[Jennifer Sears]

Post on this discussion thread, using instructions on the To-Do List for Session 7:

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/sears-eng-1141-ol07-sp-2021/2021/02/22/to-do-list-session-7-tuesday-feb-23/

[jenni727]

She runs to the kitchen
To put in her mouth something filling
For her tongue to taste a new experience
As the food travels down to her belly, there is a temporary
Sense of not being empty
And so, she is satisfied momentarily

The emptiness goes away momentarily
When she has her way at the kitchen
To cover up the big, black hole of empty
Food has a unique way of filling
The tortured soul, though it is only temporary
A lick, a gulp, and then she swallows this experience

To lick salty sesame shrimp stir fry from her lips is quite the experience
Though the pleasure only fills the pit momentarily
She cries because feeling whole is solely temporary
Again, she runs eagerly to taste the piping hot lasagna sitting in the kitchen
A hearty, multi-layered dish that is very filling
Fresh ricotta, mozzarella, and a fragrant tomato sauce to fill a soul that is empty

They are burdensome and costly, the unquenchable needs of a soul that is empty
But tasting a zesty chipotle mayo on a crispy, fried chicken sandwich is a mouth-watering experience
Especially with spicy cajun fries drizzled in a mountain of ketchup to make the meal more filling
Because food is healing, though momentarily
After scarfing down leftover bizcocho de tres leches, she fears looking into the kitchen
Her belly hurts, she is not invincible like she thought, and the pleasure of flaky tempura is temporary

When will she learn that the escape is only temporary?
That the sweet song of food is as blinding as the promises of men empty?
Her cheeks full of pangang curry, the spicy sauce dripping down her chin as she sits in the kitchen
Tears flowing as she struggles to savor each moment of this experience
Panang curry is her favorite, and it is supposed to make it all go away- momentarily
She stuffs in her mouth a vanilla doughnut with cream filling

It has been starting to feel suffocating rather than filling
She chokes as a bite blocks her airway, sending her into a coughing rage that is temporary
As she fought, she felt something inexplicable, innate, and instinctive- momentarily
It passed when she coughed out the bolus, her airway now empty
Cheap takeout made her the victim of a near-death experience
The adrenaline rush made her feeling something now long gone, she runs into the kitchen

Guacamole and chips are her healers, filling the deep, aching pit of empty
Penetrating through the flesh through the gut through the soul- it is temporary, this experience
To then be bloated, nauseated, and sick momentarily and then run to the kitchen

[Jennifer Sears]

Jennifer, this is a powerful sestina. The sense of urgency and vulnerable desperation ring through the lines and the repeated words. Our discussion board is off to a strong start.

[Kyle Holston]

She wakes up at six AM she leaves at eight AM
She enters the classroom to teach the preschool kids
she has to make sure they are happy
She has to make sure they are safe
she has to make sure they are learning
she has to make sure she is doing her job right

This preschool kid is wrong, this preschool kid is right
she has all of the kids know the correct answer since eight AM
the kids don’t play with the knives because she wants them safe
she reads them a book and sings a song because they’re learning
it brings her joy to speak to and get to see the kids
she left her other job went back to school for this and ever since been happy

Every time it’s eight AM it’s time to get everything right
the kids sit on the rug to be learning
she is and they are happy no worries about if they are safe

[Kyle Holston]

Very good Jenni, you went all out and did more than required. I like the creativity about eating the food and how it is temporary until the person is bloated and sick. I had trouble with the sestina and it seems you did very well.

[Jessica]

The alarm goes off at 6AM
She gets everything ready for the day
walks a few blocks to the hospital
running around with a big white lab coat to see all her patients
making sure they are well and healthy
emergency room packed and filled

everyone wearing a mask the rooms are filled
so much to do tired since 6AM
happy to see all her recovered patients
her goal is to make everyone happy and healthy
exhausting day but she is happy to save the day
what a day at the busy hospital

Finally leaving the hospital
exciting to get some rest her thoughts are filled
She had a long working day
Many strong and brave patients.

[jenni727]

Kyle, your selection of words (happy, safe, learning, right, kids, AM) definitely suited what I imagine a teacher to be. The classroom is not just where kids learn, it’s often a sanctuary for kids from difficult homes so I appreciate that you mentioned safety. I could really picture this teacher and group of students you were describing, their singing and reading and then sitting on the rug. You did a really great job.

