“How can we contrive to be at once astonished at the world
and yet at home in it?”
~~ G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy ~~
Congressional committee in conference….
By modern standards, & probably precise definition, I am what most would label as a ‘pagan’, as one who does not subscribe to any of the major, or even lesser, of the world’s religions. Thomas Paine’s idea of his mind being his only church, and his inner nature his only moral guide, is closer to what I perceive to be right in reality. Too much of what the church’s try to make people believe never struck me as particularly believable, or likely to be the true nature of reality. I mostly covered that belief up with a thick shield, & tried not to discuss it much with anyone, as it never seemed to have good results. So, this holiday season can be a bit problematic for me, what with the rest of my species, or most of it, engaged in a frenzy of capitalist consumerism, which they’ve all come to believe expresses the “Christmas spirit”… SIGH. Silly monkeys….
Having said this, I find myself, as is common during this season, alone with my cat, wondering if having different thoughts, and believing differently, is a worthwhile pastime. Then I consider all I see happening in today’s world, and am content to be myself. Knowing that, if no one else knows, the Buddha has my back on this; the whole of the religious world, & all religions, tell us that peace and happiness resides outside ourselves, in the knowledge of God, by whatever name each decides he must be called. In that light, I can only be glad I know that to be untrue, & unnecessary, for all of it, God, peace, and happiness, are already right there inside us, only waiting to be recognized to be made available to us…..
So, today, on Christianity’s stolen pagan holiday, I offer the following entertainment; some of the best rock & roll ever heard, from about 35 years ago, one of my older poems, and some fine pearls to ponder, along with my, shall we say, extemporaneous remarks. Hell, my kids are grown, & I had nothing better to do, so, there you go…. Let’s do this the easy way, like this….
Shall we Pearl?
“Everyone complains of his lack of memory, but nobody of his want of judgment.”
~~ Francois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld ~~
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Stevie Ray Vaughan
Switch it on, sit back, and enjoy, ffolkes; it just doesn’t get any better than this…..
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Demon’s Bane
Endless nights lead inexorably into endless days
while the battle for peace rages.
Lost arts find new meaning used in new ways;
to burn, yearn, and turn all the new pages.
Darkness falls heavily on bowed shoulders, contrite;
fireworks travel fast in nervous tissue.
The pace is kept, clean, but, never erudite;
such a pale tale of ancient issue.
Peering in terror down long, long halls of night
brings only confusion, destitute in sorrow.
Cannot time become our enemy, eager to fight
on the side which may never see tomorrow?
The longing gaze of passion, for reason to live,
must fall ever more faithfully into sedition,
else the clinging visions we claim to give,
shall not prevent reaching inevitable perdition.
Rising up, clarity of purpose shines the light of day
upon such a desolate landscape of absent release.
There is no escape, no furthering of the way.
Time never knows how to grant peace.
~~ gigoid ~~
11/23/2015
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Naked Pearls
Notes on process & program….
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“Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, is he who,
hiding one thing in his heart, Utters another.”
~~ Homer (c. 700 B.C.) ~~
********
“If you understand, things are as they are.
If you do not understand, things are as they are.”
~~ Gensha, Zen Master ~~
********
“Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth.
When perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed;
nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth,
any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.”
~~ Tacitus ~~
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“No slave is ever freed, save he freeth himself.”
~~ The Oldest Human Sage, Anonymous ~~
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“As long as anyone believes that his ideal and purpose is outside him,
that it is above the clouds, in the past or in the future,
he will go outside himself and seek fulfillment where it cannot be found.
He will look for solutions and answers at every point
except where they can be found
–in himself.”
~~ Erich Frohm ~~
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“I think the dragon’s asleep.”
~~ Famous Last Words ~~
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I believe I have managed as much confusion and/or elucidation as possible for one holiday morning, so, I’ll let this go without further ado. I hope you enjoy the winter weather, for it has arrived, for sure and for certain. I also hope you enjoy the holiday, and extract as much peace & joy as is there to be found. Y’all be well, be happy as you may be, and, if only for my sake, be as strange as you allow yourself to be. I promise to do the same, at least until next we meet…. See ya, ffolkes….
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.
“I haven’t lost my mind, I know exactly where I left it.”
~~ gigoid, et al, Monday, 2018 ~~
Day the Next…
For a long time, I began each post here at ECR with the word, “Hajime”, which is uttered to begin any Japanese martial arts contest. Today, it holds some poignant meaning, as it has been some time since I last posted, or, for that matter, wrote anything other than a haiku. In point of fact, it’s been 30 days since my last post, & that was a re-blog of an older post. A good portion of the time was spent fighting illness, (an all-too=familiar occupation these days, along with the concomitant inability to heal as quickly as when I was younger & in better condition…), but, mostly, I was just not interested in anything but my own inner promptings, none of which were particularly scholarly, or particularly productive, in any sense…. SIGH, ah well, such is life in the big city, ffolkes. I offer no excuses, or apologies….
I do, however, have the necessary parts of a complete Pearl of Virtual Wisdom to offer today, with a semi-serious vow to follow in the near future with further ramblings from the ego-driven consciousness I call my mind, dubious as it may be. For today’s post, I’ll forgo any further attempts to either explain, or justify, & just get on with posting it. At least I’ll see if there is still anyone out there still interested in such displays of…. well, whatever they may be. If nobody comes to call, well, so be it; it’s only cyberspace, & nobody will hear me if I weep. I won’t, though I may wish to. What I will do is this: post, & be damned, even if only by faint praises. In fact, why don’t I just go ahead & do that, with no further nonsense, or sense? Purpose will have to suffice today, & we’ll see what happens in the future. For now….
