Author: Elayjah Earles

I strive to write about what defines me and helps me understand others and myself better. With more time, I recognize how important it is to tell a story. It doesn't have to be a story about my life, but a story about someone who has taught me something in the form of a character. No matter who it's about, or what it contains, storytelling is what brings light to the dark areas of humanity and because of that I am always going to be an advocate for the writing community.

Why you should re-read the House on Mango Street

Let’s cut to the chase. Everyone knows about this book, and if don’t know about this book then that’s proof enough to tell me that you weren’t paying attention in middle school English class. It’s okay. I wasn’t either. But that’s just to say that The House on Mango Street is more than just a part of your draining middle school English course. And if you spare me a few minutes of reading I’m sure you’ll understand why this book is so good.

Firstly, I want to admit that I didn’t like this book when I read it in my English class. My old English teacher gave us a quiz for every chapter, and that alone was enough to take me out of the novel. Even the amazing writing flew over my head because I was so focused on memorizing names and places for our next quiz. Then I got to writing school, started writing poems and novels of my own and realized that I didn’t give that book a proper chance. So, a year ago, I dedicated myself to re-reading it. And I liked it so much that I re-read it again. And again. Now, I recognize it as my favorite book. This isn’t a blog to persuade you to love it, but just to persuade you to read it again, because I promise you, it deserves a second chance.

And if you haven’t heard of this book until now, hopefully this blog can convince you to check it out. Now let’s get into what I absolutely love about this book.

1.Every character is so unique. How am I so sure? I’ve read a lot of books, and no character has left such an impression on me the way Esperanza, Nenny, Rachel, Lucy, Cathy, Meme, Louis and more have. These characters bring so much life to the story that the reader is in for an instant refresher. We have Esperanza who wishes her family was not poor, yet she becomes friends with Lucy and Rachel who are slightly less stable than she is. And despite her distaste for living on Mango Street she longs for friendship and community. And then we have Cathy who loves cats and claims that she will eventually go to France to claim her royal bloodline, but truthfully, she is just teenage girl who wishes she were anywhere else but Mango Street. There are so many tactics that Cisneros use to make her characters human. Their hair type, their speech, their insecurities, their lies, their movements, their environment and more. Every person in this book is tailored in ways that leave you speechless. It’s amazing.

2. The writing style is God sent. For those of you who were taught this book in English class, did you ever notice how the writing was unique in comparison to other children’s fiction novels? I’m not sure how to word it but this book is narratively poetic. There are so many moments in this novel that sound like poetry to me, and I feel like that’s what attracts a lot of readers. There’s a lot of repetition and simplicity in this book. Plus, the chapters are short and juicy and could very well be some type of longer poetry. What really stands out to me about this book is the writing style. It has a journal entry style, where the protagonist speaks with their own dialect, rather than the added literary elements. By the writing style alone, we can see where Esperanza comes from, that she is only twelve years old, and that she doesn’t have much experience. But she is very in tune with the world around her. This book is so interesting because the journal-entry style makes the story feel personal and real. It’s also a good reference to study if you want to learn about writing from the perspective of children.

3. It will open your eyes. I feel like the main thing that I should’ve mentioned earlier about this book is its roots in the Latino community. The writer is Latino, and this story is some testament to her experience growing up in a low-income and Latino neighborhood. There are mentions of the protagonist’s heritage and where her family came from, the type of food they make, and how they celebrate certain holidays. Honestly, I’ve learned so much more about Latino culture from reading this book. I think that’s one of the most important take-aways from this novel. So, if you’re looking for a good book to sink your claws into that is as interesting as it is informative, The House on Mango Street is a novel that you need to add to your reading list. And if you aren’t too fond of it at first, try reading one chapter every so often. It doesn’t have to be in order. What’s important is that you’re witnessing this amazing story unfold, happy reading!

Blog 18

First off, I just want to say that this year has been amazing. I never would have expected it to end so fast, but here we are. It feels surreal how fast the times have come and gone, but it also feels like a victory. When I first got here, I was super scared of what being a literary major would be like. I knew I liked to write and build my own characters, but I was terrified of sharing my work. It was fine when I was just reading stuff to my mom but reading my work to complete strangers was definitely a challenge for me.

Besides that, I was also scared that I would not be good enough. When I first got here, I lacked confidence when it came to writing, and I felt it was because of the change in environment. As many people know, coming to MSA is a very big change.

