Thanks to banking protocols, otherwise known as oligarchal assholiness, I’ve been sans cash for five days. This means I’ve also been without coffee, or addictive substances (nicotine, to be precise) for two days; I am currently a very dangerous man…. But, hope survives, & all should be well by tomorrow morning…. I have a fresh Pearl ready, but for the necessary composition of the intro & closing sections… but, have so much to catch up to today, there’s no time to finish it. I’ll do so tonight, & have it ready for the morning…. Here is a Pearl from 2014 with some rather fine ranting, which should hold all of us until then. I hope you enjoy it… See ya tomorrow, if all goes as planned….
Ffolkes,
Coffee is on the way, so I won’t have to shoot anybody before it is ready. Or even because it isn’t ready…. I hate cleaning up dead bodies before breakfast…. So tacky….. Not that I’ve ever had to kill anyone yet, not over coffee. (No, not over anything…. I’m a virgin in that respect, thankfully….) It’s always a fun thing to think about though, especially when one is still waiting for that first glorious sip to bring the universe into focus. I don’t CARE if it is addictive, or bad for me, or whatever; NOTHING is like that first sip of coffee in the AM, nothing….. It would take someone with some serious martial arts skills, or a large weapon drawn first, to keep me from that first cuppa in the morning….. and, they would lose, due to my superior motivation….
I got up early, but, ran into Murphy, headlong. Since this means the rest of my day is shot to hell, I’m re-blogging, rather than trying to compose anything while in a quiet rage…. (Don’t ask; I might end up telling….) To keep from going completely off the rails, here is a re-blog, with some good ranting, & better comments… Go figure, eh? I’ll be back tomorrow morning, as long as Murphy keeps his word…. See ya then, mon frer….
“The supreme irony of life is hardly anyone ever gets out of it alive.” — Robert Heinlein
Ffolkes, I don’t know about y’all, but, it’s my considered opinion that’s one damn silly looking puffin. Between the fat little body (which only appears that way; he’s actually about right for a seabird living in the cold Atlantic ocean…), the mouthful of dead fishies, (which goes to show it’s a pretty efficient fisher….), and that silly expression (do birds really HAVE expressions? If so, how do they do that without eyebrows?) Most importantly, why am I even THINKING about any of this, when I’ve got a Pearl to write?….
Oh well, such is life here at ECR…. I should probably tell you the picture came from the London Daily Telegraph, out of a weekly feature of theirs, called the Animal Pictures of the Week…. There are always some good shots in…
“Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do.”
~~ Bertrand Russell (1872-1967) ~~
Leelu Magicat, Daughter of Bastet, at her ease…
Hajime…. In my battle to regain a modicum of composure, intellectually, at least, I managed to cobble together a pretty interesting Pearl. It’s a bit longer than usual, but, only because I cheated in the final, old-school section, by using the entire Pearl of Virtual Wisdom as posted on 10/15/2011, only a couple months after beginning here on WP. All in all, I’m content, if not entirely happy, with what occurred; under the given circumstances, it’s the best I can do…. which is yet another situation where “So be it….” becomes appropriate….
To make the transition, from standard reality to mine, a bit smoother, I think a strong display of will power is in order; applying it to an efficient trimming of this introductory section may enhance today’s overall reading experience, enough to make it more palatable than otherwise may be the case. Of course, this presupposes it is edible, or potable, in the first place, but, we’ve been known to make unwarranted assumptions previously, & can’t be expected to change overnight, & most especially, on command. We can, however, be expected to back up those assumptions with a bit of proof. Now, if we could only find some, all would be well. Since we cannot, our only possible alternative is to completely ignore it all, & go on as if nothing at all has taken place…
Mostly, you’ll note, it hasn’t. Let’s see if we can’t find something a bit more entertaining, if no more compellingly ridiculous. We’re getting pretty close to complete absurdity, as I retreat further & further from true reality, hoping to find surcease, if not redemption, in a magnificent display of madness, which, given our predilection for such displays on short notice, might have been possible, had it not been for your alert reaction. Go figure, eh?….
