Flashback from English 150

Writing has always been a passion of mine.  Even though I rarely take time to sit down and let my mind spill out onto the pages of a journal or flow through the keys into a document, it is still something that I would like to pursue more seriously some day.  I don't often feel the urge to write, or dream about writing, but it's days like today, having stumbled across writings from a college english course, that make me wish I were a writer.

Here are just a few things that I found...

-A Sestina-

She walked quickly down the sidewalk,
with each step her breath grew colder.
Fog danced out from her lips telling a story
of long winter nights spent together.
Each memory tempting yet another smile
to appear upon her rosy face.

In only moments she would face
her love at the end of the winding sidewalk.
She almost wished the night would grow colder,
so he would hold her close and tell the story
of their first romantic night together.
Her heart warmed just thinking of his smile.

His was an awkward smile
which only added to his rugged face.
Scars lined his cheeks like the cracks of the sidewalk,
suggesting there was a time this man was colder
than the warm-hearted gentleman who’s story
was quiet and simple. Putting together

both their stories was perfect. Once together
again he was calmed by her smile,
and his touch upon her face
made time stand still. Nearing the end of the sidewalk
she could see his silhouette. Colder
still the air became, but the story

was always the same. A love story
written across time to keep them together.
She came closer and could see his smile
as a tear ran down her face.
She reached his place where the sidewalk
ended, and entered his embrace. The colder

the night became, the colder
and more distant their past story
of loneliness. They were together
again at last. The moon with a smile
looked down shining upon their face,
as they stood at the end of the sidewalk.

The happy ending to their story
would forever live within her smile.
The love story that ended with the sidewalk.

---------------------------------------------------------

People always say
                                ‘time will tell’

But what
What will time tell?
Will it tell of good fortune
Memories past
Choices right or wrong?
Lost love or lust
Worth all the pain?

-No-
            
Time tells lies
With every single tick
Keeping track of the secondsMinutes upon hours
Counting down to our very last
Unyielding breath

But if time tells lies
What truths have we left?
Those of love
Compassion
Friendship and hope? -or simply-
That we must continue on
Knowing time may never tell

---------------------------------------------------------

$2.00 Milky Way

     At the same time every day, the same people walk by. Books in hand, packs on back, flurried emotions running wild across faces. But today is different. Rather than enjoying my afternoon break between chemistry and English by watching the chaos unfold in the student union building, I am distracted by Professor Hinks. He is the most unusual little man. No doubt all those chemicals and gone-wrong experiments over the years have had some beating on him. Today, however, he is not having his usual problems with confused, immature freshman, but instead the vending machine.
     “Blast you, you stupid contraption!” Blared Hinks, with a little twist of his face that nearly forced the spectacles off the tip of his nose.
     The machine took no offense to this, and stood still, with a small ‘beep’ informing Hinks that he owed $.75 for his selection.
     “Seventy-five cents? Baloney… I already gave you a dollar!” said Hinks, angrily poking at the change return button, to which the machine responded only with a scrolling message of ‘Thank you, come again!’ Looking around for any witnesses, Hinks cursed under his breath as he quickly consulted his watch and withdrew his wallet from the back of his worn khaki pants.
     “Happy now?” Shoving the crisp new bill into the machine. - $1.00 Credit – Stepping back to assure himself of his choice, Hinks’ beady blue eyes scrolled across the rows of overpriced snacks. A1 Snickers, C8 Doritos, D3 Chocolate Chip Cookies… Finally, coming to a conclusion Hinks carefully pushed B, then glancing back to be sure, firmly pressed five. The machine, taunting Hinks, seemed to take a lifetime as it processed the dollar bill and then began to dispense the Milky Way… then stopped. With a look of disbelief Hinks dropped down closer to the machine, only inches from his precious candy trapped on the opposite side of the plexi-glass. Again, as if knowing the perfect timing, the machine proudly displayed ‘Thank you, come again!’ Rising up to his full, and not incredibly impressive height, Professor Hinks challenged the machine, cursing all the while. It almost appeared as if Hinks was expecting the machine to uproot and step outside to handle the situation.
     With a final grunt of defeat Hinks kicked his small worn loafer into the front of machine, which still held captive his now $2.00 candy bar, then turned sharply on his heel and hurried off to his afternoon Chemistry lecture. Moments after his dramatic exit the machine with a slight thud dropped the candy, and a shiny quarter with it.