Emily Young- Sestina

I stroll off the bus with my team, it’s states, and we’re all ready.
We enter instantly feeling the eyes of rival teams, they wonder about our team, our skills.
We continue past and glare back with a “no emotions” face, though we’re anxious to perform
because nobody knows what will unravel on the mat
or the feelings, likes, harshness, or moods of the judges
or rather or not we’ll nail our stunting and tumbling. We’re full of nerves.

We make our way into the large auditorium, peel off our warm ups, and settle our nerves.
We’re going to try to sneak in some mat time to make sure we’re all ready.
I can’t wait to finally face the judges.
We hurry to get ready so we can go warm up skills.
We have to be dressed appropriately immediately because we have time for the mat
We have many hours until our time to perform.

We return to our spot on the bleachers and we wait until we perform.
We wait anxiously to start watching routines and we’re all crawling with nerves.
We get our makeup done, touch up our hair, and make sure we’re 100% ready.
For the next few hours we’ll be watching team after team go on and off the mat.
Once it starts, we observe each peewee routine and cheer every time they land a skill.
We’re anxiously awaiting to be face to face with the judges.

We watch team after team try to wow the judges.
Finally, we’re ”getting ready” then “on deck”  so we’re after the team thats about to perform.
We just want to go out and nail every jump, dance, and skill.
Thats when we have crazy nerves,
We have to be ready...
It’s almost time to take the mat.

We’re lined up at the back of the mat.
I shake when I visualize us running towards stampeding judges.
We’re all ready.
In our heads we’re thinking about our routine, every tumble, stunt, and skill.
They announcer says, “The Hancock Hornets may now take the floor.” So many nerves.
Just a minute ago we were shaking, off the mat when they said, “next to perform”

We need to nail this, we know how to perform.
We know we’re going to own this mat.
“Now performing, the Hancock Hornets!” we are exploding with unsettled nerves!
we sprint towards the judges.
We show off our routine with attitude and precision, executing each skill.
We’re off the mat. It’s almost time to hear results and we’re more than ready!

Every team rushes down onto the mat to hear results. We’re sitting with all the teams we had to perform against, that brushes up our nerves. We think about how we launched each stunt, skill.
“1st place. HANCOCK HORNETS!” We were ready and we brought it! We wowed the judge!

David Larrabee

April 26, 2013

Basket Ball

On the stairway he grasps the basketball,

darts and shoots until he gets a tremendous swish.

He starts his move by dribbling.

He tries his hardest not to hit the ball off the backboard.

The ball returns back to him.  Before shooting he does a more moves

while gradually moving up the driveway.

The balls hits off the rim and rolls down the driveway.

So he runs down the driveway in chase of the basketball.

He retrieves the ball, returns up his driveway doing spectacular moves

demonstrating he can shoot the ball and make a swish

without hitting the backboard.

The ball comes back to him he goes to dribbling.

He repeatedly keeps dribbling

In the open driveway.

Shoots the ball, only this time the ball hits backboard

and the orange and spherical ball bounces back.

He shoots again but this time he gets a swish

and this time he didn’t perform any talented moves.

Beginning again he heads off with some creative moves

and doesn’t shoot but instead just keeps on dribbling.

He shoots, and he gets a swish

without having to chase the ball down the driveway.

He grabs the basketball

and bounces it off the backboard.

This time when he shoots he hits backboard

and still doesn’t make any moves,

just dribbles the basketball.

stops his dribbling

and just stands in the empty driveway

until he finally shoots and he gets another swish.

Shoots again and gets another swish,

shoots a quick shot and hits backboard.

The bad thing was that the ball rolled down the driveway.

He gets the ball and dribbles up the driveway doing moves.

He’s almost done dribbling

the basketball.

He shoots the basketball and doesn’t even hit backboard.

He picks the ball up and starts dribbling in the lonely driveway

Then he goes into moves, then shoots the ball and gets another swish.

Hey there, 

Heyyyy!! My name is Diane and I live in a small state called Maine. It can get very cold up here but the summers are really warm. In the summer I love to go swimming with my mom and hang out with my friends. Unlike most of my friends, I have never been to a summer camp. I am going to a couple this summer but I have never been to one in the past. Some days I help my mom at her work and sometimes I sit at home and read. I really love to read and write. It lets me express my feeling and emotions. A good book is just the best thing anyone can have. 

