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Yes, [livejournal.com profile] ysabetwordsmith's September Poetry Fishbowl is all about pets and poetry. Go check it out and leave a prompt! :)
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Come check out the August Poetry Fishbowl. This month's theme is 'corruption and redemption' and it's already turning out a lot of interesting poems. Drop by and put in a prompt!  :D


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This is the second piece of fanfic poetry that I've written recently. It looks at the relationship between two characters from [info]ysabetwordsmith's serial poetry series based around Fiorenza, the Italian Herbalist. It was primarily inspired by events occurring in the poem "Fiorenza and the Witch-Son," and explores what  possible thoughts Don Candido could have had immediately following the events thereof. 


Poetry under the cut... )

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For the last year or so, I've been pleased to serve as a patron for the work of [info]ysabetwordsmith . I do so for a number of reasons. First, this is one of the ways that I try to keep creativity alive, especially when so many have to turn away from creative endeavours. Second, the relationship between us, as artist and patron, is one that has been fostered to provide mutual benefit and friendship. Finally, and perhaps most important, by not only giving action to my creative input (i.e., taking prompts for poetry), but also by inspiring and encouraging my own literary output, I'm allowed to taste a little of that creative magic.

Read more... )
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In anticipation of [info]ysabetwordsmith 's Poetry Fishbowl concerning alternative sexuality and gender studies, I've written a poem describing one of the key challenges I face as a romantic (and very much touch starved) asexual.

(Yes, I was listening to a lot of Leonard Cohen whilst writing this.)



Because I do not touch that way

Not for me are the sweaty grapplings, concealed in the dark.
I kiss, I touch, with deep embrace, but never reach that mark.
The lesson was so hard to learn, so many hearts did fall,
that, as I do not touch that way, I cannot touch at all.

Kinsey’s X is what I am, and, of us, there should be more,
many with such sexless yearnings that I could so adore.
Yet here I am with none to hold, none near that I recall,
and, since I do not touch that way, I cannot touch at all.

The nearest heart to call my own, a thousand miles away.
With but voices we caress and with only letters play.
But what will become of us, when lonely nights come to call?
For, as we do not touch that way, we cannot touch at all.

There should be more hope and I should have some reason for cheer,
as the call is now raised loud for all the Xs to hear.
Yet, at night with no one to hold, I dread what may befall,
because I do not touch that way, I’ll never touch at all.
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[livejournal.com profile] ysabetwordsmith  has this to say about her upcoming Poetry Fishbowl:

"I'll be holding a Poetry Fishbowl in my blog on Tuesday, June 7 2011. This time the theme will be "alternative sexuality and gender studies." I'll be taking prompts on all aspects of sex and gender; since I've been covering asexuality recently, I'm hoping to see some activity there. Then I'll write poems based on whatever ideas people give me. At least one of those poems will get posted for everyone to enjoy free, and the rest will be available for sponsorship if people wish. If you'd like to see more positive portrayals of aces and asexuality, here's a chance. Drop by and leave me a prompt, read whatever poems appear, or just watch the fun. Everyone is welcome. You can read more about this project on the Poetry Fishbowl landing page."

You can read more about the upcoming Poetry Fishbowl here.
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This month's theme is urban fantasy. She's apparently already used one of my prompts "China is here" to create a poem. (Three guesses what film I got THAT prompt from.  XD  )

The Poetry Fishbowl is all about creating poetry based on prompts from the audience. Check it out!
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Looking for a unique gift idea? How about some poetry? [livejournal.com profile] ysabetwordsmith  is having a huge sale on previously unpublished poetry. Check it out! It's good stuff!   :)

Speaking of poetry, lately, I've been thinking about giving Leonard Cohen a good read. I was introduced to his poetry by 
[livejournal.com profile] spinderella_nb some time ago,  but haven't quite gotten around to collecting any of his work yet. (One of many things I haven't quite gotten around to...  :p  )

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Fallen Angel, by Robbie Robertson (with Peter Gabriel)
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQZhSNHCRC4

This is a hauntingly beautiful and emotional song that has captured my attention for quite some time.

On the surface, it appears to be a conversation between the angels Gabriel and Lucifer, after the Fall. In it, both sides seem to express regret and desire to restore a lost friendship. On that level alone, it is achingly eloquent. However, it is apparent that it also speaks of those, separated on differing sides of  conflict, who desire reconciliation. I present the lyrics on the left and my thoughts on the right.


