Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Introduction Speech Outline Essay Example for Free

Introduction Speech Outline Essay Purpose Statement: To persuade my audience that true personal power is developed through our humane treatment of ourselves and our fellow man. Thesis Statement: To understand personal power, it’s important to look at how we treat ourselves. Are we critical of ourselves? Unforgiving? Do we have low self-esteem or confidence? Attention Getter Overview of main points: â€Å"All suffering is caused by mankind’s great inhumanity to one another. Hello, I am Tonya, and today I am going to talk to you about accountability, responsibility, and change. ARC is the ark of a life that is built upon a stable foundation. I. First main point written in complete sentence When we think of being accountable, we often think of others accountability and not ourselves. Being accountability for our actions and not blaming others is the very first step to developing personal power. Accountability in this instance means being aware that something is wrong or amiss in our lives, and not ignoring it. It’s identifying the problem, or our wrong actions II. Second main point in complete sentence. Responsibility is the second step in the development of personal power, not only do we have to be accountable, we also have to accept responsibility for our thoughts, words, and the subsequent actions that take place as a result of them. Responsibility is accepting the problem or our negative actions and finding productive, efficient, and effective ways to deal with them. III. Third main point in complete sentence. Once we have identified the problem or wrong action, and accepted it, then we are ready for step number three†¦Change. Change. We are changing moment by moment each and every day. We are either changing for the best or for the worst. That’s not what we are speaking about here. When I say â€Å"change†, I am talking about a deliberate action, which will bring about a deliberate manifestation. True change comes about once we make a choice. Conclusion: Accountability, Responsibility, and Change these are the points on which a person can build their pyramid of personal power. If we are willing to be accountable, accept responsibility, and change when necessary, there is nothing that we cannot achieve; and we will be co-creators within the social structures of Life. We will always be a part of the solution, rather than being a part of the problem. Today, I challenge you to apply these three principles to your life and soon you will be living a life full of purpose, and fulfill your call to Greatness. Bibliography Shepherd, Tonya â€Å"Needless Suffering† Accessed May 9, 2014 http://ltbtd.blogspot.com/2014/05/needless-suffering.html

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Tragic Hero -- Epic of Beowulf Essay

