Starlight
Grudgingly, the populace settles,
And society is left with its confusion,
The chosen few, those delicate petals,
That thrive on the thorny vine's intrusion
In solitude, where the goals are made clear,
To clean an industry of its pollution.
An unseen power within the chosen,
Given by forces thrice unknown,
Locked in time, so often frozen,
Until talent grows wings and has flown,
Tested against the winds of the public,
Tempests of critique, still to be blown.
With necessary leaps of faith,
Against better judgement, appalled
At the comfortably rancid, bitter taste
Of total defeat and the loss of all
Confidence to soar with the clouds,
Braced to endure that possible fall.
Sharpen all weapons, the pen and the brush,
And prepare your dogs for war,
Secure an anchor in the seas of mistrust,
And work hard to paddle ashore,
Where fame and greed stand hand in hand,
But resist the temptations of more.
Through song or picture, original work,
Through painting and story or sonnet,
The difficulty of creating a first,
The medicine of minds, a soul's tonic,
That glow of the few who, for all or nothing,
Can grab hold of the tail of the comet.
8/30/09
Pic of the Litter
I don't know about you but I'd probably drink this. The taste might be a little iffy but at least I'd be sure to get my caffeine fix.
8/26/09
Top 5: William Blake Poems
As an artist I develop inspiration by studying great art. Therefore, in what will hopefully be a regular feature here on the Afro, I am going to delve into the catalogues of some of the artists I respect. Maybe you'll find a favorite of yours sometime soon, or maybe this will be your first introduction to a particular artist. The first one up is the poet William Blake. So, followed by a small excerpt, here are (in no particular order) my...
Top 5 William Blake Poems
1. The Tyger (1794) - Quite possibly one of Blake's most famous poems, known for it's wonderful description of man's look into the nature of the (supposedly) savage beast.
"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
2. "Songs of Experience": Introduction (1794) - From his book of the same name, as a writer I love the subject of this poem and the musicality of the language.
"Hear the voice of the Bard!
Who Present, Past, & Future, sees;
Whose ears have heard
The Holy Word
That walk'd among the ancient trees,"
3. A Poison Tree (1794) - A short, truthful glimpse into the humanity inherent in hatred.
"I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow."
4. The Book of Thel (1789) - A little different than his earlier fare, it tells the story of a young female who questions the reasoning behind existence and death. Some consider it one of his prophetic books, but at the very least it's philosophically interesting.
"Why cannot the Ear be closed to its own destruction?
Or the glistning Eye to the poison of a smile!
Why are Eyelids stord with arrows ready drawn,
Where a thousand fighting men in ambush lie?
Or an Eye of gifts & graces, show'ring fruits & coined gold!
Why a Tongue impress'd with honey from every wind?
Why an Ear, a whirlpool fierce to draw creations in?
Why a Nostril wide inhaling terror trembling & affright.
Why a tender curb upon the youthful burning boy!
Why a little curtain of flesh on the bed of our desire?"
5. Proverbs of Hell (1793) - Another famous work, this time from the book, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. This poem is a clever collection of proverbs written in imitation of the biblical prophecies but with Blake's own spin, questioning the perceptions of evilness about Satan and Hell.
"A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees."
"Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps."
"Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image of truth."
"You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough."
Honorable Mentions: The Sick Rose, Auguries of Innocence, "And did those feet in ancient time"
Top 5 William Blake Poems
1. The Tyger (1794) - Quite possibly one of Blake's most famous poems, known for it's wonderful description of man's look into the nature of the (supposedly) savage beast.
"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
2. "Songs of Experience": Introduction (1794) - From his book of the same name, as a writer I love the subject of this poem and the musicality of the language.
"Hear the voice of the Bard!
Who Present, Past, & Future, sees;
Whose ears have heard
The Holy Word
That walk'd among the ancient trees,"
3. A Poison Tree (1794) - A short, truthful glimpse into the humanity inherent in hatred.
"I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow."
