An Essay about the theme of "Traveling Through the Dark"

Amita Bose
English 8
Mr. Salsich
May 4, 2009

The Right Choice:
An Essay about the theme of “Traveling Through the Dark” and my life

The choice between chocolate and vanilla ice cream (frag). The choice between life and death (frag). The choice between fulfilling your dreams and pleasing others (frag). Which one would you choose? Throughout our lives, in every hour, day, month and year, there are choices that we must make. We must carefully weigh each option and select the one that we feel is just. This message presents itself in the poem “Traveling Through the Dark” and in my life.
TS In the poem “Traveling Through the Dark” by William Stafford, the narrator, Stafford, stumbled upon a dead, pregnant deer in the night and had to make the ultimate decision: to push the deer into the ravine below or not. TS After wrestling with his conscience and thoughts for a moment, Stafford pushed the deer into the canyon, not because he wished to do so, but because it was the right thing to do. SD In the poem, Stafford tells us that “to swerve [on the road] might make more dead”. CM When he found the deer, he had to consider not only his wishes, but the welfare of his fellow travelers who might have hit the slain doe.
CM Even though Stafford had no desire to push the deer over the edge, he realized that he had to sacrifice a small piece of his conscience for the safety of other people. SD Furthermore, Stafford learned that the deer was pregnant when he accidentally brushed her side and felt the warmth of her fawn as it “lay there waiting”. CM The discovery of the unborn fawn added yet another point for William Stafford to consider as he made his decision. CM He had to “think had for [all]” and ponder what the fawn’s life would bring without a mother, and if it was even possible for the fawn to live. CM Stafford realized that it would be a kinder deed to end the fawn’s suffering before it began, so he pushed the deer, with her unborn fawn, into the canyon. CS The decision that Mr. Stafford had to make on that dark night on that desolate road was a truly difficult one, but he had to follow his heart and trust that it would lead him to the right decision.
TS Similarly to the difficult decision that William Stafford had to make in “Traveling Through the Dark”, I recently had to make a tough decision. TS One Sunday in late March, a friend called me and asked me to come over to her house, and even though I desperately wanted to go, I declined her offer because I had to write a paper that was due the next day. SD I had not seen this friend for over a month, and I yearned for her company, but I realized that the paper I had to write was just more important. CM I could have spent the day enjoying the happiness in life with a good friend, but I chose to write my paper instead. CM I realized that it would be negligent to put off my homework for even one more hour, so I made my decision, no matter how much I wished for the carefree freedom of a day with a friend. SD Also, when I was making my decision, I had to consider what would be best for me in the long run. CM Even though a day spent with my friend would have brought a burst of pure joy into my life, a burst cannot last forever. CM I realized that my burst of happiness would soon wane away and the daunting task of writing an entire paper in one night would be on me. CS When I was choosing between a paper and a friend, I used my mind to come to the right decision, even though I may have not been exceedingly happy about my choice at the time.
The choice between rolling a dead doe into a canyon and leaving her there for someone else (frag). The choice between enjoying the company of a friend and writing a paper (frag). From sunrise to sunset every day of our lives, we must make endless decisions, but we can always trust that we will choose the right option. If we listen to our hearts and heed our minds when we are making these decisions, we shall know that we have chosen the truly, fairly, and justly.

The First Body Paragraph about an Essay on the theme of "Traveling Through the Dark" by William Stafford

Amita Bose
English 8
Mr. Salsich
May 4, 2009


An Essay about the theme of “Traveling Through the Dark”

TS In the poem “Traveling Through the Dark” by William Stafford, the narrator, Stafford, stumbled upon a dead, pregnant deer in the night and had to make the ultimate decision: to push the deer into the ravine below or not. TS After wrestling with his conscience and thoughts for a moment, Stafford pushed the deer into the canyon, not because he wished to do so, but because it was the right thing to do. SD In the poem, Stafford tells us that “to swerve [on the road] might make more dead”. CM When he found the deer, he had to consider not only his wishes, but the welfare of his fellow travelers who might have stumbled upon the slain doe.
CM Even though Stafford had no desire to push the deer over the edge, he realized that he had to sacrifice a small piece of his conscience for the wellbeing of other people. SD Furthermore, Stafford learned that the deer was pregnant when he accidentally brushed her side and felt the warmth of her fawn as it “lay there waiting”. CM The discovery of the unborn fawn added yet another point for William Stafford to consider as he made his decision. CM He had to “think had for [all]” and ponder what the fawn’s life would bring without a mother, and if it was even possible for the fawn to live. CM Stafford realized that it would be a kinder deed to end the fawn’s suffering before it began, so he pushed the deer, with her unborn fawn, into the canyon. CS The decision that Mr. Stafford had to make on that dark night on that desolate road was a truly difficult one, but he had to follow his heart and trust that it would lead him to the right decision.