Beowulf as Tragic Hero By definition, a tragic hero is a protagonist that due to some tragic flaw loses everything he has. Throughout history, literature has always been filled with main characters possessing some tragic flaw. In Macbeth, Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his enormous ambition to become king. In Hamlet, Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his need for revenge for the death of his father at the hands of his uncle. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh’s tragic flaw is his need to be remembered. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Beowulf also has a tragic flaw, excessive pride and the search for fame, which ultimately leads to his demise. Beowulf was a highly skilled and great fighter, but because of his over-confidence in himself the fire-breathing dragon kills him. Beowulf’s excessive pride is evident from the very beginning of the epic. He is almost always boasting about himself to one person or the other. In the first part of the epic, when Beowulf first travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom to rid him of Grendel, he talks about the mighty deeds he has done in his life. â€Å"Hail, Hrothgar, health ever keep you! I am Hyglelac’s thane and kinsman; mighty deeds I have done in my youth†¦they saw themselves how I came from combat bloodied by enemies where I crushed down five, killed a tribe of giants, and on the waves at night slew water-beasts; no easy task, but I dove out trouble from Geatland-they asked for it, the enemies I killed.†(Beowulf p73) One can easily picture him standing proud and tall in front of a multitude of fellow warriors, proclaiming all the deeds he has accomplished in h is lifetime. Beowulf has no doubt in his mind that he is more than able to kill the wretched Grendel. But because of his overconfidence and populari... ...soon after his death his kingdom was taken over. Beowulf perfectly fits the definition of â€Å"tragic hero† as evidenced in the epic poem, Beowulf.   He is defiantly the hero in the story, but as a result of his tragic flaws of having too much pride and seeking fame, he loses his life and his kingdom falls into the hands of the enemy. Works Cited and Consulted Chambers, R. W. Beowulf: An Introduction. Cambridge: Univ. Press, 1967. Emmerson, Richard K. and Bernard McGinn. The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages. Ithaca: Cornell, 1992. Garmonsway, et. al. Beowulf and Its Analogues. New York: Dutton, 1971. Gang, T. M. "Approaches to Beowulf." RES 3 (1952):.6-12. Hieatt, Constance B. "Envelope Patterns and the Structure of Beowulf," English Studies in Canada 1 (1975): 249-265. Sandars, N. K., trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh. London: Penguin, 1972. Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Tragic Hero -- Epic of Beowulf Essay Beowulf as Tragic Hero By definition, a tragic hero is a protagonist that due to some tragic flaw loses everything he has. Throughout history, literature has always been filled with main characters possessing some tragic flaw. In Macbeth, Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his enormous ambition to become king. In Hamlet, Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his need for revenge for the death of his father at the hands of his uncle. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh’s tragic flaw is his need to be remembered. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Beowulf also has a tragic flaw, excessive pride and the search for fame, which ultimately leads to his demise. Beowulf was a highly skilled and great fighter, but because of his over-confidence in himself the fire-breathing dragon kills him. Beowulf’s excessive pride is evident from the very beginning of the epic. He is almost always boasting about himself to one person or the other. In the first part of the epic, when Beowulf first travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom to rid him of Grendel, he talks about the mighty deeds he has done in his life. â€Å"Hail, Hrothgar, health ever keep you! I am Hyglelac’s thane and kinsman; mighty deeds I have done in my youth†¦they saw themselves how I came from combat bloodied by enemies where I crushed down five, killed a tribe of giants, and on the waves at night slew water-beasts; no easy task, but I dove out trouble from Geatland-they asked for it, the enemies I killed.