences.

The sand brushes against his legs, slowly aging the skin. Yet his painting continues, never ceasing.

His arthritic joints have become painful once again. He winces at every movement. His painting is near completion mere strokes away from finality.

His hands no longer obey him and he must begin to slow.

With a fine needle he signs his name and titles the piece.

His painting complete.

    “beach” by Stephen Giannetti, Paint on canvas

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

kirbyfullyloaded1 Comment

“I sat within a valley green

I sat with me my true love

My sad heart strove to choose between

The old love and the new love

The old for her, the new that made

Me think on Ireland dearly

While soft the wind blew down the glade

And shook the golden barley 

‘Twas hard the woeful words to frame

To break the ties that bound us

But harder still to bear the weight

Of foreign chains around us

And so I said, “The mountain glen

I’ll seek at morning early,

And join the brave United Men

While soft winds shake the barley.”

While sad I kissed away her tears

My fond arms ‘round her flinging

The foeman’s shot burst on our ears

From out the wildwood ringing

A bullet pierced my true love’s side

In life’s young spring so early

And on my breast in blood she died

While soft winds shook the barley

I bore her to some mountain stream

And many the summer’s blossom

I placed with branches soft and green

About her gore-stained bosom

I wept and kissed her clay-cold corpse

Then rushed o’er vale and valley

My vengeance on the foe to wreak

While soft wind shook the barley

But blood for blood without remorse

I’ve taken at Oulart Hollow

And laid my true love’s clay-cold corpse

Where I full soon may follow

As ‘round her grave I wander drear

Noon, night and morning early

With breaking heart when e’er I hear

The wind that shakes the barley“

–Robert Dwyer Joyce, “The Wind That Shakes the Barley.”

This poem was written about the 1798 Irish Rebellion, a conflict opposing British rule in Ireland.

It is told from the perspective of a young Irish rebel, torn between his lover and his desire to fight for his country.Read More »

An Amazing Trio

moustachulous2 Comments

Up until eight years ago, I was the younger sibling in my family. I had my brother up until then, who is two years older than me. When my mom told me that I was going to have a little sister, I was ecstatic. I always thought of my brother as being a meanie, so I was hoping that with some luck, Hope, my little sister, would be a great addition to the family. Turns out she is quite the trouble maker.

Before I had my little sister around, I was stuck with my big brother, Cole. Cole and I have never seen eye to eye. He was the annoying ten year-old bothersome brother that I think most sisters get stuck with. Anyways, Cole probably didn’t like me very much when I was younger. It would explain why he always smashed my Lego houses after I was done building them. Or maybe he just wanted his Legos back. The world will never know. I think Cole and I get along much better now that we are older. We still of course keep on calling each other names. I don’t think that is ever going to change.

Oh Hope. Where to begin with Hope? My little eight year-old sister who thinks that she is the boss of me. She was the sweetest thing alive until the age of two. I knew she would be trouble when she broke my nose with a flashlight.  I got to give her credit for having such strength at the age of two. Somedays, I wish I could put her in a soundproof bubble though. Other days, she is the cutest thing alive. It mostly depends if I’m willing to play with her or if she has to jump on me to get my attention.

The three of us are pretty awesome together. At times, we want to kill each other, but that’s siblings for you. No matter how much you hate them that day, they are the best family you got. I love my brother and sister (most days) and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Americans stop blaming Islam

frog3Leave a comment

erefg
Americans are not known for being culturally sensitive or even having the slightest bit of knowledge about the world outside of America. This can be seen whenever the media begins focusing on Muslim Extremists. Since 911 Americans (in general) have had a backward view of all Muslims. This majority believes (incorrectly) that all Muslims are extremist and that their goal is to destroy western civilization.

The media of course does not help Americans get past their arrogant ways, this can be seen in the violence that has occurred at American embassies in the Middle East. In the wake of the destruction of the US Consulate in Libya wherefour Americans where killed, the US has been shutting down embassy’s in other Islamic countries. In Syria the American embassy has been closed and all non-essential personnel (we can assume the essential personnel are soldiers and spies) have been recalled back to America. Other embassies in these “danger” zones are sure to follow suit. There has already been reports of the US Embassy in Lebanon destroying classified documents in case of a breach.
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Not only have these events attacks damaged Americans perception of Muslims but the US leaving these countries only lengthens the road to understanding and peace.

Backpacking Excursion

Daphne Psaledakis1 Comment

I spent my eighth grade year at the Aspen Middle School, which is not surprisingly in Aspen Colorado. In all honesty, Aspen is not my favorite place. I love warm weather and going to the beach all year long, instead of wearing three different jackets to school in the morning and being called a marshmallow.

But going into eighth grade was especially daunting. We all knew that the second week of school we would be leaving on a week long backpacking trip, where we would hike some thirty miles in three or four days and arrive at a small town called Marble.

