Michael Ma's Writing Portfolio

Writing Portfolio Enhua (Michael) Ma

Haiku: Seasons

Icy branches Sharp needles of winter wind Piercing my skin

Springtime Butterflies landing on tulips paint on a new canvas

Summer at last The bright orange sun Peering through the shades

Fall’s arrival Chilly air blowing through the barren trees Bright maple leaves

The brilliant autumn leaves Grow gray and crippled then slowly drop

Icy branches Sharp needles of winter wind Piercing my skin

Pastoral Images The vibrant rainbows lit up like floating lanterns signaling the storm has ended and the sun will shine through.

The trees swing peacefully on the edge of the pond, waving to each other across the water.

The christmas tree, decorated like a glittering gown, radiant with rubies and diamonds, Stands proudly and showing everyone– the centerpiece of a long and proud tradition.

Crickets chirping as they sing in the darkness, the music dispelling loneliness in the stillness of evening.

Colorful birds lift out of the water, the photographer capturing their beauty and elegance.

Mother nature, source of all life, of beauty and invention, satisfying our endless desires; May we learn to honor and cherish Her before it’s too late.

Blackberries The man winced at the prickly blackberry vines, trying desperately avoid the sharp needles.

“But the sun is high and shining,” he observes,.

“The best time to sun bathe on the beach; the berries can wait.”

He came back sun-burnt and bleary-eyed, only to see his plants drowning in a sea of blackberry vines,

devouring and covering everything like a hungry flood, destroying the patios and pathways.

Later, sweat dripping from his eyes as darkness creeps in through The fence, he digs savagely, rooting out the invader, cursing himself for his arrogance.

Where the sky meets the sea: A Villanelle Look to where the sky meets the sea, The raging power that shakes the earth like its prey: See what it holds, what it could be!

The fish resting in under the coral, blowing bubbles happily.

Sea grass and anemones wave and chatter in the bay.

So look to where the sky meets the sea.

The roaring waves splinter ships in Neptune’s fury; lightning splinters the darkness of sea and sky, but see what it holds, what it could be.

Tsunamis rise, hungry, like monsters on a spree; Gales ruthlessly hurl hope and sanity away.

Why look to where the sky meets the sea?

The water yields nets crammed with bounty Though less prodigious than in ancient days– Will it hold, will it continue to be?

The sea brings fear and death with cruelty, but also beauty, joy, and a huge buffet.

Its vastness fills us with awe, makes us pray so look to where the sky meets the sea. you must see what it holds, what it could be.

Dream within a Dream I fall asleep, and slip into a dream.

I am on top of a skyscraper, Shielding my eyes from the searing light.

Suddenly, I fall and the world disappears; in front of my eyes, a flower blooms, just out of reach.

I stand up, the leaf slowly inclines, and I slip off the green surface.

Now, I sit up, the stars are zipping across me, trees, grass and animals growing on my palm.

I look down, a hole opens right under me, terrified, I let out a scream.

I wake up, and pinch myself.

I see the skin on my arm getting squeezed, but i can’t remember if it hurt or not.

The Butterfly Effect A man popped a piece of cake into his mouth, savoring the sweetness of the whip cream melting on his tongue.

“How much did I cut off of this cake’s lifetime?” he wondered.

“On the other hand, the cake would’ve just sat on the table, for days, growing stale and inedible” he consoled himself as he swallowed the last bite and walked out the door.

Strolling down the sidewalk, The old man swung his cane like a metronome.

Suddenly, he stepped into a mud puddle, his foot disappearing in the murk.

“Oh no! I just made a dent in the ground!” the old man thought.

I may have just weakened the soil, the same one that holds up my house!

Stopping at a bench along the sidewalk, he took out his handkerchief to wipe off the sweat on his face.

The old man blinked at the specks of dirt on his handkerchief.

He blew the debris gently into the air, wondering About the destination of those whirling motes, spinning like planets Or ancient stars into worlds he’ll never know.