4. The Book of Thel (1789) - A little different than his earlier fare, it tells the story of a young female who questions the reasoning behind existence and death. Some consider it one of his prophetic books, but at the very least it's philosophically interesting.
"Why cannot the Ear be closed to its own destruction?
Or the glistning Eye to the poison of a smile!
Why are Eyelids stord with arrows ready drawn,
Where a thousand fighting men in ambush lie?
Or an Eye of gifts & graces, show'ring fruits & coined gold!
Why a Tongue impress'd with honey from every wind?
Why an Ear, a whirlpool fierce to draw creations in?
Why a Nostril wide inhaling terror trembling & affright.
Why a tender curb upon the youthful burning boy!
Why a little curtain of flesh on the bed of our desire?"
5. Proverbs of Hell (1793) - Another famous work, this time from the book, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. This poem is a clever collection of proverbs written in imitation of the biblical prophecies but with Blake's own spin, questioning the perceptions of evilness about Satan and Hell.
"A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees."
"Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps."
"Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image of truth."
"You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough."
Honorable Mentions: The Sick Rose, Auguries of Innocence, "And did those feet in ancient time"
8/24/09
Pic of the Litter
Can you guess what this cool looking, steampunk-styled contraption is? Take a peek in the comments section for the answer.
8/22/09
From The Lab
A Seat Amongst The Clouds
I wish for a place in the cloudy skies,
Where the sun never rests and the moon doesn't sleep,
For definitive proof how I feel inside,
For a Lord is my shepherd, and I a lost sheep.
A place in the stars, of family and friends,
Of long lost loves, and short term kin,
With ambrosia flowing, the songs never end,
And pleasure subsides when another begins.
To finally feel peace in its purest of forms,
(The heart cannot hide, here in the secrets of flesh),
And knowing my body was used up and worn,
I made the most of my days before death.
I wish for the place where I truly belong,
Where shame and the such could never exist,
And the soul does right having known of the wrongs,
With freedom of choice and a pervasive bliss.
I wish for a place in the cloudy skies,
Where the sun never rests and the moon doesn't sleep,
For definitive proof how I feel inside,
For a Lord is my shepherd, and I a lost sheep.
A place in the stars, of family and friends,
Of long lost loves, and short term kin,
With ambrosia flowing, the songs never end,
And pleasure subsides when another begins.
To finally feel peace in its purest of forms,
(The heart cannot hide, here in the secrets of flesh),
And knowing my body was used up and worn,
I made the most of my days before death.
I wish for the place where I truly belong,
Where shame and the such could never exist,
And the soul does right having known of the wrongs,
With freedom of choice and a pervasive bliss.
8/18/09
From The Lab
Chained Gargoyles
As deadly as tonight has been,
With all the punches that were thrown,
O' how we divided the men
That seconds ago would have grown,
Now we're lost in frightful poses,
Caught in stone, an eternal sign,
Left here 'till the coffin roses
Bloom again where we walked the line,
Until that day of miracles,
There's nothing left of our hatred,
Just ourselves, the spirituals,
Locked in sins that we created,
Forced to fight for tender egos,
Hoping no one spots us bluffing,
Each of us thinks the other knows.
Potential's dead. We did nothing;
Repressed, regressed, enjoyed the scene,
And climbed, while time allowed us to,
The stalk turns back into a bean,
Beginning in an hour or two.
As deadly as tonight has been,
With all the punches that were thrown,
O' how we divided the men
That seconds ago would have grown,
Now we're lost in frightful poses,
Caught in stone, an eternal sign,
Left here 'till the coffin roses
Bloom again where we walked the line,
Until that day of miracles,
There's nothing left of our hatred,
Just ourselves, the spirituals,
Locked in sins that we created,
Forced to fight for tender egos,
Hoping no one spots us bluffing,
Each of us thinks the other knows.