Shall we Pearl?
“You cannot face it steadily, but this thing’s for sure,
That time is no healer: the patient is no longer here.”
~~ T.S. Eliot ~~
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Dalton Harris
Image from Twitter.com via Google Images….
Today’s musical choice is from Dalton Harris, a young Jamaican singer, who took the UK by storm this year, with the power of his voice, and his artistry. In every song he performed on the X Factor UK stages, he took an iconic song by megastar artists, & turned it into his own, singing it as if it were written just for him. His vocal range is crazy, reminding me very much of a singer from the golden age of music, by the name of Jackie Wilson. I would say, for as long as he lives, he will be a well-known artist on a world-wide scale. I hope you enjoy this video, which includes all his songs that led him to this year’s winning position in the X Factor talent competition, UK version…. Abondanza!…..
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Funny Bones
Dreaming the way home, lost, unseen,
from the dance, where
he felt so free, and clean.
Sorrow couldn’t find him there.
Waiting, filling up the hours, hoping,
some connection can be found
keeping busy as bees, coping.
Love creeps in, without a sound.
Fat days, skinny nights, passionate
visions of semi-conscious entities,
cannot seem to fully illuminate
or hide our innermost frailties.
Resolute, find the perfect sense, codify
simple rules with every breath
never waiting, anxious to modify.
fear nothing in life, not even Death.
~~ gigoid ~~
5/3/2013
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Naked Pearls
Signposts….
*******
“It matters not how long you live, but how well.”
~~ Publius Syrus, “Maxim 829” ~~
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“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names.”
~~ Chinese Proverb ~~
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“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.”
~~ Socrates ~~
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“There is no heroic poem in the world but is at bottom a biography,
the life of a man; also it may be said, there is no life of a man,
faithfully recorded, but is a heroic poem of its sort, rhymed or unrhymed.”
~~ Thomas Carlyle ~~
~~ Sir Walter Scott, London and Westminster Review, 1838 ~~
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“A smile is the whisper of a laugh.”
~~ Anonymous ~~
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“What difference does it make how much you have?
What you do not have amounts to much more.”
~~ Seneca ~~
*******
“Are all your stars shining?”
~~ JD Salinger ~~
*******
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There you have it, ffolkes, such as it is. I shall continue my current, if temporary process, & leave it at that. I have a feeling I may try this again quite soon, & like all us humans, I do like to follow my feelings, & try to make them real. Whether or not I can do so remains to be seen, in that oh-so-elusive element of time we like to call the future. Until then, be well, be happy, & enjoy the season. See ya soon, ffolkes…..
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 man who does not think for himself does not think at all.”
~~ Oscar Wilde, “Oscariana” ~~
Shop Street, Invergordon, Scotland….
If you called me irresponsible, it wouldn’t be particularly out of place, except for the fact that there’s only one person in the world to whom I have any specific responsibility, & that is me. Oh, sure, I have some responsibility toward all the other silly monkeys, and other forms of life on the planet, but, that’s merely the same responsibility that all Life forms have toward each other, not something specific, at least in the sense that being irresponsible won’t necessarily cause them harm. But, irresponsibility for self ALWAYS has consequences, & they are seldom pleasant….
In the case to which I refer today, I have shown a lack of responsibility by not posting for three days, in spite of having most of this done for two days. Instead, I blew off both Thursday and Friday, spending most of both days playing around & soaking up public conviviality, without any concern for my own personal, private agenda, in which I do try to invest some of my remaining store of self-discipline. To be perfectly clear, I drank too much, & accomplished little beyond some rather enjoyable conversations…. SIGH…. I call most humans “Silly monkeys”, & should not forget that I am to be included in that group….
Ah, well, nobody got hurt, & I managed to do my playing without falling off-diet, & am not currently suffering more than the usual age-related issues this morning, so, my overindulgence has induced no lasting harm. I am still hovering around 175#, which is 5# more than I weighed when I graduated from high school; solid…. I am now six days without a tobacco cigarette, so, that’s going well, as well. In fact, all is reasonably well in my life, which, of course, makes me nervous, & itchy, trying to watch all around to get some advance warning of when Murphy will step in & poop on my serenity…. But, in the meantime, let’s get THIS done, okay? It’s simple enough; all I have to do is this….
Shall we Pearl?
“Appearance must not foil, nor shifted sphere confuse thy brain.
Ample are time and space–ample the fields of nature.
~~ Walt Whitman, “CONTINUITIES, from Leaves of Grass” ~~
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Melissa Etheridge
Image from Pinterest via Google Images…
I’ve never listened to this artist much; though I’ve enjoyed hearing it on the radio, etc., I just never followed up on the impulse to hear more. I suppose one cannot expect to see ALL one wishes to see (or hear, or perceive at all…). But, in listening to the beginning of this live concert, I know I WILL be listening again, and often…. I hope you enjoy it….
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Savory
Blown across steppes of imagination, a spore
finds a niche, takes root,
tries to live longer than now, before
chaos/peace descends, and desire is moot.
