Loosveldt’s Musings
Well, it’s the second week of March and it definately feels like spring. The weather is warm, nature’s colors are starting to awaken with the longer days. It won’t be long before we’re awash in color. Spring, my favorite time of year. I hope everyone had a restful, relaxing weekend and you’re rejuvenated. The topic of the week is brought to us by Cole. He thinks students should be allowed to chew gum in class. He says it helps him concentrate. Chewing gum in class didn’t use to bug me; however, over the years, after finding gum on my classroom carpet, under the desk and in the sink, I’ve come to the relalization that too many students are irresponsible when it comes to chewing gum and depositing it in the garabage when the gum has lost its flavor. So, I’m against gum in school. I advocate using Listerine PocketPacks, they give your mouth a burst of cool mint flavor.
I’d like your feed back on a poem I wrote this weekend after watching some quail frolic in my yard. I love quail and hope my poem paints this picture for the reader in the canavas of his/her mind. Enjoy!
Sweat cleaves to my shirt
The early morning breeze cools my flush face
I sprint the last 20 yards to my house
I FREEZE
wanting not to disturb the scene that unfolds before my eyes
Quail Skittish weary of the slightest intrusion on their fragile existence
Heads bopping like a jack-in-the-box
Strutandpeckstrutandpeck on the bird seed
Laid out the night before to coax their presence
The male always the gentleman, wearily stands guard as his mate feeds
I reluctantly slip inside the house thankful for this sight of civility and love
March 12th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Well about the gum chewing thing, I think as long as we don’t abuse the privieige we should get to chew gum. What is the big deal? I mean gum is not that bad. Girls wear shirts that are more distracting then someone chewing gum. I don’t think we should be able to blow bubbles during class but I do think we should be able to chew it. It actually helps me concentrate, relax, and relieve stress. It is one of those few “perfect” things that us kids can afford ourselves. So why take it away? Oh yeah, two thumbs up for your poem Mr. Loosveldt it was awsome!
March 12th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Personally, I think we should be able to chew gum in class. I think it’s so dumb how its even a rule becuase I’m sure that if it was announced that we are allowed to chew gum, then there would be no more gum on the tables or desks or sink or ANYWHERE!!!The only reason that people stick their gum anywhere besides the garbage is because they are scared that they might get in trouble. And they think, “ohh, daangitt!! Someone just got caught with gum and I don’t want to get caught so I better stick it somewhere!!”. That’s when the you stick it under the chair or desk or go over to the drinking fountain to ‘get a drink’ and spit it in there. That’s true. I know. I’ve done it. (NOT IN MR. LOOSVELDT’s CLASS THOUGH)
About the whole Listerine thing, if Mr. Loosveldt would supply the Listerines to everyone, that could be another solution of NO gum chewing becuase I know that no one would chew gum and suck on a Listerine at the same time. So just give a Listerine to people every day and I’m sure we will forget that there is such a thing as gum.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I think gum should be allowed!
March 12th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I don’t think we should be allowed to have gum either Mr.L, because all it is, is a sticky mess. Sure it tastes good, but so does chocolate, and any other food. (in most cases) and today someone got caught chewing gum in classtwice in under 2 minutes! It’s everywhere, and someone has to clean up after the bozo who drops it on the floor, and puts it under the desk. I personally don’t find gum all that exciting.
March 12th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
This is a really good poem. I think it shows us that we can learn a lot from the quails. In our world now a days it is every man for himself. But in the older days (when knights were around) chivalry existed and the goal was to always save the damsel in distress. Even though us humans have changed, it is obvious the quails have not. They male guards the female as she eats her food. Could you imagine if people were like that now-a-days? The husband always putting his wife and kids before himself. We just don’t have that any more and it is a shame.
March 12th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I have mixed feelings about this gum issue. It has been proven that chewing gum helps decrease nervousness in students but some students just aren’t responsible enough to chew gum and take care of it when they are done. I know in some colleges you are allowed to chew gum and drink pop. This is because college students are responsible enough to NOT smack their gum and to NOT slurp the pops. I guess some middle schoolers just aren’t responsible enough to chew gum. Which brings me to my next point. We have been talking about stereotyping people, well wouldn’t saying that “all middle schoolers can’t chew gum because they aren’t responsible enough” be a stereotype. I justed wanted to throw that out their. I myself, think it is.