Laying down his head, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Lemonade Rage Anger can take many forms. Like drinking a glass of lemonade, no sugar, all sour, its tartness twists your unsuspecting smile into a frown

or, like grasping for breath in the stifling summer air, suffocating you as you feel the sweat streaming down your back,

or, like an endless march, your lips parched and cracked and bleeding, the vapors of resentment rising into the hostile air.

And, then, sometimes rage turns into fury, the metallic taste of blood, the acrid smoke streaming out of my nostrils crashing and burning everything near me.

I take the glass, the ice cubes floating on the surface, and, smiling, ask for more sugar.

Dementia *This piece made to the Finalist of 2023 WritetheWorld Flash Fiction Competition.

“Two pancake specials, please.”

“Are you over 65?” the waitress asked.

His blue eyes clouded in uncertainty. Seeing the old-fashioned sailor’s cap, she gave him the discount anyways. He scanned the bustling diner as though expecting someone. The waitress plunked down two plates of steaming pancakes. He looked across the table; the empty chair stared dully back at him. He pulled out his wallet and saw a a black-andwhite picture of a pretty young woman. Smiling, he picked up his fork. It fluttered in his splotchy hand like a silver-winged bird, then dove into the golden cloud and disappeared.

Poppy Fields I watch the field bloom, a sea of crimson and black swaying in the warm spring breeze.

The hum of bees floats on the air, as they retrieve the sticky dust that they will return to their hive, transforming it into their sweet nectar. Nearby, the old dilapidated windmill creaks, drooping its weary head. My children watch their children run through the fields, their hands slowly brushing the flowers, their little feet pushing against the dark loam, shouting with joy as they chase one another, trodding the very soil that I lie beneath. So many young souls planted in early graves, drenching the dark earth with their blood. As I watch my grandchildren, shooting their imaginary rifles, maneuvering under the cover of poppies, re-enacting this or that famous battle, I wonder what lessons, if any, have been learned?

The Grim Reaper: A Monologue He turned his head slowly at me as I stood next to his bed, his fallen hair lying like chaff on his pillow. He was startled at first, but his wrinkly frown soon softened into a peaceful smile. We both knew it was time. Sighing softly, I grab the thread of his breath and drew it like a quiet mist lingering above a barren winter field, and slowly pulled it out of his slender body.

I laid my eyes on the next victim: a little boy lying on a road. I floated silently toward him like an iceberg toward a ship in the darkness. A terrible scream shattered the silence of my approach. With a flick of my bony wrist the scythe cut him down like a single stalk of wheat, green with unripeness . The young soul clinging desperately to its body,I had to yank hard and put it in my sack.

Over the thousands of years, I’ve grown used to this thankless job. And the guilt, it follows me like a shadow. I shutter as a million screams rise in a ghastly crescendo piercing my skull, and breaking like a wave against my unyielding destiny. For a moment, I imagined myself falling to my knees, praying for an end to my misery. I chuckled at my momentary indulgence–”Such melodrama,” I chide myself, shaking my head as I hitch my bag over my shoulder and trudge onto my next assignment.

The Nian Monster Today begins another celebration of New Year’s Eve. My parents are inside making dumplings, while my friends run in the waning light, waving around dragon costumes and lighting fireworks. As usual, I sit in the garage, surrounded by comic books, empty soda cans, greasy waxed paper, crusts of sandwiches, and gently stroke her in the dark. She fears the loud crackle and flash of fireworks. At another explosion, she let out a small whimper. “Don’t worry,” I said to her, “it’s going to be alright. It’s almost time.” I grab the empty bucket and walk to the fridge, open the door, a bright light blooms in the darkness.

Pulling out a package of rancid meat, I look back, straining my eyes to make her out. As if for the first time, I see her body filling out every gap in the garage, like a caterpillar bulging against its cocoon, ready to bust out and take flight.

Is safety more important than fun? *This piece was shortlisted for the 2023 John Locke Writing Competition, Junior Category.

When people pursue fun and excitement, whether going on a roller coaster or playing hide and seek, one must realize that all activities occur at the intersection of safety and fun. A short and small-scaled roller coaster ride might be safe, but it will not provide as much fun as a faster or taller roller coaster going through loops, which is inherently more dangerous. One must find a balance between safety and fun in the activities they do. In our society, safety is often hailed as the utmost priority and is crucially emphasized by our parents and teachers, but it doesn't mean that fun doesn't hold a special place in our hearts. Fun can foster personal growth, enhance well-being and create long-lasting memories. So, should safety be more important than fun?