However, I’ve realized that it wasn’t a bad change. I’ve learned about my art, and I’ve learned a lot about other people’s art too. I’ve learned about character building and descriptions and details and the ways it can make a story flourish. I’ve learned other very important and crucial writing tips to carry with me on my writing journey. I’ve also had the opportunity to see growth in my writing, my communication skills, my social skills, and confidence.

I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to share and connect with different people. It’s such a blessing to be educated on something that I love (most of the time). I’m also excited about the summer and what it might look like. Saturday is going to be my first job interview, and I can’t wait to see what my summer workplace is going to be. It’s an agriculture center in my town, which works perfectly for me because I love everything about science and nature. I also thought it might be good to check out certain fields. Especially since my senior year is right around the corner.

Besides working, I do plan to rest too. I want to make sure I am getting proper rest, especially since I’ve been heavily neglecting my sleep schedule during these past few months. Of course, it has everything to do with me, so I am taking matters into my own hands this summer by going to bed at nine o’clock every night. I’m not letting anybody talk me out of it.

Something else I’m looking forward to this summer is a weekly camping trip I do with my friends every year. It’s super fun and it gives us an opportunity to get out of our houses and meet new people. I’m so excited about it, and I’m also excited to meet with my friends again on a weekly basis. I feel like I haven’t talked to any of them since coming to MSA, so it would be nice to see them more often. I hope you guys have also had a positive experience at MSA and I hope to see you next year!

Writing Down the Bones- a book review (I think)

If you’ve only read a snippet of the book or maybe you haven’t read any of it at all, Writing Down the Bones is written by Natalie Goldberg and in it she talks about building your stamina as a writer, looking for progress and not perfection, and approaching the practice through Zen meditation. She emphasizes the importance of creative journaling and setting yourself free through your own writing. When I first saw this book, I was almost certain that it was going to say something about practicing writing every day. Every time you seek advice about writing from professionals or books or articles, they ultimately tell you the same thing- to write every day. Now, this book isn’t exactly different from those other books and articles, but I think the intention is a little different.

Although Natalie does advise you to write every day, she also wants you to eliminate your own personal critic, and this makes a lot of sense. Personally, I’m always in a battle with the backspace button. There have definitely been moments where the words to a short story or a poem or an article poured straight out of me, but there are other moments where I feel the need re-read what I write, and this causes some overthinking and frustration because I see comma splices and poorly chosen metaphors and not enough flowery language and blah blah blah. Filtering out your personal critic can allow the words to flow freely, and it can give you a sense of freedom. This cuts down on stress, and it keeps you motivated to write more. This is helpful advice, especially as a new writer because you gain that space you need to grow your craft.

Another topic that Natalie frequently touched on in the book was separating your ego from your writing practice. Matter of fact, she also explains how ego can directly affect your writing. This happens when your thoughts are being filtered and ultimately interrupted because you are anxious to accept criticism as a writer. Simply put, ego limits creativity. Natalie provides writing exercises that can decrease issues related to ego. An example of an ego decreasing exercise would be writing a vivid moment that relates to a memory or an experience. The important catch to this exercise is keeping all the raw and deltaic moments in the story and recognizing when you filter because of ego.

Zen meditation is another topic that Natalie explores throughout this novel. Natalie Goldburg is a Zen Buddhist, and she has implemented the practice of Zen meditation in her writing practice for a long time. Natalie views writing and Zen meditation as very closely related practices, both focusing on the mind and its relation to the present moment. She emphasizes that writing is like meditating and it involves a regular, consistent effort to become self-aware. Zen meditation has many pros to it as well. It decreases anxiety, creates a sense of mindfulness, and it allows us to explore our mind. But not just that, it can also allow us to form a different connection to writing. Honestly, I didn’t understand how Zen meditation could be related to writing because they are two completely different practices, but as I continued the book and she dived deeper into this concept, I learned that Zen meditation and writing are alike in that they both allow you to explore the mind’s inner landscape and to connect to yourself.

I enjoyed this book so much and I’ve taken much more than just writing tips from it. In it, you can also get a glimpse of Natalie’s life as a writer and how she got where she was. She talks about the good and bad parts of the writing life, and the struggles new writers face as they begin. I hear that her other book “Wild Mind” is another good one and I hope to check that out too.