†(Beowulf p73) One can easily picture him standing proud and tall in front of a multitude of fellow warriors, proclaiming all the deeds he has accomplished in h is lifetime. Beowulf has no doubt in his mind that he is more than able to kill the wretched Grendel. But because of his overconfidence and populari... ...soon after his death his kingdom was taken over. Beowulf perfectly fits the definition of â€Å"tragic hero† as evidenced in the epic poem, Beowulf.   He is defiantly the hero in the story, but as a result of his tragic flaws of having too much pride and seeking fame, he loses his life and his kingdom falls into the hands of the enemy. Works Cited and Consulted Chambers, R. W. Beowulf: An Introduction. Cambridge: Univ. Press, 1967. Emmerson, Richard K. and Bernard McGinn. The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages. Ithaca: Cornell, 1992. Garmonsway, et. al. Beowulf and Its Analogues. New York: Dutton, 1971. Gang, T. M. "Approaches to Beowulf." RES 3 (1952):.6-12. Hieatt, Constance B. "Envelope Patterns and the Structure of Beowulf," English Studies in Canada 1 (1975): 249-265. Sandars, N. K., trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh. London: Penguin, 1972.

Monday, January 13, 2020

A Molecular Caliper Mechanism for Determining

The article is about the discovery of a molecular â€Å"caliper† that can be used to measure the length of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA). It was written by Vladimir Denic and Dr. Jonathan Weissman. Here, I will analyze the important elements in this scientific paper by answering the key questions below.1. What important previously observed facts stimulated the new work? (Background)It has been observed that very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are responsible for the cellular growth and alterations in the length of these fatty acids will result to abnormalities. In humans, Very Long Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (LCAD) and adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) are two of the metabolic diseases that can be fatal to the individual (â€Å"Very Long Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase†; Kemp and Watkins â€Å"Very Long Chain Fatty Acids and Adrenoleukodystrophy†).One possible way to solve this problem is by determining the lengths of VLCFAs. It is also important to not e that VLCFAs are results of catalytic processes. Thus, the different components of VLCFAs as well as the proteins responsible for this must be determined.In the article, previous studies conducted on the process of converting short fatty acids were included. The four steps in the metabolic process were listed (Denic and Weissman 663). After it, the researchers investigated on the missing links of the process: the novel dehydratase and the elongase protein (Elop) which acts as â€Å"scissors† in the elongation cycle. Using complicated steps derived from previous experiments, they were able to identify the Elop known as Phs1p.Unknown to the researchers are the Elop responsible for determining the length of the resultant VLCFAs by stopping Phs1p from elongating the fatty acid. Another unknown is the method which the researchers can determine the length of the VLCFA.2. What is the hypothesis of the new work?The hypothesis of this work can be found in the abstract but it is a sho rter version and probably needs elaboration. By analyzing the existing data on VLCFA, the researchers have come up with the hypothesis that FAs are elongated to VLCFAs by three membrane components (Denic and Weissman 663). Also, they were able to hypothesize that the length of the VLCFA can be measured by determining the distance from the lysine residue and the Elop active sites (Denic and Weissman 663).3. What are the major findings reported in the manuscript? (New data)The major findings in the article include the discovery of the missing component—novel dehydratase–Phs1p. This is the component responsible for the elongation of the FAs (Denic and Weissman 664). Now, the researchers still looked for the Elop responsible for the length determination of the VLCFAs and found two examples of this component, namely Fen1p and Sur4p (Denic and Weissman 674). By undergoing in vivo tests, they were able to isolate the Elops and found out that Fen1p and Sur4p is responsible for the elongation of C18 fatty acids into C22 and C26 respectively (Denic and Weissman 674).