Feathered into fecundity, another possibility
builds a nest, hatches kin,
aims at immortality, sans responsibility,
chance manifests, as it does, again.
Leading toward peril, entropy saves creativity,
making tools, and lazy time;
solid signs imply such simple nativity,
as another snitch drops his dime.
Subtle compassion billows, passion to unfold,
covering hearts bloodied by time,
burning flesh made valid, unwaveringly bold,
turning love to brilliant rhyme.
Years weigh lightly, supported by youth,
gaining weight with each year,
only the old men know the actual truth,
peace comes only when we lose our fear.
~~ gigoid ~~
4/9/2013
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Not So Naked Pearls
From 8/22/2015
*******
Our final entry today is another random pearl speaking about Life at Large…. Life can be a formidable proposition, and it behooves all of us to gather to our bosoms as much wisdom regarding the living of it as we can find…. Not that the answers aren’t all right there inside us, but, we humans have a tendency to look outside ourselves for those things we forget we already possess, such as peace, courage, compassion, and, well, everything we need…
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“He took his vorpal sword in hand
Long time the manxom foe he sought
Till rested he by the tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought”
~~ Jabberwocky, by Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) ~~
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“You can easily judge the character of others
by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.”
~~ Malcolm Forbes ~~
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“A person is not given integrity.
It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times.”
~~ Anonymous, most ancient human sage ~~
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“Life without music would be an intolerable insult.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
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“He conquers who endures.”
~~ Perseus ~~
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“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.”
~~ Mark Twain ~~
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“Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.”
~~ Tao Te Ching ~~
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Whew! I wasn’t sure I’d get it done, but, hangover or no, I did it. Well enough to keep, too, I think, so, I’ll forgo any further nonsense & just get it posted, so I can get on with some real Saturday fun…. whatever that means. Y’all be well, be as happy as you may, and, for goodness’ sake, be just as strange as you can possibly be. Don’t worry, you’ll fit right in…. See ya, ffolkes….
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.
“Well, it just seemed wrong to cheat on an ethics test.”
~~ Calvin ~~
Signs of Autumn in California….
Hajime…. I stayed up late last night, to finish a poem, which you will see below. In fact, all of today’s Pearl is freshly composed, so, that makes it special, at least for lately around here. I can’t say I feel much urge to create more this morning, so, I’ll forgo the usual sort of blather and foolishness you generally see in this section, in favor of a relatively efficient introductory section in the traditional style. Now, if I knew what sort of tradition had been established, we’d be in a better place. Since I don’t, you’ll have to take what you get, as will I….
Hmm… Having just spent a rather unproductive five minutes trying to find some worthy thoughts, or even singular thoughts, to fill in from this point, I am again perplexed, by my own lack of cohesion. Though all in my world is fairly settled, compared to most of the last week, the fires are not yet out, and my son is still displaced with his daughter, so, life remains a bit off its normally even course; there is little doubt much of the surrounding area’s inhabitants are in for a tough time for the next few months, as the massive destruction left behind by the fires is cleaned up & repaired. More than 5000 homes & buildings were burnt to the ground, so there is a lot of work to be done to replace and or repair the damages…. I’m only at the edge of the zone of destruction, but, have no doubt the local economies will suffer more before returning to anything like normalcy…. A hard rain’s a gonna fall, to use an appropriate metaphor…
But, I, and my family, have been fortunate; no one was hurt, and no one lost their home altogether; they all at least have a place to which they can return, once the fires are contained. But, the overall thrust of the local culture will be in recovery mode for quite a while to come, I am sure…. As soon as the fires are out, the news media will forget all about it, within a very short time, and the process of recovery the people here will undergo will include the difficulty of getting the aid needed from a government that simply doesn’t care about anything but its own status quo, and the agenda of cancerous growth, complete with destructive conflict, will continue on its path to armageddon…. Yes I know, cynical, but, hey, the evidence is pretty clear, I should say, so, if y’all feel differently, well, feel free to say so, as long as you have some actual evidence to support such short-sightedness….
I guess that’s about enough of a mini-rant for one day; I just don’t have the taste for it I once did. Instead, let’s go on, & see what I’ve managed to cobble together over the last few days. If I do say so, the poem is quite decent, the music is the same, and there’s a nicely obscure, yet relevant set of pearls in old-school format for your cogitative pleasure. What more could you ask for, except a shorter intro section? Nothing, that’s what. To make sure you get at least that much, let’s get on with it…. Hang on, we’re going in hot….
Shall we Pearl?….
“I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be “happy.”
I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible,
to be honorable, to be compassionate.
It is, above all, to matter, to count,
to stand for something,
to have made some difference that you lived at all.”
~~ Leo C. Rosten ~~
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For the past two days, I’ve been listening to the following musical compilation, streaming it on You Tube while reading, or working on the computer, or just staring into space, thinking. Even Leelu seems to prefer it to some of the other genres to which I listen at times. I know one of my gentle readers will avoid listening, but, that’s because it brings back sad memories for him…. For his benefit, this one is a bit different than much of what reminds him; it’s more lively, and more basic than the style that he associates with such music… In any case, it’s good thinking music, so, please, enjoy….
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Traditional Irish Music Instrumental
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Toward the dream….
At odd moments, idiosyncratic visions come
drifting up out of unconsciousness; I bleed life.
If proper doors have been left ajar, some
of all I am spills essential truth, a sharpened knife.
