Bell Work 2/1/11, an expressive piece that demonstrates pure emotion based off a metaphor.

I've never felt this way before. The total darkness that is entailed within the picture is an emotion I haven't felt or even want to feel. Black, grey, and dark are all colors of darkness and hatred. Maybe if the colors were lighter I could feel the same way, but the only slight emotion that I can relate to in the picture is the gloominess that it holds. The dead trees branch that shows a crippling hand, symbolizes death and fear. The fear , the darkness are all senses that the human body alerts when looking at the picture. Somebody, alone, dark, or afraid may feel these emotions. But I for one do not want an empty pit of nothingness filling me. This picture symbolizes too many unwanted emotions, but luckily I haven't dealt with them frequently.

"The Corner" by Common, an expressive and narrative rap that demonstrates all the components of a poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mnKNr2Tiq8

Artist: Common ( f/ Kanye West, The Lost Prophets )
Album : Be (2005)
Song : The Corner

Verse 1:(Common)
Memories on corners with the fo's and the mo's
Walk to the store for the rose, talking straightforward to hoes
Got uncles that smoke, and some put blow up they nose
To cope with the lows, the wind is cold and it blows
In they socks and they soles, holdin' they rolls
Corners leave souls opened and closed, hopin' for mo'
We know where to go, rollin' in droves
They shoot the wrong way, cuz they ain't know and they goes
The streets ain't safe cuz they ain't knowing the code
By the foes I was told, either focus or fold
Got cousins with flows, hope they open some doors
So we can cop clothes and roll in a Rolls
Now I roll in a Olds, with windows that don't roll
Down the roads where cars get broken and stole
These are the stories told by Stony and Cottage Grove
The world is cold, the block is hot as a stove
On the corners

Hook:
(Kanye West)
I wish I could give you this feelin'
I wish I could give this feelin'
On the corners rob or kill
And dyin' just to make a livin', huh?

(Spoken: Lost Prophets)
We overstated, we underrated, we educated
The corner was our time when time stood still and
Gators and snakeskins and
Yellow and pink and
? profiles ??

Verse 2: (Common)
Street lights and deep nights, cats tryin' to eat right
Ridin' no-seat-bikes, with work to feed hypes
So they can get sweet Nike's, they head and they feet right
Desires of street life, cars and weed types
Its hard to breathe nights, days are thief-like
The beasts roam the streets, the police is Greek-like
Game that is deep, we speak and believe hype
Banged in the streets has cop left for deep life (?)
Its steep life, coming up where  is sheep-like
Rappers and hoopers, we strive to be like
G's with three strikes, seeds that need light
Cheese and recite, needs and BE strife
The corner, where struggle and greed fight
We write songs about wrong cuz its hard to see right
Look to the sky, hoping it will bleed light
Reality's a , and I heard that she bites
The corner

Hook:
(Kanye West)
I wish I could give you this feelin'
I wish I could give this feelin'
On the corners rob or kill
And dyin' just to make a livin', huh?

(Spoken: Lost Prophets)
The corner was our magic, our music, our politics
Fires raised as tribal dances and war cries
Broke out on different corners
Power to the people
Black power
Black is beautiful

Verse 3: (Common)
Black church services, murderers, Arabs serving burgers
As cats with gold permanents, move they bags as herbalists
The dirt isn't just fertile, its people workin' and earnin' this
The curb getters go where the cats flow and the current is
Its so hot that  burn to live
The furnace is, whether money movin', the determined live
We talk, play lotto, and buy German beers
Its so black packed with action that's affirmative
The corners

Hook:
(Kanye West)
I wish I could give you this feelin'
I wish I could give this feelin'
On the corners rob or kill
And dyin' just to make a livin', huh?

(Spoken: Lost Prophets)
The corner was our Rock of Gibraltar, our Stonehenge
Our Taj Mahal, our monument
Our testimonial to freedom, to peace, and to love
Down on the corner

"Trip to Japan," an expressive piece that demonstrates correct dialogue form.

Trip to Japan Dialogue

     "Steve! So you know about that trip to Japan?" announced Jay.
     “Yeah!?” replied Steve, in a concerning manner.
     “Well. . . Unfortunately, I can’t take you. I’m taking Brad instead. . .”
     “Wait! What?. . . Why?”
     “Well. . . My parent’s don’t trust you, Steve. . .”
     “Since when?!”
     “Since last week, when you hit my dad on hole 13.”
     “I said 13!!!” roared Steve.
     “No Steve. . . It’s four!. . . Not whatever hole your on,” replied Jay calmly.
     “Oh. . . That’s why everyone looked at me weird.”
     “Yeah, so because of that, I’m taking Brad.”
     “Well, alright then. . . Tell your dad to get well. Hope that bump on his head doesn’t turn into a tumor or something.”
     “Yeah, sorry Steve. Maybe next time.”
     “Oh well. . . Thanks for letting me know, Jay. I almost packed my bags tonight.”
     “Ha ha, wouldn’t want that now. Oh, and by the way, tell your mom I said hi, alright? And that I’ll be late tonight.”
     “Wait, WHAT?!!”
     “She’s my math tutor, remember???” said Jay calmly.
     “Oh yeah. . . I forgot. . . So see ya later, Jay. . . Have fun in Japan,” replied Steve.

"Everyday Common Hero," a persuasive and expressive peotry piece.

My uncle, an everyday hero

is amazing at what he does,

no doubt about it.

Don't question it,

don't even think twice about it.

Helping others, what he does best,

a councilor at heart,

solves problems, that most may ignore.

A true hero, Arnold Lopez,

changes lives for the better.

Getting through the highs and lows,

is all but a simple job description.

Amazing, a true understatement.