Sunday, January 5, 2020

The Battle Of The Invasion Of Normandy - 1685 Words

After Marshal Montgomery blockaded Rommel, whose fame was generally known as the ‘Desert Fox’ with the navy and the air force in the Strait of Sicily for more than 100 days, the Allies won the North African Campaign on May 13, 1943. As the Allies freed for further action with the victories of about 250,000 German and Italian troops surrendered on the north coast of Africa, the British and the American strategists were facing two options as their huge army quartered in the southern Mediterranean (www.history.com). One of the option was put forward by the American chief, suggesting that the Allies should transfer their forces north for the impending invasion of Europe from the English Channel. Even though this suggestion was disapproved by the English chief who held the opinion that the Allies should strike the Europe from the southern Italy, this strategy was later known as the ‘Invasion of Normandy’ that completely helped the Allies win the WW II. The option that the British chief favor for finally became the strategy of the Allies’ first-step invasion in Europe because it not only utilized the fighter cover from air bases on British Malta, 60 miles south of Sicily, but also saved the Allies’ shipping to the English Channel as the American chief suggested that. The strategy of pressing north into Italy was vividly described by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as invading the ‘the soft underbelly of Europe’(www.history.com). The underbelly here, however, referred toShow MoreRelatedThe War Of The Second World War II Essay1744 Words   |  7 Pagesmost brutal war throughout all of history. Out of the men who registered to draft, many of them were also involved in what would be called the most popular battle of the Second World War, or the invasion of Normandy. The Invasion of Normandy, other wise referred to as D-Day occurred June 6th 1944 when allied forces invaded the border of Normandy and pushed the German forces back through France. Over one hundred thousand American, British, and Canadian forces landed on several beaches along the regionRead MoreThe Invasion of Normandy1677 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Overlord or D-Day, was perhaps one of the most important battles in the human history. The invasion took place on June 4, 1944, at the Coast of Normandy in France. Troops from over twelve countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America participated in the fight against Germany. Although the battles were enduring and hard-fought, the Allies achieved the final victory; the Allies were finally ableRead MoreBattle of Normandy Essay1563 Words   |  7 Pagesof World War II was the Battle of Normandy (the first day of which is commonly referred to as D-Day). Nearly three million soldiers were deployed for the invasion. Those deployed consisted mainly of American and British soldiers, however Canadian, French, Polish, Belgian, and Czech forces were represented as well (Jensen). The battle was fought in an effort to gain European ground and to reduce the German potential for overrunning Russia (Luc as). The Battle of Normandy was significant in thatRead MoreD-Day The Invasion Of Normandy Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pages The Battle of Normandy was a turning point in World War II. Canada, America, and Great Britain arrived at the beaches of Normandy and their main objective was to push the Nazi’s out of France. The Invasion at Normandy by the Allied Powers winning this battle lead to the liberation of France and Western Europe. Most importantly Hitler was being attacked from both the eastern and western front, and caused him to lose power. If the Allied Powers did not succeed On D-Day, Hitler would’ve taken overRead MoreThe Battle Of Omaha Beach Essay1356 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscuss a key battle during the Invasion of Normandy. The Invasion of Normandy was a successful operation focused towards German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. This paper will also cover a brief history and key points of The Battle of Omaha Beach. Critical reasoning and battle analysis will be expressed through what intelligence assets were applied, utilized and available during the time era. The anal ysis outcome will lead to an expressed alternative ending on The Battle of Omaha BeachRead MoreNorth Africa Story : South Africa1379 Words   |  6 Pages(Duestch, â€Å"The Historical Impact†¦Ã¢â‚¬  20). Invasion of Normandy The information that was decoded by the Ultra program, impacted the victory of the Invasion of Normandy in a positive manner. The Invasion of Normandy was when the American, Canadian, and British troops simultaneously landed on five separate French beaches. In the end, the Allies were able to liberate northern France and meet with the Russians, so they could begin their invasion into Germany (â€Å"Normandy Invasion†). This was due to the people atRead MoreCoverage of the Normandy Invasion847 Words   |  3 PagesBritish and American historians have covered the Normandy invasion extensively, and one therefore wonders if there is any need for another treatment of the campaign. In Normandy: The Landings to the Liberation of Paris, Olivier Wieviorka demonstrates that there is indeed room for new interpretations of this much-covered subject. Wieviorka, a professor of history at the École Normale Supà ©rieure de Cachan, covers every aspect of the Normandy invasion: politics and grand strategy, economic productionRead MoreD Day During World War II1319 Words   |  6 PagesD-Day During World War II (1939-1945), D-Day, or the Battle of Normandy, was the turning point in the Allied attempt to liberate Western Europe from Nazi control. The invasion involved 326,000 British, American, and Canadian troops spread among five beaches. The Allies were victorious due to Nazi mistakes. Hitler, believing the attack was simply a diversion to distract the Germans from an attack north of the Seine River, withheld reinforcements and support from armored units. This gave the AlliesRead MoreThe Battle Of Normandy And World War II1286 Words   |  6 PagesD-Day Research Paper D-Day was one of the largest amphibious invasions in history(History.com). While preparation for the operation was extensive, it resulted in the liberation of France (from the Germans), which later resulted â€Å"Allies† winning the Battle of Normandy and World War II (History.com). Now D-Day can be broken down into four main components: the planning of the invasion, the weather conditions, the Atlantic Wall, and the execution/success. There is no doubt that D-Day was integral toRead MoreOperation Overload or D-Day Essay950 Words   |  4 Pagesknown as Operation Overlord, actually stands for Day-Day. It was termed Day-Day since the Allied forces at the time did not want exact date to be known or set for the purpose of maintaining it to be a surprise attack. D-Day was a well-planned Allied invasion to gain foothold in France and the event took place on June 6, 1944 in order to liberate France which was, at the time, fully an Axis-occupied area (Kemp 75). Undoubtedly and acc ording to the Allied forces’ plan, it was an unexpected attack to the