My fav snl cast members

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I love theater/acting. I’m always on the prowl for a good play/sitcom to watch. I love drama, comedy, and actors who pour their guts into a role. What better place to find all three of these than Saturday Night Live? I started watching SNL in 7^th grade. I have a vivid memory of watching Zach Galifianakis in a red M&M suit defend himself in a candy store and several other bizarre, unhinged moments in the show. This show has some very funny cast members. Now, I’m not too quick to pick favorites because I’m sure every cast member there is super talented. I’ve heard that it’s difficult to audition for SNL, let alone secure a spot. But I can’t imagine what this show would be like without the influence of five people I will be fangirling about today.

Kenan Thompson:

Kenan Thompson has been a cast member at SNL for a very long time. Like seriously, they should pay him tribute by photoshopping a picture of his face on the SNL logo. He is THE OG cast member, and I can totally understand why Lorne (the exec) has kept him on air for so long. He presents himself so naturally. You can really tell that he just reads the script, practices one time and then catches on immediately. I haven’t seen any actor exude the energy that Kenan does. It’s unique and genuinely funny. Also, Kenan has the funniest resting face I’ve ever seen. It looks like he’s about to burst out laughing at any moment. I’ve probably watched every skit that he was in.

Cecily Strong:

Cecily Strong is one of the OG goats of SNL. I think she came onto the show in 2012. What really stands out to me about her is that she can play any character. I know actors get this compliment a lot, but I really mean it when I say she can play ANY character. I’ve seen her play a cashier, a crazy neighbor, a gold digger, a kid, a mom, an old lady, etc. She has a very wide acting range, and it’s so enjoyable and thrilling to watch her on the stage/tv. I can really see why so many actors admire her. She’s easily one of the funniest members on the show. If you want a good laugh, you should go watch the QVC skit with her and Kristen Wiig!

Bill Hader:

Bill Hader came onto SNL a little bit before the cast members mentioned above him. He started the show in 2005 and left around 2013, so he didn’t get the chance to do a lot of sketches with the other actors mentioned above him. But that doesn’t matter because he stands out all on his own. Bill Hader is an amazing actor, and I commend him for all his moves/shows aside from SNL. But what draws me to him the most is his voice. He has such an eloquent and captivating tone. He plays the role of a sardonic game show host perfectly. He’s another one of those dramatically funny actors, and he matches SNL’s vibe so well.

Kristen Wiig:

Kristen Wiig joined the cast of SNL in 2005. She easily established herself as one of the funniest people there. She is such a talented person. I feel like I’ve called everyone in this blog talented, but I feel there is no other way to describe how impressive her acting is. I’m convinced that Kristen Wiig has lived the life of every character she has played because the way she disappears into the role is unbelievable. Most of her characters are bizarre and outlandish, but she makes them memorable with the way she portrays them. I can’t imagine how dull the show would have been if she never came on air.

Aidy Bryant:

Aidy Bryant joined the show in 2012. She is another actor with a very wide acting range. I love to see her play confident/slightly arrogant characters because she steps into that role really well. She has a lot of control over her tone, and she stands out because of it. Aidy has so many funny skits on SNL, and I can really see her acting in her own sitcom or movie.

blog 15

Today I woke up and I felt inspired to create a world. I don’t get inspired a lot, so I knew that this was something special. For the longest time I’ve been interested in creating universes. Especially in fantasy writing. I used to read tons of fantasy books when I was a kid, and I admired many authors for creating amazing and complex worlds. My goal for any story is to create a world my readers can question, be fascinated in, and enjoy. This takes time and focus and a lot of planning. I want to start creating a base for the world first and then expand on the small details as I learn more about it. With that being said, I have so many thoughts and ideas that could potentially be a short story or whatever. But I also know that universes take a lot of effort to create and I’m also wondering if I have the ideas to flesh this out. Universes are cool but It’s kind of hard to maintain them and remember the small details about them. One thing I’ve learned about writing in general is to have an open mind about characters and universes. There have been many instances where I have created the groundwork for a character, and they didn’t have the traits they began with later in the story. I don’t think this is a bad thing because it teaches you that writing isn’t always a mind task. Sometimes you can be influenced by the world around you and an entirely different story is created. Some people can maintain their initial thoughts for a story, but for me it’s hard to get back to my previous ideas. For a while I was so burnt out with writing, I think this is because I was trying to adhere to something that didn’t work for me. I forgot that the best part about writing was to indulge in your process and experiences. Without this it’s hard to write something that you will enjoy. This is unrelated to the earlier topic, but me and a writer friend of mine were talking about being burnt out because of writing assignments. The problem was that we didn’t have enough time to enjoy other writing projects because we had to meet deadlines. Eventually I admitted that I was absolutely exhausted with work. I told her that I barely got any other work done aside from my assignments because I was so burnt out by the time I completed my work. This burn out would last until another assignment was due and I had to push through to meet that deadline. Luckily, she told me that she understood and experienced this as well. She said that writing became more like homework when she started taking classes, but what helped her was personal writing. She said that taking time to write something you enjoy can help you find the reason you wanted to pursue the craft. And y’all, this was pretty good advice. I was slightly inspired by her love and persistence for writing, but I also knew I needed help to get out of my dry patch. So, I pushed through and wrote a small paragraph about the moon. It was relieving and I was happy to be writing again, even if it was only a few sentences. This was about a month ago, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Also, I’ll post my fantasy universe draft when I finish it.

