January 6th, 2012. Why am I doing this in the first place? Its a creative outlet. For whatever purposes, be it literary, visual, musical, spiritual, whatever. Regularly updating, the goal is daily, but may drift depending on my mood and time allowances. Content will be dated so that visitors can keep track of the old and new things, and the different pages may have new content toward the top, some will be chronological. That may change in the future depending on how maintaining this project goes.
This won't always be stuff I've written, but will also contain things that I have come across that I find moving in some way. Poetry can mean many things to many people. At times I may offer an explanation, or my own views of the poem, but remember they are only my views. Each poem may affect someone in an entirely different way, I only offer it as I see it.
One of the most beloved poems by Poe, and definitely one of my favorites. There are really no words I can add to tell what the poem is about. There is no real need of commentary. And Now For Something Completely Different.... just pasting or typing the poem into a little text box would not come close to doing this poem justice. I have only found one way to truly put this work into the context that it should be delivered in... None other than Vincent Price could add the appropriate sense of the macabre necessary to carry this off.
Again, Vincent Price, with a reading of The Telltale Heart. This poem was honestly the one that drew me into my passion for Poe's works. The way we are drawn into one man's descent into madness, is nothing shy of chilling.
(in two parts)
Suffice it to say, Robert Frost is probably one of my favorite poets. So, he needs more than one page. Enjoy!
I have often looked back on this poem, time and again, and each time it means something a little different, given whatever situation might be taking place in my life. Is the person saying "My life is better for having done this"? Or are they saying "I should have taken the other road"? Its completely open to interpretation, and largely depends on your philosophical bent and the given situation. For me, however, it has always been a source of comfort. The realization that I would not be who I am now, I would likely not have the people in my life that are in it now, had each "way that leads on to way" not led me to where I am at this given moment in time. While I am not always in a positive frame of mind, this poem has never failed to bring me comfort.
(Jan 6, 2012)
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Awaiting Commentary
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if I had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
The Hollow Men
We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar
Shape without form, shade without colour
Paralysed force, gesture without motion
Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom
Remember us - if at all - not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men
Eyes I dare not meet in dreams
In death's dream kingdom
These do not appear:
There, the eyes are
Sunlight on a broken column
There, is a tree swinging
And voices are
In the wind's singing
More distant and more solemn
Than a fading star.
Let me be no nearer
Let me also wear
Such deliberate disguises
Rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves
In a field
Behaving as the wind behaves
No nearer -
Not in that final meeting
In the twilight kingdom
This is the dead land
This is cactus land
Here the stone images
Are raised, here they receive
The supplication of a dead man's hand
Under the twinkling of a fading star
Is it like this
In death's other kingdom
Waking alone
At the hour when we are
Trembling with tenderness
Lips that would kiss
Form prayers to broken stone
The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms
In this last of meeting places
We grope together
And avoid speech
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river
Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetual star
Multifoliate rose
Of death's twilight kingdom
The hope only
Of empty men
Here we go round the prickly pear
Prickly pear prickly pear
At five o'clock in the morning
Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom
Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Life is very long
Between the desire
And the spasm
Between the potency
And the existence
Between the essence
And the descent
For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper
Whether this is what this poem means or not, this is my personal take on it. First let me say that the images it conjured in my head reminded me of the Robin Williams movie "What Dreams May Come", particularly the scene where he finds his wife. Alternately, this would be what Limbo, or perhaps even the pathway to proverbial "Hell" might feel like. Empty, desolate, haunted with the souls of the dead, the lost, the confused, those who refused to accept that they were dead and gone. While I do have my personal opinions on what happens after we die, I can't ignore the fears and "what ifs" that occur, as no one can really know. The ending of the poem comes at such a rapid pace.. like a flurry of last images before the "final light" goes out.. how those who have had NDE's say your life flashes before you. Flashes of memory, emotions, experiences, bam bam bam, Eliot seems to embrace these things as if he imagined exactly how death itself might feel.
From another perspective, as I read this, I can't help but hear drums in the background, thrumming along as Jack Skellington-esque figures march across a television screen.
This poem illuminates several aspects. It personifies death, and gives a comforting view of the afterlife. In addition to that, it covers the phases of life, almost as if you can actually witness it yourself like seasons passing. "Their lessons scarcely done" does not refer specifically to children's schoolwork, but speaks more to the fact that a child has not learned life's lessons. On down the path, the fields of grazing grain, referring to young adulthood - fertility, raising of a family. The setting sun referring more to aging, old age, and the approach of death. The house, with the swelling of the ground.. its roof scarcely visible, the cornice - a mound. This is referring directly to the grave. The final home a body inhabits. I chose this poem specifically as a reminder to take each moment slow, enjoy it, don't try to rush too much and live every moment to its fullest, because we really don't know when that carriage will come around for us.
(Jan 7 2012)
Because I Could Not Stop For Death
Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And immortality.
We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labour, and my leisure too,
For his civility.
We passed the school where children played
Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of grazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.
We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.
Since then 'tis centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.
In this world of chaos and wtf-ery, we too often forget to set time aside for the less cerebral things in life. And then at other times, there are things that are just too strange NOT to mention. That is what WTF! News is going to be, just random tidbits, some might be funny, others might be head-scratchers. We'll see what happens.
Dead Rising? Or just a quirk of nature? Why is this the first we're hearing of it?
Read the story HERE
Hmm... Feels a little "The Fourth Kind"-y to me.
