Read Online When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez - Free Book Online

“getting right to work is the best way to transition out of summer vacation and into school. Trust me. I’ll go easy on you today.”
    â€œOkay, okay,” Kevin said.
    Ms. Diaz returned to the front of the room. “First, let’s talk briefly about Emily Dickinson. Does anyone know anything about her?”
    â€œShe was a poet,” said Kevin.
    â€œYes, thank you for stating the obvious,” Ms. Diaz said with laughter in her voice. “Anyone else?”
    â€œDidn’t she live around here?” asked Abby.
    â€œYes. She lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, which isn’t far from here. Anyone else?”
    â€œShe was a recluse,” said Elizabeth. She closed the book but was still slouching.
    â€œTrue,” said Ms. Diaz. “At about the age of thirty, Dickinson retreated from society, staying mostly in and around her home.”
    â€œWhy?” asked Tommy.
    â€œGood question. No one knows for sure. Some of the theories are: an illness, depression, a broken heart, maybe. She may have simply chosen to live a quiet life and dedicate her time to her work. She wrote almost eighteen hundredpoems, but according to the Emily Dickinson Museum, only ten were published in her lifetime and likely without her knowledge.”
    â€œShould we be writing this down?” Kevin asked, interrupting her.
    â€œYes,” said Ms. Diaz. “You can assume that anything we discuss may come back to haunt you on a quiz.”
    Elizabeth rummaged through her bag and retrieved a notebook and pen. Kevin had nothing but a single-subject notebook on his desk. He patted his pockets but came up empty. He leaned forward and gently scratched Sarah on the middle of her back with his finger to get her attention. Sarah wiggled a little at his touch and turned to hear his request for a pen or pencil.
    Elizabeth noted how Emily crossed her arms as she watched the exchange. When Kevin saw Emily looking in his direction, he winked at her, but she looked away quickly. Elizabeth would ask him about it later. On the other side of the room, Abby now sat sideways so her perfectly tanned legs directly faced Tommy. Elizabeth sighed and continued to stroke her hair forward to block them out.
Worst seating arrangement ever
.
    â€œDickinson’s poems were discovered and published after she died, and she has since been considered one of the most important American poets in history,” said Ms. Diaz. “I’ll tell you more about her as we read her poems throughout the year. Let’s get to today’s selection.”
    Ms. Diaz projected the first stanza of poem #657 on awall. She asked Emily to read aloud. She seemed startled to be called upon but didn’t protest. She read:
    I dwell in Possibility –
    A fairer House than Prose –
    More numerous of Windows –
    Superior – for Doors –
    â€œYou were supposed to go easy on us. This is making my head hurt,” said Kevin.
    â€œGood,” responded Ms. Diaz. “That means you’re thinking. Now, who can tell me what’s going on in the first stanza?”
    No hands went up. Elizabeth stared at the lines of poetry, rereading them several times. She then started to write and draw in her notebook.
    â€œWhat do you notice about the poem? Let’s start there.”
    Tommy tentatively raised his hand. Ms. Diaz nodded at him.
    â€œShe uses capitalization in unusual ways.”
    â€œGood. That’s a start.” Ms. Diaz underlined the capitalized words.
    â€œShould we be underlining these?” asked Kevin.
    â€œYes,” she said. “Now, what does the capitalization do for these words?”
    â€œGives them importance,” said Tommy.
    Abby smiled admiringly at Tommy. Elizabeth noticed when she peeked from behind her hair-curtain.
    â€œGood,” said Ms. Diaz. “Please read the rest of it, Emily.”
    Elizabeth raised her gaze from her notebook to the projected poem. Emily sat up