A Polished Essay about the theme of "Happiness"

Amita Bose
English 8
Mr. Salsich
May 3, 2009

A Shifting Sun:
An Essay about the theme of “Happiness”

Sometimes the bright, golden sun (n) is obscured by a thick cover of dreary, grey clouds (n). The sun disappears behind (prep.) these clouds without warning (dependant clause) and leaves us cold and desolate, longing for its warmth and comfort. But we can seek solace in the fact that eventually these clouds while float away, and our sun will shine upon us once more. In the poem “Happiness” by Jane Kenyon, Kenyon describes how we must let happiness go and trust that it shall eventually find us again, just as we must let the sun go, trusting that it will return.
TS Artfully hidden among (prep.) the beautiful phrases (n) and graceful truths of the poem “Happiness”, the message (n) that happiness shall return lives (periodic sentence). SD Kenyon likens happiness to the prodigal’s son (n), who returned home after (prep.) “[squandering] a fortune away”. CM The prodigal’s son left his birth place to see the world and returned a man with little money (n), but he gained wisdom during his travels. CM Likewise, happiness shall go as it pleases, but we must realize that it will always return. CM The comings and goings of happiness teach us to appreciate the feeling of bliss while it graces us with its presence, just as the prodigal’s son learned about the world when he stepped beyond the walls of his home (loose sentence). SD Also, happiness will “[inquire] at every door until he finds you asleep . . . as you often are during . . . your despair”. CM We need not seek happiness, for if we try to, we will find that it is ever elusive. CM We must trust that happiness will eventually find us (dependent clause), even “during the unmerciful hours of [our] despair”. SD This message proved true when my grandfather passed away when I was seven years old. CM The grief was stunning, and I couldn’t seem to sense anything but the crushing feeling of sorrow. CM I remember that I ran to the window, wildly (adv) hoping that I would see my grandfather’s soul floating among the snow laden branches, but as I stared out the window, I saw two small children joyfully (adv) tumbling about in a snow drift ( active voice). CM I could faintly hear their shouts of laughter and excitement, and as I stood there, feeling my excruciating sorrow, I was suddenly touched by the children’s happiness. CM They were floating in their own world of pure bliss (active voice). CM Knowing that they were so happy raised my spirits as well. CS Happiness shall come and go as it pleases, but we must put our faith in the fact that it shall always return, no matter who we are, where we are, or what our lives have brought us.
The sun disappears behind an impenetrable wall of clouds; happiness leaves our minds, bodies, and souls. The sun breaks through the wall to shine once more; happiness searches high and low until it finds us. The sun sheds its light onto every person and thing on this earth, just as happiness is experienced by every person and thing. Whether you are a little boy playing in a driveway with your trucks, an old woman watching the world, or the pencil on a student’s desk, you shall know what it is like to have happiness, to lose happiness, and to have happiness find you again.

* * *
Self-Assessment
1) The introductory paragraph took the most time to write because I couldn’t think of an interesting way to hook the reader and express the point of the essay.

2) When I was polishing this essay, I realized that there were many misused words and grammatical mistakes, so I corrected those errors from the first draft.

3) I feel that the best part of this essay is the last chunk of the body paragraph because I feel that it is very descriptive and flows well.

4) I feel that the first chunk of the body paragraph could still be improved because it seems a bit choppy and some phrases seem unnecessary.

My Entire Essay on the theme of "Happiness"

Amita Bose
English 8
Mr. Salsich
April 29, 2009

A Shifting Sun:
An Essay about the theme of “Happiness”

Sometimes the bright, golden sun is obscured by a thick cover of dreary, grey clouds. The sun disappears behind these clouds without warning, and leaves us cold and desolate, longing for its warmth and comfort. But we can seek solace in the fact that eventually these clouds while float away, and our sun will shine upon us once more. In the poem “Happiness” by Jane Kenyon, Kenyon describes how we must let happiness go and trust that it shall eventually find us again, just as we must let the sun go, trusting that it will return.
TS Artfully hidden among the beautiful phrases and graceful truths of Jane Kenyon’s poem “Happiness”, the message that happiness shall return, lives. SD Kenyon likens happiness to the prodigal’s son, who returned home after “[squandering] a fortune away”. CM The prodigal’s son left his birth place to see the world and returned a man with little money, but he gained wisdom during his travels. CM Likewise, happiness shall go as it pleases, but we must realize that it will always return. CM The comings and goings of happiness teach us to appreciate the feeling of bliss while it graces us with its presence, just as the prodigal’s son learned about the world when he stepped beyond the walls of his home. SD Also, happiness will “[inquire] at every door until he finds you asleep . . . as you often are during . . . your despair”. CM We need not seek happiness, for if we try to, we will find that it is ever elusive. CM We must trust that happiness will eventually find us, even during our darkest hour. SD This message proved true when my grandfather passed away when I was seven years old. CM The grief was stunning, and I couldn’t seem to sense anything but the crushing feeling of sorrow. CM I remember that I ran to the window, wildly hoping that I would see my grandfather’s soul floating among the snow laden branches, but as I stared out the window, I saw two small children tumbling about in a snow drift. CM I could faintly hear their shouts of laughter and joy, and as I stood there, feeling my excruciating sorrow, I was suddenly touched by the children’s happiness. CM They were floating in their own world of pure bliss, and knowing that they were so happy raised my spirits as well. CS Happiness shall come and go as it pleases, but we must put our faith in the fact that it shall always return, no matter who we are, where we are, or what our lives have brought us.
The sun disappears behind an impenetrable wall of clouds; happiness leaves our minds, bodies, and souls. The sun breaks through the wall to shine once more; happiness searches high and low until it finds us. The sun sheds it light onto every person and things on this earth, just as happiness is experiences by every person and thing. Whether you are a little boy playing in a driveway with your trucks, an old woman watching the world, or the pencil on a student’s desk, you shall now what it is like to have happiness, to lose happiness, and to have happiness find you again.