Hearing cries of fear, laying waste by rote,
wonder dies a sordid death, desolate at the very last.
Filling such empty spaces needs focus, so remote,
blankness stretches to infinity, a weekly fast.
Attractive illusions stand beckoning from the wings,
bright temptation for those without imagination.
The phoenix opens wide its beak, and sings
hoping for sweet harmony, with dignified anticipation.
Steadily, brightly, the music summons the dream
passion pales, held at bay in serenity’s gentle hand.
Intricate patterns, unsullied, visible by a soft gleam;
The poem, in song, dances lightly, brightly on the shifting sand.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/15/2017
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Naked Pearls
Notes on Life at Large….
*******
“Things are not always what they seem.”
~~ Phaedrus (c. 8 A.D.), Book iv, Fable 2, 5 ~~
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“Remember there’s an “if” in the middle of life.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
*********
“Your vision will become clear
only when you look into your heart.
Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens.”
~~ Carl Jung ~~
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“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
~~ Oscar Wilde, “Lady Windermere’s Fan” ~~
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“Unknowingly, we plow the dust of stars,
blown about us by the wind,
and drink the universe in a glass of rain.”
~~ Ihab Hassan ~~
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“The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way.”
~~ Keanu Reeves ~~
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“It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.”
~~ Anatole France ~~
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“Sometimes it takes great effort
to discover that life was meant to be effortless.”
~~ Anonymous ~~
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“How often have I said to you
that when you have eliminated the impossible,
whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
~~ Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), ” The Sign of Four” ~~
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Well, there you have it, ffolkes. It’s late getting posted, but, it’s all as fresh as I can make it. I can’t say how soon I’ll have another one, but, I’ll try not to take too long…. The real world, complex and hard though it may be to live in, has been calling me to go walkabout more often than I feel the urge to write; the poem I finished has been the only compelling urge I’ve felt, & it’s done, so, I may find myself out in the BBR a lot, soaking up more experience to pour into the hopper of my mind, where it can, and will, take its own sweet time to find a way out, back into the light. When it happens, I’ll be back; I’d estimate two to three days. Until then, be well, be happy as you may, and stay alert. The fires may go out, but, the lightning can still strike, when and wherever it pleases…. 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.
“Do you imagine that the universe is agitated?
Go out into the desert at night and look up at the sky.
This practice should answer the question.”
~~ Lao Tzu ~~
Yet another iconic view of SF from the Bay….
Hajime…. A few days ago, I posted a fresh Pearl, followed by a couple days of re-blogs, as I recovered from the physical exertion of babysitting my granddaughter for a full day. Lovely time, but, exhausting…. Now, I’m finding it difficult to explain why, for the past two days, and very nearly this morning, I have completely blown off writing, or posting, at all, in favor of seeking my bliss, so to speak.
My search brought me to the realization I am craving life. Not any life, but, the life that exists when one engages fully in the world outside one’s own sphere…. walking, interacting with people, singing, dancing, playing my guitar, cooking for someone…. all those human activities that reinforce our own humanity by being with other humans. I’m even making plans to attend a local Shakespeare festival, where I hope to reconnect with another part of me I’ve neglected over time…. There is something about live theater that speaks to some part of my soul, even when I don’t particularly care for the play (as I’ve noted, Will was overrated, as a writer, to some degree…brilliant, in spots, but, balanced by a LOT of just plain crap).
I’ve spent a lot of time immersing myself in music, particularly listening to new artists, which I have been exploring on You Tube… I would add, that is the ONLY computer time I’ve been pursuing, ignoring all inner prompts to write; what I found has astounded me, as well as providing some hope, ill-advised as such may be, for humanity’s future, should we be able to survive the consequences of attempting to assert our nature on the rest of reality. If only we could place the same energy and passion we put into music into being rational in our dealings with each other, our chances of surviving into the next century would be greatly enhanced.
The problem I now face is deciding whether I want to continue blogging, at all. For years now, I’ve depended on this process to furnish a large portion of rationality with which I try to face Life at Large; it’s kept me relatively sane now for over six years, and well over a thousand posts, & more than a million original words. (Killed at least one keyboard too; even the new one is now missing letters, as I continue to pound away at this poor old machine….). I’ve met a lot of great people, & made some friends I know I’ll have the rest of my life. But, the satisfaction I get from posting a good one seems less important now; making contact with reality, rather than cyber-reality, seems more attractive to my soul/spirit.
What this means for the future of Exploring Consensual Reality remains to be decided; I am unable to completely stop writing. I’d as soon stop breathing, for writing is now as necessary to my peace of mind as the drawing of a clear breath. But, I’m thinking I may post less often, for I intend to make some rather sweeping changes to my daily routine, as I become more physically able to meet the challenges of interacting fully with Life. Walking, playing music, interacting with people, all will assume a greater significance as part of each day, which will, naturally, reduce the number of hours spent hunched over my keyboard, releasing my angst.
So, for those who may wish to converse more often than I may be posting, I’ll point out my email address is in my profile, and I love to write letters; always have, & email makes it even easier than the USPS ever did to stay in touch with those we love…. I’ll be posting, but, perhaps, not so frequently as in the past… I’ll also be spending less time surfing the Net, & more time walking in the real world. As Edward Abbey, one of my favorite modern philosophers, has said, when you walk, the world gets bigger… I’ve still got a LOT of the world to see, so, I guess I’d better get to hoofin’ it, before I can’t walk at all.