Potential's dead. We did nothing;
Repressed, regressed, enjoyed the scene,
And climbed, while time allowed us to,
The stalk turns back into a bean,
Beginning in an hour or two.
8/16/09
8/13/09
In/gratitude
We as humans, and especially Americans, take things for granted. We expect things to go our way and just happen for us and when they don't we curse the gods for getting burned. We strongly believe in the illusion of control and feel that we must have it or exert it at all times. The simple truth is that control is a hollow form. We can't control God or Nature (human or otherwise) so our lives will always be a balance of both good and bad. No matter how hard you try, life will never be perfect, and believe it or not that's a good thing. Perfection is an ideal not to be reached because by it's very definition there's nowhere to grow from it. We must accept the gifts of the good times, but also the lessons that the bad and unfortunate times can teach us.
Acceptance and gratitude go hand in hand. It's easy to say that I should be thankful for what I have but it's harder to execute. It's easy to lose sight of what you've gained when, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we are always focused on planning or saving for our next big thing. However, if you allow yourself to take a breath and see what it is you actually have, you will truly start to feel blessed. And it's not just the small or material things, (i.e. new clothes, books, DVDs, games, etc.), but the big ones as well, (food, shelter, water). These are all gifts and should be looked at as such.
Different cultures view the various aspects of life differently but those of us in the western 'civilized' part of the world have become a bit spoiled and soft. Be it due to personal expectations, society, or how we were raised we become bummed when we don't have enough money to buy our new, shiny fetish of the moment, or don't have the time to go out to eat at our favorite restaurant. When really we need to show thanks for what we do have time for, the intangibles like friends, love, and laughter. I'm just like most people in this respect. Recently I've been searching for a new and better job and have been getting very few results. It's been depressing but lately I've been trying to remind myself to be gracious for all that I do have. So I've been struggling with changing my ways, all while learning to live in, and more importantly honor, the present moment(s).
It's hard to give thanks to the obvious that has grown to become passe'. First things first you have to recognize them; actually take the time and reflect on what's truly going on with your life, remembering that it doesn't have to be a boon to be a blessing. You should come up with quite the list but at the absolute least you should be thankful for another day. Another day is another chance at life, and if you don't like its direction, it's another chance to change. Now, when you do realize what you have, the trick is how you should give thanks.
Giving thanks doesn't mean you have to drop to your knees and pray, (although there's nothing wrong with this), it simply means taking the time to consider resources. For instance, how did that dinner make its way to your plate? I'm pretty sure you don't farm or butcher meat. What about your favorite comfy shirt, or that show that helps take your mind off the world for 30 minutes? How did they get to where they are? All it takes is a moment or three out of the day to reflect on what you have and giving a quick 'mental thank you' to the people, animals, things, or gods that let you have them. (Did you ever think, 'Man, I wish this moment would never end'? If so then that's the perfect time to do this.) Because the fact of the matter is you could always have things much worse. No matter how low you feel your life has gotten, you're always standing on the shoulders of someone that's underneath you, so its best to appreciate what you got while you still got it. Gratitude is one of the paths to wisdom. All you have to do is walk it and see where it takes you.
Acceptance and gratitude go hand in hand. It's easy to say that I should be thankful for what I have but it's harder to execute. It's easy to lose sight of what you've gained when, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we are always focused on planning or saving for our next big thing. However, if you allow yourself to take a breath and see what it is you actually have, you will truly start to feel blessed. And it's not just the small or material things, (i.e. new clothes, books, DVDs, games, etc.), but the big ones as well, (food, shelter, water). These are all gifts and should be looked at as such.
