My First Days at Columbia

Hey everyone!

I have been at Columbia for three days now, and I am having a phenomenal time! I am making so many wonderful friends from all over the world. I am in the creative writing program where I will be learning about all different kinds of writing. My instructors are great and so is the rest of my class. It is great to be around a group of people who are just as into writing as I am.

Our first unit was on poetry, and I have to admit that I was super nervous. My poem is called The Verse This Be and it is a variation on the poem This Be The Verse which I have also posted. I hope you all like it.

Elizabeth Kidd- The Verse This Be

Your mom and your dad, help you they do
on and on your whole life through.
They try to control you and the choices you make,
as though to keep you from making the same mistake.

They too have heard the same stern voices,
from those older than them who made their hard choices.
It may seem they cannot understand,
but they too have stood where you currently stand

Experience is passed from father to son,
so listen to them, do not try to run.
Soon you will stand, your child and you,
telling them all you learned as you grew.

This Be The Verse-- Philip Larken (The Original)

They mess you up, your mum and dad.

They may not mean to, but they do.

They fill you with the faults they had.

And add some extra, just for you.

But they were messed up in their turn

By fools in old- style hats and coats,

Who half the time were soppy stern

and half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.

It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

And don't have kids yourself.

I personally think that mine is much, much more true! I like to look at the positive, and I would also like to thank my parents for teaching me and for making me the person I am today. You guys rock!!

Now, do not think that New York is all work and no play!! I am having a fantastic time exploring the city. I put a picture of my suite mates and I at Central Park at the top of this post, but I have done so much more and cannot wait for all my future trips and adventures. Tonight after a day of classes and hanging out on campus, I went with a group of girls to My Sister's Keeper. It is a great movie but now I really miss Chloe! Tomorrow I am going to the play Coraline with members of the Creative Writing program. New York is great and thank you for all the support!