March 13th, 2007 at 8:20 am
This poem is super confusing, and I was wondering what you guys thought.
Wow, I’m sick of doubt
Live in the light of certain
South
Cruel bindings.
The servants have the power
Dog-men and their mean women
Pulling poor blankets over
Our sailors
I’m sick of dour faces
Staring at me from the TV
Tower, I want roses in
My garden bower; dig?
Royal babies, rubies
Must now replace aborted
Strangers in the mud
These mutants, blood-meal
For the plant that’s plowed.
They are waiting to take us into
The severed garden
Do you know how pale and wanton thrillful
Comes death on a strange hour
Unannounced, unplanned for
Like a scary over-friendly guest you’ve
Brought to bed
Death makes angels of us all
And gives us wings
Where we had shoulders
Smooth as ravens
Claws
No more money, no more fancy dress
This other kingdom seems by far the best
Until its other jaw reveals incest
And lose obedience to a vegetable law.
I will not go
Prefer a feast of friends
To the giant family.
March 13th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Hello well I think that gum is a good stress reliever and it leaves a long lasting tase in yor mouth, unlike Listorine pocket stuff. Although with gum it is possible to bite your lip, tongue or cheek(i know i do). But nothing fills me with complete disgusted-ness then feeling under the desk and feeling a piece of hard cold slimy piece of gum. So I’m for gum until it gets to where it doesn’t go.
Oh, Loosveldt, I like your poem. When I read it I could see the imagary. What you could do is explain on what you feel as you are watching this sight.
March 13th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I think gum should be allowed in school. I mean as long as the kids know that they should throw it in the garbage after they’re done with it. I know how it feels to reach under a desk and feel a fresh piece of gum, and yeah, it grossed me out a lot. So just get rid of the gum in the garbage and let us chew happily.
March 13th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Scars For Life
A poem written by: Someone
Don’t touch me
Don’t look a t me
Don’t even try and say you’re sorry
You’re not
I know it
You said you loved me? Is that what I heard?
So what
That doesn’t mean anything
Well not anymore, it doesn’t
I care, sure. So what though?
Doesn’t mean I wanna hear it
You hurt me and left emotional scars on me for life!
Move away
Close your eyes
Soon enough it’ll all be lies
They’ll scar and it’ll hurt
But really it’s better this way
March 14th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Hey, i got a poem Mr. L!
The monster under my bed
The monster under my bed,
GAve me quite a suprise,
He blew fire out of his nose,
and gawked with big beady eyes,
He had a spike on the stub of his tail,
that he swung and lugged around,
He had wings as big as a city,
And a belly that touched the ground,
I tell you this big greedy mongrel,
must have been fifty feet tall,
Why, he had a smile caked with dirt,
And i called him a nasty name,
And then he said that his feelings were hut,
When i asked what was wrong,
He just happened to say,
Last night as you were sleeping you dropped me,
But i’m OK,
It was then i realized that,
There wasn’t a monster there,
It only was my stuffed animal,
Claire the dragon-bear.
March 16th, 2007 at 8:24 am
This a poem that I wrote.
It is untitled.
I walk among a city of buildings
And I see coldness
The sun’s warmth is cancelled out
By the shiny steel
The hard ground creates blisters on the feet
Of those who walk it day by day
The hatred of the residents is absorbed
By the clear windows
There is no order here,
No law by whihc the citizens live
The only feelings are desolation
And loss.
But, I walk among a city of trees
And I see life
The ground is soft from the sunlight it absorbs
The foliage rusltes
Speaking a language not understood by man
Every species has it’s place
And noone dares to break away from this unspoken rule.
There is a peace here that man cannot penetrate or copy.
Who is the smarter being now?
March 16th, 2007 at 9:13 am
I think we should be able to chew gum in class if we chew it responsibly. I aslo think that we should be able to chew gum in class. Did I just repeat myslef? Oh well, I think we should be able to chew gum in class! That would be so cool.