Friday, December 27, 2019

A Naval Reservist Is Sentenced For Mishandling Classified...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Naval reservist was sentenced for mishandling classified military materials. A federal attorney announced Wednesday that Bryan Nishimura of Folsom, California, pleaded guilty to the unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. Nishimura, deployed in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008 as a regional engineer, admitted to downloading classified briefings and digital records onto his personal electronic devices. He carried the materials off base and brought them back to the U.S. when his deployment ended. An FBI search of Nishimura s home turned up classified materials, but did not reveal evidence he intended to distribute them. He was sentenced to two years of probation and a $7,500 fine, and was ordered to surrender his security clearance. He is barred from seeking a future security clearance. -Navy Times There is no way of getting around this: According to Director James Comey (disclosure: a former colleague and longtime friend of mine), Hillary Clinton checked every box required for a felony violation of Section 793(f) of the federal penal code (Title 18): With lawful access to highly classified information she acted with gross negligence in removing and causing it to be removed it from its proper place of custody, and she transmitted it and caused it to be transmitted to others not authorized to have it, in patent violation of her trust. Director Comey even conceded that former Secretary Clinton was â€Å"extremely careless† and strongly

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Women’s Inequalities in the Workplace Essay - 1041 Words

Women’s Inequalities in the Workplace When you think of a CEO of a company or of world political leaders, do you think of a man or of a woman? Many, if not most of us, see these positions as being held by men. In this essay, I will explain why women are still not equal to men. In the first paragraph I will discuss inequalities that happen in the workplace. The second section will show the differences that occur within the athletic world. Thirdly, I will explain the differences in education and home life. Even though we are approaching the twenty-first century, women in our society are still not equal to men. In the workplace, women do not receive the same benefits that men do. Some women do†¦show more content†¦There are few professional women’s sports teams, and the salaries these women receive are very low compared to the men’s average. While men make hundreds of thousands or even millions, women are struggling to make fifty thousand. The average salary for a woman in the WNBA is $37,500. A big deal was made this year about the United States women’s soccer team winning the championship. A lot of the press was directed towards one thing-the fact that after the winning goal was scored by Brandi Chastain, she took off her shirt and swung it around her head, just as a man does. Some people found it wrong that she ran around in her sport’s bra. That move brought more attention to women’s soccer than it ever had before. Talk shows and comedy persons mocked her repeatedly. I saw it on at least three shows myself. This is the most media cov erage women in sports have seen in a long time. College women’s teams will only make the news on a very rare occasion. In order to help women, a bill, Title IX, was passed in 1972 so high school and college girls could get a fair share of the budget. Title IX states, â€Å"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or any activity receiving federal financial assistance.† For every dollar spent on women’s sports, three have been spent on men’s.Show MoreRelated Gender and Power in the Workplace Essay1644 Words   |  7 PagesGender and Power in the Workplace This essay is an analysis of contemporary issues associated with gender and power in the workplace; which will specifically include a discussion of gender relations, stereotyping, women’s identity, the structuring of formal and informal power, sources of inequality, and sexual harassment. The concept of gender in relation to the division of labor in the workplace, and in relation to issues of power and control is an unfortunate, groundless stereotype. SuzanneRead MoreGender And Work : Women s Roles1618 Words   |  7 Pagesmaintain both authority and inequality. Women’s roles throughout history shed a light on the expectations and stereotypes that exist today; however, navigating a gendered economy and overcoming sex segregation continues to be a challenging task for most women. Wages continue to be uneven, and wives continue to bear most of the child rearing and domestic responsibilities despite increasingly working the same amount as their husbands do. Becoming educated on these inequalities and viewing them with a sociologicalRead More Gender Equality Essay example898 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscrimination still present today, and one place it is most relevant is in the workplace. Not only are workers separated by gender in their place of work, but also, many women are being segregated inside their own group by race. Suzanne Pharr’s book Homophobia, A Weapon of Sexism as well as Alice Kessler-Harris’s article, The Wage Conceived are prominent writings that prove this abundance of discrimination is still plaguing workplaces nationwide. The points of Pharr and Kessler-Harris are valued to questionRead MoreGender Inequality863 Words   |  4 PagesFischer Gender Inequality in a Global Perspective What is Gender Inequality? Like others, a social problem that is widespread in American society is Gender inequality. It is a problem that has had a negative impact on American society. Gender inequality can be found in many sub-systems of America. It is important to understand what gender inequality is in order to identify and correct the problem. Two sub-systems that gender inequality can be found are in the family and in the workplace. Gender inequalityRead MoreGender Inequality And The Social Construction Of Gender1562 Words   |  7 Pagessocial construction of gender, race, class, and sexuality have led to discrimination and inequality of those classified under a variety of these categories. Through understanding the significance of these social constructs on society it becomes apparent the intersectionality they have when it comes to understanding why certain groups may face discrimination or inequality. This paper examines gender inequality and how the social construction of gender makes it difficult for the pursuit of equalityRead MoreThe Structural Inequality Between Men And Women875 Words   |  4 PagesI will be talking about the structural inequality between men and women in a work place. I will argue that women should be able to excel and reach the same high management position as a man. Over several years, many industries have made significant changes in their work environment to achieve equality between genders. When looking back on what seems to be a societal norm, wage discrimination has always been in favour of men. A main issue in the workplace is that women are often separated into jobRead MoreTaking a Look at Gender Inequality1182 Words   |  5 PagesGender inequality has become one of the oldest issues throughout society. Gender inequality can be described as unequal treatment or specific perceptions based on an individual’s gender. In most cases, it has developed over time with the socially constructed gender roles the society portrays. It was said â€Å"Nearly one-third of women said they feel discriminated against or treated unfairly based on their gender at least once a week. Opportunities are wasted if stereotypes and biases evaluate peopleRead MoreEssay On Gender Inequality1091 Words   |  5 Pagesbeen many inequalities that the world has b een faced with; whether it is race, gender, or ethnic background. I am writing you, the representatives for Equal Rights to discuss an urgent concern of American women in the workplace. Although gender inequality is decreasing, it still exists and makes a lot of people suffer its consequences every day. Gender inequality is unfair rights between male and female based on different gender roles which leads to unequal treatment. Gender inequality has been widelyRead MoreGender Inequality During The Workplace1613 Words   |  7 PagesGender Inequality in the Workplace It was the holiday season and the workers were vigorously working to receive that desperately needed bonus. The day before the holiday break, the workers were eagerly lined up to receive their checks along with their bonuses. After receiving their checks, Susan got a glimpse of Christopher’s check and she noticed how she was paid far less than him even though they both had the same position and worked the same amount of hours. Throughout various aspects of societyRead MoreWorkplace Inequality And Gender Inequality1678 Words   |  7 PagesWorkplace Inequality Brittany N. Shipley Central Penn College Abstract As you are reading you will be informed of the many factors that can contribute to workplace inequality. Three factors associated with workplace would include (1) the individuals gender can determine compensation (2) the race or ethnicity of an individual (3) the age of the individuals. All such factors contribute to the issues of workplace inequality, not only in gender but race and age as well. Keywords: Compensation, job