For now, let’s go see what I managed to put together while in the midst of all the rest of this; if naught else, you might be happy to know the poem I’ve been slowly leaking is finally done, so, that’s something, eh?….
Shall we Pearl?….
“What each must seek in his life never was on land or sea.
It is something out of his own unique potentiality for experience,
something that never has been
and never could have been experienced by anyone else.”
~~ Joseph Campbell ~~
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Louisa Johnson
~ Image from You Tube via Google Images ~
Below, you’ll find a compilation of the performances this young woman gave during her journey to winning the X-Factor talent competition in 2015. Her initial performance, at the televised audition for the show, will, I predict, completely blow you away, right from the very first note she sings. As the performances follow, you will witness the emergence of a star-to-be, as she blooms into herself. The last few numbers, as with all of them, show her growth as a vocal artist, as well as her growing self-confidence.
It is, to me, a delightful journey, with some of the most compelling, completely mesmerizing vocal performances I’ve EVER seen, from ANY artist. I hope you enjoy her music as much as I have; you’ll be hearing it for many years to come, I am sure….
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Louisa Johnson X-Factor Journey 2015
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Satisfaction guaranteed….
Dreaming, we awaken the dawn;
singing, dancing, composing a rhyme
to greet each new moment, to spawn,
negotiating unreality, seeking the sublime.
Down deep, deeper, daring to clamber
where unconscious dreams haunt relentlessly,
past reason, into the sleeper’s dark chamber
the siren calls, yearning endlessly….
Answers we seek so assiduously hover quietly
around the nearest relevant scenery,
alert to any pertinent intent, inherently
absorbed in metaphor, soberly sedentary.
Proportionate allegory, even the plainly mundane,
though among our most powerful tools,
must remember, the map is not the terrain;
first among Nature’s most basic Rules.
Awakened, craving Life in every fiber of being,
seeking to find the grace of the muses,
reaching back into primitive emotion, seeing
at last, Life never, ever refuses.
~~ gigoid ~~
8/3/2017
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Naked Pearls
The fruit of the vine….
*******
“Sometimes it takes great effort to discover
that life was meant to be effortless.”
~~ Anonymous ~~
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“The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives.”
~~ Albert Schweitzer ~~
*******
“Failure is instructive.
The person who really thinks
learns quite as much from his failures
as from his successes.”
~~ John Dewey ~~
*******
“Be careless in your dress if you will, but keep a tidy soul.”
~~ Mark Twain ~~
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“It is by not always thinking of yourself,
if you can manage it,
that you might somehow be happy.
Until you make room in your life
for someone as important to you as yourself,
you will always be searching and lost …”
~~ Richard Bach, Spoken by Leslie Parrish, “The Bridge Across Forever” ~~
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“Warned you have been.”
~~ Yoda ~~
*******
“Therefore search and see if there is not some place
where you may invest your humanity.”
~~ Albert Schweitzer ~~
*******
***************************************
Part of this process has always been on a deadline, but, I find myself unwilling to acknowledge the angst that accrues when the deadline goes whooshing by, or, to allow it to influence the results. It’s done, and this moment in time, to wit: now, is sufficiently within parameters to fulfill my chosen duty. Even if all that is sheer bullshit, I find myself without remorse. So be it. It’s done, it’s got great music, a new poem, such as it may be, and a rather elegant old-school pearl…. & if it ain’t enough, well, so be it. For now, suffice to say, I’ll be back in a day or three, when I’ve filled up on life, & feel the need to get it out… Until then, be well, & be true to your own spirit….
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.
Hajime…. As spring approaches this part of the planet, the day’s are a bit warmer, & longer by a bit each time we revolve, & move around our sun. I find myself wanting to spend more time out of doors, as made clear by today’s image of a downtown tree coming into its seasonal growth. My recovery from last weekend’s difficult journey continues apace, albeit a slow one; any wisdom we may accrue as we grow older comes with a higher price than at any previous time, to be sure. Even though I never mind paying whatever price is required, it does bring a bit of frustration along, as the price takes longer to pay. Ah, well, such is life, with all its beauty and pain, each of which, if accepted as part of the overall balance in reality, brings its own sort of appreciation and joy…. beauty at its perception, & pain at its absence….
It’s probably a bit early for such deep philosophy; one cuppa coffee isn’t quite enough to achieve that sort of equanimity…. which reminds me, it’s time to refill. Be right back…. Okay, good to go. The only question remaining, then, is to figure out where to go. I have put together the basic elements of a pretty decent Pearl, rantless though it may be, so, it shouldn’t be too much effort to finish it off. Of course, that makes the, perhaps, erroneous assumption we know where to go & what to do in order to complete that task; assumptions, while necessary at times to continue to function, are tricky bastards, often ill-advised. Today, since we aren’t going to make any, it shouldn’t prolong our agony for longer than we can endure….
That being said, I suppose it would be best to go on, without further delay; this might ensure at least a modicum of dignity, which is often completely missing from these pages. It’s not as if we care, (we don’t) (and, neither do I, in the normal, non-royal persona….), but, according to the general rules of blogging, we are supposed to make an effort to LOOK as if we do. I’m not sure, at this point, just how to do that, so, I’m going to ignore that rule, & just get on with the rest of this mess. That, in and of itself, is easy enough. All we have to do to accomplish that, is this….