March reading list

For today’s blog I’ll be talking about books I’m currently reading this month. I thought this would be a good idea because I want to start keeping a written catalogue of what I read. I figured doing this as a blog series would be an interesting way to keep track of it. I’ll also be providing a little summary of the books as I explain what I like so far. Hopefully you like them enough to read them too.

The Sun is Also a Star (Nicola Yoon): Started reading: 3/24/25; Currently on page 30; Scale of 1-10: 8

– This book is about two main characters named Natasha and Daniel. Natasha is an 18-year-old immigrant from Jamaica who has lived most of her life in America, until her father accidently gets a DUI, alerting law officials of their presence. The outcome for her family is deportation. Daniel, an 18-year-old Korean American struggles to compete with his overachieving older brother and their mission to become successful doctors. These two meet and discover their love for one another before Natsha’s family gets deported.

I’ve wanted to get my hands on this book ever since it came out in 2015. I was ecstatic when I found it on the shelf in the library. The colorful cover caught my eye in October, but I was too busy to check it out. Now it’s march and I finally have it. I love that this book alternates 1^st person POV of the two main characters. The author even includes POV’s from background characters that the main characters have small interactions with. It’s so interesting to see the narrator’s thoughts and then find out how wrong they were. The only thing I don’t like about this book is the pace. I know I’m only on page thirty, but I feel like the story should be moving faster. I know it’s important to include everyone’s POV, but there are parts I would rather skip.

Bones and All (Camille DeAngelis): Started reading: 2/2/25; Currently on page 60; Scale of 1-10: 7

-This book is about a girl who is abandoned by her mother and is left alone to navigate the world while being a cannibal. She meets this guy who is a hitchhiker (perfectly good dinner), but she notices that he’s different from others. In the sense that he hasn’t left her yet. They go on adventures while she figures out how to tell him that she is a cannibal.

My friend got this book for me at wild fox, and I like it. I heard about the movie before I knew about the book, so naturally I was really excited to read it. It has such interesting language and a lovable protagonist. The protagonist’s backstory really pulls at the reader’s heartstrings. The ONLY issue I have with this book is that I got SPOILED. Yes, I went on the internet because I was curious about characters in the book and got book flashed. Honestly, I wouldn’t be angry about this if the ending was happy, but the ending is very sad. I’m contemplating finishing the book now because I know what’s going to happen.

Fourth Wing (Rebecca Yaros): Started reading 12/27/24; Currently on page 25; Scale of 1-10: 8

-This book is about Voilet Sorrengail who is the daughter of a commanding general. She is forced to join the dragon riders at a war college (a college where trainers can bond with dragons). This novel is a high fantasy and involves a romance between violet and another trainer. From what I’ve heard, this novel is a fun, wild ride.

I like this book. I definitely need to start back reading it because I’m only on page 8. I was a little busy around the time that I got it, so I didn’t read as far as I wanted. I found out this book is a love triangle, which is a book trope that I cannot stand. It can be interesting to read, but as a reader it gives me mixed signals. Still, I don’t know enough about this book to judge it yet, but I’m a little worried. Aside from that, I like everything else about it. I’m a fantasy lover.

My favorite short stories/flash fictions

It’s been forever since I’ve written a blog. The last time I wrote one of these had to be three long weeks ago. I don’t remember what obsession I wrote about last time but I’m happy to start racking my brain every Wednesday again and reading y’all’s amazing blogs. Today, I’m going to be talking about some of my favorite short stories/flash fictions. These are stories I read to find inspiration, to study different elements of writing, or just for entertainment. Their genres include mystery, dystopian, and memoir/childhood. (My favorites). They are all really good, and I personally can’t get enough of them. Let me know if you guys have read them or would like to read them.

