Random Freewrite 2: Week of 3/28/11

(This is from our classroom exercise. I don't know how good these are, but it was a lot of fun to go over the top with it.)

ORIGINAL

When it rained today, I had two thoughts: of starving lions overseas and people drowned where I once lived. It was cold, and I took a jacket, and I had two thoughts: of polar bears on thinning ice and people homeless in the snow. I didn't speak of cold or wet again, but I'm sure to forget this feeling weeks from now, or months. I wish I could staple memory to my mind or set my brain to vibrate an alarm once or twice a week to remind me: "Today is someone else's hell."

ACADEMIC

Upon observing the heavy precipitation that overcast the day, I considered, in turn, malnourishment among lions in the sub-Saharan region and the death toll of the recent earthquake in Northeast Asia. By and by, the temperature dropped and upon gathering my jacket, I considered, in turn, global warming as it concerns the survival of wildlife in the Arctic and Asians suffering hypothermia. I refrained from further discussion on the manner of my discomfort; however, it is certain that I shall lose this transient thought to less remote concerns, be it a fortnight or two, or even several rotations of the moon from this hour forth. Given the capability to do so, I would attach this knowledge to my brow, or, that excluding, set the mechanism of my brain to sound its alarm of remembrance at select hours throughout the week. To say just this: "My fortune should not exclude me from the realization that others are less privileged today."

ROMANTIC

The downpour drenched its wretchedness into my very soul, and I was overwhelmed by the tragedy of lions hungering in rags of bone, and the poor people of Asia swept away by ferocious tides of windswept Earth. My room grew chill, and I reached shivering to my soul for the gentle embrace of my dearest husbands gift to me, my sweet mink canopy. Oh! The terrible anguish I endured in that moment for the polar bears walking winter's last march, and those poor Asians huddling together without the tender comfort of their mother's roof. I could not speak again of suffering, no, my throat was swollen shut. I knew I shall forget this pitiful hour and turn again to my own life's sheltered wants. But if I could, I would stab this fleeting charity into my bosom, and brandish the bells of mercy like a siren in my brain. That I might never forget: "I am blessed. Alas, poor world!"

12-YEAR-OLD

It was soooo wet outside, like whoa. I didn't wanna go to school. I mean, c'mon! But Mom was like, "Think of the starving lions" and "There are people in Asia dying" like she always does. So. Friggin'. Random. And I was like, "So?" But of course she got mad and pushed me out anyway. And it was freezing cold, too! But she was like, "Think of the polar bears dying!" and "There are people in Asia freezing!" Seriously? Like, she's not even joking. Like, totally hardcore. Over bears and some dudes in China or whatever! So I was like, "Yeah, that really makes me want to go to school. NOT." And she loses it, like, "Why do I bother? You'll forget it tomorrow." (Duh.) But I wouldn't, 'cuz she'd take Dad's staple gun to my head with it or something, or, like, put an alarm clock in my pillow to give me nightmares, just to tell me: "You got it easy!" Yeah, right.