Shall we Pearl?
“Don’t take life so seriously… it’s only a temporary situation.”
~~ Humanity’s Ancient Sage, Anonymous ~~
***********************************
I’m up quite late, so, naturally, we’re going with one of our default choices for music. This cut of Gimme Shelter is by the P4C Band, a live cut from one of their concerts…. It’s hot, as it should be…. Enjoy!….
********************************
Playing For Change Gimme Shelter
********************************
********************************
********************************
I came across these lines, from one of T. S. Eliot’s most famous poems, & decided to include the entire poem/song as today’s choice for this section. I’ve included a link, to a reproduction of the full poem on Bartleby.com, rather than taking up that space here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, every time I read it…..
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.
~~ T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ~~
“What is the hardest task in the world? To think.”
~~ Emerson ~~
*******
“He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.”
~~ Ben Jonson ~~
*******
“The belief that there is only one truth
and that oneself is in possession of it
seems to me the deepest root of all evil that is in the world.”
~~ Max Born, physicist ~~
*******
“I know but one freedom, and that is the freedom of the mind.”
~~ Antoine de Saint Exupery ~~
*******
“Work is not an end in itself;
there must always be time enough for love.”
~~ Robert Heinlein ~~
*******
“After all,
to the well-organized mind,
death is but the next great adventure.”
~~ Albus Dumbledore ~~
*******
********************************
Given the handicaps, (periodic outbursts of sanity, chronic pain, bozoid tendencies, cynicism, to name just a few….), under which I normally operate, I can’t consider this one as shabby. Fortunately for us all, I CAN consider it done, as it has a completed section in each space provided, it flows fairly well, and, most importantly, I can’t think of anything to add. To avoid any further embarrassment or build-up of unduly authorized angst among the participating denizens of this reality, I think I’ll just end it here, before it gets away from me. I’ll be back, tomorrow, hopefully, to try to get it right, one more time…. Please join me then, as we explore yet another dark corner of my mind, as it attempts to deal with Consensual Reality, as best we may…. See ya, ffolkes…. As yet, nobody has come up with a reliable way to prevent me from doing so….
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.
“Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.”
~~ Nietzsche, “Thus Spake Zarathustra” ~~
Mt. Tamalpais, crowned in clouds, at dusk….
Hajime…. ‘Tis another day here in the home of gigoid’s folly, which we greet with both joy and trepidation. Joy, because we survived another night, to have the opportunity once again to get this living stuff right. Trepidation because, damn it, I’m human, and start the day with the handicaps such existence carries with it, as part and parcel of our nature. Given the extent, and depth, of those parts of us which give us fits, it’s a wonder we bother at all; I guess the joy will continue to supply us with good reason to keep on keepin’ on. If nothing else, the delicious ambiguity engendered by the contrast of those two sides of us will keep me distracted long enough to get this mess posted.
In truth, today’s Pearl is rather less of a mess than usual; can’t say why, but, who am I to disdain a gift horse? Just because it’s old, feeble, & well past its prime doesn’t make it less of a gift. No, indeed; there is treasure in the smallest gift, no matter its value in worldly terms. The act of giving lends to any such offering a mantle of honorable joy, which is intrinsic to the act. In short, I’ll take it, and run for the border. Go figure, eh?
Our inclusions today help give the gift cachet; two of the finest guitarists to ever play the instrument grace the entertainment section, while one of my better poetic efforts found its way to the poetry section. Finally, the old-school pearl fashioned itself into a quite attractive, if insane, gathering of tongue-in-cheek pieces of old wisdom, leading to another proof of the pudding. You’ll see; hopefully, you’ll get it, too, but, no matter. Fun is its own reward….
Hey, I’ve got an idea. Watch this….
Shall we Pearl?
“It is better to trip and end up on the floor,
than to not trip and end up on the floor for no particular reason”
~~ Noidea Butrue ~~
********************************
Doc & Merle Watson
Image from 6eyes.com via Google Images
If you enjoy good guitar, of any style, you have to like these guys…. If you aren’t familiar with their music, you’ve missed part of your cultural heritage as an American. So, listen up, and you’ll hear two of the best to ever play…. They’ll be pickin’ & grinnin’, & by the end, you will be, too….
*************************************
Doc & Merle Watson Live
*************************************
*************************************
********************************
I know I’m in the now, if only…..
Oh, there it is again, fiddle faddle;
Begone, I said, vamoose, skedaddle!
It looked at me as if I were insane:
Scoffed, it did, filled me with pain.
Where does it come from?
Where does it live?
I’d stick out my thumb,
if I had more to give.
If only, should, would, could it be?
It went away again, this time free.
It will be back again, this I know;
or I’m wrong, and it won’t show.
Who cares?
Who hears?
Such goings on wobble the sphere,
I wish it wouldn’t do that here.
I’ve been wrong before…..
~~ gigoid ~~
4/192013
********************************
Naked Pearls
Proof of the Pudding….
*******
“If we weren’t all crazy, we would go insane.”
~~ Jimmy Buffet ~~
*******
“I’m dangerous when I -think- I know what I’m doing.”
~~ Any random human being ~~
*******
“I don’t know if I like the idea of seatbelt laws.
Enforcing intelligence seems, somehow, unamerican.”
~~ David Pugh ~~
*******
“Somewhere, beyond space and time
is wetter water, slimier slime.”
