Cross Currents

Last year in my English class we watched the movie Crash. We had to do an "open" project on it, which basically meant we could do whatever we wanted. Some people composed a diary of a certain character, others analyzed specific aspects of the film, others made a film of their own addressing the issues identified in Crash. I chose to write a poem, and present it in front of the class. Here at UPS, there is a magazine/book called "Cross Currents", where students can submit anything from essays, to short stories, to poems. Today is the last day to submit work, and I had been thinking of submitting my poem that I wrote for English last year, but for some reason I couldn't muster up the pluck. Finally, about two hours ago, I decided to just do it. I submitted my poem...Here it is for you guys to read and critique; all comments positive or critical are very welcome!! Thanks! Oh yeah, I couldn't think of a title that wouldn't give away the entire meaning of the poem, so, as of now, it is "titleless".

She coats with malice
The ignorant mind.
Compels it to dash
To twist to thrust
Into harsh convictions
Mounted on unstable stilts
Of fallacies and hatred.
She gazes on the world
Through a pane
Obscured by splotches
Of premature thought
And shallow visions of certainty.
Gaping through calloused
Eyes,
Hardened by influences of
Song and sight.
She gawks at the novelty of
Diverseness in color and
Diverseness in sound.
With ease she crashes
Between
The comfortable conclusions
That have founded
Her cruel identity.
With uncanny stealth and
Frightening furtiveness
She dwells within
Our unknowing minds
So disillusions
To her
Prevalent existence.
Her name be that of
Racisim.

Independence

This week I have Monday and Tuesday off for my fall break, so I bought a ticket to visit Ben. I feel so independent buying and booking my own ticket, and taking the public bus to and from the airport...
Independence has become an extremely common feeling for me. The novelty of not calling my parents and telling them where I am and what I'm doing every weekend is not accompanied by a sense of relief, but more a feeling of acceptance. During high school, my parents were always very understanding and lenient, which I am extremely grateful for. As I watch many of my peers struggle with their new freedom, I feel comfortable with my personal ability to make intelligent and practical decisions. Since I have been at college, I have had a friend taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning, I have seen a friend drop out due to slipping grades. Along with these cases, I have witnessed several other people display poor decision-making skills, due to independence thrust too suddenly upon them. I am so thankful for the perfect preparation I received from my parents in readying me for my recent freedoms. Mom and Papa taught me to be pragmatic and responsible, they showed me how to make the right choices, and these skills have thus far kept me out of trouble, and guided me on the path to what I hope will be success. I would like to thank my parents for providing me with these skills, and tell them not to worry about me. I will be smart, keep my grades up, not party too hard, and call them often...