Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Final Reflection Post

1. This semester in Creative Writing, I wrote more meaningful pieces than I ever have. Like things such as our "You May Say I'm a Dreamer" post, and  "Caged Bird" post all the way to our children's book (which I lost).  We've even done more hands on creative things, which is what I really liked. Things like painting, and even the mugs we did just yesterday.

2. I've read a few different post when I was instructed to do so. None of which stuck with my throughout the semester. I don't tend to read outside of school, so I don't have any I remember from then either.

3. I remember first setting up my blog this semester. I wasn't super hype about it, but it wasn't like I disliked the idea. I was indifferent about it because I thought we were just gonna be writing stories on paper all the time. I came up with my blog's name easily, it's my own nickname so I thought that it'd be the best choice. "Rah Rah" is what everyone knows me by, it's what I like to be addressed as, so it was a perfect fit. I don't think I'll continue using my blog after this class ends. I wasn't very good with using it during the class.

4. I write about different things in my journal. Most recently I wrote a letter to my father, who tragically isn't here anymore, and I've wrote fictional stories and real life stories about my past and where I see myself in the future. I'd actually be comfortable with just about anybody reading my journal. I feel like it'd be a glimpse into the mind of Robert Bernard Calloway III. I love to journal, so I will continue to journal. It's a way for me to vent, without having to really vent to another person. I want to buy a true journal like with the leather covers and all that fancy stuff. It'll most likely hold all the raps I write and partially be kind of a log.

5. Window Poem -
Ahead of me I see all the tops of homes surrounding my own.
I see the street lights when they're on and off.
To my left, my television sits. Waiting for me to play a movie or video game.
As I look out today, a house is burning to the ground.
Sometimes I yearn to see more, always end up seeing the same thing.
The sun is setting, leaving a orange glow across the other homes.
I can barely see the field in the distance,
I can almost make out the form of a calf.
Alone. Waiting for it's mother.

5 (cont). I wrote this because this is what I really see almost everyday while I'm in my family room. Well I see all that except for the house burning down. That happened while I lived out in Sparta, and it wasn't a house, it was all the land they owned.

6. Family -
The screams wouldn't stop. I hoped it was Kayla, she'd gone missing out of nowhere. I slowly approached the small house and pushed the door opened. Right when the door opened it smelled worse than any thing I have ever smelled in my life. It was too dark to see, so I turned my phone's flashlight on. I instantly regretted it. There were bodies, and body parts spread around the home. I felt so light headed, confused by what I was seeing. I couldn't wrap around my head around the fact that this is what had been happening, less than a mile from my house. I guess that's one of the perks of living in the country, your next door neighbors aren't really you next door neighbors. They're close enough to kind of see, but far enough that they can't bother you.

I head the screams again, it sounded more and more like Kayla. It had to be coming from the basement, that's where all the cliche murders happen right? I wanted to turn around and search somewhere else, but I couldn't risk it actually being her. So I slowly walked down towards the basement, flashlight on, heart pumping so fast I could barely breath. I kept my head on a swivel watching for anyone, or anything, that wanted to try to get the jump on me. Only place that I failed to keep an eye on was behind me. I was pushed down the old wooden stairs. I tried to look at who pushed me, but I couldn't focus my eye sight. All I could see was a figure standing above me. Everything was coming into focus. It was my older brother Michael.

To be continued. . .


7. I actually plan to continue creatively writing. I like to rap, so in a way I have to be creative with every song. Don't want to put out the same music every time. Low key, I write actual poems too. That began when I was in a rehab program. I found love in writing poetry. What I write on my own time is different than what I write at school because, its not forced it's natural feeling. 100% authentic. I don't have to force myself to write about anything I don't feel like writing about.

8. Look ya'll, my only words of advice are, NEVER GIVE UP. I've been through so much but I'm still pushing so I know if I can make it, so can you. Always stay positive and love yourself, and everything will come naturally.

9. Lastly, I will be at the top of the world in less than 10 years. You all just wait on it. One way or another, I will be legendary!

Monday, December 5, 2016

Food Story


It was an average Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house. Grandma always invited everyone over, but if you did come, you’d be put to work either before or after we eat. Unless you bring some food. Anyways, everyone was here. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, it’s rare that we all get together like this. Usually when all of us are together like this, somebody ends up fighting. Guess that’s just a thing when black people get together.
Everything was going so well, everyone was eating, laughing, playing, watching football up until my big brother Jordan busted in. He was supposed to had gone and bought some plastic forks for the house since we didn’t have any left (My family is notorious with waiting until the last minute to get stuff). When his body finally decided to stop his constant huffing and puffing, we all realized he was crying.
“What’s wrong with you boy?” My uncle James asked. He was a man who looked really intimidating but on the inside he was just a man who had been more than I could ever understand.
“It’s DJ,” Jordan said with a pant. “He got shot and he’s on the way to the hospital. They say he may not make it. They said that and he hasn’t even made it to the damn hospital yet!” He began harder now.
Everyone on was completely silent. Only thing you could here was the T.V and the quiet hum from the ceiling fan. DJ had been Jordan’s best friend since elementary school. He was basically a family member since his family was always too strung out to be an actual family to him. But DJ was hardheaded, he always wanted to be on the street gang banging, shooting, thieving, robbing. Everyone knew about it. That’s why he wasn’t invited to Thanksgiving. Now I kind of wish he had been invited.

Later on that day, Jordan got the call. DJ was gone. It makes think how crazy life is. Even on the day of thanks. You can still can lose something, or someone, you’re thankful for.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Childrens Book Draft

The Day I Got Grounded -

One day when I was at school I was being very bad. The teacher told me to stop but I didn't, I was having too much fun. Ms. Teacher got tired of trying to tell me to work and left me alone. I was fine with that, I continued having fun. Being loud and not doing my work.

The bell rang. I went outside to get into moms car. Ms. Teacher was there too. She told Mom what I did today and mom was not happy about it at all. She said when I got home, I was in big trouble. I didn't want to be in trouble so I got mad.

When I got home, Dad was there. He didn't look happy. Mom called him and told him what happened at school today. They said I was grounded. I never been grounded before. I didn’t know what was going to happen.

For the whole weekend I could not do anything! I could not go outside and play. I could not watch T.V. I could not even play video games. I had nothing. All I did was clean the whole weekend.

Sunday night Mom and Dad talked to me for a very, very, VERY long time. Mom and Dad said that they were not mad at me. They wanted to show me that being bad was not cool at all. Mom and Dad said when I go back to school I had to tell Ms. Teacher sorry for what I did. So Sunday night I got to watch T.V and play video games.

Monday morning I went to Ms. Teacher and told her how sorry I was and that I’d never do it again. For the rest of the year. I did all my work, and saved having fun for recess.