my first 1.0 ever

A Reaction to "Dead Poet's Society" (Submitted April 27, 1999)

The appreciation of poetry is not measured by meter, rhyme, importance, or perfection. It is measured by the human soul - how it has been touched. We may live to work and pursue our dreams, but we live FOR poetry and all that it stands for - love, beauty, romance... life.

Poetry is alive. Poetry is not merely a text, a conception of the mind, but it is the fruits of life - the imagery of experiences that make us complete... to which... "what verse will ye add" (Mr. Keating)

Poetry becomes an open highway, an outlet available for expression. It allows the realization of the ability to verbalize what we think, what we know, what we feel, and what we long for... opening our eyes to see who we are and not just who we should be or who we are told to be.

In the movie, Mr. Keating encouraged students to see things in a different perspective, as the poets viewed life from their own so he wanted them to dare to have their own (perception of life). These boys were taught to think freely - for themselves. To live life seeing what is pure, good, and true, knowing that it is out there yet within their grasp, if only they would "seize the day." It is so enlightening, so beautiful a concept once applied to real life.

Reading from these dead poets - learning from their works permit their feelings and ideas and ideals to live on. Although tints of idealism have been known to cause its own disasters, I admire how this idealism presented is brought into the light of reality, "as there is time for daring so is there time for caution." Being in a world filled with the harsh realities of trials and pain, we are made to realize that we are still FREE - free to feel, to think, to be unique - to be ourselves. This ought to make us grateful for life despite the suffering - as we look forward to the silver lining behind every dark cloud, giving us strength for today, hope for tomorrow, endurance for the pain, courage for the hardships, and fulfillment in the end.

I watched this movie couple of times before, and even now it made me wonder how this teacher touched the lives of boys (nontheless) with the use of poetry (so anti-traditional-sex-role). It always moved me the way these students stood up for this man and how he, in turn, made such an impact in their lives. But only now, did i actually listen and focus on what he was teaching.

We ought to value this freedom, because taking Neil as an example; he was without freedom of expression - his pain and drudgery all locked up inside led him to decide to end his life prematurely. I think he would have died anyway, in the absence of self-expression - being unable to hope or to live his life the way he wanted to. He failed. How important it is to see... to stand, just as the others realized in the end.

not wanting

and so i found the time
and so i found the place
and so i found what was missing
or was i looking for something else?


was it serendipity
or was it destiny?
that when i walked away
you walked toward me?


and here we are
where are we?
who are we?
i have so many questions
is there no one to answer me?


i will sit
and i will be still
and i will be....
not wanting to be without you
away from me

but i can't stop
i can't stop thinking
what tomorrow will bring

and so i will be still
and await whatever befalls
my lost fate
i have yet to find
beyond the tattered walls
the walls of the present
the chains of the past
the limits of the future
will hold me at last


but still i have no answers
all i have is feelings
all i have is duties
all i have is fleeting
all i have is nothing
nothing
because i will be...
not wanting to be without you
away from me

for a flame thought no more

i met him once
he had a girl
he was sweet
and i think i had a crush on him.

we met again
he still has his girl
he's still sweet
and i think i still have a crush on him.

he called me beautiful
and he still calls me that
he still has his girl
hmmmm.... now what is that?

its funny
and its cute
but he has his girl
and i like her too

my favorite song from shrek 2

Accidentally in Love (by Counting Crows)


So she said what's the problem baby
What's the problem
I don't know
Well maybe I'm in love (love)
Think about it every time
I think about it
Can't stop thinking 'bout it
How much longer will it take to cure this
Just to cure it cause
I can't ignore it if it's love (love)


Makes me wanna turn around and face me
but I don't know nothing 'bout love
Come on, come on
Turn a little faster
Come on, come on
The world will follow after


Come on, come on
Cause everybody's after love
So I said I'm a snowball running
Running down into the spring that's coming all this love
Melting under blue skies
Belting out sunlight
Shimmering love


Well baby
I surrender
To the strawberry ice cream
Never ever enter all this love
Well I didn't mean to do it
But there's no escaping your love
These lines of lightning
Mean we're never alone,
Never alone, no, no


Come on, Come on
Move a little closer
Come on, Come on
I want to hear you whisper
Come on, Come on
Settle down inside my love


Come on, come on
Jump a little higher
Come on, come on
If you feel a little lighter
Come on, come on
We were once
Upon a time in love

which way

there is a way
there is a road
i see it
i know it
but can i go?


i know not where it leads
i know not how it ends
all i know i feel i have to go
but maybe its just a means to an end?


what should i do
who will i be
who will you be to me
when i take the road to away from thee


why should i think
why should i care
maybe along the way
i will find you there?


or maybe that is why
that is why i want to go
because you are there


though i see not
and i know not
i feel and i fear
that along the way
along the road
i will find you
but not keep you


but lose you along the way
just as i have lost myself