A few nights ago, I got my final project grade back from my Java professor. I had been waiting for weeks to get my grade. The Project2 was a large portion of my final grade and would put me a little closer to the end of the class.
I was pleased with the grade, but then I read his comments.
Very nice work w/Project2! The project requirements were met, and for the most part, the application functioned well. Just as importantly–from a sales standpoint–the Web app. was nicely designed, and illustrated an eye for layout and color! … blah blah blah….Overall, very nice job!
Then he added this:
As an aside, the file named Document.rtf was a bit disturbing. It appears that you may have things going on in your life that you may want to consider discussing with someone–as sometimes we all need. If there is anyway that I can assist or point you in a direction for assistance, please do not hesitate to call me.
I started to freak out. I had no idea what he was talking about. Document.rtf? What document could be hiding out in my .zip file that would cause my teacher to have such concern. I immediately logged onto the class website and pulled up and opened the attached .zip. And there it was, Document.rtf. I had absolutely no recollection of the file. I just had to see what this was all about and this is what I found:
Depression
Life is like a horrible nightmare
That I can’t seem to wake up from
A never ending dream
Gone terribly wrong
Dreams are meant to be comfort
But all I get is pain
Nightmares seem to find me
Even in the brightest domain
I hide in the shadow of my existence
Wondering when the sun will shine
In the darkness I lay
All is quiet
I hear my heart sigh
As tears fall away again
There is no one here
In my deepest obsession
With black and red
And all that is shed
My life has become a hole
A hole so deep
And never ending
I fall in spiraling circles
Down and Down
Into the depths of
Depression
Then I started to laugh so hard my sides began to ache. I know this doesn’t sound like the kind of poem to laugh at, the funny thing was that I hadn’t written it. DQ had. She had written it in the midst of some teenage angst and had asked me to preview / proof it to see if she should use it for her Poetry final project for her Language Arts class. She was concerned that it might freak out her teacher. I had downloaded it from my email to my PC and assured her that it was a great poem and that there wasn’t anything too dark about it. I added that her teacher understands what young teens go through and probably gets literary work like this often.
When I showed DQ my teacher’s comments, she asked “Mom, what document did you send him?”. Then I showed her. She immediately burst out, “Hey, that’s my poem. You can’t take credit for my poem!” Pausing from my laughter, I explained I had no intention of stealing her work and that I found it incredibly funny that she had been worried what her teacher would think. Now, my teacher was beside himself trying to figure out how to help this poor college student that was obviously reaching out to him.
I guess when I downloaded it, I must have been working in my java project folder at the time and then it ended up zipped up with my other java files. The next day, I was able to chat with my teacher on the phone. I was worried that there was no way I could possibly convey my complete embarrassment as well as the extreme humor of the situation in an email, without sounding like I had made up some far fetched story that would further cause him distress over my well being.
By the way, DQ wants me to make sure I let everyone know that the above poem entitled Depression is her intellectual property and not to steal it, use it, or turn it in for any class assignment. 
that is so funny
and i promise i will not steal, use or turn it in for any class assignments…
although we have this project in my english class….just kidding
I’ll call your depression and raise you…
Ecstasy
Life is like a dream full of clowns
That nobody would ever want to wake up from
A fun-filled fantasy
That’s just super-great
Some people mention nightmares
But my dreams are technicolor
And just like my sleeping hours
my real life is super great too
I flounce around with a stupid grin
The sun shining on my face
I’m so hyped I can’t sit still
All around me in pandemonium
My pulse is racing
And my side aches from laughter
Even when I’m alone
I’m as happy as a clam
My world is pink and bright
And full of light
I’m as light as the air
And floating above the madness of the world
Up, up, up I go
the air rushing past my smiling face
To the heights of
Ecstasy!
Ha!