The Body Paragraph of my Essay about "Happiness"

Amita Bose
English 8
Mr. Salsich
April 28, 2009

TS Artfully hidden among the beautiful phrases and graceful truths of Jane Kenyon’s poem “Happiness”, the message that happiness shall return, lives. SD Kenyon likens happiness to the prodigal’s son, who returned home after “[squandering] a fortune away”. CM The prodigal’s son left his birth place to see the world and returned a man with little money, but he gained wisdom during his travels. CM Likewise, happiness shall go as it pleases, but we must realize that it will always return. CM The comings and goings of happiness teach us to appreciate the feeling of bliss while it graces us with its presence, just as the prodigal’s son learned about the world when he stepped beyond the walls of his home. SD Also, happiness will “[inquire] at every door until he finds you asleep . . . as you often are during . . . your despair”. CM We need not seek happiness, for if we try to, we will find that it is ever elusive. CM We must trust that happiness will eventually find us, even during our darkest hour. SD This message proved true when my grandfather passed away when I was seven years old. CM The grief was stunning, and I couldn’t seem to sense anything but the crushing feeling of sorrow. CM I remember that I ran to the window, wildly hoping that I would see my grandfather’s soul floating among the snow laden branches, but as I stared out the window, I saw two small children tumbling about in a snow drift. CM I could faintly hear their shouts of laughter and joy, and as I stood there, feeling my excruciating sorrow, I was suddenly touched by the children’s happiness. CM They were floating in their own world of pure bliss, and knowing that they were so happy raised my spirits as well. CS Happiness shall come and go as it pleases, but we must put our faith in the fact that it shall always return, no matter who we are, where we are, or what our lives have brought us.

The Body Paragraph of my Essay about "Happiness"

Amita Bose
English 8
Mr. Salsich
April 28, 2009

TS Artfully hidden among the beautiful phrases and graceful truths of Jane Kenyon’s poem “Happiness”, the message that happiness shall return, lives. SD Kenyon likens happiness to the prodigal’s son, who returned home after “[squandering] a fortune away”. CM The prodigal’s son left his birth place to see the world and returned a man with little money, but he gained wisdom during his travels. CM Likewise, happiness shall go as it pleases, but we must realize that it will always return. CM The comings and goings of happiness teach us to appreciate the feeling of bliss while it graces us with its presence, just as the prodigal’s son learned about the world when he stepped beyond the walls of his home. SD Also, happiness will “[inquire] at every door until he finds you asleep . . . as you often are during . . . your despair”. CM We need not seek happiness, for if we try to, we will find that it is ever elusive. CM We must trust that happiness will eventually find us, even during our darkest hour. SD This message proved true when my grandfather passed away when I was seven years old. CM The grief was stunning, and I couldn’t seem to sense anything but the crushing feeling of sorrow. CM I remember that I ran to the window, wildly hoping that I would see my grandfather’s soul floating among the snow laden branches, but as I stared out the window, I saw two small children tumbling about in a snow drift. CM I could faintly hear their shouts of laughter and joy, and as I stood there, feeling my excruciating sorrow, I was suddenly touched by the children’s happiness. CM They were floating in their own world of pure bliss, and knowing that they were so happy raised my spirits as well. CS Happiness shall come and go as it pleases, but we must put our faith in the fact that it shall always return, no matter who we are, where we are, or what our lives have brought us.

A Poem about the Vietnam War Memorial

A Poem Written after Visiting the Vietnam War Memorial (April 16, 2009)

See the names, wonder what the people were like.

Were they young and married?

Or old and alone?

Did they have a house full of brothers and sisters?

Or did they grow up in an empty room?

You see the names and try to make faces

Black hair, green eyes, blonde hair, brown eyes, red hair, blue eyes, brown hair, hazel eyes

Which combination?

Tall or short?

Lean or muscular?

See the names, imagine the people.