There is no limit to what he does.

Helping, an easy task at hand,

but yet, task widely refused.

One my uncle picks up frequently,

no matter the circumstances,

because it's not about him,

it's about helping those in need.

"Horrors of Human Trafficking," a persuasive flyer about Maiti Nepal.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Help our efforts in ending this never ending war of human trafficking in India!

   

All funds will be sent to  Friends of Maiti Nepal, an organization developed to help Anuradha Koirala, a winner of the 2010 CNN Hero Award,

in her efforts to rescue young women and children in the country wide battle of human trafficking.

Anuradha Koiral

· Over 200,000 women and children are trafficked from Nepal to India and are sold by brothels.

· Anuradha Koirala has helped rescued over 2,000 women and children just last year.

· India is the largest Red Light District in the world.

· Children rescued by Koirala are adopted by her and are sent to Maiti Nepal where they receive an education and place to live.

· Maiti Nepal has helped over 12,000 rescued victims since the 1990’s.

"Harmon Parker: My Personal Hero," a persuasive speech.

Everyday Hero Speech

What defines a hero? A hero is defined as -- a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. Harmon Parker is an example that goes beyond that of a typical hero. Because of his extensive and persistent act to help the people of Kenya reach crucial resources incase of a disastrous flash flood, Harmon Parker, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, deserves to be the CNN Everyday hero.

Parker arrived in Kenya as a young missionary in 1989, when he befriended Jay Hindson, a local development worker who invited him to a bridge build in 1996. The experience changed his life forever. Now 54, Parker recalls, “I saw that building a bridge could change lives and transform communities.” The destruction that flash floods present alerted Parker. “When it floods, people really suffer not being able to get to the clinic or the market or to their school, Parker said. “Like every people, they have dreams. They want to prosper.” By building these bridges, Parker can bring their dreams to life, and give the people of Kenya a better way of life. Better yet, a safer way of life as well.

Bridging the Gap, an organization developed by Harmon Parker, has helped build a total of 45 bridges since 1997. These bridges not only save lives; they allow people within rural areas of Kenya to reach schools, markets, and health care. “I have built many bridges in very remote areas for the 'few and the needy' that a larger organization may not consider," Parker said. "Knowing this bridge will probably save at least one life is what makes me tick. ... I build bridges because I want to save lives, lives that I will never know about." Parker’s overhanging footbridges are a simple design, that are about 120 feet long and cost up to $6,000. But due to limited financing, Bridging the Gap can organize only five to six projects a year.

While working on this project for 15 years, Harmon Parker has been robbed and held at gunpoint, plagued by parasites such as malaria and dengue fever, and yet he still continues to contribute to the people of Kenya. "I feel I'm blessed ... privileged to do what I'm doing," he says. "A bridge is a beautiful metaphor for many things. There are bridges of hope, bridges of peace, bridges of life. To me, bridges are beautiful." His willingness to give to the people of Kenya only shows how Harmon Parker is an “Everyday hero”.
As a top 10 contestant for CNN’s “Everyday hero”, Harmon Parker’s contributions to the country of Kenya defines him as a very noble and courageous man that isn’t commonly found. With the support of Bridging the Gap, Parker can influence the lives of many other villagers in Kenya to save lives. To get involved, visit www.bridgingthegapafrica.org, and give the people of Kenya a safe route to reach key resources for their everyday living.

Visit cnn.com and search for CNN Everyday Hero to cast your vote and view other contests journeys.

"The half drawn curtain moved..." an expressive piece that demonstrates use of interior monologue.

“The half drawn curtain moved…”

The half drawn curtain moved to unmask the sight of man injured in a hospital bed. I did not know this man. But the sight of him could not escape my mind. The image, soaked in my head, I couldn’t take it any more. I flipped the channel in hopes of occupying my brain. ESPN, hopefully that would be the cure. Oh, even better, it was the weekend’s featured high school basketball game. St. Patrick’s vs. Winter Park. This should be interesting…

As the game was closing to an end, the pain, the feeling of that horrible sight came back to me; almost haunting me in a sense. It was terrifying, for I can not describe what I saw in those few shorts seconds of seeing the man in the hospital bed. In some cases, it almost felt like I knew the man. Maybe it’s a sign of Déjà vu? My mind couldn’t decide so I tried to get my mind off the matter. And what better way to do so, than take a stroll down to the park? While there, I could burn off some of those calories I gained while sitting on the coach.

While I strolled down to the park, I could feel the spring breeze flowing through the air, as well as the smell of flowers blossoming for summer. Maybe this was a good idea. Finally, as I was closing in on the park, I saw the next victims of my eventual tirade on the court. Upon my arrival, I immediately joined their pick-up game that they established and did my thing. Taking the ball strong to the hoop, nothing could get in my way. Not even the horrors of the man in the hospital bed.

When the game came to a close, curiosity struck my mind in a matter of an instant. The man in the hospital replayed in my mind once again. I couldn’t help it. What was so significant of this man? The horror had no meaning to me, but couldn’t escape my mind. Would this haunt me forever? These questions filled my mind, as I had no idea of what to do.

But in a matter of seconds, my phone went off. Who could it be? My parent were who, but I wondered why they’d be calling me right now. I had just spoke with them last night, so it must be serious matter. “Your uncle Todd is hurt Kyle, the doctors say he‘s in serious condition.”, my parents said. I had nothing to say, but just cried. As I rushed to the hospital, hoping I could make one last impression before my uncle would pass away, I soon discovered what had been haunting me this whole time. It was the image of my uncle dying, and there was nothing I could do about it…The man symbolized so much for me, and without him, life just couldn’t be the same. Goodbye uncle Todd, for I now know the truth behind my premonition…