Flash Fiction

Took a deep breath in the mirror, he didn't like it when I wore high heels, but I do

It was a windy night as I stepped out of my little bug onto the cold streets of New York city. I had my favorite dress on and my hair curled just perfectly - it was going to be a good night. I was meeting my boyfriend of two years at our favorite restaurant, hoping this would be the night that he would bring a ring.

Turned the lock and put my headphones on, he always said he didn't get this song, but I do, I do

Thinking about everything my friends were telling me about him, I walked down the street to pick him up a coffee from the little street cart he loved so much. I knew they were wrong, he loved me, and he was the one. That was when I saw him - kissing another woman as he put her into a cab.

Walked in expecting you'd be late, but you got here early and you stand and wave, I walk to you

I quickly turned and walked the other way. My head spinning from all the accusations that I'd heard about him. They were all true. Finally it all made sense, this was never right, it couldn't have been. After walking for what seemed like an eternity, I turned and stepped into a little cafe I had never seen before.

You pull my chair out and help me in, and you don't know how nice that is, but I do

After ordering a cafe mocha I sat down in a little booth and just contemplated my life for the last few years. It had been such a joke, how did I do this to myself? What does that make me? I was starting to think of how I must have pushed him to do this, how it must be my own fault, and I was just going to have to try harder. That's when you sat down across from me.

And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid, I think it's strange that you think I'm funny cause he never did

You said that I looked like I needed someone to talk to. I came close to spilling my heart out to you at that very moment, but then you noticed what I was drinking and made a joke about how I should just pick one or the other. Quickly defending myself with some witty comment, I suddenly caught a glimpse of the old me. One I hadn't known I had lost.

I've been spending the last eight months, thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end

And so we talked. And talked. And talked. Joking and laughing more in those few short hours than I had in what seemed like a lifetime. It seemed like such a simple concept, to really enjoy myself, why hadn't I realized it sooner? Suddenly, it was clear how dysfunctional he was, not me. My only mistake was letting him break me. Five minutes before I had been so sure that I would never love again...

But on a Wednesday, in a cafe, I watched it begin again

...But on a Wednesday, in a cafe, I watched it begin again.

<3

Lyrics from Taylor Swift's Begin Again.

Open Letter

Dear Sonny,

I'm writing this letter to you today to tell you about our time together. We have been through so much and I would like you to have this so you know how much you mean to me.

I remember the first time I seen you. I was 12 years old and I was making the switch to a different barn to continue my riding lessons. My first thought was Equine Meadows seeing I had such a great experience attending riding lessons there as a child. I remember looking at pictures of all the horses that I would be riding in lessons and all of the sudden I came across a horse I had never seen before. I was instantly fascinated, as he was so beautiful. It was you! 

Soon after, my lessons began. I immediately asked if I could ride you but I was told that it was too dangerous for someone at my level. You were a little crazy to say the least, and many experienced riders had taken spills off of your back. But I was persistent, and after a few weeks, I finally got the chance. Our experience levels were actually pretty similar. We were both very green, a combination that very rarely mixed. However, everyone was amazed at how well we did together - earning me many more chances to ride you. Even though you still enjoyed to be more than a little silly while being ridden, you always took care of me when I was riding, and I did my best to do the same for you. 

As time went on, I began to lease you. This was a chance I took as I still wasn't quite at the level that most people are when they start leasing. Because of this, so many people expressed many ignorant opinions - and that's putting it lightly. But I was determined to prove them wrong. Many rides, and many tears shed into your mane later, people stopped talking. They didn't have a reason too anymore because we more than proved them wrong.

You have become something that no one thought you would. All those people that said you had "no potential" are eating their words. You have worked so hard and turned yourself into a horse that is a joy to ride and I'm so proud to have been a part of that. Clinicians have went from saying that you are "never going anywhere" to saying they "can't wait to see where you are going". And I have gone from believing that you can be something, to seeing you transform into what I knew you could be all along. We have both come so far, and it's exciting to think that we still have so far to go.

I love you forever - never forget that,

Erin

News Story

Coats, Scarves, Mittens, and Hats in Style This Winter

Parents of Many Children Outraged

          Over the past few years, keeping warm during the winter months has become something of the past. Teens have been spotted out in the snow with nothing but a t-shirt on, Children have been "forgetting their coats", and mittens have fallen off the face of the earth. However, as winter fast approaches, all of these things have been spotted in clothing stores all across the city. "This is insane!", a worried parent shouts, when questioned about the issue. If children aren't exposed to the elements, how will they ever become accustomed? If they're not allowed to become cold, how will they ever learn to keep themselves warm?
         One Penny Clarkwell also made a very interesting point. Her daughter, Nancy, has already been asking for a new winter coat for Christmas. When asked why she wanted one, Nancy replied "It's cold outside, a sweater just isn't enough". "Isn't enough? Since when?  When I was young I would walk to and from school, up hill both ways, in negative 60 degree weather with nothing but a strap shirt on. And now a sweater isn't enough? Outrageous." Penny replied. She had also begun over the previous winters to use the money saved from not purchasing winter clothing for more important things. She seemed quite distressed when we asked what she would do without it. "How will I find money for the solarium now?" she weeped.
         We don't know Penny, we just don't know. I say we take a stand - say no to providing your child with these "fashionable", yet evidently unnecessary accessories.

