Poetry: "Human Family"

"Human Family" by Maya Angelou

I note the obvious differences
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.

Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
and others claim they really live
the real reality.

The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.

I’ve sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land,
I’ve seen the wonders of the world
not yet one common man.

I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I’ve not seen any two
who really were the same.
 
Mirror twins are different
although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,
we weep on England’s moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we’re the same.

I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

A few Clipper goodbyes

Today marked the end of The Clipper's 2011-2012 year. We finished issue 15, said some goodbyes, made promises to see each other again soon and laughed quite a bit. The Clipper is losing this year's editor-in-chief, photo editor, web and graphics editor, and our ad manager. I'm stepping up as the editor-in-chief. It's a position our current editor has been preparing me for all quarter, but it's also completely terrifying.

The people who are leaving aren't just my classmates or co-workers. These people are my friends, many of them very dear and close friends. So, while I've known there would be an end to this surprisingly amazing year, it's still shocking and just a bit sad.

At the beginning of the year, we were all on completely different waves. There was even a week of arguing tossed in there. I wasn't friends with the editor. In fact, the only person I was friends with was our ad manager. But now here we are, ten months later and we've finally found our groove. I've seen these people nearly every day since the end of August. Some of them more than others. I've built relationships that have taken root in my life - relationships I can't imagine ever living without.

Next year is going to be a roller coaster ride. It's going to be challenging without this year's editing staff and I know I'll have to step forward and take charge of steering our Clipper ship. But I know I can do it. I have over a year of experience with this paper behind me. It's over a year of struggling, laughing and carrying this paper with me wherever I go. No staff will ever compare to the editors and managers we've had. Then again, no staff can ever really be compared to another. Each one is different, just like the new staff will be different from the old one.

I've never been one to embrace change, especially when it has to do with something so important to me. I practically live in The Clipper office. We have our own little Clipper family. And next year, the family will change. The mood in the office will be different. Not necessarily worse, just different.

The one thing I know for sure is that those who are leaving - my dear friends - are going out into the world to do some amazing things. They'll change lives and they'll be changed along the way. As long as those individuals are happy in what they're doing, that's good enough for me.

This year has truly been a blessing, simply because of The Clipper and the people I work with. I could've never asked for a better staff and I could've never imagined I'd form such amazing friendships.

It's been a phenomenal year and I'm still trying to process the fact that it's over. But for now, I'll say goodbye to a job I've grown to love. Or better yet, I'll be seeing you.

Poetry: "I Will Love You Until"

Yes, this is a blog and I usually write full length posts. But I'm also a sucker for poems, so expect some sporatic posts of poems every once in a while. Like now.
"I Will Love You Until" by Anna Andrews

I will love you til the sun retires, until it burns out.
Until the rivers and sea dries up, or drowns the earth no doubt.
I will love you for as long as butterflies, dance in the summer breeze
Until the springs blossoms no more, until no sound of hustling leaves.
I will love you until carved trees by lovers, weeply fade away,
Until lightning no longer lights up a night, or strikes a destined day.

I will love you until all piano keys, fall deeply silent in fear
Of losing the curious spellbinding eye, and the craving ear.
I will love you until an artist, can no longer express his painted dreams
Until all beauty of distinctive sight, vanish within his screams.
I will love you until a poet, feels no pain in her written days
until the ink dries out, words are lost and pages are in a blaze.

I will love you until the wishing star that I wished that very night
No longer out shines other stars, or until the earth lose sight.
I will love you for enternity, forever may it be
Until everything has nothing, forever you'll have me.

I will love you...
I will love you until...