Different cultures view the various aspects of life differently but those of us in the western 'civilized' part of the world have become a bit spoiled and soft. Be it due to personal expectations, society, or how we were raised we become bummed when we don't have enough money to buy our new, shiny fetish of the moment, or don't have the time to go out to eat at our favorite restaurant. When really we need to show thanks for what we do have time for, the intangibles like friends, love, and laughter. I'm just like most people in this respect. Recently I've been searching for a new and better job and have been getting very few results. It's been depressing but lately I've been trying to remind myself to be gracious for all that I do have. So I've been struggling with changing my ways, all while learning to live in, and more importantly honor, the present moment(s).
It's hard to give thanks to the obvious that has grown to become passe'. First things first you have to recognize them; actually take the time and reflect on what's truly going on with your life, remembering that it doesn't have to be a boon to be a blessing. You should come up with quite the list but at the absolute least you should be thankful for another day. Another day is another chance at life, and if you don't like its direction, it's another chance to change. Now, when you do realize what you have, the trick is how you should give thanks.
Giving thanks doesn't mean you have to drop to your knees and pray, (although there's nothing wrong with this), it simply means taking the time to consider resources. For instance, how did that dinner make its way to your plate? I'm pretty sure you don't farm or butcher meat. What about your favorite comfy shirt, or that show that helps take your mind off the world for 30 minutes? How did they get to where they are? All it takes is a moment or three out of the day to reflect on what you have and giving a quick 'mental thank you' to the people, animals, things, or gods that let you have them. (Did you ever think, 'Man, I wish this moment would never end'? If so then that's the perfect time to do this.) Because the fact of the matter is you could always have things much worse. No matter how low you feel your life has gotten, you're always standing on the shoulders of someone that's underneath you, so its best to appreciate what you got while you still got it. Gratitude is one of the paths to wisdom. All you have to do is walk it and see where it takes you.
8/12/09
From The Lab
Eff Destiny
We the sons of pen and paper,
Heedless, jump the cliffs of chance,
Blind to paths well trodden down,
Deaf to the volume of the rants,
Ignore the perils of the myth,
Speak the mind and plead the fifth.
Set sail the notebook battleships!
Burn through all chains which bind the lips,
Withstand the force of stones and sticks
And watch what you'll accomplish.
Dodge the critic's accurate sting,
Who beat the peasant and praise the king,
Contributing nothing, but loudly sing,
That all true art is demolished.
Popular prejudice says that you
Should conform to the ways of yesteryear,
Stay within the thick drawn lines,
And follow your elder's trails and fears,
Let nothing new be done or made,
Until tradition presents your grave.
With swollen knuckles and bitten nails,
Withstand the stress to pierce the veils,
Fight off the sharks to swim with whales,
And thrive under that pressure which lingers.
Breathe easy, evoke a peace of mind,
Where fair muse will call and talent will find
The confidence to be one-of-a-kind,
And give Lady Fate a chosen finger.
We the sons of pen and paper,
Heedless, jump the cliffs of chance,
Blind to paths well trodden down,
Deaf to the volume of the rants,
Ignore the perils of the myth,
Speak the mind and plead the fifth.
Set sail the notebook battleships!
Burn through all chains which bind the lips,
Withstand the force of stones and sticks
And watch what you'll accomplish.
Dodge the critic's accurate sting,
Who beat the peasant and praise the king,
Contributing nothing, but loudly sing,
That all true art is demolished.
Popular prejudice says that you
Should conform to the ways of yesteryear,
Stay within the thick drawn lines,
And follow your elder's trails and fears,
Let nothing new be done or made,
Until tradition presents your grave.
With swollen knuckles and bitten nails,
Withstand the stress to pierce the veils,
Fight off the sharks to swim with whales,
And thrive under that pressure which lingers.
Breathe easy, evoke a peace of mind,
Where fair muse will call and talent will find
The confidence to be one-of-a-kind,
And give Lady Fate a chosen finger.
8/9/09
Pic of the Litter
This is a piece from the talented enigma, Banksy. (If you don't already know about this subversive graffiti artist do yourself a favor and Google his name and artwork.) I believe this take on the dove of peace was tagged in Bethlehem.