Are you out there
Can you hear me
Can you see me in the dark

I don't believe it's all for nothing
It's not just written in the sand
Sometimes i thought you felt too much
And you crossed into the shadowland

And the river was overflowing
And the sky was fiery red
You gotta play the hand that's dealt ya
That's what the old man always said

Fallen angel
Casts a shadow up against the sun
If my eyes could see
The spirit of the chosen one

In my dream the pipes were playing
In my dream i lost a friend
Come down gabriel and blow your horn
'cause some day we will meet again

Fallen angel
Casts a shadow up against the sun
If my eyes could see
The spirit of the chosen one

All the tears
All the rage
All the blues in the night
If my eyes could see
You kneeling in the silver light

Fallin', fallin', fallin' down
Fallin', fallin' down
Fallin', fallin', fallin' down
Fallin', fallin' down

Fallen angel
Casts a shadow up against the sun
If my eyes could see
The spirit of the chosen one

All the tears
All the rage
All the blues in the night
If my eyes could see
You kneeling in the silver light

If you're out there can you touch me
Can you see me i don't know
If you're out there can you reach me
Lay a flower in the snow
Lucifer seems to be calling out to Gabriel. This stanza paints a picture of loneliness.


Gabriel seems to rail against the notion that conflict is meaningless, and that the loss of Lucifer must have some greater purpose. He shows some sympathy for the fallen angel.

The horrors of conflict are illustrated here, but this is something that must be accepted as inescapable.



The chorus illustrates the contrast of a single defiant spirit against an overwhelming, oppressive force. (Compare the Chinese demonstrator vs. the tank at Tiananmen Square.)

Here, Lucifer expresses his regret over the loss of Gabriel's friendship, but introduces an element of hope with the certainty that they will be reunited.


The chorus also speaks of Lucifer as a necessary, if painful, sacrifice for the greater good. In a way, this symbolizes lives lost to preserve an ideal.


Here, the author reiterates the cost of conflict in sorrow and rage, but also shows that the only way a major conflict can end is if one side abandons pride (Lucifer) and yields (kneeling) to the other. The use of Lucifer illustrates the limited likelihood of such things occurring.

This gentle stanza actually suggests that the Fall is still happening, repeated through our own actions.



Another great example of a necessary sacrifice explored in a Biblical theme is the exploration of Judas in the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar.





The song ends as it begins, with Lucifer railing against his loneliness and abandonment. But here, he asks the other side to show a measure of compassion and reach out ot him. However, in asking for a miracle, he demonstrates the limited likelihood of a superior foe to show such. Thus the song shows criticism and sympathy for both sides of this, and every conflict.

Of course, this is just my interpretation. What are your thoughts?
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Another Taylor Mali classic:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjhOBiSk8 Gg

 The the impotence of proofreading
By Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com 

Has this ever happened to you?
You work very horde on a paper for English clash
And then get a very glow raid (like a D or even a D= )
and all because you are the word¹s liverwurst spoiler.
Proofreading your peppers is a matter of the the utmost impotence. 

This is a problem that affects manly, manly students.
I myself was such a bed spiller once upon a term
that my English teacher in my sophomoric year,
Mrs. Myth, said I would never get into a good colleague.
And that¹s all I wanted, just to get into a good colleague.
Not just anal community colleague,
because I wouldn¹t be happy at anal community colleague.
I needed a place that would offer me intellectual simulation,
I really need to be challenged, challenged dentally.
I know this makes me sound like a stereo,
but I really wanted to go to an ivory legal collegue.
So I needed to improvement
or gone would be my dream of going to Harvard, Jail, or Prison
(in Prison, New Jersey).
 

So I got myself a spell checker
and figured I was on Sleazy Street.
 

But there are several missed aches
that a spell chukker can¹t can¹t catch catch.
For instant, if you accidentally leave a word
your spell exchequer won¹t put it in you.
And God for billing purposes only
you should have serial problems with Tori Spelling
your spell Chekhov might replace a word
with one you had absolutely no detention of using.
Because what do you want it to douch?
It only does what you tell it to douche.
You¹re the one with your hand on the mouth going clit, clit, clit.
It just goes to show you how embargo
one careless clit of the mouth can be.
 

Which reminds me of this one time during my Junior Mint.
The teacher read my entire paper on A Sale of Two Titties
out loud to all of my assmates.
I¹m not joking, I¹m totally cereal.
It was the most humidifying experience of my life,
being laughed at pubically.
 

So do yourself a flavor and follow these two Pisces of advice:
One: There is no prostitute for careful editing.
And three: When it comes to proofreading,
the red penis your friend.

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 As an English teacher in a secondary school, I wind up going through a LOT of Shakespeare, especially for SAT and coursework preparation. In doing so, I find all sorts of interesting little side thoughts that I just really have to express.

