Dangerous Place by Perry Glasser

I actually picked this book because it seemed short and I did not have a lot of time left before the next SSU Writer's Series. I am glad that this is how I chose this particular book because it is one of the greatest works I have ever read. My attention was captured as soon as I read the first page of Dangerous Places by Perry Glasser. Glasser's rawness and attention to detail was like nothing I have ever read before. He made the reader feel like they were apart of his stories.

Dangerous Places is a book that composed of several short stories. Each of these stories are about ordinary people who find themselves facing disaster. Glasser takes you int the lives of each character. What their hardships may be and how they over come them. His stories can be heavy at times but at the end some way, somehow their problems are resolved. The endings don't end like the fairy tales, but they do give a sense of hope for individuals. A hope that although these characters are not real, we can truly relate to them in a certain sense. There is a hope that we can triumph over our disasters as well.

I think that Dangerous Places was such a great read is because it is broken up into different stories about different people. No two characters are alike. Each one faces their own problems and each resolution is different. Dangerous Places is unpredictable. Just when you think you know how the story will end, it completely changes and travels in a whole new direction. From beginning to end your attention is over taken by these stories. Once you start it is extremely difficult to stop.

What made the book even better was that the author, Perry Glasser, teaches right here at Salem State University. Looking at the author's picture, I had a feeling that I had seen him before. I could not put his face with a place so I let it be. During the Writer's Series I attended, he was of course there. To me, he looked very intimidating. As I watched him, he joked with his students and he never boasted or bragged about the great writer he truly is. When he presented he discussed his next writing that he has been working on for some quite some time now. He even read the first chapter. Let's just say I cannot wait for this book to be published because from what I heard from the first chapter, I cannot wait to hear more.

All of these stories can be understood by anyone, at any age (not children of course). Glasser pays attention to detail and captures the true feelings of each character. By the end of the short stories, you feel as though you know at least one character. You get a sense of who those people are, like you have known them for quite some time. When you reach the last page you are saddened that there are no more stories left. Glasser leaves you yearning for more. His raw and real tone makes the stories come alive. Dangerous Places should truly be read by all.

We Have.

What we have is rare, uncommon nowadays,

So in love as friends, lovers, partners.

What we have is real-

Not afraid to be our true selves, no secrets.

What we have is everything I need,

A real man who protects and love me for me.

What we have is fun, happy, natural,

Never a forced laugh, an unwanted kiss, an undesired touch.

What we have is scary-

Praying you never leave me.

What we have is happy-

It is a very powerful thing.

What we have is love,

A true, beautiful, everlasting love.

That is what we have.

Reading as Writers- 11/10

I really enjoyed reading This Must be the Place by Kate Racculia. I found it to be an easy read because of the way it flowed together. I really like stories that intertwine all the characters together and this book did just that. At one point, the main character Amy says something about feeling alone even though there are billions of people in the world. I thought this was very relatable for many people. I also liked the different view points within the piece. There was Amy's view, her husband's, as well as Mona's and Oneida's. It was an enjoyable read, one that I think many people can relate to.

I had mixed feelings during the second piece, Reduction by Joseph Salvatore. I feel as though most women can relate to one another because there is something we do not like about ourselves. However, I had a difficult time feeling anything towards the main character. It was a different read for me than the first.

Questions for the writers:
1. How did you come up with your stories? Was it just an idea or did it come from real life happenings?
2. How often do you write? Is there a certain time that you like to write?
3. Are you working on anything right now? If so, what are they about?

This Ring

I wear this ring of gold around my neck,
For now it is the closest thing to you.
Never wear gold but for you what the heck?
Turning into a real man, I always knew.

I miss you more than you could ever know.
You are growing up, making us so proud,
So brave, you have no idea, letting go.
At graduation, I'll be cheering so loud.

You are becoming stronger by the day,
Life for you will become so much better.
Keep following your orders and obey,
And I will keep to writing you letters.

I'm counting down the days we meet again,
For now little brother, continue to gain.

The Match That Changed Everything.

There they stood with hatred glowing in their eyes.
One boxer-never backing down, always ready to fight,
The other- lacked confidence, unable to defend herself.

The living room became a boxing ring.
One verbal jab after another.
Unable to pick a corner,
We coward away.

He threw the final blow and the bell sounded.
She was down for the count.
However, neither boxer won,
The two audience members did not cheer.
They were left speechless, their world had been turned upside down.

After that, they never attended another boxing match.
It was too painful to watch,
Too many painful memories surrounded them.
They would never be the same again.

What is the Meaning of Poetry?-Ars Poetica

Today a poem should be read while-
When you are still,
No thoughts to interrupt you,
In peace and harmony with oneself.

A poem should be painted in-
Your mind, your thoughts, your feelings.
Your desires, hopes, dreams.

A poem should talk about-
Love, controversy
Hate, fears
War, happiness
Desires, despair
What your actions say, but your mouth doesn't.

