Where the Heart is: I Am Poem

Emily Barnes
I Am Poem

I Am
I am old at age seventeen.
I wonder why anyone would harm, kidnap, or kill.
I hear memories of loved ones, lost ones replay in my head.
I see life through photography, "in a way nobody ever [has]" (156).
I want "a home without wheels, a home fixed to the ground" (241).
I am old at age seventeen.

I pretend Forney is better off without me.
I feel like a child, playing adult.
I touch Americus’s softly beating heart.
I worry sevens will harm her.
I cry with Lexie at the pain of abuse.
I am old at age seventeen.

I understand that people can change.
I say "you'll know...if it's the right person" (252).
I dream that Sister Husband still plays with Americus.
I try to support my friends.
I hope Americus will be strong and smart.
I am Novalee Nation.

The Thirteenth Tale: I am poem

Virginia Puckett

I Am poem

I am

I am a secret.

I say no truth.

I hear "...tell me the truth" (7), but never do.

I touch the burn on my hand that no one knows.

I understand that my twin is gone forever.

I dream she is still by my side.

I am a secret.

I want the earth to know the truth.

I wonder why I lied.

I live to tell my story.

I pretend "my wolf..." (106) doesn't exist.

I hope that tomorrow there will be no pain.

I am a secret.

I hope I have the courage to tell the truth.

I say the truth.

I hear my voice tell the story.

I wonder if it was the right thing to do.

I am no longer a secret.

I am Vida Winter.

I hear "What is your real name?" (49).

I wish I could pretend I didn't hear that.

I say "I will tell you the truth" (48).

I am Adeline March.

Where the Heart is: Acrostic

Emily Barnes

Acrostic

Novalee

N “Name has a history…You’re gonna die. But your name’s not. It’s gonna be written in somebody’s Bible, printed in some newspaper” (23). “Get your baby a name that means something. A sturdy name. Strong name. Name that’s gonna withstand a lot of bad times.” (22). Novalee named her baby girl Americus, a sturdy name that showed pride in her country and was not shallow or a fad. She believed names reflected core values and endured throughout the ages, preserving a person’s legacy.

O Outlawed boyfriend. Willy Jack impregnated Novalee, abandoned her in a Wal-Mart with little money, and was thrown in jail. He was let out of jail, became a famous guitar player, and had his career stolen from him. Years after he left her, Willy Jack returned to Novalee to meet Americus, repent, and teach Novalee an unforgettable lesson—there is always one lie that will eat away at you until you fix it. Willy Jack also showed her that people can turn their own lives around.

V Vulnerable at first and hurt by Mama Nelson, Willy Jack, and Troy, Novalee was soon strong enough to get up and fight again. Helped along by friends and stranger’s encouragement, Novalee changed the way she acted in the face of a crisis. For instance, when Willy Jack dumped her, Novalee sat around in Wal-Mart snacking and reading magazines. Months later, after Novalee was more strong-willed, Americus was kidnapped. Novalee sprung into action, searched the town, interrogated those with any information, and worked with the police. Her hard work paid off when they found Americus and returned her safely. Novalee’s vulnerability disintegrated as she gained courage and pride in herself.

A Aspiring to be no one, Novalee once thought she was worthless, and did not give herself any opportunities to succeed. Moses taught her about photography and helped her win an award. She took classes at college and earned money by photographing special occasions. Novalee realized there was no reason to cheat herself out of a good life, and began to see herself differently. She inspired everyone around her to be the people they always wanted to be. Novalee’s life became worth something to her when she discovered her own aspirations.

L Learning all the time—from books and from life, from people and classes—Novalee learned to cook and to garden, to photograph, to pursue her passions and get back up when hurt. She learned how to raise Americus and take care of loved ones. She learned to help others and never stop learning. Novalee taught Forney that he was still learning. She learned from mistakes and corrections. Even Willy Jack taught Novalee about forgiving and second chances.

E Employee of Wal-Mart. Willy Jack dumped Novalee in a Wal-Mart, where she relied on seven dollars for survival. Moses Whitecotton, Benny Goodluck, and Sister Husband found her there, gave her advice, and listened to her. Wal-Mart was a secure place for her, and after she gave birth and moved, she was offered a job there. When she returned to Wal-Mart as an employee, Novalee was happier, healthier, and more mature. Wal-Mart was her home, and returning to work felt safe and comfortable for Novalee.

E Emotion. Novalee was always emotional. Willy Jack abused her and at a young age she lost friends and was threatened. But with a new start and friends, she became stronger. Moses Whitecotton showed her how to honor her feelings. Sister Husband reassured her that she was on track in life. Novalee loved Americus unconditionally. But when Forney confessed his love for Novalee, she still tried to escape her emotion and lied to him. Willy Jack then returned and confess his of guilt towards her. Novalee revealed her true feelings toward Forney. She and Forney lived together, raising Americus to trust her emotions and know that where she loved was where she belonged, because, after all, “home is where the heart is”.