To set the scope of discussion, we should clarify some key terms: "Safety" is the condition of being protected from danger or any risk that could cause injury to the person involved.

Safety can also be the condition of undergoing an act that prevents or further lowers the likelihood of danger. This means that having pills that mitigate certain health conditions is considered safe since they minimize the risks associated with the ailment. "Fun" is defined as anything enjoyable, whether caused by happiness, excitement, or contentment.

This essay will compare the importance of safety and fun in play, sports, and everyday life.

A key argument provided by those who believe fun outweighs safety is just how important risky fun is to children. Risky play is a "thrilling and exciting form of physical play that involve uncertainty and a risk of physical injury" (Sandseter, p.22). Providing children the opportunity to take risks, or, in other words, challenge themselves, allows them to later experience the satisfaction of learning new skills and provides them with developmental learning, such as decision-making, while also fostering mental and physical health. One study conducted in 2017 had a group of children engage in a 14-week test involving risky play, such as the use of dangerous tools or climbing to great heights. The children involved in the risky activities showed increased self-esteem and competence (Lavrysen, 2017). The same group showed more development in independence and resolving conflict as well.

Moreover, the most important conclusion states that children exposed to risky play were able to detect risk sooner. The results suggest that experience with risk enhances the ability to make better decisions during adolescence. If the conclusion of this study holds, exposing younger generations to risks would be a healthy long-term investment as it develops the personality of children and allows them to learn to prevent risks in the future.

A further argument favoring fun being more important is "safe" and "unsafe" are often perceptions rather than reality. Seemingly one of the most dangerous activities an average American can try out is skydiving. It is an activity many consider too dangerous, and most people shy away from trying. The odds of dying in a tandem jump, where an untrained person skydives while harnessed with an expert, is one in 100,000 in 2021 (Recreational Skydiving, 2023). 0.0001% is significantly lower than something most of us do daily, which is drive a car. Statistically, there is a 0.029% chance of dying from driving(Odds of Dying, 2023). Most people don't stay away from driving even though it is twenty-nine times more dangerous than skydiving.

Similarly, the average rollercoaster has around one death in 10,000,000 rides. Probability shows extreme activities like skydiving might not be as dangerous as we thought because chances of fatality are simply lower than everyday activities. However, the fun that comes from skydiving is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A skydiver will experience more adrenaline and have a more impactful experience than someone who stays home and plays on the computer because it's "safe."

On the other hand, though sometimes the chance of danger is so insignificant, the unlikely consequences cannot be ignored, which means that we can never rule safety out of the discussion.

The preservation of life is the core foundation of any human society. Without protection and ensuring the safety of children and adults, too many serious injuries or even deaths could cause a society to collapse. Choosing to neglect safety in favor of fun defies these

core values. Most activities or pursuits carry inherent risks, and failure to put safety first before attempting these things could lead to severe consequences that one might never recover from. Even though attempting new things could be exhilarating, doing so without safety precautions is never a good idea. One good example is a TikTok trend called the "Blackout Challenge" (Miller, 2023) back in 2021. When searching for fun, young teenagers commonly look to social media for the newest trends they can try out. The "Blackout Challenge" encourages users to try to hold their breath for as long as possible and then share their results. When it came out, it was reported to have claimed over 80 lives and continues to do so today. Most of the kids who participated were seeking a different level of fun without considering the safety issues related to it. Even playgrounds can be dangerous, and children can and do die from strangulation. When a child jumps off a high structure, it's possible that their clothing gets stuck on something leading to accidental asphyxiation (Playground Equipment, 2001). If more people put safety over their desire for fun and joy, TikTok trends like the "Blackout Challenge" or reckless playground behavior would claim fewer lives.

Looking logically, safety is also much more important than fun. Fun is one of the best ways to handle stress or depression because it directly creates hormones like endorphins, Dopamine, and Oxytocin, which create feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and love for other humans. However, one may experience fun as many times in their life as they want, but if one were to experience deathly danger just once, the results would be unbearable.