Now, then…. If you aren’t completely confused, well, then, so am I. Let’s see what other madness we can generate….
Shall we Pearl?….
“A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth
the first time he bites off more than he can chew.”
~~ Herb Caen ~~
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Chooka Parker
Image from Pinterest.com via Google Images
In 2011, this young man, then 16 years of age, walked onto a stage in Australia, as an entrant in the Australia’s Got Talent TV show. He proceeded to play the piano, but, with a slight twist. He made his song up on the spot, improvising it as he played, expressing how he felt at that moment…. He went on to win that competition, with his second and third improvised songs, (each better than the last….), and now plays all over the world.
Follow the link in the player to his You Tube page, where you can find any number of great videos showing him play, in his unique style, every note improvised. Somebody DID eventually teach him to play standard music, (I suspect he can play anything he hears once, though I haven’t looked into that talent in his case); I watched a clip of him making up a blues/boogie-woogie song about 5 minutes long, which was, without doubt, the most incredible piano work I’ve EVER seen or heard…. Just watch & listen; your mouth will drop open, I guarantee, at his brilliance….
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Mozart, Reborn Chooka Parker
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Illusory Time
Viewed from askance, the river is long;
deep, uncompromisingly intent, swift and strong.
In duality, perception creates our only reality;
such faux metaphoric paradox enforces mutability.
By two we perceive, both zero, and one;
digital, binary, on or off, such fun.
Separate, melded, we exist, knowing not what we know
ego, striving to be solitary, looking above, seeing below.
Furiously asleep, cultural anomaly claims a victim of choice;
validly unconscious, nobody speaks, nary a voice.
Potential escapees stir in dreams, fighting to wake,
until taking the wheel, for their own bloody sake.
Pots boil in due time, when the fire’s hot,
time exists to our advantage; or, not.
The solitary warrior, head bent in pain,
fights on, with, or without gain.
Night fell, day after day it persisted;
of those who knew, none showed any care, or resisted
Angels, ministers, none had any defense, nor grace;
all that remains is a face.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/22/2016
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An Ancient Pearl
From 10/15/2011….
Ffolkes,
The Sun, life-giving orb of light and warmth, which dies each night, is born again each morning, gloriously aflame with potential. As the world turns in slow majesty, a scene of aching beauty is revealed; small plants and trees stretching their leaves toward the source of warmth, creatures great and small moving over the land, greeting the day with energy and purpose, colorful birds arcing and swooping through the warming air.
With a look at each other, the two young boys grinned, and with a cry of pure joy, took off running toward a nearby stand of trees. Legs pounding as hard and fast as their hearts, evenly matched, they ran with abandon, startling birds and small creatures, laughing in sheer exuberance. When they came to the edge of the trees, they stopped by mutual accord. Breathing hard, they gazed into the shadows, thinking about why they had come, why they were here, filling their souls with beauty at the beginning of the day….
I’m told that constant practice makes for constant improvement, and if this is so, then I should be getting damn close to competence, if not perfection. The paragraphs above are the start of yet another story that will most likely never be told. I write them principally to keep dross from building up in my psyche, and as a sort of contrast to the reality of the rest of the piece. An introductory bridge, as it were, carrying the reader into the realms of thought, where I can then provide you with an upgrade to the DABSDS (Defense Against B___S___ Delivery System) that comes installed in your brain. It gives me a chance to limber up my typing finger, and loosen the mental muscle, which, as we all know, is an essential precursor to the use of these peripherals without sustaining injury.
Today’s group of Pearls is an eclectic one, with a diverse, compelling batch of authors. Cultural values from all over the world, and from many different ages of history are represented here, and I think the variety is part of its strength; it goes to show that wisdom is not limited to one book. Indeed, I believe that the admixture that came together today is greatly enhanced by the contrast of ideas, creating a more powerful effect upon the reasoning mind… hope you enjoy!….
