How Did You Die?

I always hated poety until my junior year of high school when I had Mrs. Van Orden for English. She made us do a project that really changed my perspective, and now I really love to read poems. She's really made an impact in my life, and my love of poety is just one of many things I owe to her. I think, since I'm not the author, that I'm not really allowed to dedicate this poem to anybody, but if I could, it would be to Mrs. Van Orden.

How Did You Die?
By: Edmund Vance Cooke

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there -- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,
It's how did you fight -- and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?

My Canon

In the world of literature "The Canon" is a slippery term, defined differently by everyone, that basically describes "works of literary merit" that everyone should read in their lifetime. The "classics", such as The Scarlet Letter, Hamlet, and Lord of the Flies, are generally accepted in The Canon while the "Canonical Snobs" (as I call them) would laugh at the idea of the addition of The Hunger Games or Twilight. See the difference? Popular books vs. classical literature.

There is a place for both in this world and I'll fight anyone who denies that. We need exciting and compelling page turners that (let's be honest) might be written poorly, AND we need slower moving novels, impregnated with rich symbolism and universal truths, that may be simple in plot but are written with beautiful language that makes us better people. We need both.

So anyway, back to The Canon. As I mentioned earlier, The Canon is mostly a matter of opinion and in turn is a huge topic of debate in the literary field. SO: Today I'm presenting you with My Canon. This is a list of books that (for lack of a less cheesy phrase) have changed my life. Books that, in my opinion, are well written, contain more than surface meaning, and are better the more times you read them.

My Canon
Harry Potter
1984
Where the Red Fern Grows
Flowers for Algernon
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Kite Runner
Star Girl
Ella Enchanted
The Hiding Place
Fahrenheit 451
Les Miserables


*Please keep in mind that i AM an English major and so some of these books aren't "page turners" but "thought provokers." Also keep in mind that I am a normal person and so some of these books aren't "thought provokers" but "page turners." If you would like a more specific review of one of these books, comment, or text me and I'll tell you which ones you would like. :)

For Harry, Shelly, and the inspiring Jack Kelly

My new goal is post more...just so you guys know. (You guys as in, the three of you who actually read this blog.)

I don't have very much time to post right now but I decided to motivate myself by...posting...I mean, like...Carpe Diem! The goal is to post more so I've gotta seize the day right? Speaking of Seize the Day...Newsies is superb. Seriously.

Who would I be if I didn't mention my excitement at the upcoming final installment of the Harry Potter series? Wow...I almost just started crying. This is going to be one of the most monumental things to happen in human history. I have prepared. As mentioned in a previous blog post, if you haven't read the books then don't speak to me.

And now to the point of this entire post: A shout out to my homegirl Shells Fabs. One of the reasons I love her so much is because she has an appreciation for the finer things in this life, such as Harry Potter, Homestarrunner, and really old Disney Originals. She is a true friend and I can't wait for her to come home from...Oklahoma? (Is that where you are Shelly?) so we can watch Harry Potter together as it should be.

Quote of the Day: “But it is as we go onward in life, when objects begin to lose their freshness of hue and our souls their delicacy of perception, the spirit of beauty is most needed.”—Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Artist of the Beautiful