March 16th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I want you to tell me what you think of this poem. =)
Please, Dad
by Michael Anderson
As soft winds sweep away the days
I look back on life through a haze.
Remember playgrounds, parks and friends,
In childlike gaze that never ends.
The laughter in a game of catch,
Shall memory ever attach…
To innocence in youthful eyes,
Catching the ball to Dad’s surprise.
I recall my first bike, first wreck,
Who picked me up, said, “What the heck?”
Convinced me to give one more try,
While, knees skinned, I forgot to cry.
Just the joy knowing he was there,
Making him proud my only care.
There was nothing I couldn’t do,
My heart held fast that to be true.
Though teenage years were kind of rough,
I sure wasn’t too big or tough.
You taught me to defend what’s right
And never back down from a fight.
So I learned the hard way to stand,
Still, with each lump, I found your hand.
Drawing from you an inner strength,
And stubborn pride of equal length.
But there the line of fate was drawn,
As though I blinked and you were gone.
I found myself facing the sun,
Not man, not boy, fatherless, one.
Eyes blinded by a void inside,
I could not live that you had died.
Alas finding it to be true,
I could do nothing without you.
Please, Dad, today just hear my call,
I’m sorry that I dropped the ball.
My life is wrecked, my knees are skinned,
My emotions undisciplined.
I can’t get up although I try,
Please don’t be upset if I cry.
Though I can’t fight what I can’t see,
Please, Dad, say you’re still proud of me.
March 18th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I think that gum should be allowed. So many people already chew gum in school and they try to hide it and I haven’t seen gum on the ground
March 18th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
when the guest author came to our classroom last thursday. She read the poem about “the green man”. well her poem got me thinking. so i wrote a poem.
A Drop of Water
I’m walking through a forest, lush and green
So full of life.
Silence.
Not a leaf is rustled or a twig snapped.
Silence.
I’ve come across a massive tree.
I can almost feel the thrumming of life bursting through the bark.
Silence
A single droplet of glistening water trickles down the rough uneven bark.
Silence.
I remember that single droplet of water as I continue my walk.
I think of how insignificant my existence is in this
Enormous Forest.
How this forest would still go on if I
Ceased to exist.
But that drop of water has merit.
It could keep an animal alive for a little longer in thirst.
Or, a piece of brown grass from bursting into flames on a hot day.
But, instead that little drop of water continues
it’s journey down the bark of the tree.
Down, through layers of leaf and limb.
All the way to the ground,
Where the roots of this tree lay hidden from sight.
That little drop of water is now at it’s destination.
It’s sucked up by a single root.
Now that single drop of water will keep this tree
flourished and thriving.
Keeping this forest lush and green,
So that I may walk it again.
And then……..Silence.
March 18th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Personally, I think chewing gum should be allowed if the students at school got to chew gum then they won’t stick it under the desk because they don’t want to get into troule for having it. A lot of studentd don’t usually stick it under the desks some are smart and actually throw it away. Just the other day I saw someone put a piece of gum in the trash and not under the desk. I disagree with the no gum rule.
Oh, Mr.loosveldt, I like your poem, it wasn’t insipid.
March 19th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Everytime I try to be friends with the guy this is about he hurts my feelings like I don’t matter. It bugs me alot.
I’m tired of being the enemy,
the person whom you love
to hate.
The person who’s made of
bricks and stones,
who feels nothing.
I’m tired of the words
you like to say,
just to see if it can hurt me.
‘Cause i’m the person made of
bricks and stones,
who feels nothing.
I am tired!
Of being the person made of
bricks and stones,who feels nothing.
