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This play keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.  It shows how different women were viewed by men in the early 1900s.  The remoteness of farm life comes alive in this sad tale of loneliness, anger, mystery, and murder.  The image of the dead canary sums up the despair.

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My Uncle served in Vietnam.  He was wounded but fully recovered.  My father says that his brother rarely talks about the war, and that's probably why he does not have any post-war issues.  This story reminds me of his service and the trials that so many soldiers faced in Vietnam.  The author weaves in the personal struggles of Jimmy Cross while also describing in detail the daily lives of his platoon.  Many young men went from being immature college students to leaders in a short time during this conflict.  The most compelling quote for me in this story states, "They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die."

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I see a successful daughter that is ashamed of her mother and sister in this intriguing story.  Mama and Maggie understand God's love and their simple life.  Dee, on the other hand, constantly trys to find something better while missing  life's true meaning.  As Mama shares in the story about Maggie, "This was the way she knew God to work."  This wordle helps me recall the vivid descriptions in the story.

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Louise Erdrich brings life on an Indian reservation to life in this compelling short story.  Many diverse families were devastated by the repercussions of the Vietnam War.  Such is the case with the Lamartine family when Henry physically returns from the war but mentally never recovers from the horrific experience.  Lyman's life changes dramatically without his adventurous brother and their red Oldsmobile convertible.

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The boy turns away from his father and grandfather's profession to pursue his passion for writing.  Although I doubt these men are excited about the boy's decision to go his own way, the father accepts  the boy's dream.  The boy details his admiration for the hard work of his father and grandfather in this descriptive poem.

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I am amazed at how many prodigy ideas the mother in this story concocts.  The daughter's childhood consists of a whirlwind of tests and tryouts.  Many compelling quotes in this story show the agony and conflict between the daughter and her mother.  The one that impacts me the most is when Jing-mei wails, "You want me to be someone that I'm not!"  Eventually, the mother accepts her daughter's plans after many lost years of unfulfilled dreams.

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I have interpreted this poem in a positive light. The young boy is having a wild time waltzing with his rowdy father.  The son may be slightly scared, but likes the crazy ride much to his mother's displeasure.  As a hard day comes to an end, the young boy gets to roughhouse with his dad.  This is a scene repeated between many fathers and sons.  I enjoy this musical rendition of the poem.

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Since "Waltz" is in the title of the poem, I thought that writing a song very similar to a waltz would be appropriate. A waltz is in 3/4 timing, while this song is in 6/8, which sound quite similar in certain instances, such as this.

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This depressing short story tugs at my heart.  The boy longs for some time with his absent father, only to find that the man drinks too much and is overbearing to others.  The author immerses the reader in the embarrassing restaurant scenes.  By the end of the story, I, too, am ready to quickly leave this man and catch a train at Grand Central Station.

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Hughes uses several similes to advise the reader that deferring one's dreams will cause harm to the dream.  This poem cues me to pursue my dreams and not put them on the back burner or let them "dry up".

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After reading this sad story, I intently wonder how Armand reacts to the revelation in his mother's letter.  Does he look for his wife and son?  Does he share his surprising news with anyone?  Does he treat the slaves better?  Does he search out a new wife?  I believe that he does not take any of these actions, taking his secret and despair to his grave.  He never overcomes the feeling that "He thought Almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him".

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This simple poem reminds me that I must delve into each piece of literature to truly experience the piece.  This poem emphasizes that poetry can speak to each reader in a different way if the reader will take the time to engage with the piece of work.  Attached is a link to a list of other poems by Billy Collins

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Billy Collins Poems - Poems of Billy Collins - Poem Hunter

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Poem Hunter all poems of by Billy Collins poems. 52 poems of Billy Collins. Phenomenal Woman, Still I Rise, The Road Not Taken, If You Forget Me, Dreams

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This great reflection brings to mind  how hard childhood can be, even on one's birthday.  This story reassures me that it's occasionally acceptable to revert to a behavior from past years, and encourages me to know that years of experience will bring wisdom for life's difficult moments.  "Eleven" brings back memories from elementary school where I wish I would have known how to better deal with an insensitive teacher.

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Sammy takes a stand against Lengel for embarrassing the girls. Sammy learns that it builds character when a person follows through with a decision reflecting, "But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture it's fatal not to go through with it". I also enjoy how the A&P customers come to life in Updike's story. I laugh every time I read, "A couple of customers that had been heading for my slot begin to knock against each other, like scared pigs in a chute".

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The song "Love Shack" talks about getting together without thinking about the consequences.  This song awakens memories of the story for me, and helps me recall how Alan ignores the old man's warnings about the consequences of a love potion.