[Lauriann Frederick]

I opened my eyes, staring straight at the ceiling
Took some deep steady breaths and tried to decipher my feelings.
Was it just my imagination, or did I heard my cat calling,
Good morning, good morning, how are you doing?
I shut my eyes again, tighter than they were before,
But I couldn’t ignore her, I had to get up and opened the door.

Slowly with sleep still in my eyes, I walked hesitantly towards the door,
Fighting the urge to turn up my sleep-filled eyes, way, way up to the ceiling.
O the question that came into my mind was, how many times have you done this before?
As I thought hard on this question, I had to fight off that dreaded feelings,
Should I return to the warmth or my bed? It is so much the easier thing worth doing.
But how can I turn a stone-deaf ear, to the sweet sound of my darling cat calling?

I gently scooped up my little cat in my arms, and softly whispered in her ear, my darling I heard your calling.
As she lying peacefully in my arms, I turned around and faced the room door,
Then I stopped and thought just for a moment, maybe this is not what I should be doing.
As the reality of this hit me, I again venture to turn my eyes way, way up to the ceiling,
O what an awkward terrible feeling,
And so I turned right around and headed to the kitchen, sure of what I should be doing, for I have done this for my little kitty cat, so many times before.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Lauriann Frederick. Reason: Only did two stanza the first time
• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Jennifer Sears.

[Lauriann Frederick]

Hi Jessica

I can almost see your person moving from bed to bed doing her rounds as she check on her patients. I can envision the team of medical staff as they hover over the patient’s beds, happy to see the progress of their recovery as the each breathe a sign of relief. As I read your Sestina, I saw my at my job in the hospital sitting at the nursing station. It’s an experience I have seen over and over again, just as you have stated in your Sestina.

You have done a wonderful job bringing to life the daily activities of a doctor.

[Mosqan Naseem]

When dream have begun
A moment of peace is released
As time stand still
It allows for moment of thrill
We are free to ponder against the boundaries we call time
Time is an illusion

As time begins to have no structure being an illusion
Created to cripple the dream that have begun
It is much like a steady stream with running time
It creeps through our mind as reality is released
Reality breaks the thrill
As we enter the reality and leave behind the time that stand still

[Asalah Alhababi]

Her phone is ringing every morning at six o’clock.
She gets up and prepper breakfast for her lovely family.
Going to an elderly center for help.
Always facing them with a warm smile.
Feeling satisfy for being blessed by God.
Going back home with a heart that full of love and joy.

You never see her sad or exhausted instead you see a face full of joy.
Working every day and sometime on her free time until five o’clock.
She likes to show assistance to everyone around her and that makes her feel protect by God.
She goes back home asking her kids about their day and making dinner for the whole family.
Even after a tough day she will keep showing her beauty by a smile.
She never gives up hope and she is always there for anyone who needs help.

Waiting for her ticking o’clock, going to a place where she finds a joy.
Doing everything for her family after prying to God.
Loving to give help to just see their faces smile.

[Zeneida Hernandez]

The night is almost over, not feeling too tired
Maybe later i will fall over from exhaustion.
The game i went was fun, I enjoyed one of my passion
It was an adventure that kept away overthinking.
It was good to be there without anxiety
When your mind is not in peace you feel pain

This irrational feeling causes me pain.
An everyday routine, all of this make me tired
At least my mind is busy, not overthinking.
Between meetings and phone calls i get anxiety.
Many projects on mind bring me exhaustion
Don’t get me wrong, my job is still my passion.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Zeneida Hernandez.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Jennifer Sears.

[Pratima Roy]

The days tend to go by fast.
Homeworks never last.
Technology has captured my body and soul.
I like to spend my day watching Netflix.
For breakfast, I like to have milk and cereal Trix.
Everyone I know is working and studying full time and it’s exhausting.
But the CR/NC credit policy is over for this semester.
Life is tough and we need to get through this.
Never give up and pray to God to help your dreams come true.
I am lucky to live, study, and pray in the morning which is my aarti(Puja).
I am a proud Hindu and happy to enjoy my normal, yet stressful life.
I love to appreciate and enjoy everything I am doing.

[Pratima Roy]

Wow, I can totally understand and feel you. I am experiencing the same thing I also work and study. It can be hard, but we got this.

[Sobia Bashir]

I really miss going to college
Attending classes, seeing new faces, and making friends
But now since everything is just online
It’s so boring and depressing and annoying
Every day you just sit in front of a computer
Doing plenty of work with no socializing

But I’m not good at socializing
Especially not in my classes at college
In class, I would rather be in front of a computer
Or I would just talk to the few friends
I have, who are fun but also at the same time annoying
The only thing I can do now is talk to them online