Meme

Toms

            A little less than a year ago I first heard of a new product being released called "Toms". At first, I was very confused because I had no idea what they were. I mean, when you hear someone refer to something as Toms, shoes aren't exactly what first comes to mind.
            However after doing some research, I realized that these shoes aren't just for retail gain, but also for a much more important cause. For every pair of shoes bought, the makers of Toms donate a pair to a person in a third world country who can't afford to buy their own. I feel that this is such an amazing idea, as it not only encourages people to invest in them, but also provides the less fortunate with something that we take for granted every day. In learning about this, I immediately went to their website and ordered a pair for myself.
            After a reasonable amount of time, my Toms arrived in the mail. I was pleased to learn that they were not only extremely stylish, but also one of the comfiest pairs of shoes I had ever put on my feet. For the very reasonable price of fifty dollars, I received my new favorite pair of shoes and felt great that because of me, somewhere in the world someone else was also receiving a pair they would never be able to afford.
            For the entire summer my Toms lived on my feet. I wore them to the beach, to the mall, and everywhere else I went. After much wear, I only have two complaints. The first being that they stretched out so that after a little while they became too big for me. This would have been nice to know when I was ordering them so I could have bought them a half size smaller, but it was not noted on the website. The second being that after just a few months they began to tear. The material, although it was very comfy, didn't hold up as well as I would have liked. The pair that I ordered back in April are now no longer wearable.
            All in all, I would definitely recommend these shoes to anyone that asked. The benefits without a doubt outweigh the few minor set backs I experienced. As upset that I was that my first pair wore out, I did not hesitate in purchasing a second - and that itself speaks volumes.

Love

Not enough
                                                 love                                       love
                                           love       love                         love       love
                                      love                  love              love                   love
                                 love                          love      love                            love
                             love                                    love                                      love
                               love                                    n                                        love
                                  love                               o                                       love
                                     love                                t                                love
                                         love                         e                              love
                                             love                        n                       love
                                                 love                 o                     love
                                                     love               u               love
                                                         love        g              love
                                                              love      h      love
                                                                  love     love
                                                                       love

"A Horse's Poem" Plunder

Somewhere, somewhere
In time’s own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some Paradise where horses go.
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
-Stanley Harrison

http://www.equinespiritsanctuary.org/Articles.html



Time.
Sweet.
Creeks, trees.
Paradise.
Love.
...Horses.

"A Horse's Poem" plunder by Erin O'Rielly

I chose this poem because it is my absolute favorite poem. I know my plunder may seem meaningless but to me it's exactly the opposite. All of these words describe different feelings or moments I've had while spending time with my horse.

For example:

Time - All of the best time in my life is spent with my horse.
Sweet - My horse is the absolute sweetest, and spending time with him is always sweet.
Creeks, trees - One of my favorite things to do with him is trail ride and we see so many creeks and trees.
Paradise - Around him is my own personal paradise.
Love - I have an unbelievable amount of love for him, and the way he can fix any bad day.

Breathe, it's just a bad day, not a bad life

Your alarm goes off too early

Six in the morning

The world is dark

Your life is dark

School is stressful

Fight with your mother

Hate the way you look

Your life is painful

Missing someone that you used to know

Your phone doesn't ring

Waiting for a text that doesn't come

Your life is lonely

But,

You're healthy

The sun is shining

You are safe, you are loved

And really, is it a bad life?

Or, is it just a bad day?

Broken Strings

                                                        "Broken Strings"

    

By: James Morrison Ft. Nelly Furtado

Let me hold you
For the last time
It's the last chance to feel again
But you broke me
Now I can't feel anything

When I love you,
It's so untrue
I can't even convince myself
When I'm speaking,
It's the voice of someone else

Oh it tears me up

I try to hold on, but it hurts too much
I try to forgive, but it's not enough to make it all okay

You can't play on broken strings
You can't feel anything that your heart don't want to feel
I can't tell you something that ain't real

Oh the truth hurts
And lies worse
How can I give anymore
When I love you a little less than before

Oh what are we doing
We are turning into dust
Playing house in the ruins of us

Running back through the fire
When there's nothing left to save
It's like chasing the very last train when it's too late

Oh it tears me up
I try to hold on, but it hurts too much
I try to forgive, but it's not enough to make it all okay

You can't play on broken strings
You can't feel anything that your heart don't want to feel
I can't tell something that ain't real