“If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.” — James Thurber
The only real failure in life is the failure to try.
“It is a misconception that spirituality brings everlasting happiness. There is no such thing. Sadness still comes to the wise, but, unlike most
people, their clarity of mind allows them to see beyond the temporal emotionalism of the moment. They are farseeing, and so happiness and sorrow become the same to them.” — Deng Ming-Dao
Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go,
the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know.
But I do not approve.
And I am not resigned.
~~ Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Dirge Without Music” ~~
“Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of–but do it in private and wash you hands afterwards.” — Lazarus Long
“We turn not older with years, but newer every day.” — Emily Dickinson
Trust yourselves, my friends, so that ye may trust one another…..y’all take care out there…..
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It’s done. Looking back over it, I have decided to leave it alone. It’s odd enough as it is. In fact, I’ve done enough damage for one day, so, I’m outta here…. I’ll see y’all next time; no predictions today as to when; we’ll all have to be patient, & allow time to tell…. See ya….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“Every ordinary moment, every little detail should be
a celebration of your personal understanding.
Your smallest act should be permeated with reverence.”
~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~
Hajime…. While the picture is quite accurately descriptive of my state of mind today, the quote remains far beyond my current ability to either achieve, or even fully embrace. Sometime during the day, yesterday, I fell back into the dark hole which is always hidden near my feet, ready to swallow me if I somehow step too close. No work got done, no resolutions were reached, and no hope was found, not that hope ever does us much good. In this frame of mind, hope merely offers another opportunity for disappointment & angst; most of us who dwell here often find it unbearable….
Needless to say, a fresh Pearl isn’t in the works for today. I will be, through out today, putting one together, as the process of doing so can help me climb a bit closer to the light…. Whether or not this will work well enough to help remains, as usual, unpredictable; the effort, if nothing else, will at least keep the worst of it at bay…. I’ll return, though probably not soon enough to suit my inner well of angst, which is always impatient with me. Go figure…. In any case, I’ve got nothing, beyond what you now see. ‘Twill have to do….
As is my wont to say at such times, so be it. Y’all stay well, & happy as you may be…. I’ll be back as soon as I can find my way back to relative stability…. No worries; I’ve been here before….
Shall we NOT Pearl?…. Aye, we’ll not….
“A time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
~~ Ecclesiastes 3:4 ~~
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Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“Truth is sacred;
and if you tell the truth too often
nobody will believe it.”
~~ G. K. Chesterton, ILN, 2/24/06 ~~
The CEO….
Hajime…. I’ve managed to cobble together a fairly decent Pearl, in only one day, so, I’ll post it, & hope for the best. My recent absences have, I think, caused some Gentle Readers to not come by very often…. SIGH. Oh, well; so be it. Since I do have this one ready, I guess I’ll post it right away. In order to do so in a timely fashion, I’ll even condescend to forgo all tricks, traps, sudden turns, or nonsensical forays into my head, opting instead to call this an intro, & be done with it. It’s actually one of my favorite openings, if only because I don’t have to come up with anything in particular, beyond what you already observe. Yep, I’m often lazy, but, then, I am human, aren’t I? Why, yes, yes I am. See y’all in the closing section….
Shall we Pearl?….
“To make up a great action there are no subordinate mean ones.”
~~ Thoreau ~~
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No introduction needed today; the music I’ve chosen is of a genre everyone knows, as it is, perhaps, the single most ancient form of sharing music, other than by singing. Humans have played guitars, or an instrument like it, since the days we hung out in caves to stay dry during inclement weather. In my opinion, anyone who does NOT like classical guitar simply hasn’t learned how to be fully human…. Enjoy!….
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Classical Music Guitar
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Blue chameleon
It’s hot today, with chances of pain & rain.
So it says on the news.
Guess there’s nothing to do again
unless it’s sing the blues.
The blues are gettin’ old, though.
So I say, & I should know.
I been singin’ the bloody songs, y’know?
For what seems a long row to hoe.
S’pose it could get better someday.
I’ve heard that tune before.