~~ Rupert Brooke ~~
*******
“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.”
~~ Aesop~~
*******
“Humans are unreliable, inefficient, often lazy, sometimes pregnant,
liable to strike, need to be fed and paid,
take up a lot of space and are slow by computer standards.”
~~ Big Blue ~~
*******
“”When living on the fringe, make sure to enjoy all the fringe benefits.””
~~ Sardonic Bee ~~
*******
“I’m sorry…were the voices in my head bothering you?”
~~ Hallucinatory Bee ~~
*******
“Here at the quiet limit of the world.”
~~ Alfred Tennyson — Tithonus ~~
*******
********************************
I’m afraid I’ve done it again…. Here we are at the end, & I’m not sure how we got here. Fortunately, in this process, and at this time, that’s going to have to do, because I can’t think of anything else to do. This, naturally, bodes oddly for the upcoming day, but, we’re accustomed to that particular phenomenon; odd’s my third middle name, right after ‘terribly’ in the sequence my folks saddled me with, once they’d figured out what happened. And, yes, I know that’s a little strange, even for me. To prevent any further forays into what promises to get pretty weird, I’ll just say, see y’all tomorrow, ffolkes. You know what that means, so, take heed; it’s the only warning you’ll get….
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.
Hajime…. It isn’t as if I need such indulgence, but, it’s always a good feeling to find a pearl from the past which, in my mind, tends to justify the process of pearling, and, the wisdom of doubt as a policy of mind. I don’t need it, for I’d do this anyway; there are times I can point to which demonstrate clearly how important this is to my sanity. But, it’s still good to know I am not the only person, now, or in history, who believes in the sanctity of human thought, and the necessity for examining our perceptions for truth and accuracy. I’m human, go figure….
Today’s offering almost didn’t happen, but, with a few contortions, and a bit of time with the Tardis, it all worked out. I’m not going to make any foolish predictions, or judgments, about quality, or even quantity; it is what it is, and that’s all it is. So be it…..
To keep from becoming completely maudlin, which often occurs in just this sort of situation (Hey, pain, PTSD, animal husbandry issues, ants…. all in one morning, but, no pressure….), or, worse, fall into full-blown curmdugeonry, I’ll cut this section short. Oh, not too short, and certainly not as short as some of our most recent efforts. Just short enough to save us from looking so awkward and sophomoric; we do have our standards. Of course, those standards are not what most would term ‘normal’, or even ‘slightly eccentric’; in fact, we won’t go into what we have been termed at all, to save us, and y’all, a plethora of embarrassment.
Why, look! It’s the end of the intro, coming up fast. We’d best stop fooling around, (as if we did anything else around here….), and get to it. Let’s save some time, and electrons, okay? Watch that last step there….
Shall we pearl?….
“Obey the spur of the moment.These accumulated it is
that make the impulse and the impetus of the life of genius.”
~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~
********************************
When I can’t think of anything else to put here, I fall back to my default position, where I find this lady waiting, every time…. Enjoy, ffolkes; you can’t find better music….
********************************
Bonnie Raitt
********************************
********************************
********************************
Penance, Made Simple
After all the dross is sent away
a celebration can begin,
time will face up to space, to stay
willing, to shine from within.
Anger and confusion come in to share
brushing reason aside,
eager to welcome all that is fair,
alert to danger, eyes wide.
Re-gift the wicked with their own pain
stand with the just;
fail to partake of the ill-gotten gain,
living in honor, the only must.
Standing fast in the face of wrong
is its own prize and reward.
Holding on to truth makes us strong,
well worth working toward.
Little is left to chance by fate
our lessons are never free of cost.
Seldom does reality make us wait
only when alone, are we lost.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/23/2012
********************************
Naked Pearls
“Notes on Process and Program…”
*******
“If you are out of trouble, watch for danger.”
~~ Sophocles ~~
*******
“Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.”
~~ Things We Can Learn From Dogs ~~
*******
“Common sense isn’t.”
~~ Practical Bee ~~
*******
“If you call a tail a leg, how many legs has a dog? Five? No, four.
Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”
~~ Abraham Lincoln ~~
*******
“There is a kind of poetry in simple fact.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
*******
“Sometimes it takes great effort
to discover that life was meant to be effortless.”
~~ Anonymous ~~
*******
“Before enlightenment, one carries water and chops wood.
After enlightenment, one carries water and chops wood.”
~~ Zen Proverb ~~
*******
********************************
Since I wasn’t completely certain of finishing this in time to post, I’m happy. Well, happy as may be expected. Moreover, such lightness of spirit bodes well for the rest of the day. I think I’ll go find it while I’m in the mood. Fair warning, though; I will return tomorrow, most likely, with another attempt to find sanity in an insane world…. Maybe you could help me find it?….. Well, maybe not. But, I’ll be back, anyway…. See ya, ffolkes…..
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.
“I know who I am. Sometimes you go away, but I’m still here.”
~~ Everyone, always… ~~
Sunrise/Sunset
Hajime…. All things considered, this might just work. Some ruthlessness is called for, but, being human, that’s not an issue. The pearls, naturally, take care of themselves. Provided I can come up with just enough to say, this should do well, or, at minimum, do. Nothing more to do but, smile, smile, smile, and be on our way, sans delay. It’s day one of a new beginning, so, what say we head out, and start enjoying it? I think that’s a SWELL idea…
Shall we pearl?….