Who pretends there’s no pain or hurt.
because you hurt me with every word,
that falls from your mouth.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I Can Only Wish
How did I end up here
In this place, in this lonely piece of my life
This forest of secrets
I am as insignificant as an aphid
Making its way across a damp leaf
I fly under the radar
I creep under the fence
Unnoticed
I make my way
Through trees and branches of the like
I push and push until I make my way
Out and into a clearing
But this feeling of freedom is for not
I must go on
Searching for a safe place
A home
But this forest is never ending
Going on and on until the world is at its end
How I wish to be free as the eagle
To soar high above the sky
How I wish to run as a wolf
To howl at the moon
Without a care in the world
To be free
But alas
I can not
I am girl
Not a wolf
I can not fly
I can not sing the moons song
I can only wish
I can only dream
Of finding a way
Out of this forest
Out of this lonely place
I call my life
March 19th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
This is what’s on some of my freinds minds.. and it’s sort of been on mind so here it goes…
Walk When Bright.
The sun did not go down
Jealousy has turned freindships around
Everything will be ok
Once good too
I will never allow myself to lose you
Don’t turn on all of it now
Stay strong
Even though everything seems to be going wrong
I would never intentionally hurt you
Comfort you right on cue
Is what i intend to do
You have let your heart soften
Even towards ones who really don’t give
Don’t let them in
They walked all over
Made a mess And then out
I will try hard to cover
As long as your heart towards me doesn’t hover
March 20th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Hey, I was wondering what you thought of this poem.
The Memory
Every morning i wake up
A giant bruise on the side of my face appears
The memory of how you hurt me for your own pleasure stays in mind and heart
Year after year
You said you would protect me said you would never let harm come to me
Everyday i come home ready for the next punch or slap
Even though i know you are gone
But the memory still stays here
The memory of my broken heart and my brocken soul
The memory of my blood all over the floor
The memory of my father…
Drenched in tears begging for forgivness
None of this would have happened…
If it wasnt for the beer
(Not a true story, people, ok?)
March 21st, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Hey Mr. loosveldt i have another poem for you!
My World
Plunge into my waters,
If you’re not afraid to feel,
Where everything can happen if you make it real.
Close your eyes and kick back,
Dig your toes into my sand.
Wade out into opportunity,
I’ll guide you, take my hand.
Leave behind your troubles,
Here the rules do not apply.
My birds sing songs melodiously,
They sail across the sky.
Pick flowers from my garden,
and plant a seed or two,
It’s okay i’ll grow another one
Just for me and you.
Hop onto my tire swing,
lean back, swing to and fro’.
See my world from a different view,
the end is far to go.
So take a seat upon my cloud,
This world is a magical dream,
look at the world around you,
And you’ll see just what I mean.
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:17 am
Okay this is kind of a cheesy poem but it’s a break from all the serious poems! Okay here it goes!
OPPOSITE
If right is left
and left is right
and down is up
and up is down
and north is south
and south is north
and east is west
and west is east
and dark is light
and light is dark
and mean is kind
and kind is mean
and black is white
and white is black
Then what is sideways?
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:33 am
This is a poem that I wrote the other day because I was bored, it’s called: Black and White Photo
It’s like a black and white photo you just can’t seem to get the tears off of
Like a sorrow from yesterday that’s coming tomorrow
Rain on earth that’s not pouring down
It’s like he didn’t even care, that’s what it’s really like
Like someone saying they loved you as if it were only play
It’s like my heart being ripped into pieces
But the sorrow won’t come and tears won’t fall
Not this time
Because I knew this would happen and I knew this would come
So those tears that I’ve wept
The pain that I’ve felt
Will all be put behind me
So maybe
That black and white photo won’t have as many tears to get off.
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:39 am
i wrote htis poem because it was tuelly what i felt..today.. took some notes and wrote a poem.
Hearts are warm
Hearts are cold
Today this heart is cold
You may say ruff
But in my mind it is horrible
Today my tears were set free
Free from fustration, fear, screaming, and even hating
Hating you at this moment
So hard for me to think straight
Yet it breaks my heart
For you to say those words
makes me bewildered
Pause, Pause, run is all I could do
Maybe tommrow this heart will be warm.
March 22nd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
This is a poem for my Great-Grandma who died last last summer.
AND THEN YOU WERE GONE
So little memories. no more to come.
Like a drought to a once great river.
In one moment you were gone.
How I wish I could see you one more time
Talk to you one more time.
We had so few minutes together!