I love to listen to music too. Music is very fun and has many different kinds of moods and tones and stuff. I don’t watch a lot of T.V. I’m busy a lot of the time. I do watch movies when I get a chance though. I watch the movie Pitch Perfect way more than I should. It is so funny and has both music and a movie mixed together. Most of all, one thing I could not live without, is softball. The sport is just the best sport I have ever played in my whole life. It just gives such a rush of excitement and energy. It’s just so fun. It makes me so happy nothing else could ever give. 

I’m an okay student. I get distracted a lot. My friends and I are always goofing off which isn’t very good for either of us. Other than that I’m okay. Anyway, I think it will be fun to blog with you, 

Love, 

Diane.

There is something about the woods
Behind my house, that makes them peaceful.           
With the city in the distance
I have plenty of room to think.
Just ahead I see a mountain
As I look up at the bright, blue sky.

Scattered clouds in the sky
Are gliding away from the woods
And the mountain.
I am thankful for this peaceful
Moment for giving me time to think
And keeping noises in the distance.

With my dog running in the distance
I glance up at the sky
And think
About the woods
And how it is so peaceful
And about that beautiful mountain.

The mountain
Is still in the distance
So peaceful
Touching the sky
Coming out of the woods.
It is a special place to think.

As I climb the mountain, I think.
When I reach the very top of the mountain
I scan the woods
Now in the distance
Below a colorful sky
Making this moment even more peaceful.

This moment can’t get any more peaceful
I think
As I stare forward at the sky.
I spot another mountain
In the distance
Above the woods.

For the last time, I look up to the sky
And the mountain off in the distance,
And know the woods is a peaceful place to think.

She is here. Her pleased soul

Racing. In her hand is much more than a bat. 

Her hands hold her true passion. 

Her hands hold her hopes and dreams. 

She says to herself, just breath. 

She thinks to herself, it’s time to concentrate. 

As she continues to concentrate,

Her mind wonders as far as her soul

Will let her. She tries her best to breath. 

It is her turn. She walks up to the box to bat.

This has always been her love. One of many dreams. 

Her one true heart. Her passion. 

This is her time. She stands at the plate. Her passion

Leading her to give her all. To concentrate. 

Her arms go up and her heart speeds, as in her dreams. 

If only she could feel this way constantly. Deep in her soul. 

Her hands hold her love. Her heart. The bat. 

She watches the pitcher rocks back. She can’t breath.

As she watches the ball come toward her, her breath

Stops in her lungs. She loves it. This is her one passion.

She watches it slow. Her arms swing. The bat

Her only guideline. To her, now there is no just concentrate. 

She is already there. Her zone. It seeps deep into her soul. 

The swing filling that space. Never happened outside her dreams. 

In every single one, her heart fills. Only in dreams. 

She feels nothing but happiness and her breath. 

Her mind says she is there, she is not says her soul.

Her eyes light up as the ball flies. This one makes her passion

The reason it is. She runs and sees the ball far and high. She need concentrate

No more. She looks back. It’s laying on the ground. The bat. 

She sees it. She notices something isn’t right. The bat

Is gone. She looks around. Seems like her dreams. 

Her head is swimmy. Even if she needed to she couldn’t concentrate.

It was but a dream within a dream. She tries, yet she can’t breath. 

Her thoughts jumbled as she is startled awake. Her passion gone.

The midnight dream. Her mind screams. Pain within her soul. 

She could only but contain her soul within her dreams.

She can imagine that bat on the field, her passion. 

Her mind trying to concentrate. She is still out of breath. 

Sestina !

BAM the sound of your feet hitting the blue mat
at the end of a tumbling pass.Sweat Determination
and a few bruises along the way.Cheering
words that don’t even come close to explaining this sport.
Only certain people have the strength
and hard work learning capability.

Most people think that it has nothing to do with capability.
Using facials , fiercely to get a higher score on that blue mat.
to have nothing but pure dedication and strength
and to win you have to have determination
when your breaks a little when people say its not a sport
this is what it is to be dedicated to cheering

For me I would do anything for cheering
its not just capability
its the love for the sport
I love the sound of the way the blue mat
looks all clean and ready to go with all the determination
the girls lined up on the side have and to see the capability

I doubt you have the strength
to do what a cheerleader does to even do cheering
we live and love what we do with determination
and our goals set high for capability
when it comes time to compete we leave it all on the blue mat
and it’s all because we live and love everything about this sport.