The Lost World: Character Sketch

Rollins Olmsted
Character Sketch

Dr. Richard Levine’s tombstone could certainly have been inscribed with the following:

Gifted yet narcissistic and impetuous

An exceptionally gifted paleontologist, Levine, was simultaneously respected and loathed by his colleagues. “He was famous for his photographic memory, his arrogance, his sharp tongue, and the unconcealed pleasure he took in pointing out the errors of colleagues” (p. 18). Dr. Levine grew up with every advantage, the heir to a vast family fortune. His privileged upbringing afforded him educational and career paths free from obstructions and detours. Though born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Levine did not consume ample servings of maturity and patience. Therefore, he impulsively rushed off to Isla Sorna, ultimately putting his life and the lives of his colleagues in jeopardy. Throughout the novel, The Lost World, Dr. Levine considered himself and his assumptions to be correct while arrogantly disregarding everyone else and their findings. A parallel could effortlessly be drawn between Levine and the InGen scientists who genetically engineered the lost world’s dinosaurs. Both were solely concerned with producing a desired outcome and seemed oblivious to the harmful consequences of their actions. Though Levine’s sense of superiority remained steadfast, he was forced to transform himself ever so slightly towards the novel’s climax. In order to insure his own survival and that of his expedition, Levine found it necessary to use his intelligence for a purpose beyond his own self-centered ambition. Still, Levine’s metamorphosis was only momentary, and he ultimately accepted no responsibility for the expedition’s disastrous conclusion. Failing to assign himself any blame whatsoever, Levine advised a fellow scientist that “This was all your fault” (p. 355). In keeping with his character, Dr. Richard Levine refused to hold himself accountable or relinquish control. In all likelihood, Levine’s autobiographical epitaph would be prepared well in advance of its appointed date.

Brilliant, omniscient, and supreme

The Color Purple- Character Sketch

Olivia Johnston

Character Sketch

In the book The Color Purple by Alice Walker, my first impression on Celie was that she was a young girl that didn’t know what was going on in life and needed someone to talk to, which was God. To start out Celie was a young caring girl that wasn’t well educated, and because her mom wasn’t alive she was the woman of the family. She didn’t know what to think and was taken advantage in abusive ways by her father. Even through all of this, she took care of all her brothers and sisters like they were her children. Celie reminds me of Santiago from The Old Man and the Sea because even though Santiago didn’t have any luck in with fishing for a while, he taught Manolin all he knew. These selfless people both went through difficult experiences but even through it all, they both cared about others more then themselves. Everyone thought that Celie was an ugly and disgraceful woman except Nellie and Shug Avery. Celie learned to not listen to everyone around her that were rude and to just rely on her heart to show her the right thing to do. The only place Celie felt like she could let out her feelings was in her letters to God. When Celie says, “For the first time in my life, I feel just right.”(p.57) This was one of the first times that Celie felt like she fit in with her family and felt loved. Celie loved life but didn’t have a very good one, until the end of the book where she met all of her family and became an independent woman.

The Kite Runner: Character Sketch

My first impression of Amir was that he was a very privileged boy, with a loyal servant as a best friend. You would think that one would appreciate living in a caring house hold surrounded by people that love you. But, Amir was always craving the spot light in his dad's life. Of course, there was a good explanation for this behavior. His dad never seemed to be proud of Amir's accomplishments and he always wanted more. His father, whom Amir calls Baba, pressured Amir to get into sports, specifically soccer. Although Amir tried to embrace athleticism, nothing could top his interests in books. He always tried to capture Baba's attention, even if it meant hurting his best friend Hassan in the process. He reminds me of Kay, from The Sword in the Stone, because he is always yearning for attention. He is always trying to find some way to better than everyone else in one way or another. He soon realizes that Hassan has more wisdom and depth than he does. Instead of learning from him, he makes fun of the fact that Hassan is functionally illiterate and eventually his overbearing pride will cause his own unhappiness. In the first line of the book he says, "I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975." Since that day he has to live with the guilt of his choice. The choice to sit and watch his brother get raped, while sitting and watching. As he goes through life, he always has to wonder whether he deserves his own happiness, whether things would be different if he had stood up for Hassan. Everything would be different and he knew it. Amir's guilt puts up a shield between everyone he loves. He can't let go of his past, because his past is what made his future.

The Secret Life of Bees: Character Sketch

Wynne Hobbs

Character Sketch

My first impression on Lily was that she was a very caring girl. She always cared so much about everyone (and everything) else around her, but none of these things seemed to return the caring attitude back in her direction, since she lives in a motherless, abusive household. She reminds me of the grandfather from "Birdfoot's Grandpa" because they are both constantly focused on others, instead of themselves. Both of them were conscious and understanding of those around them. Her appearance is plain, and she constantly complained about her hair because she didn't have a mother to help her with it. Everyone else saw her as plain both inside and out. Behind this curtain of outer display, she was very bright and curious about almost everything, which is different than from what her father and classmates would say about her. Referring to her mother, she said, "This is what I know about myself. She was all I wanted. And I took her away" (8). All she thinks about is the guilt of accidentally killing her mother as an infant who didn't know how to use a gun. Everything she cared about was centered around her mother, and since she is dead because of her, Lily is always blaming herself for all that happened to her. Lily is a strong girl who has been through many though times, but is always looking forward to what is to come.