Staying safe might turn out to provide the most fun because the longer one lives, the more times one gets to have fun.

Furthermore, prioritizing safety over momentary fun can create many long-term advantages. By putting safety first, one can enjoy activities with peace of mind; knowing they have taken good measures ensures their risk is as low as possible. Feeling physically safe can help relieve stress and anxiety and improve well-being (Wellbeing, 2020). Not only does constantly practicing safety improve mental health, but it also creates a habit of responsibility and accountability.

Safety is also extremely important in other aspects of our lives. Safety in the workplace increases the bonds between the company and its employees as the employees feel like the company cares about them and that their well-being is not being disregarded.

Psychological safety has also been discussed for years. Psychological safety is "essential to make people feel secure and capable of changing their behavior in response to … challenges" (Schein and Bennis, 1965). Feeling psychologically safe leads to a more open mind that helps establish connections and enhances the ability to empathize with others.

It has been found that there is a strong relationship between high-quality relationships and psychological safety (Psychological Safety, 2022). This also increases social acceptance, meaning more people want to include you in their groups or relationships.

Safety is not only more important than fun when playing, but it's also important in other parts of everyday life like work or social interactions.

In conclusion, we need to acknowledge the positives of both fun and safety, as they both hold great value in our life. While safety considerations should not stop every fun activity, people must keep in their mind to prioritize safety while pursuing happiness and excitement. By prioritizing safety and taking measures to minimize risks while having enjoyable experiences, people can participate in extraordinary activities that will create lasting, positive memories.

Work cited.

Jerebine, Alethea, et al."' All the Fun Stuff, the Teachers Say, "That's Dangerous!"'

Hearing from Children on Safety and Risk in Active Play in Schools: A Systematic Review - International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity." BioMed Central, 25 June 2022, ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-022-01305-0.

Lavrysen, Ann, et al. "Risky-play at school. Facilitating risk perception and competence in young children." European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 25.1 (2017): 89105.

Brussoni, Mariana, et al. "What Is the Relationship between Risky Outdoor Play and Health in Children? A Systematic Review." MDPI, 8 June 2015, www.mdpi.com/16604601/12/6/6423#B16-ijerph-12-06423.

Sandseter, Ellen. "Children's Risky Play from an Evolutionary Perspective ... - Sage Journals." Children's Risky Play from an Evolutionary Perspective: The Anti-Phobic Effects of Thrilling Experiences, 1 Apr. 2011, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/147470491100900212.

Yogman, Michael, et al. "The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children." American Academy of Pediatrics, 1 Sept. 2018, publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/3/e20182058/38649/The-Power-of-Play-APediatric-Role-in-Enhancing?autologincheck=redirected.

Barthel, Christiane, et al. "Recreational Skydiving-Really That Dangerous? A Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10 Jan. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9859333/.

"Odds of Dying." Injury Facts, 1 Mar. 2023, injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/preventabledeath-overview/odds-of-dying/.

Miller, Korin. "Here's What the Blackout Challenge Is, and Why It's so Dangerous."

Health, 18 Jan. 2023, www.health.com/mind-body/blackout-challenge.

Tinsworth, Deborah. "Injuries and Deaths Associated with Children's Playground Equipment - CPSC." SPECIAL STUDY: INJURIES AND DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, Apr. 2001, www.cpsc.gov/s3fspublic/playgrnd_0.pdf.

"How Our Sense of Safety Affects Our WelWellbeingAustralian Unity." How Our Sense of Safety Affects Our WelWellbeing16 Oct. 2022, www.australianunity.com.au/wellbeing/What-is-real-wellbeing/How-our-sense-ofsafety-affects-our-wellbeing.

Schein, Edgar H., and Warren G. Bennis. Personal and organizational change through group methods: The laboratory approach. New York: Wiley, 1965.

Wouters-Soomers, Lies, et al. "An Individual Perspective on Psychological Safety: The Role of Basic Need Satisfaction and Self-Compassion." Frontiers in Psychology, 18 Aug. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9434267/#B43.