8/6/09
From The Lab
Outpost Outlook
"Report!"
It looks as if they're gathering arms, sir.
Only moments before their aim is drawn.
All tactics are lost in a bloodlust blur,
A strategy's weight bared down on the pawn.
They are miles away from seeing success,
But power unchecked can grow twice as fast,
Venturing forth, their desired effect
Is hidden quite well beneath faux-styled masks.
Soon they'll take to the streets, armed for the storm,
With a desperation that's unnerving;
A strategy to attack with a swarm,
The left hand kills, the right hand's diverting.
"Suggestions?"
The skins of law books protect their soft hide,
And ever-right badges conceal intent,
But the people are still strong on our side,
So strike at the fringes until we're spent.
I don't trust them to play by their own rules,
What is this world when only thieves play fair?
Defend and retreat, though it may seem cruel,
Only fools follow dragons in their lair...
And follow they shall, to get at our heart,
We're never as strong when foes think us weak.
It is there they will learn the wartime arts
Of power, harsh fears, and graceful defeats.
"Report!"
It looks as if they're gathering arms, sir.
Only moments before their aim is drawn.
All tactics are lost in a bloodlust blur,
A strategy's weight bared down on the pawn.
They are miles away from seeing success,
But power unchecked can grow twice as fast,
Venturing forth, their desired effect
Is hidden quite well beneath faux-styled masks.
Soon they'll take to the streets, armed for the storm,
With a desperation that's unnerving;
A strategy to attack with a swarm,
The left hand kills, the right hand's diverting.
"Suggestions?"
The skins of law books protect their soft hide,
And ever-right badges conceal intent,
But the people are still strong on our side,
So strike at the fringes until we're spent.
I don't trust them to play by their own rules,
What is this world when only thieves play fair?
Defend and retreat, though it may seem cruel,
Only fools follow dragons in their lair...
And follow they shall, to get at our heart,
We're never as strong when foes think us weak.
It is there they will learn the wartime arts
Of power, harsh fears, and graceful defeats.
8/3/09
Site Update
The few mp3's that are on this site (and subsequently any new music) will be down for a few days as I have found my file hosting system and audio converters to be unreliable. Stay tuned to the Fro for more info on when this problem will be corrected. Until then, me so sorry.
From The Lab
Diagnosis
"He is not healthy," the Elderman said,
"The passion inside him is gone;
Before it was said, 'twas illness,' instead,
But what was said before is wrong.
There's anger inside this man with no name,
You can see it within his eyes,
They stare at the world with common disdain,
Through false men of crafty disguise."
"He grieves for the many from yesteryear,
For moments that were too seldom,
The ghosts of the past do ever appear
And that grief could overwhelm him.
He's jealous of those with paper riches,
And doesn't realize they've nothing
But earthly things and unfulfilled wishes;
The target that's always running."
The Elderman stopped, gazed at his patient,
Cleared his throat and continued on.
"I see he's growing much too complacent,
He believes his love to be gone.
Never again might his heart take that flight,
The trust in himself is far lost,
He thinks another does not have the right,
That gamble has too high a cost."
"A happiness cowers deep down inside,
Afraid that if it shows it's face,
A long dormant part of the soul will rise
And he'd only get but a taste
Before reality comes back full force,
His hopes, once risen, shall fall hard;
The fear of that moment shattered its source,
Leaving only these gleeful scars."
"Disgusted, he tosses and turns with dreams,
Embarrassed with thinking these thoughts,
Hating himself and the minds' wicked schemes,
And all the destruction it's wrought.
There's a sadness in this man's tired eyes,
He feels, his ways, they would not mend,
And when, with confidence, he starts to try,
He stops, in fear, he'll fail again."
Content with his work, the Elderman left,
To his audience's dismay,
To them, the matter was far from it's rest,
But that's all they would hear that day.
