Write a poem using ideas from another class:
-Marginal Cost
-Externalities
-Utility
-Market Failure
-Comparative advantage
Coming home each night
I weigh the marginal cost
Of completing assignments.
Sure, debate is important
But I have a comparative
advantage specializing in Calculus
Chapter 1,
writing prompt #1
-First day at SPA
-Moving to China
-Moving back to the U.S.
-My first day on a snowboard
-Building bike jumps in the woods
-My dying grandmother’s hallucinations
-Each incident of breaking a bone
-When I cried on the hockey rink in 5th
grade
-Dropping into the biggest ramp at the skate park in
4th grade
-The only snow day ever at SPA
-The awful experience at Chinese immersion camp
-The amazing first time at snowboard camp
“Spider”
As I dropped my duffel bag on my camp bunk bed,
I saw a spider disappear under the sheets.
During orientation on the first day of Chinese
immersion,
I swatted away a spider I caught creeping up my arm.
While I munched on my hundredth bowl of white rice
at dinner,
I spotted a spider hanging from underneath the
table.
As I sat on the toilet addressing Nature’s Call,
Dozens of spiders patiently waited in their webs
next to my face.
I hate spiders.
Chapter 1, writing
prompt #3
“Showering”
I whip off my shirt and my own body odor hits me
like a train;
This is long overdue.
In the next five minutes, I patiently wait as
precious water floods down the drain.
Once the water is hot, I enter.
Such is the American way.
I’m careful to avoid the drain in the middle;
For unknown reasons I’m repulsed by this steely
grate in the floor.
I act like the drain is a land mine – stepping on
it, catastrophic.
The cleansing ritual continues.
Chapter 2,
writing prompt #2
“Christmas”
Awesome, I exclaim with the best fake enthusiasm I
can muster.
The crinkled wrapping paper has parted,
Revealing the identity of the rectangular prism:
Ulysses S.
Grant: A Biography.
This looks really interesting, Grandpa! I lie
through my teeth.
Jim Gaffigan’s words echo in my head –
What is this? An
assignment?
But I know who would love this present
My father’s passion is history. I expect he’ll find
this a thrilling read.
Luckily dad was making coffee in the kitchen
So I quickly stow the novel beneath my seat.
It will make a fantastic gift when his birthday
rolls around.
Prompt 6
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America.”
Tears left
glistening trails across her plump cheeks
A couple
strands of blonde hair stuck to her face
Where the
salty drops had passed through.
Ms. Hane, my
kindergarten teacher, cried.
“And to the
republic, for which it stands,”
She couldn’t
quite illustrate
Through
choked back sobs and soaked eyelashes
To a group
of five year olds
How burning
bodies were falling from towers in New York City.
“One nation,
under God,”
I’m not sure
if she cried because she had family in New York,
or if the reports
of burning bodies leaping to another paradise
Moved her to
tears.
We were let
out of school early that day.
Nobody could
properly explain why.
“Indivisible,”
The biggest
change I can recall as a kindergartner
was arriving
next morning and being asked to recite
a curious
bit of poetry
outlining my
fealty to my country.
Hand over
heart, I dutifully mumbled
“With
liberty and justice for all.”
“Goodbye my
son,”
Said my
optimistic mum
As I left
the car for school.
Chest
a-pounding,
Warning
bells sounding,
I walked
into the commons.
Standing
alone,
Heart heavy
as a stone,
I prayed
that classes would begin.
As I waited
silently,
A voice
erupted violently,
“Do you
believe in Jesus?!”
I ignored
the gaffe
He released
an obnoxious laugh
And I knew
the first day at SPA would be a long one.