Always seemed out of tune anyway;
I ain’t waitin’ any more.
Bang those drums & kick the cans.
May as well raise some hell.
Clang together some old pots & pans;
It hides the little voices so well.
Never worry, don’t you fear at all.
We’ve got certificates of note.
Bureaucratic protections, officially small.
Non carborundum illegitimi, he wrote.
Time, and circumstance, wrote me today.
It came in the daily mail from home.
It said I shouldn’t write unless I say
you’ll be charged for the distance you roam.
~~ gigoid ~~
5/28/2016
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Naked Pearls
Notes on Life at Large….
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“An it harms none, do what thou will.”
~~ Wiccan Credo ~~
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“Man shall not live by bread alone.”
~~ New Testament, Matthew iv, 4; Deuteronomy viii, 3 ~~
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“Forget the cake, go for the icing.”
~~ from Observations on Life From Children ~~
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“All’s fair in love and war – What a contemptible lie.”
~~ Lazarus Long ~~
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“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves;
otherwise we harden.”
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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“It is a fundamental law of nature that nothing ever quite works out.”
~~ Murphy’s Seventh Law ~~
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“Sure, understanding today’s complex world of the future
is a little like having bees live in your head.
But there they are . . .”
~~ The Firesign Theater, “I Think We’re All Bozos On This Bus!” ~~
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There you have it, ffolkes. To make the closing section rather more of a match for the intro, I shall bring it to a rapid close, without the usual caveats, contortions, or blather. Makes for a nice change, don’t you think? Whatever…. I’ll be back tomorrow, if reality doesn’t intrude in its inimitable fashion. Until then, be well, & happy as you may be. I’m heading out into the BBR today, for a bit of guitar practice meself. Don’t step on any myrmidons; it irritates their sense of entitlement…. See ya….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time;
serenity, that nothing is.”
~~ Thomas Szasz ~~
Attitude….
Hajime…. It seems one truly can never expect the unexpected…. I was standing on my back porch, when my mind settled into a train of thought which led to an epiphany, of a deep, and abiding truth. Without detailing what led to this, (because now, it seems so obvious, the triggering perception is unimportant…. it’s in the past….), it can be said thus: The universe in which we live, which we have determined to exist in duality of nature, begins where it ends, with the very process, and concept, of creation. The simple most critical point of this duality thus demands that creation MUST simultaneously destroy. That’s it; everything else we perceive, as well as any and every thing we can imagine, by its birth, destroys the universe that existed prior to its inception…
The implications of this idea are staggering in scope; thus far, I cannot think of any part of reality that does not obey this injunction, nor any part that suggests anything that can alter it, without altering the very nature of reality. Go figure, eh?…. Exquisitely simple, as is life, when one can learn to accept things as they are, without any need, or desire, to change anything other than one’s self; they are the only changes that can alter our own reality, for they change, at once, our perception, and our ability to attain serenity and clarity of mind in the balance, the ambiguity, in the very imbalanced balance of the universe. Death. The concomitant fears that go along with the certain knowledge of our own ‘end’, lose their power to affect us, for we know, for certain, all is as it is meant to be… for WE are the ones who supply the meaning, with the expression of our spirit in the poem/song/dance that we create by living.
Is this sinking in? Every living creature, here, or anywhere in the universe we can perceive, is continuously engaging in the process of creation, destroying the present by the existence of a potential future; each moment of our lives is a note in a song, a word in rhyme, a step in the dance of living. Each second of living, each creature is making itself new, and destroying its old self in the process…. Every rock, every mountain, every atom, all change, made new each second by every life it surrounds and supports, as the other side of the coin of existence…. Pretty cool, eh?….
Wow… Did that just happen? Hmm… As I still observe the lines above, it appears so. It seems the time I’ve spent recently, immersed in music, has provided me with some rather cogent ideas for cogitation…. I am thinking, at this point, the intro section was probably not the right place to let all that out; what’s more, it obviously isn’t done; there’s a lot more to be said… but, I think it’s going to be a poem. While considering what to include in today’s poetry section, I found a poem I wrote about a year ago, which seems to echo, from the past, some of the stimulation for these ideas; they’ve clearly been percolating a while. The final group of pearls has many of my favorite contributors, all in one fine common thread….