But as I look back,
I know that you are still with me
Still watching me
Still loving me
Dedicated to Grammy
March 22nd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
BETRAYAL
They talked nice,
They claimed your friendship
They said they were better than that
They weren’t.
They created a web of lies and deceit
They stabbed you in the back
They never deserved you
Yet you cared for them
You reached out for them
But they shunned your help and blamed you
They ripped you apart from the inside out.
They were someone you once called a best friend.
March 22nd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
THE MORNING DEW
The steady drip-drop from the trees above,
The glistening ark of green from the reflective grass,
The scent of the morning calmness, the morning quiet,
The slick wetness on all surfaces.
Nothing is left untouched, nothing is left unphased.
It represents a new day,
A new beginning.
The morning dew.
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:19 am
Another poem of mine:
Of all things,
to feel love
is to feel
that special thing
untouchable by those
who do not want it.
Once you have it,
never let it go,
for love is the strongest
of all things.
It ties together those
who yearn it
and bands out those
who don’t.
It seeks out those
who seek it
and pushes away those
who push it away.
It has it’s own mind
it’s own being.
And forever it’s wheels turn
towards the always distant
horizon.
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:21 am
Hi peoples. This is a poem I wrote. It is also untitled. Hooray for untitleyness.
My mind is free
Free to wander
Free to fly
It soars over
Thriving forests
And sandy deserts
It hears
The words spoken by
Birds as they color the skies.
My mind
Journeys over mountains
And across oceans
It lives in the heart
Of a mighty volcano.
But my mind also cries
Because my body cannot join it in it’s
endless musing and journeys
For my body is confined
To the mold which
Has grown around it
It cannot break free of the chains
Of humanity which hold it.
Though while my mind wanders
My body enjoys the feelings provided by this unseen pleasure
It tastes the clear water
It feels the crackling leaves on it’s skin.
While others sit bored
My mind wanders.
March 23rd, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Ok, this is a poem I wrote because I was having a burst of nostalgia looking through photos from my last visit to India. It’s kinda long, so I’m sorry. By the way, just for your information, everything that I mention in this poem are things that I have actually seen when I was there.
My Country, India
The sun’s heat penetrates my body
Lighting a fire that spreads viciously through my skin
Barefoot on the streets of dust
The tall coconut trees bows down to the earth which bore them
Over murky waters, the setting sun reflected in its eyes
Vast, infinite gardens of tea
The luxuriant greenery that envelopes hill after hill
Carpets of flower petals, petals of every hue
Pink, white, green, orange, red
All joining in a vibrant union
That adorned every doorstep at Onam
The single flames that burn in every window
And illuminate an entire city
During Diwali, the festival of lights
My epiphany strikes
The beauty of this place
My country, my motherland
India
As women work, putting tea leaves, throwing them
Into baskets on their heads
As their emaciated children run through the rows
Unaware of how little they have
How little they will ever receive
As a dark-skinned beggar
Wanders aimlessly through lines of honking cars
On a busy street at rush hour
Two of his limbs are missing
And in what little voice he has left
Infused with weakness
He begs the drivers to spare him some change
To buy him just one plate of food
Just one decent piece of clothing
And my epiphany strikes
The sorrow of this place
My country, my motherland
India
Where families gather every night
To eat together, laughter ringing through their homes
Where an entire village gathers
To celebrate the union of two souls
In a marriage
As a huge group stands silent
All in white
A thin woman, so young, too young
Sobbing in front of a pile of wood
That conceals her husband’s coffin inside
And her father solemnly sets it aflame
My epiphany strikes
The closeness of this place
My country, my motherland
India.
March 24th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Hey Mr. L! I wrote this poem because I was remembering last summer. So this goes out to my Asian and my yellow person. And I don’t care if you read this to any of your classes.
It’s called “Changed”
1 month
2 months
3 months
That’s all it took
For you to change
The person I once knew
And loved
Has slowly gone away
You were my very best friend
Who was my shoulder to cry on
My pillar to hold me up
The arms to catch me when I fall
But summer came
Then we grew far
One day it all ended
1 month
2 months
3 months
Thats all it took
For you to change