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Composition of Myself free essay sample

My mind is a poem. I stand like a freak amongst night shadows and street vents, rushing idiotically behind my left hand and my inspirational right hand. I write to free myself. My young mind uncoils with emotions that spill out onto the paper, and they will remain there until the dust of future years rolls them off the surface. I keep a leather book, whose crisp yellowed pages and beautifully frayed edges are filled with my personal philosophy, my personal statements, and my metaphysical complexities. It is in the leather binding that my elbows and fingertips steadily rust. There is an owl carved into the leather of the front cover. Its wisdom, its many tall-standing years make me want to grow and learn. I keep the physical book in my palm, by my side; I keep the book of my soul inside and in a constant process of flowing outward into my hand and filling back up inside my mind. We will write a custom essay sample on Composition of Myself or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is in our self-reliant philosophy that we live engrained in heartbreak and grow in reconciliation. My leather book, as I have come to believe, will never run out of pages. It has remained half-full and half-anxious through love, heartbreak, torment, achievement, and most importantly, hours amounting to years of growth. I was first inspired to write at an early age and have been feeding on a variety of inspiration ever since. Writing has become the filler for every void, loss, or absence in my life, taking on and breaking out, the words that were embedded in the looking glass. Words have come to mean so much to me. Words are to me what paint, pastels, or tiles, are to an artist. I see every word uniquely and in a different light each time I encounter it. My muse lies in my heart, in human growth, in love, in heartbreak. My works are based on my personal experiences, my personal growth. I am the wonder in the world and the space between my hands. Every day brings new words. The str uggles, the blessings, and the memories all spell out the words which beautifully crowd my inner self. Every onrush is brought on by new hopes, new dreams, new tears, and new encounters. The life I live on paper is above the human head. It is steps above physicality. My words are not observant words. They are foreign to the mind, but familiar to the heart. They are familiar when on their own, together, and in a poem. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines a poem as a â€Å"composition in verse.† If one may wish to stick by this definition, then so be it, but I must disagree. Can it be that a poem is simply just a composition in verse? Imagine Dickinson devoting her entire life to writing â€Å"compositions in verse.† I cannot fathom such a possibility. It is in the texture of the rain that our remaining years become apparent. Ms. Dickinson had expression of inner self in mind. She used her paper to let her guard down, to preach her words, her talents. The dictionary may be the greatest of all human resources, but it cannot break into our souls. Our souls empower the poetry. The poetry is a self-reflection, a written soul. I wrote a letter to myself and kept it in a romance novel. I called this letter a poem. The paragraphs and the pages, though lovely and sometimes enchanting, can sometimes amount to less in feeling than a few horizontal lines of beautiful words and elegant phrasing. We are all unique on paper. Our syllables are distinctively unlike one another’s. I am a listener who kisses every moment to the last; we are all each other, one another, once again. When it comes down to it, our own words, though unique and distinctively ours, are part of a universal language. I write beneath the fresh-smelling leather, beginning with a composition in verse and ending with a beautifully woven, free-versed literary work. The weaving process is what keeps me moving day to day. It keeps me alive inside. It is in the texture of my own skin and the swirl of my hand that I become radiant. It is in the ninety degree angles of each bent knuckle that the rain falls with new rhythm, with new feeling. It is in my own palm, my own nerves, myself.