Though I, with intent and my motives pure,
Asked the sage what he was seeing,
He answered, with simply, "He's insecure,
Which makes him the human being."
"He is not healthy," the Elderman said,
"The passion inside him is gone;
Before it was said, 'twas illness,' instead,
But what was said before is wrong.
There's anger inside this man with no name,
You can see it within his eyes,
They stare at the world with common disdain,
Through false men of crafty disguise."
"He grieves for the many from yesteryear,
For moments that were too seldom,
The ghosts of the past do ever appear
And that grief could overwhelm him.
He's jealous of those with paper riches,
And doesn't realize they've nothing
But earthly things and unfulfilled wishes;
The target that's always running."
The Elderman stopped, gazed at his patient,
Cleared his throat and continued on.
"I see he's growing much too complacent,
He believes his love to be gone.
Never again might his heart take that flight,
The trust in himself is far lost,
He thinks another does not have the right,
That gamble has too high a cost."
"A happiness cowers deep down inside,
Afraid that if it shows it's face,
A long dormant part of the soul will rise
And he'd only get but a taste
Before reality comes back full force,
His hopes, once risen, shall fall hard;
The fear of that moment shattered its source,
Leaving only these gleeful scars."
"Disgusted, he tosses and turns with dreams,
Embarrassed with thinking these thoughts,
Hating himself and the minds' wicked schemes,
And all the destruction it's wrought.
There's a sadness in this man's tired eyes,
He feels, his ways, they would not mend,
And when, with confidence, he starts to try,
He stops, in fear, he'll fail again."
Content with his work, the Elderman left,
To his audience's dismay,
To them, the matter was far from it's rest,
But that's all they would hear that day.
Though I, with intent and my motives pure,
Asked the sage what he was seeing,
He answered, with simply, "He's insecure,
Which makes him the human being."
8/2/09
Pic of the Litter
In memory of one of my favorite Pistons in a long time. I don't think I can root for him wearing that Boston green but in my mind (and my heart) he'll always be wearing the red, white, and blue.
8/1/09
From The Lab
Change By Itself
Change by itself is ambiguous,
Too broad a word and oddly confining;
One lone soul may plant the seeds,
But the environment nurtures and decides
The direction of it's accepted chaos,
While acceptance itself morphs and multiplies,
Unable to ever be accurately pinned down.
Leaders will grasp to catch this breeze,
And risk looking the fool of public servitude,
In that jester's costume of red/blue ties and loafers,
This being what freedom sometimes demands,
Though very rarely deserves.
The power to change lies dormant
In everyone, though it is no small feat to be awakened,
Yet, once the sleeping eye finally blinks open,
It can allow the flawed man to reach greatness, and
The perfect man to fall into ruined disgrace.
Change works in both directions, as does a country.
America as a country is far from perfect,
But this is not a negative thing;
Perfection should never be made a goal,
It is unobtainable and allows no room for growth.
The future of this nation is hazy,
While somewhere off in the distance, greatness hides within the fog.
Change by itself is ambiguous,
Too broad a word and oddly confining;
One lone soul may plant the seeds,
But the environment nurtures and decides
The direction of it's accepted chaos,
While acceptance itself morphs and multiplies,
Unable to ever be accurately pinned down.
Leaders will grasp to catch this breeze,
And risk looking the fool of public servitude,
In that jester's costume of red/blue ties and loafers,
This being what freedom sometimes demands,
Though very rarely deserves.
The power to change lies dormant
In everyone, though it is no small feat to be awakened,
Yet, once the sleeping eye finally blinks open,
It can allow the flawed man to reach greatness, and
The perfect man to fall into ruined disgrace.
Change works in both directions, as does a country.
America as a country is far from perfect,
But this is not a negative thing;
Perfection should never be made a goal,
It is unobtainable and allows no room for growth.
The future of this nation is hazy,
While somewhere off in the distance, greatness hides within the fog.
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