In any case, it’s probably a good time to go to the rest of today’s Pearl. I’ve put some work into it, including finding what I think is the absolutely perfect accompanying music for today… Before reading further, turn it on; it makes it all better…. Now, let’s see what there is to see….
Shall we Pearl?….
“Rock gives reality to the otherwise abstract notion of transhuman time.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
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To anyone over the age of 30 who knows anything about music, this artist needs no introduction. Those of us listening when he began playing his song to the world, and to literally millions upon millions of people around the world, this album’s songs will be not merely familiar, but, loved. It also works very well to go along with reading damn near anything; in fact, I can’t think of a time, or a task, it would not enhance…. If you haven’t ever heard it (unlikely, but, possible in today’s world….), you’re in for a treat…. Enjoy!….
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Van Morrison Moondance
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“I have thought many times since that if poets
when they get discouraged
would blow their brains out,
they could write very much better when they got well.”
~~ Mark Twain ~~
Hmm… A bit prosaic, eh, Mark? Perhaps, one who wrote only prose felt a bit jealous? Perhaps…. but, it seems to work for me, so, maybe he’s right….
Absently Gestalt
After the echoes of silence are faded away
Comes the cacophony which accompanies dismay.
Apocalyptic thoughts and emotions run free
Spreading fear enough to fill the holy see.
Speak softly to the beloved ruling class
Deathly darts sunk deep are painful, and crass
Sloth and ignorance are commonly shared
By those who would rule, alone or au paired.
Images and opinions are sullenly forlorn
Yet hope shines bright wherever ’tis borne.
Feeble strengths hide many objective flaws
For reality bites, with hard, vicious jaws.
Can you stand up and state your own name?
Will you hide in a handle, behind a great flame?
No hole and no mind is so deep and so wide
As to furnish safe haven in which to hide.
Bring out the weapons of your reluctant choice
Bring them to bear on the sound of their voice.
Silence the ignorant, and muzzle the fear
Make reason the only message you hear….
~~ gigoid ~~
9/5/2016
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Naked Pearls
“Let the buyer beware…”
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“Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth.”
~~ Socrates ~~
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“Everyone who becomes conscious of
even a fraction of his unconscious
gets outside his own time and social stratum
into a kind of solitude.”
~~ Carl Jung ~~
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“When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth.”
~~ George Bernard Shaw ~~
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“No man is free who is not master of himself.”
~~ Epictetus ~~
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“If there is a sin against life,
it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life
as in hoping for another life
and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.”
~~ Albert Camus ~~
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“The road uphill and the road downhill are one and the same.”
~~ Heraclitus ~~
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“There are as many nights as days,
and the one is just as long as the other in the year’s course.
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness,
and the word ‘happy’ would lose its meaning
if it were not balanced by sadness.”
~~ Carl Jung ~~
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“Don’t hit me!! I’m in the Twilight Zone!!!”
