I believe...

that everything happens for a reason

in God

Kobe Bryant will be the greatest basketball player ever

Nelson, My Dog by Gary Soto

Like the cat he scratches the flea camping in fur. Unlike the cat he delights in water up to his ears. He frolics. He catches a crooked stick –   On his back he naps with legs straight up in the air. Nelson shudders awake. He responds to love From head to tail. In happiness His front legs march in place And his back legs spark when they push off. On a leash he knows his geography. For your sake he looks both ways before crossing, He sniffs at the sight of a poodle trimmed like a hedge, And he trots the street with you second in command. In the park, he ponders a squirrel attached to a tree And he shovels a paper cup on his nose. He sweeps after himself with his tail, And there is no hand that doesn't deserve a lick. Note this now, my friends: Nelson can account the heritage of heroic dogs: One, canines lead the blind, Two, they enter fire to rescue the child and the child's toy, Three, they swim for the drowning, Four, they spring at the thief, Five, they paddle ponds for the ball that got away, Six, for the elderly they walk side by side to the very end, Seven, they search for bones but stop when called, Eight, they bring mud to all parties, Nine, they poke among the ruins of a burnt house, Ten, they forgive what you dish out on a plate.  Nelson is a companion, this much we know, And if he were a movie star, he would do his own stunts –   O, how he would fly, climb the pant legs of a scoundrel And stand tall rafting on white-water rivers! He has befriended the kingdom of animals: He once ran with wolves but admittedly not very far, He stepped two paces into a cave and peeked at the bear, He sheltered a kitten, He righted the turtle pedaling its stumps on its back, Under the wheeling stars he caravanned with the mule, He steered sheep over a hill,  He wisely let the skunk pass, He growled at the long-bearded miser, He joined ducks quacking with laughter, Once he leaped at a pheasant but later whined from guilt.  Nelson's black nose is a compass in the wilds. He knows nature. He has spied spires of summer smoke, He circled cold campfires, He howled at a gopher and scratched at the moon, He doctored his wounds with his tongue, He has pawed a star of blood left in snow. He regards the fireplace, the embers like blinking cats, This too we know about Nelson. True, he is sometimes tied to parking meters And sometimes wears the cone of shame from the vet's office. But again, he is happiness. He presents his belly for a friendly scratch. If you call him, he will drop his tennis ball, Look up, and come running, This muddy friend for life. When you bring your nose To his nose for something like a kiss, You can find yourself in his eyes.

I selected this poem because I enjoy dogs. The language is also very good and it was well written. I can't have a dog because my mom is allergic. I really would enjoy a dog. This poem shows all the upside to having dogs.

"It is difficult to get the news from poetry, yet men die miserably everyday for the lack of what is found there." -William Carlos Williams

This quote talks about the fact that people don't understand what is in poetry. Poetry is a way to express the truths about life. Many people do not see the messages and don't really understand the poetry. I agree with William Carlos Williams people spend so much time looking for the truths in poems. He makes a good point.

What is Success?

As I look back on my life I can say that it is a success. A successful life requires that I am happy and enjoy where I am. Unlike many of us I enjoy going to work but I really enjoy coming home to my family. Also I have done almost everything that I wanted to do. I didn't let nerves or fear of the outcome stand in the way of doing something I wanted. No one can tell me it can't be done. In addition I have also made life better for others. Instead of just caring about me I have the reward of helping those in need. Whether it is donating money, food, clothes, or even blood I understand that not everyone has it as good as I do. My life has been filled with great memories and great people that I will remember forever. Yes my life has been a success.

Describe This

It sits on the desk peering out into space with its beady little eyes. Like a king, a crown sits upon its head. On important days it will travel to another desk and still be staring into nothing, wondering what kind of life is this. The only real companion it has is a bottle. The blank expression on the face tells the story of wanting more. It currently has a bright color but overtime it will get dirty and faded. It knows it is on borrowed time and that when it loses its color it will be easily replaced and a new one will come and sit on the desk and staring. This cycle will never end.

Today is the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. It is historical because he is the first African-American to win this office. This is a huge step forward in our country considering some forty years ago this was unheard of. At that time blacks and whites were segregated and the thought of an African-American president would have been laughed at. This is also a historic day considering yesterday was Martin Luther King Day. I understand the importance of today but I feel it is overhyped. Yes this is historic but he hasn't done anything yet. He is being treated like a god even though he has yet to accomplish anything. He currently is being considered one of the best presidents ever That is an outrage because he could fail or he could triumph and deserve the hype he is getting. The only way to find out is by watching him for the next four years. That will determine if he is the great savior that everyone is making him out to be. 

There was a time not that long ago where I was forced to keep a secret. The secret was one that I found difficult not to tell anyone like my parents. It forced me to be in a state of sadness and I wasn't the same person that I usually am. It had a great effect on my everyday life. Eventually the secret was revealed and a great weight was lifted off my chest. I do not enjoy keeping great, big, bad secrets in my conscience.