ENG 309: British Literature 1600-1800: Response Horace Walpole’s published the first Gothic novel, “Castle of Otranto,” in 1764. “Castle of Otranto” is a dramatic and dark novel featuring several elements such as heroines, supernatural occurrences, and extreme weather. Most importantly, it reflects the role and treatment of women in the 18th century. The plot of … More Castle of Otranto: Matilda’s Preventable Death
ENG 309: British Literature 1600-1800: Response Aphra Behn’s novel, “Oroonoko,” embodies multiple themes, including violence and power, gender roles, and slavery. What stands out to me throughout the novel is the politics of suffering by which characters resist slavery and attempt to achieve freedom by enduring pain. Hence, pain becomes their source of power. It is … More The Politics of Suffering in Oroonoko
The desert welcomed a little rain, but the drought reclaimed its throne and killed the glimmer in her eyes. The story went on. I flipped through the pages. With each page, I forgot how to write; words faded into dust, and a part of me died. Surrounded by serpents, how could the rain have known … More Among Serpents
“I thirst for love but I don’t know how to receive it. I play games to keep my heart safe. Sometimes, I believe I’m too weird to be wanted. Everything I do invites unwanted stares. I hold things in until my facade turns to rubble ‘cause I’m afraid they’ll get bored of my troubles. I … More On receiving love
I don’t think of you, but my mind does sometimes, and it kills me that you’re not by my side. Nights we spent cozied up together are now silenced by the oceans between us. You drifted away, and I’ve been drowning ever since. I bow down to my heart as I stare at the blank … More Unwanted thoughts
The birds sing the same songs every morning, the wind dances through the grass, the sun leaves nothing to the imagination. I push myself forward, my heart paces faster, my skin wrestles with the heat. I thought I escaped, but every step I take leads me to the same place. The birds stop singing, the … More Nature’s burden
I can love you forever As long as you’re with me when I close my eyes I don’t have to let go but I won’t move and neither will you I’m willing to fight for you, but I’ll never let you know ’cause I’m at peace with superficial connections feeding off the same old conversations … More Heart wide shut
The ocean and I are at odds with one another. It begs for a taste of my peace. Your waves come to pull me in, leaving gentle kisses on my feet. Buried deep, here I stand, with a thirst for love, knowledge, and ecstasy but your shores are left dry. One part of the ocean is … More My ocean | يا بحري
You were a beautiful possibility. You could’ve found a home in me, but the hollowness behind your skin revealed a dark and soulless stare. I never wanted to escape reality when I was with you but you lived in fantasies made of me when the magic was right in front of you. I bet you … More Goodbye
When the ocean walks away and the waves go silent — when the air remains still and the sun fades in the darkness, I’m pulled away from the shore. The water is growing on me and the wind comes to push away my steps towards earth’s core. I see a wistful smile whirling around me; … More The fall
What makes you think I’ll leave my life to be by your side? Oh boy, don’t you know? I walked a thousand miles. I lived a thousand lives. Oh boy, I know how to handle pain and this doesn’t compare. You might need me there to hold you when you’re weak But I’m good right here … More In your head
When there was none When the desert’s heat held me, and the wind blew through my bones When life came to me empty-handed, a sign of the time came through Fluttering in the most unexpected places, its colored wings root my feet in the ground. And, as it pushes itself against the wind, my heart … More Butterfly Clan
Here’s to the glory of dying and the pain of remembrance Death passes by to bring me back to life, to suffer all over again I’ve lived long and insufferable lives and faced every consequence I wandered the world, walked a thousand miles, explored the oceans and swam the deserts Everyone leaves as time passes … More Undying
Sitting amidst the chaos, estranged from reality, holding onto fragments of hope and snippets of memories that belong in the past. I was hoping that things might turn out better than expected, but as the night passed by, it brought in clarity; hurtful realizations I needed to release myself from a moment of stagnation. A … More Then came clarity
A scattered mind sits at both ends of a spectrum, looking beyond the colors smeared over the realities of the wounded. It speaks. Minds hear. Hearts don’t listen. Loniless triumphed – a victory for one at the loss of all. Faces remain still, contemplating one’s mind with words empty of meaning, disregarding and belittling. “Shelter me,” … More Dispersed
When the weather was most turbulent, I began to sink into my own thoughts. Perhaps, it was speaking to me, angered by my lack of self-care. After all, I’ve been distracting myself by stacking up my schedule with activities beyond my human capacity. I’ve always been uncomfortable with solitude and slow movement, but yesterday I … More Slowing down
Following years of escaping in cities, Jana Richman revisits her hometown, Utah, in a journey that unravels her emotions and childhood wounds. In her 2018 book “Finding Stillness in a Noisy World,” she guides her readers through a transformative and eye-opening journey in which she explores transverse feelings including fear, love, and loss in a … More “Finding Stillness in a Noisy World:” Book Review
Is it just me or is the world broken enough to die? Behind a lens witnessing the world tear apart, I’m sitting in despair, listening to my throbbing heart. A glass stands between you and me. My screams are caged in sighs. Help! Get me out of here! I want to escape the safety that … More The end of days
What do I care if the wind runs wild when the mountains drop and the skies divide What do I care if the seas run scared when the sands dry up and the valleys drain Even our shadows leave us behind when the stars fill out the darkness inside Clouds run heavy, but tears subside … More What do I care
Food has always consumed me. When I’m eating, I’m thinking about not eating. When I’m not eating, I’m thinking about eating. Now that my body has to deal with it, my life is growing a little more difficult. Recent health implications scared me into trying to gain weight, and over the past three weeks it … More The horrors of recovery
How does the spark die out so quickly when it was ignited not long ago? How does the rain come falling down in the midst of the heat? I still wonder how we’re not the same. It’s weird. I care and express passion. I look and I search until I’m burned out. Then, the sun … More An old fire
You there, sitting alone What has your mind bestowed upon you tonight? The world goes by, and the tides continue to roar Loneliness humiliates you as you let go of the light Your doubts have grown; your dreams ran their course Did you bring this upon yourself? Heart tainted, mind eroded Where have your faults … More You there
Despite the barriers, despite the armored shells around us, feelings sneak in and spill out, contagious and relentless. Tears dry, hearts change and steel turns to rust. I stand in front of you guarded and armed nevertheless. Your curious eyes follow me as I undress. I’d stay longer if your heart satisfied my tastebuds but … More Rusted Hearts
We met underwater on an evening tainted blue and the night was illuminating your soul’s hue. I took a step forward. “Aren’t you afraid of me?” I’m always jumping off edges, I say. I no longer fear the fall ’cause the fire is burning me still. I love love, been covered in red but I … More We met under water
My Li’l Place for nominated me for the Mystery Blogger Award for quite a while now. I know I’m late to the game but sometimes answering four simple questions can be overwhelming, but here we are now. My Li’l Place shares little snippets of her thoughts and feelings. She enjoys expressing herself through photography as well. … More I am Nominated! Mystery Blogger Award!