~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~
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Well…. Not too shabby, even considering how long it took me to put it all together. As they say downtown, I’ll take it. And, so will you. I’ll try to return in a timely fashion; ‘timely’, of course, is relative, but, so be it. For now, I am content, & such moments should be savored. To best do so, I’m goin’ back to bed awhile. Afterward, I’ll go see what sort of trouble I can cause…. hopefully, for anyone but me…. Y’all might consider doin’ the same; never can be too much trouble of that sort…. I’ll be back, so, stay alert….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
A few Gentle Readers may have noted my absence the past two days… To be honest, I’ve been hovering, for at least two days, (beginning, oddly enough, a couple hours after my last post of a fresh Pearl), over the edge of what feels like a very deep hole of black depression. To keep from falling in, I’ve immersed myself in music…. Classical, hard rock, virtuoso guitarists, and women hitting that high E above C (which always gives me goose bumps….), have lifted me away from the edge, enough so I AM working on another fresh Pearl. But, the ultimate outcome remains unclear, so, I’m re-blogging again today, to soften the edges of my angst, and to, hopefully, provide y’all with some stuff to consider. This one is from 2013, while I still lived in relative poverty, awaiting word on whether Social Security would condescend giving up my benefits slightly before actual retirement age as set by the ridiculous laws we live by. I had a LOT of time to think then, & this Pearl reflects that pretty well, with a discussion covering human nature, and our ever-present conflict with Reality… Some great poetry, too, with some fine pearls in support of the ranting…. All in all, a fine example of an iconic Pearl of Virtual Wisdom… I hope you enjoy it…. I’ll work on a fresh Pearl for tomorrow, & hopefully, can stay sane enough to get it done…. Wish me luck, if you dare… Otherwise, have fun with this one, & have a decent day out there, remembering to keep cool, and be strange…. I will, for sure….
Ffolkes,
Now, this is scary…. I never knew that a mere blank, white screen could hold so much fear….. Not only is the screen blank, so is my head, and time is passing. It’s already after 0800, due to being up until 0100 for some unknown reason, and not arising until after 0700….. No big deal, but throws me off a bit to have my schedule change again, willy nilly, just because my head wouldn’t shut up last night…..
Then, of course, there is the problem of this morning’s Pearl…. Once more, I’m completely at a loss as to how I should get going…. no fictional scenarios are floating around in there, and my sense of humor doesn’t seem to be awake quite yet, despite the rest of me being up and about, just as if I were normal….. which, as we all know, just isn’t the case….. I left…
Frankly, I got lost, for most of yesterday, then, overnight, in dreams… Since that included nearly 10 hours of sleep in one night, I’m pretty happy about it, even if it means I must re-blog today, again…. I not only forgot, while under the music’s spell, to put together a Pearl, but, also forgot to get to any of my intended reading of other blogs…. So be it…. Here’s another Pearl from the day’s I ranted, with the obligatory shots taken at the Asininnies, those who prey upon their own species. I’ll be back tomorrow morning, if I manage to catch up to anywhere near reality. One is allowed to hope, yes? Well, one hopes so, if in vain. Regardless, I’ll now go to begin that process, & leave y’all to enjoy today’s offering. Should the true case be otherwise, well, such is Life for those of us who reside here; deal with it, we must, as the little green Jedi Master would say….
Be well, be happy as you may, & enjoy making the poem that is your life…
Truth be told, getting up when I do to write these Pearls is becoming more of a chore than it ever has in the past….. While fighting the pre-coffee, pre-magic cream kick-in, and the lethargy that now dogs me each morning, I experienced a small epiphany…. and then lost it….. It’s really too bad, too, because I’m fairly sure it was important, and would have made my life, if not easier, at least more comfortable…. SIGH…. I know it’s going to be a tough day when my own mind fails to get on board with the program, in spite of the offerings made by reality to expiate the difficulty….
I suppose I’ll have to push on, though, as my sense of Duty is so entwined with this purpose, this process will plague me until my last breath…. and possibly beyond…. Isn’t THAT a scary thought? Oh well, it’s not…
I could be dishonest, or, as some would say, I could prevaricate to explain today’s re-blog rather than posting a fresh Pearl. But, that is indulgent, and goes against the grain of my soul, as fashioned by the late Sarge. So, I’ll admit to being too damn over hung to even start a Pearl today… at least, not until later, after the worst portion of Jack’s revenge has passed… So be it. I did find a rather fine example of a semi-rantish Pearl, which I hope you enjoy as sublimation of my virtual presence…. Or, as a great many of today’s youth might say, ‘whatever’….
I’ll see y’all tomorrow, if I can get caught up to myself; if not, well, I suppose Time, that blabbermouth, will tell….
Be well, be happy as you may, & stay alert… you know, all the usual stuff….