Orange World (Short story):

This short story is written by Karen Russell. It belongs to her short story collection book, “Orange World and Other Stories.” In this short story a woman who has suffered from miscarriages in the past makes a deal with the devil to protect her unborn child. In return for making sure her baby is delivered safely, the devil asks the woman to breastfeed it. I love this story so much. Not just because the plot is super bizarre and unique, but also the construction of this world is so interesting to learn about as you read. The setting greatly resembles our natural world; however, demons can interact and communicate with humans. The setting is super mysterious but in an evoking way that makes you want to know more, like does this story really occur on earth or could the woman be hallucinating the little demon? At the same time, the demon represents the draining reality of motherhood, and the woman’s guilty consciousness. This is an interesting read, and it’s packed with unique moments. Karen Russell is an amazing dystopian/ magical realist writer.

Guilia (Flash Fiction):

This flash fiction is written by Keri Miller. This story follows the narrator, a mischievous, adventurous young girl and her close friend Guilia. The two girls have an inseparable bond, but it’s clear that the narrator has a childlike envy towards Guilia because of her wealthy lifestyle. Though, the narrator recognizes that Guilia isn’t perfect (her father is romantically unstable, and her mother is an alcoholic.) When they become adults and have children, the narrator develops a sense of empathy for Giulia’s life, but it’s clear that she can’t fully relate to her family struggles. The most devastating part of this story is that Guilia was never understood by the closest person in her life. It adds to the bittersweet end. This story is vivid, detailed, fun, sadly sweet, and absolutely amazing. I am in love with the narrator, the language, the setting, the small details, and the theme of childhood in this flash fiction. The author is amazing at crafting such a vivid world, its crazy.

Lamb to the slaughter (Short story):

Lamb to the slaughter is a short story written by Roald dahl in 1953. Most people have read this in their English Comp class, which is no surprise because it’s a classic. I can’t even communicate how much I love this story. It is so simple but also intricate for its time. It establishes urgency, mystery, and anticipation. I’m on the edge of my seat every time I read it. Mary Maloney is crazy, but she’s the most surprising character you’ll ever meet. When I want to create a character that has lost their self-control, I think of Mary Maloney. I read this story every month or so, and it’s still the goat, I love it.

Landmarks I want to visit Pt 2

The Great Pyramid of Giza:

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. This pyramid goes back to 2600 BC, and it took over 26 years to build. Back then, it served as a tomb for a ruler during the fourth dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Surprisingly, this landmark has remained in top shape since then, making it the oldest landmark to remain intact. I’ve been wanting to visit this magnificent pyramid since I was a kid. In fact, I’ve been obsessed with ancient Egypt since 2014. I would watch educational pbs kids specials that talk about landmarks, monuments or history and I would be so hyped to hear them talk about it. Me and my sister loved Egyptian pyramids, so we would build big dirt mounds in our backyard and pretend they were homes to great Egyptian leaders like Ramses and Cleopatra. I would love to visit an amazing place like this!

Mount Rushmore:

This landmark is probably the most famous in American history. Mount Rushmore was created by an American sculptor named Gutzon Borglum. It’s well known for being an extreme and patriotic monument dedicated to 4 American leaders: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. Gutzon chose these people because they were the most influential people in American history, and of course they passed helpful laws that shaped the society we are today. Mount Rushmore is really a jarring sight, and I’ve always wanted to see it in person. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to put this together.

The Iconic Hollywood sign:

I’ve been wanting to visit the Hollywood sign ever since I saw it on tv, in magazines, in newspapers and on flyers. I’ve seen it so much that I shouldn’t want to see it anymore, but I still want to visit it because I feel like it’s my destiny now. But also, I think it’s interesting how the Hollywood sign came about. It started off as an advertisement for housing in an area called “Hollywoodland” but of course this advertisement became known for a certain industry and way of life instead. To me, that development is interesting and iconic. I love learning about the backstory of this landmark, because no one would think that it started off as something so mundane.

The Colosseum:

The last landmark I want to visit is the Colosseum. This landmark is in Rome, Italy and it’s known for its large structure and infamous past. This place was used for deadly knight battles, gladiator fights, and executions. Most of these fights were between men and few of them were between an animal and a man. It’s the oldest and largest standing amphitheater on earth and I think it’s stunning. There are so many pictures online of people visiting the Colosseum. You can really see the true beauty its blossomed into.