Well the truth hurts,
And lies worse
How can I give anymore
When I love you a little less than before

But we're running through the fire
When there's nothing left to save
It's like chasing the very last train
When we both know it's too late (too late)

You can't play on broken strings
You can't feel anything that your heart don't want to feel
I cant tell you something that ain't real

Well truth hurts,
And lies worse
How can I give anymore
When I love you a little less than before

Let me hold you for the last time
It's the last chance to feel again

James Morrison - Broken Strings ft. Nelly Furtado

2. The form of this song is fairly straight forward, however this is beneficial as it definitely emphasizes the meaning of the lyrics. This song is about a hopeless relationship, and the heartache that realizing that and accepting it brings. The writer uses short, quick lines to portray this hurt. For example "Let me hold you. For the last time. It's the last chance to feel again." This is effective as it brings out the speakers emotion, almost like you can feel the pain in the lines. This same idea is evident again in the fact that there is no rhyme scheme. Generally, when a song has rhyming, the mood is light and the meaning isn't so serious. Seeing that the upsetting mood of this poem is just the opposite of that, the use of a rhyme scheme would almost contradict the meaning. Lastly, the meter being short and choppy is also effective in adding to the meaning. The reader is forced to read the lines almost as someone in this situation would be speaking. When someone is upset they often don't speak in long, descriptive sentences, but short, quick lines as is seen in the lyrics. This is once again effective in portraying the mood of the poem, and thus giving the reader a sense of what the speaker is feeling. 

3. I feel this poem is very effective as it is addressing a situation that many readers may find themselves in. The speaker is a person that is currently ending a relationship with someone that they obviously have had intense feelings for, the addressee. The tone is very emotional, there is a lot of regret, sadness, and even some bitterness. This is evident as both parties are clearly torn as to whether or not they should be ending this. They are still in love, but they know it can't work, which is a very painful place to be in. For example, "It's the last chance to feel again. But you broke me. Now I can't feel anything." Here, the speaker is saying that being together this last time is his/her "last chance to feel", clearly upset about the break up he/she then states "but you broke me", proving that there is also a lot of bitterness towards the addressee. Another aspect that I particularly like about these lyrics is the extended metaphor that is seen in the title and throughout the song. The writer is comparing this complicated relationship to broken strings on a guitar. He states "You can't play on broken strings, you can't feel anything", figuratively referring to their relationship. Literally he means that you physically cannot play on broken strings, but figuratively he is saying that you can't be in a relationship that has this much damage, it is impossible to make it work. 

4. I specifically chose this song because of the meaning of the lyrics. I think that the writer has not only captured a moment between two people in this piece, but also the exact feelings that they are having. This song is just so relatable to so many people, as this is a situation that so many people have gone through, and these feelings are ones that so many have felt. I feel that the best songs are songs like this one, because they aren't only fun to listen to, but they can also help listeners that are going through this same situation. Almost like a sort of musical therapy.

A Haiku and a Limerick

A Peaceful Day (Haiku)

A big buzzing bee
Flies softly through the green grass
And lands on a tree

Sonny (Limerick)

My horses name is Sonny
Sometimes he acts really funny
He likes to spin
And I love when we win
Especially when he jumps like a bunny

           The form of my Haiku, A Peaceful Day, definitely plays a big part in the content. In a Haiku, the form is about syllables, 5 in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third. This usually makes the poem a little deeper than most limericks, and that's how I feel about mine too. A Haiku is meant to leave you with a feeling, and sometimes even a lasting impression. While referring to nature, a summers day, I feel like I was able to capture a sense of peace in the warm summer air. While the actual content of the poem was not all that serious, I feel as though the form added to the inner meaning. The short, descriptive lines leave the reader with a picture of each scene in their minds. This is effective because they hopefully will be able to connect this with a day they experienced in their own lives, and therefore resurrect how they felt at the time.

Hi :)

Hey!

My name is Erin and I'm a first year university student. I created this blog for my English 1080 class so that's mostly what will be on here. But, for now, here's a bit about me!

I'm currently 17 years old and will be turning 18 on October 20th.

I have a beautiful horse named Sonny, who is in my profile picture.

I'm on an elite cheerleading team called Terra Nova Elite Stars Fusion.

I love music, some of my favourite artists are Taylor Swift, Hedley, Marianas Trench, Dashboard Confessional, Avril Lavigne, and so many more.

I also really love listening to covers on Youtube, especially ones by Megan Nicole, Tyler Ward, and Boyce Avenue.

I am in love with One Tree Hill, even though it's over I still watch my seasons all the time. I also love Pretty Little Liars, The OC, Vampire Diares, Grey's Anatomy, and Big Brother.

I work and ride at a stable called Equine Meadows and I love it. I teach beginner/intermediate lessons to people of all ages, as well as day camp in the summer times. 

That's it for now I guess! I have english class tomorrow so maybe there will be an update after that.

<3