Extreme by Aileya

Extreme

By Aileya M

 

9 nights of cold, 10 days of heat

so much portages, rowing, so little sleep

waking up at 7am, finishing up at 8 pm

the sites were gorgeous, the work was foul

so many rapids to go through

with a very packed, narrow canoe

last day we spent a day at "City Rapids"

it was time to have some fun

so me and my friends decided

to jump off 40 meters above water into a rapid

stared down to the water that was moving so fast

scared to death, took a few steps back

took a deep breath, and ran to jump off

felt like falling off of a ferris wheel

I hit water, I could feel my life jacket

being nearly taken off me from the pressure

all I can think of was getting to surface

I stayed under water for at least minute

finnally I hit surface

I could see Sarah throwing me a beeine

so hard and fast, the water was pushing me

The current was pushing me away from the others

I was pulled in laying on the rock

I could hear my friends yelling and screaming running to me

all I said..

 

"That was extreme"

The Place I Call Home by Katie

The Place I Call Home

Once leaving town I only looked back.

Not looking forward to living somewhere else.

If I could go back there one more time,

I would be sure to say good-bye.

I arrived in this strange and foreign place.

It doesn’t feel the same even though I’ve

been here a million times before.

Now I know I won’t be going back,

after we haul are hefty cardboard boxes

into the big empty, gloomy house.

First day of school I remember very well.

Entering the classroom was like entering a cave

full of bears ready to rip you to shreds. All

I hope is that my last piece of dignity would be

spared by these judgmental people.

As time went past the only thing on my

mind was the place I called home.

The city where my heart longed to be,

the city where familiar faces turn to strangers.

Sometimes I wish I could go back and stay forever,

but I’m stuck in this empty town.

Now the town I dreaded coming to is my home,

if I were to leave I would miss it just as much as my home before.

Drop of Doom

                               Drop of Doom
I'm thinking to myself

each step could be my last.

The higher I go,

the more work it is to breath.

My lungs, bursting, painful, agonizing.

I finally reach the top.

 

I take one last deep breath

before I walk any closer.

"Next!" Shouted the attendant.

Walking up to her with sweaty palms

and jittery knees, I near the edge.

I nervously peak my head over

the railing, squinting just to see

the ant-shaped people looking

back at me with anticipation.

 

Slowly, I lower myself

into a sitting position.

I feel the cool water splash my legs

which makes my heart pound so

loud I swear everyone can hear.

I lean back and scoot forward a little

only to see the discolored roof above me.

One last push and I close my eyes.

 

I am a bullet,

heading straight towards the depths

that lie beneath me.

Like a strike of lightening

I hit the clear blue water.

Quickly I surface with two kicks

of my trembling legs.

 

I swim stunned towards

the exit of the pool.

I hop out of the water,

smiling as though nothing

had ever happened.

 

Sink or Swim by Quinn

Sink or Swim

 

             Sitting on the raft's edge

    gripping my oar like a child clings to its blanket
            preparing for the inevitable

                practicing the techniques

                    I will need in the future

 

      All I can think about are the fears

            the fear of falling out

                    the fear of taking the lead

    the fear of every possible situation, even death

            maybe mine or someone else    

 

        Don't want to back out now

            deep, deep down inside

                 I want to do this

    I know if I don't, I'll regret it

 

                My mom is with me

        giving me support and courage

                    we work as a team

            keeping time, smiling occasionally

                    taking in the scenery

             and a couple gulps of water

 

            The rapids get rougher

                the going gets tougher

        testing our skill and ability

                    things get crunchy

            we hit a wall of water

                 a buddy has no choice but

        to meet the experience on the next level

    he's over his head but stays calm in the moment

              our guide reaches out drawing him to safety

 

            Suddenly, all is still

                at the foot of Mount Robson

                    in the frigid Fraser River

        with the summer sun beating down

 

                Now I float on my back

                            buoyed by my lifejacket

        not by accident but by choice

                        letting the water take me

            squinting as I stare at the clear blue sky

                    I exhale and give a giggle

        all the struggles are behind me

                        only calm waters ahead

Word of the day - September -test September 30th

Authoritarian (adj.) favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, esp. that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom
• showing a lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others; domineering; dictatorial : he had an authoritarian and at times belligerent manner.

Ecstatic (adj.)1 feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement : ecstatic fans filled the stadium.
2 involving an experience of mystic self-transcendence : an ecstatic vision of God.

Formidable (adj.) inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable : a formidable opponent

Guerrillas (n) a member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces : this small town fell to the guerrillas | [as adj. ] guerrilla warfare.

Honed verb [ trans. ] (usu. be honed) make sharper or more focused or efficient : their appetites were honed by fresh air and exercise.

Muse (v) [ intrans. ]be absorbed in thought : he was musing on the problems he faced.
• [with direct speech ] say to oneself in a thoughtful manner : “I think I've seen him somewhere before,” mused Rachel.• ( muse on) gaze thoughtfully at.

Perspective (n) a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view: most guidebook history is written from the editor's perspective.

Tact (n) a keen sense of the right or fitting thing to say or due so as to avoid hurting someone’s feelings; sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues : the inspector broke the news to me with tact and consideration.

Allegiances (n) loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause

Diminish (v) make or become less : [ trans. ] a tax whose purpose is to diminish spending | [ intrans. ] the pain will gradually diminish.

Mangled (v.) [ trans. ] severely mutilate, disfigure, or damage by cutting, tearing, or crushing : the car was mangled almost beyond recognition | figurative he was mangling Bach on the piano.


Mortified (v.)( -fies, -fied) [ trans. ] 1 (often be mortified) cause (someone) to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated : [ trans. ] she was mortified to see her wrinkles in the mirror | [as adj. ] ( mortifying) she refused to accept this mortifying disgrace.

Murky (adj.) ( murkier , murkiest ) dark and gloomy, esp. due to thick mist : the sky was murky and a thin drizzle was falling.
• (of liquid) dark and dirty; not clear : the murky silt of a muddy pond.
• not fully explained or understood, esp. with concealed dishonesty or immorality : the murky world of espionage.


Spectacle (n) a visually striking performance or display : the acrobatic feats make a good spectacle | the show is pure spectacle.
• an event or scene regarded in terms of its visual impact : the spectacle of a city's mass grief.

13 year old girl set to sail the world

Welcome Back

I am looking forward to working with all of you this semester.  We have a large class but hopefully this just adds to our success.

Check back frequently for updates of class material and pictures I have taken in class.