A poem should infiltrate-
Peace for others,
Safety, a place of acceptance.

A poem would've done something-
It would've made someone stronger,
Defend others,
Fight for what is right.

Some people know how to-
Hurt others,
Love others,
Face their fears,
Feel confident,
Be a leader.

My words-
Are simple like the sky is blue, the grass is green.
Without much thinking-
You get it.

Once-
When children played with their cell phones, Ipods, and video games,
People didn't have time to stop to think about life,
When they only cared about money,
When we fought for power,
Poetry wasn't poetry.

It was just another way,
To escape the harsh world we all seem to live in.

Six Word Story

"I've fallen in love with you"

I heard the beats, I listened to the notes, and I fell in love with you. My foot started thumping and my fingers started tapping. I felt free, even invicible as I danced by myself. I listened to every word. I skipped diner just so I could have that few extra minutes to cherish every syllable, every rythym, every verse. It allowed me to relive the good times and forget the bad. I went to bed that night unable to sleep. I was too excited. I could not wait for the next time I could listen again. I will never forget the first time I fell in love with music.

Writer's Post 10/3

This week I chose to talk about the poem "I Give You Back" by Joy Harjo. I read each poem and short story this week, but Harjo's writing left an impression on me. As you read this poem it seems that the author is talking about letting go of fear, but fear of what. It appears that a person's life as been turned upside down by outsiders invading her home. This poem goes deeper than leaving a fear. It talks about letting go of anything that is holding you back. You become one with your fear and you need to just let it go so that you can go on with your own life. One line in the poems states "I release you. you were my beloved and hated twin, but now, I don't know you as myself." This shows that when you hold onto such an intense fear it really turns you into a person you don't necessarily want to be. It can ruin your life.

"I Give You Back" is a dark piece. Harjo talks about soldiers burning her home down, killing her children, raping her siblings, and starving her people. It is not an easy thing to talk about and share with others. This can positively and negatively affect her work. For some, this kind of writing is too gruesome to read. It is so depressing and upsetting. However, you really get deep into someone else's life and their experiences through a poem like this. You see how they have suffered from their fears and how they overcome it to live their life. It can be really inspirational to write about something that is so personal to another person.

I only hope that I can write something inspirational to another person. I hope that I will feel comfortable to talk about something so personal to me. As I continue to write I hope that one day I hold less and less back. I want to express my deepest feelings through writing. If I get to that point eventually, I will feel accomplished.

Love is an untamed thing. It is scary to know that you can fall in and out of it so quickly. It is wild. It can breathe new life into you, make your feel new again. It can make you feel whole. It pulls you out of your darkest days. True love is always unforgiving. You grow, you learn, and you cherish. With love, you become a new and better person.

Love gives you a journey like no other. You meet your best friend, gain another family, and friends. You may change your life plans for the one you love. Move to the suburbs instead of the city. Have children instead of staying childless. With time, your love for your soul mate only grows more and more. You go through new experiences, some good and some bad but it's all apart of life It's natural to fight and argue as long as you don't go to be angry. Love is like no other. True love can be hard to come by, but when you meet it, hold onto it and don't ever let go.

Love is two old people, holding hands, still smiling at one another. It's watching your children grow up and starting their own life together. It's selling that big house to move into something more suitable for a pair. It's always being true to your partner. Love is always saying those three words to the person who makes you that much better. 

Unbreakable

I was really inspired going to the gallery and looking through each and every photograph. I chose one photograph of a small American flag blowing in the wind. It was black and white. The flag looked tattered and worn much like the United States right now.

Tattered, fragile, and frayed,
Like the stars and the stripes we stand together as one.
Tattered, fragile, and frayed,
We do not break, we continue to soar.
Tattered, fragile, and frayed,
We are one nation, under God, indivisible.
Tattered, fragile, and frayed,
We find strength, together.
Tattered, fragile, and frayed,
We are unbreakable.

Weekly Readin as Writers

This week I chose to write about Anne Sexton's "The Starry Night." When you first read the poem, it is clear that the author is talking about looking up at the stars and how she really enjoys it. However, if you look deeper within the poem, I think the author is talking about escaping from the chaos of real life to something that is relaxing and calming. Finding something that makes you relax can make your happy. That is what I took from the deeper meaning of this poem.

Within this poem, Sexton uses repetition a little bit as well as personification and simile. Each verse ends with "this is how I want to die." "Even the moon bulges in its orange irons to push children, like a god, from its eye," here she uses personification as well as a simile. This poem gives the reader a calming sense. This works positively for the author. It's almost as if you can relax while reading this poem and send your cares away for a little while. I don't see a lot of negative about this poem. It's really a nice piece that give a serene image.

With my own writings, I hope that I become more comfortable with writing in general. But I truly hope that I will feel daring enough to add similes, metaphors, repetition, and personification. It only makes your writing more interesting and I think adds a whole new dimension to it. I want to try new and different things each time I write something new. I think that can only help make me a stronger and better writer.