Landmarks I want to visit

One joy in life everyone can agree on is traveling/sightseeing. There are so many colorful, mystic and beautiful places among us. Anyone can tell you about the Grand Canyon or Taj mahal or the Great Wall of China. However, I’ve visited 0/a billion of these amazing monuments and areas. In my whole life, I’ve visited two states: Mississippi and Missouri. In Missouri I got to see army monuments and old machinery used in World War 2. The trip was quite fun, and I appreciated everything I got to see, but I wish I could see more amazing things around the world. So, in today’s blog I’ll be talking about interesting landmarks I want to visit one day.

Alcatraz island:

Alcatraz island is one of the most mysterious and beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It sits in the middle of an island in San Francisco, and it use to be home to America’s most wanted prisoners like Scarface and Machine Gun Kelly. However, Alcatraz closed in 1963 because it got too expensive to continue running. Today it looks more like a museum than a prison. I even heard that they offer an audio tour that tells you about the famous prisoners and guards that used to be there. Some people believe it’s haunted because it’s literally an abandoned prison in the middle of an island, but I still hope to see this gorgeous landmark one day.

Rainbow Mountains Peru (also known as Vinicunca):

This Landmark is in the Andes mountains of Peru, and it is breathtaking. It’s famous for its bright colors that mimic a rainbow painted over the tops of rolling mountains. The Rainbow mountains include more than 12 different color minerals! And what amazes me is how this occurs naturally. Like I would think this only existed in my imagination if I didn’t research it. I’ve seen videos of people visiting the rainbow mountains and I still can’t believe it actually exists. I heard the weather there changes incredibly fast, but other than that, visiting this place would be magical.

(What it looks like from the reflective angle)

(what it looks like originally)

Salar De Uyuni:

Salar De Uyuni is a salt flat located in Bolivia. It’s well known for its unbelievable reflective surface. This place is the world’s largest salt flat, and it was created by lakes that evaporated millions of years ago. This landmark is so beautiful and it’s also helpful to us. Now, Salar de Uyuni is responsible for at least 70% of earths lithium supply, which is one of the reasons were able to charge our phones. I love learning about this landmark and seeing the videos tourists make about it.

Beulah

So, I’ve been listening to this band for a few months. It’s called Beulah. This band is particularly small, but they have appeared in a few popular movies and tv shows. I remember hearing one of its songs (Popular mechanics for lovers) as the credits rolled in the movie “Youth in Revolt.” In fact, that movie is how I discovered the band. Beulah is an indie rock band, and their music is out of this world. They combine genres like pop and rock, and they include sound elements of 60’s music in their songs. What I love most about them is their ability to pair cynical/upsetting song lyrics with a happy tune. It makes you guess what they mean and it’s surprising to hear really. Here’s a few songs I love:

Popular mechanics for lovers

Popular Mechanics for lovers is my favorite because it sounds like the theme song for a cute little K- drama series. It has a happy, soft and playful rhythm. It’s the perfect song to pair with a happy ending in a movie or an easy beginning. It’s about an unhealthy relationship and the thoughts/challenges a person faces in one. If you’ve ever been a fan of sad love songs, this song is just that. The name of the song plays on the magazine series “Popular mechanics.” Which was basically a well-known “how to” magazine back then. What makes this song so great is the guitar!!! In almost every Beulah song there is a guitar tune along with the rest of the beat and it’s always amazing. It’s subtle and it compliments their music so well.

A Good man is easy to kill

This song sounds and feels like the 70s-80s. The intro (to me) sounds like the theme song to a popular 80s sitcom. It’s just ba da ba ba ba da da x5 until the first line begins. I don’t listen to a lot of 80s music, but from what I’ve heard, I can tell Beulah takes a lot of inspiration from those past music styles and artists. This song is about a man mocking/ridiculing a person close to him because of the personal choices they make. Although the lyrics are very coded and have tons of figurative language and metaphors, it’s clear that the intense lyrics are about someone intentionally jeopardizing themselves. This song has the most engaging and colorful lyrics than any other Beulah song. When I listen to this song, I follow along with the lyrics because they are an entirely different experience.

Wipe those prints and run

Wipe those prints and run is probably the best song to listen to for an escape. Other songs can’t compare to it because of its slow unique rhythm and catchy tune. What I love most about this one is the message about freedom. A lot of Beulah songs are about love or relationship experiences or trauma, but this song’s message is about taking back freedom or escaping something that steals freedom. For a while, I thought it was about fleeing from the law or trying to avoid karma because it describes someone running from a crime scene. But as I listened to it more and understood the underlying meaning, the core message is about freedom and the consequences if you don’t fight for it. This is an amazing song to listen to if you are looking for a song with poetic lyrics and a good message.