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I can relate to this story except that it is my dad who died. He died when I was twelve, almost thirteen. I have in my heart the fantasy of what could be. What would our lives be like now? It is impossible to know.

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The bond of womanhood and their place in time saved a woman from being convicted of murder. Even though they were not close friends, the women understood her and kept the evidence secret. I can not see that happening these days. Especially with a woman who is not a friend. Times have come too far. Trifles have changed.

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Mama should have told Dee no a long time ago. She was a brat. It was good that Maggie finally got her way and kept the quilts. They were sentimental to her. She finally got attention. Dee was angry and insulted her over it, but at least she left. I only have brothers. I am so thankful.

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#11 "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke

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#11 "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke

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There is a little boy who loves his daddy. He is clinging to him for dear life while they dance in the kitchen. His father is drunk, but the boy does not care. His mom is getting agitated. The father is too drunk to realize he is being too rough. This poem is kind of sad. There are a lot of sad poems.

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Her mother pushed her too hard so she did not want to try anymore. She had the talent all along, but instead of being encouraged she was pressured so she would never try her best. It is ironic that after her mother died she finally realized her potential, years later when she was not pressured to try so hard.

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#9 "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

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#9 "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

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The emotional baggage far outweighs the physical baggage when it comes to war. Many soldiers cave under the weight of the things they carry. They try to cover it up with alcohol or drugs. Some cannot bear it and they commit suicide. Soldiers go to boot camp and train and train and train their bodies to get ready for war. They get strong and stay in shape physically but what about mentally? How do they get prepared for the mental damage they might face? Can anything be done? Is anything being done?

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I always dreamed of reuniting with my father when I grew up. He and my mom separated when I was young and I have not seen him since kindergarten or first grade. I never got the chance for a reunion because he passed away when I was thirteen. As his child I would have been devastated if our reunion was anything like the one in this story. His dad did not seem to care at all that he was meeting with his son. I can feel the anticipation that the boy had waiting to see his father. I can feel the disappointment he must have felt after the meeting.

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#7 "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich

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#7 "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich

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PTSD is an awful side effect of war. This story made me sad. It would almost have been better for Henry to die in war than to come home empty and then die in front of his brother anyway. Situations like this happen all the time and it is so sad. I am fortunate enough to not have experienced anything like this but my heart goes out to those that have.

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#6 "A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes

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#6 "A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes

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I had a dream of becoming a nurse. It was deferred for many years. I guess it festered like an open sore and then ran because I finally had enough and decided to chase my dream. Now my sore is healing as I continue on my journey to becoming a nurse.

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#5 "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins

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#5 "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins

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It is hard to respond to this poem. I must be one of the students who ties it to a chair and beats it with a horse. It confuses me. What does it mean? I found an analysis that helps understand it. https://thebooknest.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/introduction-to-poetry-analysis/

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I found this story to be very sad. I wonder how Armand responded to the letter. I want to know more! It is hard to believe that our culture really was like that. How crazy is that?

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I wonder what he would write about if it was Walmart nowadays. It is crazy how much culture has changed from what used to be indecent to now where pretty much anything goes.

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Wow! I love how it talks about being all your ages underneath; like when you cry like three or you are scared like five. That is so true! The story reminded me of one time in first grade. It was a day we were all supposed to wear our class shirts and I forgot mine. One girl, who was my enemy until fifth grade, pointed out in front of the whole class that I did not wear my shirt! I was so embarrassed and i cried in front of the whole class! In first grade it seemed like the end of the world that i forgot my shirt.

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This was a great story. It is always good advise to be careful what you wish for. Unfortunately hind sight is twenty-twenty and you do not think about the consequences of your actions until it is too late.