Now of course there are people who love to argue about it being a sport
but they don’t know the ugly side to cheering the building of strength
behind the smiles you see when we step on the blue mat
behind the showcase cheering
is a team that has struggled to get the capability
to compete at a higher level then the year before with more determination

With teams that come into the competition with determination
to prove they are they best to prove there love for the sport
to prove their teams capability
to prove that it’s not just looks it’s strength
to us it’s so much more we don’t just label it cheering
we label it with our lives our love for putting it all out on the blue mat.

With all my time spent on the blue mat
I have seen determination
through sweat and tears we still come out cheering
when people say it’s not a sport
we prove them wrong with our strength
and with the love and passion I have seen capability

Introduction

Dear middle school kids ,

My name is Danielle and I live in a small town in Maine.I am 14 and in the eighth grade and am so ready for high school.

I love sports and spend most of my life with sports .I love to run on my free time and have run competitively but Cheering is my sport I love to tumble and be a flyer and everything about cheering ,I have put my life into cheering.I also play softball and that is another big interest of mine.Sports are a way to relieve stress and just have fun and you also make lots of friends that way.

Even though I put a lot of my life into sports .I love to be with friends and do things with them and just hangout.

Thanks, hope to hear about you other kids,
Danielle(;

Sestina!

Cheerleading
Go! Fight! Win!
I’m a cheer leader
From bows to toes.
We will stunt and tumble,
Please, don’t get distracted by the smile,
Sorry, but we can’t be beat. 

It’s not that you are easy to beat,
Our squad just strives to win.
We plaster on our smile
Because we know we are the leader.
The fans come to watch us tumble,
The judges score our pointed toes.

Points are deducted without pointed toes.
We know our jumps can’t be beat.
We practice frequently so we can tumble.
Everyone came to see us win.
They know we are the leader.
Fans came to see our smile.

Cheering without a smile,
Would be like ballerinas with no pointed toes.
We put the cheer in cheer leader.
Are you ready to be beat?
‘Cause we are ready to win!
Please hold while we tumble.

I bet you were surprised by our tumble
Pass. We can even smile
While we flip. That is why we win.
Perfection isn’t complicated if you have pointed toes.
As you know, we are not easy to beat.
We are the ultimate leader.

Do you want to be a cheer leader?
Can you tumble?
Are you tired of being beat?
Well, let me see your smile.
Be sure to have pointed toes.
Maybe then you’ll have the potential to win.

Now you know, to be a leader you have to smile.
When you tumble, point your toes.
Don’t think you will be beat, have confidence in your squad and you will win.

Dear Middle School Bloggers,
Hey. I’m Karli. I was born in United States. I am in the eighth grade. I play softball and I cheer. Outside of sports, I enjoy reading. I have 5 siblings. Two are named Mackenzie. It can get confusing at some points. But it isn’t that bad.

Mid November to the beginning of March, I cheer. I am a base and a back. That means I have to put the flyers in the air. I also play softball in the spring. I play short stop and I can pitch. My pitching needs some work. That is why I go to a pitching clinic on Sundays. I have thrown 50 MPH fastball and I can do the fastball, change-up, and drop ball. The fastball is my most successful at this point.

I just finished Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter. I love her writing. Perfect Scoundrels is part of The Heist Society book series. I suggest you read it is you haven’t! I also recently finished Requiem. That was by Lauren Oliver and is the Delirium series. Now that I have told you about myself, I hope that I can learn about your hometown and who you are.

Sincerely,
Karli

Running

Running
It’s the pounding
of feet on the cold hard ground.
The inner warmth
of a great accomplishment
and the greatest gift you receive, confidence.

That feeling you get is confidence.
It’s a feeling of strength only given by running.
When you finally surpass your previous accomplishment
Your heart is pounding,
As you feel the physical warmth.
Is there no better sport on earth?

Who knew this wonderful, simple activity on Earth
Could bring out a confidence
That no other activity has given me. It’s warmth
Surprises me every time I start running.
It’s more than the pounding
of heart and feet, it’s what comes with it, a sense of accomplishment.