The mountains in Aspen

Let me just tell you that we had not been thrown into something we weren’t prepared for. In seventh grade the ODE trip is a week spent on the Colorado River rafting. In sixth grade the students go on a hut trip, and in fifth they spend a week camping in Moab, Utah.Read More »

NFL week 2 recap-A reflection on a year ago

backinphillyLeave a comment

This time last year, the Eagles were 1-1, after beating the Rams in their first week and losing to the Falcons a week later. People were beginning to question just how good the “Dream Team” was. This year, we have a different situation. The Eagles BARELY stole a win in week 1 by beating the Browns 17-16. This week, they had to deal with the Ravens, and the Eagles needed to step it up in order to beat the Ravens. Turnovers were once again an issue, as Michael Vick threw two interceptions (only one was his fault, the other was a tipped pass that should have been caught).

Before I continue about the Ravens-Eagles game, I want to point out my rational behind stating that Vick is only accountable for a certain number of interceptions. When the ball leaves his hand, if it hits his receiver first, I expect it to be either caught or fall incomplete. But if the receiver has good enough contact with the ball, the interception should not be on Vick. My one exception is the fact that Vick throws with such an extreme amount of velocity. It must be hard catching that ball.

Anyway back to the game. The Eagles were dropping like flies. Jeremy Maclin, Jason Kelce and King Dunlap all dealt with injuries. Maclin aggravated his hip pointer from week 1, and Kelce is likely lost for season with a torn MCL and partially torn ACL. Dunlap (who I have no sympathy for) apparently strained his hamstring. Quite frankly, I could care less about King Dunlap. Kelce and Mac are tough losses.

At halftime, 17-7 Ravens. The air was taken out of the stadium and spirits suffered.

That is…until DeMeco Ryans intercepted Joe Flacco.

A turnover can go a long way, and this time, it went for a touchdown. The Eagles were rallying.

We go inside the two minute warning. Eagles down 23-17. They need a touchdown to take the lead. They’re close to midfield, and Michael Vick showed why he’s an elite quarterback.

He chucks the ball down the field to tight end Clay Harbor (who caught the winning touchdown pass a week before in Cleveland) and gets them down inside the Ravens five yard line.

1st and goal the Eagles rush from the 3 yard line to the 1.

2nd and goal, the Eagles give everyone a heart attack by sending Vick on a pass play. He was being rushed by star defensive end Haloti Ngata, and almost fumbled the ball. However, he was able to throw it away.

3rd and goal, the prayers were answered. Vick decided to run through everyone into the end zone.

Only one problem remained. The Eagles, now up 24-23, needed to hold the Ravens in check with just less then 2 minutes remaining. A lot can happen in 2 minutes.

1:48 left in the game, Ravens at their own 21. Anyone that has followed the NFL like I have can remember last season. When it came down to close games, the Eagles defense failed to hold onto the lead, and usually cost the team the game.

Not today.

Today, Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Brandon Boykin, Mychael Kendricks, Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Derek Landri, Fletcher Cox, and DEMECO RYANS shut down the Ravens.

It wasn’t pretty however.

On 3rd down, Nnamdi played an incredible dose of coverage to keep the ball away from Ed Dickson of the Ravens. It looked completely legal, and yet was called illegal contact. That gave the Ravens a fresh set of downs. But in the end, it wouldn’t matter. The defense refused to budge. They forced the Ravens into a 4th down and 2 yards to go situation, and forced Flacco to overthrow star running back Ray Rice.

The stadium has never been louder. I’ve been to a lot of Eagles game, and I can’t remember one being much louder than that.

Now let’s break down one very funny play. Enter BRENT CELEK!

The tight end accounted for more than 150 yards of total offense, and capped off his day with a hurdle over All-Pro and future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed.

Leap Frog!!

Coaches always teach players to stay low when engaging a tackle. They also tell you to keep your head up.

Ed Reed simply whiffed. But man was it funny!

The Eagles next week travel to Arizona, where they will take on a Cardinals team fresh off an upset over the New England Patriots. The Cardinals have showcased a relatively strong defense in the first two weeks, and the Eagles may have their work cut out for them. These two squads played against each other last season, and the Eagles fell in the minute.

There are two things that I’m very excited about going into this matchup.

Number one is seeing if Juan Castillo uses Nnamdi correctly this year against Larry Fitzgerald. If they stay 1-on-1 all day, that’s gunna be a very interesting duel.

Number two is that last year, the Cardinals used John Skelton as their quarterback.

This year, they may be forced to use Kevin Kolb, the former Eagle.

Last year, the Eagles traded Kolb to Arizona for Cromartie and a 2nd round pick that turned out to be Mychael Kendricks. Needless to say, the Eagles ended up winning that trade.

Maybe Babin and Cole can break Kolb.

Retainment

eternity10304 Comments

Retainment

But she hesitated
She sighed.

When callous sap absorbs
the last wisp of air
He knew it was the time.

Wind flicked his body
He closed his rind tardily
as the first time, also the last.

He held her tightly
with the fringe of his branch
She looked upon
as the first time, but the last.

They clearly remembered
last splendid spring
with the excitement of first meet

He held her tighter tighter
She left
carried with the breeze
with his
Retainment.

Winter peacefully arrived.

She hesitated
But she sighed.