I'll start with Romeo from Romeo and Juliet. I know most of you realize that Shakespeare deliberately made Romeo's early feelings for Juliet questionable, in that it seems he was purely attracted by her beauty at the Capulet Ball (driving out any thought of Rosalyn, whom he believed he loved for the same reason). However, there are a few choice bits of Act 1 Scene 1 which really show Romeo to be truly shallow. Most of these show up in the conversation where Benvolio has a talk with Romeo in order to find out why the latter has shut himself away in misery. It is revealed that Romeo is pining for Rosalyn, the most beautiful woman he has seen. Romeo has this to say about his attempts at courting her:

Well, in that hit you miss. She'll not be hit
With Cupid's arrow. She hath Dian's wit.
And, in strong proof of chastity well armed
From love's weak childish bow, she lives uncharmed.
She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
Nor bide th' encounter of assailing eyes,
Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold.


Am I alone in thinking that Romeo is whining because he can't even PAY to get into Rosalyn's pants? 

When Romeo first sees Juliet at the Capulet's Ball, he becomes immediately enamored, forgetting completely about Rosalyn. His first comments about Juliet are entirely about her beauty and how it outshines any he has ever witnessed.

When they first begin to speak, things get a little interesting. Their dialogue takes the form of a sonnet. Many would argue that, as the sonnet was the ultimate romantic thing to do, that this signifies the beginning of "true love" between Romeo and Juliet, as an Elizabethan audience would recognize it as such. However, I would argue that Shakespeare used it for the opposite effect. Afterall, everyone in his audience would have known that it was the thing for a gentleman to write to show deepest admiration. In otherwords, it was a fancy pickup line. This idea is further heightened by the skill with which Romeo lays it on to win a kiss from Juliet. Ultimately, she comments "You kiss by the book," indicating that, not only is Romeo skillful with his lines, but he's a pro at kissing. In otherwords, Romeo is a Shakespearan "playah". (Sorry, I couldn't resist that pun...)

It becomes very clear that Romeo feels very strongly for Juliet as the end of the play approaches. However, is it love? If it is, what is he really in love with? Many mentions are made of Juliet's beauty, but what else? Yes, Romeo proves that he is devoted, but is he still as shallow as he was at the beginning of the play? I wager he is.

Anybody else have an opinion on this?

 PS: The title for this post appeared in my TA's notes. *chuckle*

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Dedicated to all of my colleagues in education - just to remind you of why we do it:

http://www.maniacworld.com/how-much-do-t eachers-make.html

the_vulture: (Man/Vulture)
 

the spirit a voice

the voices a chorus

the chorus a song

the song a wind

the wind a caress

the caress a blessing

the blessing a love

the love a spirit

the_vulture: (tvhead)
I got another hilarious response from one of my roommates concerning my hacky sack woes. This one warrants special attention:

From Blaine:


Need theme songs?

Life is a Lemon, and I want my Hacky back.

Money for Nothing
{With the chilling intro 'I want my/ I want my/ I want my Hackysack...'}

Hacky
{'Oh, Hacky. You're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind. Hey Hacky!'

Little Hacky Sack
{'Little Hackysack, you're the one that we want.'}

Hacky Sack
{'All those other hackysacks / are just imitatin'. / Won't the real
hacky/ please come back / please come back / please come back.'}

Or you could go whole hog, and try something like this...

Ballad of the Sack

It seems last week in Michael's class
some kids were playing hacky pass.
Some kids subdued, some behaved,
as Mike upon their planners slaved.

When all at once the Head came in,
Coming to check this boisterous din.
To Mike she planned to say some stuff,
but that last pass was just too rough.

The hacky hit her in the head,
and she proceeded to turn red.
As her lips proceeded to flap,
Mike had one thought. It was "aw, crap..."

For beginning the hacky's trip,
that student got a concern slip.
The Head of English chewed Mike's ass
"Not behavior allowed in class!"

Then she left with the hacky sack.
Now Mike must ask for his sack back.
Hacky sack was confiscated?
Little sack's incarcerated!
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The Sea

The water rolls cross the beach,
Foam riding the crest of the waves.
I stand, barefoot, in the wet sand,
Staring out over the sky-clad sea.
The wind blows across my face,
Bringing the scent of the salt-laden air.
The sun glints off emerald facets,
Rippling with the wind.
A sea gull flies out over the waters,
Winging its way towards eternity.
My spirit reaches out to fly with it,
Racing over the rushing waves.
I could stand, and watch, and feel the sea,
Forever.

(1998)

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