Accomplishment,
It’s a word many of us know here on Earth.
Some people come crawling and “pounding
On the door of confidence”
Begging for accomplishment. When all you have to do is go running
It’ll give you more satisfaction then any ice cream (and also more warmth)

Warmth,
In my mind it’s associated more with accomplishment
for me it comes with running.
That’s better then any fireplace on Earth.
I mean what fireplace is gonna boost your confidence,
and you gotta love that synchronization of the heart and mind pounding.

The synchronized pounding.
Feeling the inner and outer warmth.
The confidence
and accomplishment.
The feeling of levitation above of the Earth.
How can you not love running.

Running it’s more then the pounding.
It’s more then the cold hard ground and inner warmth.
It’s all of these plus more such as that feeling of accomplishment and confidence.

Dear Mysterious Person,
     Hey hey hey!! Haha, my name is Casey. I am 13 and and from the United States of America, in a state called Maine, in a small town. In Maine, we have mild summers and extreme winters (most of the time).
     Some of my favorite activities are exploring in the woods, hanging out with my homies (friends), watching television, shooting hoops (basketball), singing, and shopping. I shop at stores like Aeropostale, Hollister, and American Eagle.
     I'm a very fun person. I like trying new things, and at the same time I like showing people new thing that I am familiar with. I am girly and, at the same time, not girly. I like to have painted nails, wear makeup, and smell like perfume all the time, but I like to get dirty, go hiking in the woods, and play sports. I am interested in reading peoples writings and hope people like mine. :)
                   Sincerely,
                    Casey <3 :)

Dear Mystery Student,

    Hello stranger :) I am a 14-year-old girl from a small town in Maine, U.S.A. I live with my dad, stepmother, two dogs, and my two cats. When I’m not doing homework I am ether running, listening to music, texting, or hanging out with friends/family.
    I love to run. Cross country is my favorite sport because even though the rules are simple it’s very competitive. You may get trampled our get in a top 5 place, you never know and I love that.
    I also love to listen to music and not just one type I love lots of music. Some examples are rock, pop, country, etc. It’s something to keep my mind off the situation I have with my mom. You never know where she is but if she runs out of money she comes back to my grandmother, most of the time..... Anyway.... I hope to show you a little more of myself when I start posting to this blog.
    So in conclusion, this is just a snapshot of my life as a 14-year-old girl from Maine, U.S.A.  Now that I’ve shared a bit with you please tell me a little about yourself, Mystery Student. What are some of your hobbies?interests? How old are you?

                    The person writing you this letter,
                                    Haley :P

Dreams

The World of Dreams

The unpredictable and fascinating world of dreams.
Many are keys to the opening of the heart.
The world of dreams is a person’s freedom,
the height of perfection, a person’s heaven.
The world of dreams can be based on love,
or it can be based a person's deepest and darkest fears.

The world of dreaming isn’t always based on fear.
That’s what’s so interesting about dreams,
they can be based on love,
the emotions of a person’s heart.
A person’s hallelujah, their heaven.
Dreaming is a way to taste true freedom.

What makes dreaming a form of freedom?
Maybe it’s the way dreaming relieves people of their fears,
maybe it’s that when we’re dreaming, we can see the height of heaven.
That’s the thing about dreams,
how they’re based on our emotions, our heart,
how they’re based on the light of love.

Living on the life of love,
that’s why dreaming is freedom,
 a way for our emotions, our heart,
to show it’s frightful fears.
That’s what makes dreams dreams,
our perfect etherial heaven.

dreaming isn’t always a heaven,
it isn’t always based on love.
Nightmares are dreams,
just not dreams based on freedom,
but dreams that are based on fear,
on the secrets of the heart.

That’s what’s so unpredictable about the heart,
it can create day dreams of a glorious heaven,
or it can create the nightmares of our fleeting fears.
Dreaming can be based on a life of love.
That’s what also makes it a fleeting freedom.
Such is the world of dreams.

Dreams are the feelings of the heart,
the momentary freedom, the etherial heaven.
Dreams are built on our emotions of love, and our fears.