If one accepts the premise set fort above by Lao Tzu, then I am immensely strong, but, have yet to be able to define courage in myself…. a thought that occurred to me as I read it this morning…. Oh, that isn’t to say I am not loved; I do have children, both of whom still talk to me, so, I’m good to go there…. Also, I have friends, who have been so named for over 50 years; I know well the love that abides between us…. But, of the love he speaks about here, I am apparently unfamiliar…. and, to be honest, that hurts…. a lot.
Enough that it sent me into a deep hole of depression, for a time, until I managed to put a bit of…
Hajime…. Well, here we are again. Rather late, if y’all hadn’t noticed; so late, in fact, there’s no time to explain any of the reasons, none of which could be considered either justifiable, or rational, other than existing as rationalization. So, we’ll skip all that, & get on with today’s mess, which was thrown together, helter-skelter, in just under an hour. This is, unfortunately, much less time than I typically spend on a Pearl, so, I’ll forgo any nonsense about the quality, & merely acknowledge ’tis done…
It is, to my credit, completely fresh & original; the old-school pearl, composed of seven fine gems, came together in, if not record time, a remarkably adequate fashion. There is our usual musical compromise, with some of the world’s greatest music collected for your listening pleasure by some random You Tube user. And, there is a new poem, finished this morning under extreme pressure, the extremity of which I found necessary to get it down on the screen before the blood loss reached a critical level. Go figure, eh? Sometimes, it’s easier than others, so, I hope you enjoy it…. Personally, I think it’s not bad, but, I often don’t really ‘get it’ myself until the metaphors have circled around my head for a while….
Okay, chatty rationale aside, I’d best get posted, before the reality of the day’s agenda strikes home. To do so with dispatch, I’ll employ an old, old literary technique, which I call ‘the dump’…. You’ve seen it before; it works like this….
Shall we Pearl?….
“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds
on the heel that has crushed it.”
~~ Mark Twain ~~
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Those familiar with our habits here on ECR will know just why I chose classical music today; those not so in tune may merely enjoy it, without knowing I’m ‘going with the flow’… Either way, it’s good stuff to read by…. Abondanza!….
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Classical Music
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Whispers in the Dark
Contrast burgeons, each moment we exist,
drawing perception, offering simply delicious ambiguity;
imagination gives reality an emotional twist,
we create the dance, step by step, in perpetuity.
Glorious, spinning with uninhibited glee,
joyous in well-fitted shoes, alive in every atom;
Death itself smiles, in gentle wonder, to see
such pure illumination, deeper than any fathom.
Myrmidons stand, helmeted heads shaking in sad confusion,
unable to comprehend the complex notion of simplicity;
multitudes gaze hypnotically into depths of crass illusion
totally ignorant of their own vile duplicity.
Precluded from taking flight in silent wonder, we fight
to preserve all we believe, ever falling short of kindness.
Beauty remains; we walk through it to the light,
a glimpse of druidic insight leaves us wishing for blindness.
~~ gigoid ~~
8/21/2017
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Naked Pearls
Notes on Process and Program….
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“He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”
~~ Confucius ~~
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“In memory everything seems to happen to music.”
~~ Tennessee Williams ~~
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“Have the courage to act instead of react.”
~~ Earlene Larson Jenks ~~
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“I am not the rose, but I have lived near the rose.”
~~ H. B. Constant ~~
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“Because right is right, to follow right
Were wisdom in the scorn of consequence.”
“Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage
— it can be delightful.”
~~ George Bernard Shaw ~~
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I can honestly say I don’t know how I did it, so, I won’t. I will note, however, it’s done, and a damn good thing, as my OCD is building up angst, the later it gets. Over two hours past the artificial, yet compulsory, time I set for myself, & I’m still typing. How about I stop here, & go get this posted? Okay…. See y’all in a day or so, when I find some space in my head to make the effort to ‘pull it together’. Let’s not get into how long that might be; let’s just say, blessed be, & be on our merry, if less than perfectly sane way….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
gigoid 