Boy, Does It Fly!

After reading "Metaphors" by Sylvia Plath, I decided to take a chance and try writing a riddle on my own. As I wrote the riddle, I realized that these words, to me, show how the solution is so precious. The piece may not have become the greatest riddle but I hope it is interesting to someone. I like to think that I kept this piece short and to the point. I hope you all enjoy reading it.


Good, bad, boring, fun,
Sometimes it flies, sometimes it drags.
Curse it, cherish it
It won't stop, it can't stop.
Crow's feet and laugh lines slowly invade your face.
It can't be controlled although you wish it could.
Hand in hand with mother nature,
There is no going back now.

The answer to this riddle is time. Time to me goes by too fast now a days. We can't control it and we can't turn it back. It is something that should be enjoyed as much as possible.

Writer's Post-Metaphor by Sylvia Plath

I have never been one to be good at figuring out riddles but I decided to give this poem a shot anyways. "Metaphors" written by Sylvia Plath is a poem filled with nothing but riddles. As I read each line, I only became more confused until I read the explanation. Plath's poem is about a pregnant woman. It makes complete sense knowing the solution. I then read the poem multiple times, each time understanding more and more.

On the surface, you can see that it is about a pregnant woman but as you continue to read and re-read the poem, you truly see a pregnant woman's feeling while she is pregnant. The lines "this loaf's big with its yeasty rising" and "I'm a means, a stage, a cow in calf" show that the woman is growing. She is becoming larger due to the fact that there is a child growing inside of her. It was humurous to hear "this loaf's big with its yeasty rising" put that way because usually you hear it as "the bun in the oven". The line "boarded the train there's not getting off" tells us that the woman is going to have this child. Nothing will change her mind and it is too late to turn back. "I'm a riddle in nine syllables" makes complete sense once you know this piece is about a pregnant woman. You are pregnant for approximately nine months, a riddle during this time because your body is constantly changing during these nine months. This creative writing piece was interesting and gave a better definition of how a woman feels while pregant as well as how they change physically and mentally.

The way this author put her words were moving yet mysterious. It was difficult to understand what she was talking about at first. At first this may turn a reader away but knowing the answer to this riddle turns the piece into something creative, innovative. Riddles are not for everyone, and that can effect the poem negatively. But seeing how great this reading really is can make is a positive read!

I have noticed that when I write, I become too literal. I am unable to word phrases creatively or in a different way than I would usually say. Reading Sylvia Plath's "Metaphors" I want to work harder to become more creative with my pieces. I may not be able to write as creatively as Plath but I do want to be able to move someone with one of my writings. I want someone to have a "wow!" moment while going through my pieces. I have learned to look over my work over and over again to make it more creative, more interesting. I see through Plath's work that it will take some time to create a moving writing, and to write what interests you. I only hope to become a better writer the more that I work on different pieces.

The Writers' Series

Uninterested would be one word to describe how I was feeling before entering into the Writers' Series this past Monday. Refreshed and content would be the words to describe how I was feeling as I left the Writers' Series. I found each reading to be interesting, creative, and powerful. The way the words flew out of the presenters' mouths moved me. I loved listening to their tones and their emotions with each story. My favorite piece, by far, was about Charlie's Angels. At first, I had no idea where the story was heading, but by the end I felt empowered in a way, to be a woman. The author was right, those three women became a symbol of female strength. The Angels really did set a tone that women are powerful and they can do anything they want. The iconic stance is still popular to this day, over 30 years later.

I also enjoyed Professor Ramos's reading. It was short yet funny and it really stuck with me. I hope that through creative writing, I can find a way to get my story out, to let others know who I am. Like her poem, I want the words to leave the back of my throat, and not get stuck in my teeth, I want others to hear them. This poem sent a strong message to me and hopefully it will encourage me to write my thoughts as much as possible.

It was a great way to become familiar with the many faces of the English Department, as well as the Psychology and Theatre Departments.  I am no public speaker but seeing these faculty members stand in front of a bunch of strangers gave me a little more courage that I can speak in front of others as well. I truly admired what each teacher read. The Writers' Series was short and to the point. Messages were clear and I'm sure most students took the words of at least one story and held onto them. It was a great way to start the creative writing course off. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And the cookies were a delicious addition.

Introducing Me

An apple tree blooms this fall, but in the meantime, I
Move boxes, big tvs, beds, and a broom around my room
As I run, lost and confused trying to find my way home.
Naturally confident in my over sized sweatpants with a
Deep fear of my unknown future.
And when times get tough, I'll be winding down with a bowl of grapes. I am
Dark purple like sunset sky, relaxed.
"Oh em gee!"
Babbling becomes too natural for me in uncomfortable situations and my
Blazing temper gets the best of me when I'm pushed to the limit, that's when
I need my IPod, my shoes, my car, my friends, and my family to keep me afloat. My
Need for more let's me know
Some new beginning starts and life is re-newed.