Michael's Introduction to Fellow Bloggers

Dear thy individuals who intend to read the following text,

    My name is Michael and I am writing this post to introduce myself to those that I have not had the opportunity to do so at an earlier date. I currently reside in the state of Maine, United States of America, though I am Canadian by blood. I am currently enrolled in middle school.
    I have a strong interest in firearms and shooting sports as well as the politics that surround such activities and tools. I also am highly interested in off-roading and
hot-rodding. The last of my main interests include law, and video gaming. I play guitar, and bass and am obsessed with heavy metal music (e.g. Five Finger Death Punch), aggressive rock, and various rap artists such as Eminem, D12, Bad Meets Evil, Yelawolf etc.
    I spend most of my free time either in the garage, in the woods driving my truck, or on the shooting range. This time is always relaxing for me, and serves a a great stress reliever. I am upfront with my views and am quick to get to the bottom of, and address, controversial issues. My positions on topics is often very clear very fast.
    I hope that the experience that we will all share whilst enjoying this blog will be filled with excitement, entertainment, and will capture the attention and interest of those that view it. Thank you, and enjoy.

    Sincerely,
                         Michael

Some Facts About Me

    Dear peoples I don't know,
    My name is Sierra. I am 13 and in the eighth grade, in a school that is in Maine. I have a couple hobbies. My hobbies are; reading, knitting, sculpting, and painting. I also like to play with my pets, watch t.v., and play certain video games.
    My dad works in a sign shop, and my stepmom works at a dentist office. My Grammy works at my school, and she also works at a little shop she runs by herself. When I get a job, I want it to be either being a wedding cake baker, or a clothes designer.
    I have four pets, two dogs and two cats. My dogs are named Veda and Lucy. They are both girls, and one is a minature pincher, the other is half chow-chow, half pomeranian. My cats' names are Ludwig and Lo-Pan. Ludwig is a maine coon cat, Lo-Pan is a norwegian forest cat.

This is a bit about me and about my life, and the important people/pets in my life. Can't wait to hear from you guys! :)

Waiting   

She awaits her super hero brother’s return home,
She hasn’t seen him for days.
She wonders how he is feeling
And how much he has missed her
Or why he hasn’t called
She sits there worrying and waiting.

She is anxious from the waiting
She just wants him safe in the comfort of their home
If she had his number she would have called
Does he even worry about her?
She can’t throw away of this gloomy feeling.

Her parents worry about her depressed feeling
She is jaded of waiting
Her parents want her to talk cause it’s healthy for her
All she wants is to run away from home
It has been a sorrowful 220 days
Frantic caring grandparents have already called.

Three times he has called
He doesn’t even question how she is feeling
He won’t be home for days
He isn’t even pitying when she sits there crying and waiting
He says he wants to come home
He says he misses her

Fighting happens around her
This is what their parents sort of love is called
Him craving to live at home
Parents giving off a hateful feeling
They are exhausted from the waiting
Her mom has been crying for days

He doesn’t go to school for days
He won’t even go for her
The teachers are waiting
The principal has called
Tired is the feeling
If only he came and remained home

Finally, after days, my super hero is home
The family is done waiting
This feeling of hers is called happiness!

Dear Strangers,

    Hello there, my name is Lauren. I’m 14 years of age. I have two furry feline friends named Sandy and Edna. I have a dog named Sappy. I enjoy playing soccer, tennis, basketball, and softball. I received most athletic for yearbook! I like to sail during the summer and hangout with friends. I have been to many different towns in Mexico and I have been to Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. I don’t travel as much anymore cause now that I am in middle school I can’t leave school for long periods of time and miss all that school work. I have quite a few friends but I only have like 3 friends I actually hangout with. Everyone else annoys me A LOT. I am not really a people person.

    I was a adopted when I was 5 years old. My parents were druggies and my brother who is 4 years older than me took care of me. He is my super hero. I haven’t seen my parents since I was 4 years old. I have a new family now and it’s not all that bad. My school is small and so is the town I live in. I wonder what it’s like where you live. Hope to hear about you soon!(:

From,
Lauren

Breaking News!

Our Quadblogging experience begins...see more in the margin of this blog.  We are using this Poetry Blog rather than our Homeroom Blog for this Quadblogging experience.   Be sure you have provided Mrs. L. with your email address so that she can email you an "invite" to his blog.  Here is where you will publish your Introduction AND Sestina.

Please reply in a friendly letter format.

Thanks!  Happy blogging.