Local Sensibilities
The freshmen in English 9 are starting their poetry unit by heading to Hawaii - in our minds at least. Wing Tek Lum’s “Local Sensibilities” contrasts tourists’/outsiders’ views of Hawaii with those of the people who make their homes in Hawaii. The freshmen were asked to emulate the style of Lum’s poem with their own Nebraskan versions of “Local Sensibilities.” Here are some of their stanzas.
By Alessa Gall:
When I see a cow
I do not think of a well-
done steak served on a platter,
But instead, the endless hours outside
working hard to one day win a trophy.
When I think of a farmer
Providing food for the country
and driving a combine does not come to mind,
Instead I think of my father
and the late nights out in the field.
By Sophia Morfeld…
When I think of Nebraska,
It’s not just cornfields and dirt roads.
It’s beautiful sunrises in the early mornings.
When I think of football,
I don’t think of winning a game with a ball,
I think of a fanbase who still has hope for their team.
By Kendall Schneider
When I hear the word “cow”
The picture of a black and white animal
Does not come to mind;
Rather taking care of the animal like
Feeding and herding.
When I see the hills
I do not think of the endless
Up and down;
Instead the beautiful view
Of openness and sunsets.
By Grant Hanel
When I think of corn, I don’t think of
A food you can buy in cans.
I think of a plant
That is a livelihood.
When I think of cattle I don’t
Think of a hamburger. I think
Of the early mornings and late
Nights of the hardest work.
By Josh Eisenmann
When I think of Nebraska plains,
I do not think of it being flat;
Instead I think of the 4,584 foot difference
In elevation from east to west.
When I taste a steak in my mouth,
I do not think of the fancy restaurant I
Am eating at;
The image of many feedlots is what comes to mind.
By Chyann Becker…
When I think of a farmer, I don’t see men in ragged cloth
Overalls and donkeys. I see hard working men and women in jean with cattle.
When I think of harvesting, I don’t think
Leaves, pumpkins, pinecones, and squirrels. I think of
Combines, deadlines, and warm dinner with family afterwards.