Ok honestly, when I found this, I wasn't quite expecting what I saw. However... what I saw was pretty much just as traumatizing. At least it wasn't "Pokerface". Its not pretty. I advise not eating before, during, or after watching.
Story HERE
It would appear that the mysterious visitor to Edgar Allan Poe's grave has not visited for the third year in a row. While this is not exactly a "WTF" situation, this does mark the end of an era. The mysterious figure visiting the grave dates back to the 1940s, and those who have kept vigil, curious about the visitor, have effectively given up hope that the person will return.
Ok, everyone's seen and heard the "I use to be a __________ until I took an arrow to the knee" meme from the Elder Scrolls' newest game, Skyrim. And I myself am guilty of using it a few times, although I think it's growing a bit stale. Much like the "honey badger don't give a shit" references. However, this one was just too good to pass up. Click HERE for story
THIS is what qualifies as news in the United States.
Its a sad day when a woman who touts high fat, high carb diets and has Type 2 Diabetes and is making money being the spokesperson for a medicine to treat said disease can't even eat a burger and fries without it becoming a national crisis. Seriously, the only difference between her and your neighbor is your neighbor ain't famous and ain't makin money off being unhealthy. I'm not sayin I am the image of a healthy diet here. I'm saying there are far more pressing concerns than reporting that ZOMG Paula Deen ate a burger and fries!!
Music has played a huge part in my life, gotten me through rough times, and so many memories are tied to certain songs. Then too are certain emotions expressed through the songs I listen to. Come in.. turn out the lights, cue the blacklight and listen.
RIP Pete
This is by far one of my favorite songs by Type O Negative.
Came across this band thanks to Mina. The NIN cover was good, but sometimes you just can't beat the original artist.
I've loved Labyrinth since I was a kid, and probably mostly because of this part of the movie here.
The VERY first song by Cradle of Filth I ever heard. Some people moan and bitch about them, saying they're just too overly "gothy", or whatever, but the cinematic aspects of this video were what caught me. This is the way I've always felt music videos should be, artful, expressive, they should tell the story of the song. Not some half-witted overblinged-out retards muggin for a camera.
And well, the intro dialogue guy reminds me of the Vrykul in Northrend. I can't help it, no matter how many times I watch this video, thats what he reminds me of.
RIP Freddy
Queen has ALOTTTTTTTTTTT (did I mention alot?) of good songs, Which I will add into this list at some point surely, but I actually surprised myself by throwing this one in. It's not the quintessential "Queen" song, rife with the grandiose or operatic. Its a genuinely fun song, and I just like it. So there it is.
Now, I'd listened to a few Flogging Molly songs before this, I'd actually come across them looking for Dropkick Murphys a few years ago. But this one here holds a special place in my heart. I found it by accident, watching P.S. I Love You. If you haven't seen it, you should. Bring lots of tissues. I chose to add this one, and the following Dropkick Murphys song because well, I want them played at my funeral. With lots of alcohol. LOTS. I don't want a bunch of people standing around moping and crying. I want people to party their asses off. I want people puking, forgetting where they left their pants, and not able to remember EXACTLY what happened the next day. Don't mourn my death, celebrate my life, even if it wasn't exactly what I'd planned it to be.
As previously stated, another song for my funeral. I don't want people crying, I want people partying. Funerals are always depressing, and nobody enjoys them, and I'd rather people have fun than pass on the usual sentiments "I'm so sorry for your loss". Dammit don't be sorry, be fucking happy when I'm gone, that I don't have to deal with the bullshit anymore! Be sincere! And for the love of all that is good and right in the world don't give that "We're lifting you up in prayer" "Our prayers are with you and your family". Just say your thoughts are with the family. Positive energy is MUCH more effective than whatever words you're using to pray with, and most people who say that aren't even praying in the first place. Okay, rant over, cue the tunes.
Another from the "This is how music videos should be" collection. They should be cinematic, detailed, they should reel you in and for 5-15 minutes, bring you out of your world into another one entirely. And Jared Leto in his guyliner isn't a bad perk.
Older work.. much of this, I really want to go back and redo, or else forget I ever did them in the first place.
We're all quite familiar with the tale of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland.
And I don't necessarily mean the one with pedo-Johnny Depp/Mad Hatter either.
I mean the traditional story. What I've learned is that life is very much a "rabbit hole", and we are merely traversing at different levels of it. Some of us are perfectly content to hang around at the top, drinking tea and watching the busy little rabbit who's late, while others are already on the other side running from the Red Queen who threatens to cut off our heads, merely because we will not do as we are told. Still there are those who are constantly falling, unable to stop, unable to return to the top, with no clue as to how deep the hole actually is.
Such has been my search for spirituality, religion, whatever you wish to call it. As the saying goes "It is what it is". My own journey has led me up and down hills, off cliffs, and then some. What I've learned is that the world runs in concentric circles, everything connecting at one point or another, and in this respect, it makes the world not seem so big afterall. I know that I have much to learn still, and hopefully it won't all fall on my head at once, but perhaps one day, with enough drive and determination to learn, to understand, to really comprehend, I'll finally reach the point when I can say "Now I am truly at peace". That's what the Rabbit Hole represents to me.. the journey to inner peace and understanding.
As was once asked of me... will you take the red pill? Or the blue one?
Update
Added a few new videos to the vid page, as well as some Poe to the poetry section. This is beginning to feel a little Seussian. Also, started the short story section! YAY! PROGRESS!
(Jan 23 2012)