“Few people have the imagination for reality.”
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~
********************************
“Belief is the death of intelligence.”
~~ Robert Anton Wilson ~~
*******
“As the tempest and the thunder affect not the sun or the stars,
but spend their fury on stones and trees below;
so injuries ascend not to the Soul of the great,
but waste themselves on such as are those who offer them.”
~~ Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) ~~
*******
“The problem with aging
is that you stuffing starts to come out.
You don’t have the youth, looks and energy
to keep stuffing the feelings you tried to hide.
To grow old is to face who you are
behind the mask you created in youth
face the spirit which lives in a decaying body.”
~~ Callan Williams ~~
*******
“I dreamed a thousand new paths… I woke and walked my old one.”
~~ Chinese proverb ~~
*******
“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”
~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~
*******
********************************
“Is an atheist church a non-prophet organization?”
~~ Smart Bee ~~
That should do for a first try. I like the last quote from SB; it’s a good ending, don’t you think? No? Oh well. So be it. We’re done here, so, regardless of anyone’s contrary opinion, we’re outta here. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, as long as the center holds….
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.
“One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night.”
~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Tiananmen Square with the OYA Posse
Hajime…. Observe, then, the bent, grizzled old man, sitting stiffly in front of a computer, perched painfully on the front edge of a chair, typing quickly in his haste to get down what must be said, while moderating the speed to minimize any errors requiring a stop to repair the damage. Grimacing, with a low grunt, as he shifts in the chair, he leans back, stiffly stretching, then leans on the table for support once more, & begins to type…
For very nearly five years, since beginning to blog here on WP, the only extended absence I’ve had was a few days when the cruise ship I was on didn’t offer adequate internet speed to make it worth the time. Even then, I didn’t always miss posting, as I just left out any pictures to decrease the upload/download time; text doesn’t take up much space, http-wise. When this Pearl gets posted, I’ll have missed, at least, four or five days, with the last freshly created work over a week ago, just when I seemed to be hitting some sort of stride. Since the creation of the daily Pearl has been, for all that time, and, remains my form of personal therapy, you can imagine just how much internal stress/angst has accumulated. Well, perhaps you can’t, but, I, sadly, don’t have to imagine, as I’ve lived through it.
I’m working at this now simply as a distraction, taken for a short time to think of something other than the sharp pain in my lower back and right hip, a song of lamentation, sung in concert with the usual pantheon of irritated nerve endings which live to complain at the top of their inner vocal range. Mostly I can tune them out, or sing accompaniment louder to drown them out, at least long enough to get some thoughts down on screen. When the main melody becomes stridently piercing, like an alto soprano in full flight through an aria in the high C, glass-shattering range, it becomes too much to think, much less, hold still long enough in a position that exacerbates the tune’s volume, to get much done in the way of coherent composition.
Here I am anyway, for the nonce, to release some of the pressure, while simultaneously continuing the major effort involved in fixing what is wrong with my physical persona, which, in spite of any thoughts we might entertain to the contrary, cannot be separated from the psychic/mental persona, at any junction or point. They are one and the same; trying to act otherwise is generally how we go wrong in the first place, so, it’s well to begin the correction process with a reminder of that, so our efforts can address the complete picture/issue, & not forget any part of what is needed.
With all that said, we’ll now return to relatively normal space/time, to rejoin today’s exploration of consensual reality where I had originally begun, several days ago. What follows has been patched together in five to ten minute increments over the past week or so; since it’s all a wash, whatever happens, no matter how long, or short, or cogent, or silly, will have to do, for it’s what there is, & I ain’t a gonna do it again. First time damn near killed me, as is…. Let’s see now, where did I put that? Oh, right… Okay, let’s go….
“A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that balances are correct.”
~~ from “Manual of Maud’Dib” by the Princess Irulan ~~
This Pearl has been a difficult one to work on, for a number of reasons. First, as reported, I’m fighting my demons almost full time. In the process, I made some attempts to reconnect with reality, part of which involved going out to be social, at a bar. Friday last, the 29th of July, in fact, I walked to a nearby establishment, actually having a decent time, then cutting myself off at a decent level, (well pre-inebriation to excess, a good sign), to take the walk home. ‘Twas a fine night, and the walk was pleasant, as it naturally would have to be, with half-a-snoot-full of prime bourbon on board….
“The Law of Unintended Consequences carries it own penalties…”
~~ Smart Bee ~~
Does anyone else see the problem here? No? Well, allow me to continue, then….
For a couple weeks, since first walking by the route taken to the bar, (though, those times, to somewhere else), I had noticed a small puppy, quite good looking, and friendly, if excitable, in a small enclosure overlooking the sidewalk, not situated in a good spot for a pet, right in the sun, with no shade. There was water, and food, but, nobody was ever around, at any of the various times I went by; the dog was, naturally, starved for attention. He was there on Friday, still in good cheer, though not as happy as usual. I told him if nobody was around when I came back, I’d say hello again, & went on my way….
Got it now? No? Okay, full confession, then…. On the way home from the bar, I stopped to greet the dog, who was happy to have the attention. Since my judgment was gone, into the bottle, I decided to ‘rescue’ the dog, if possible. I went to the door & offered the people $20 for the dog. They turned him over without a whimper of protest, telling me I’d done the right thing. I took the food, and tied one of my ropes to the pup’s collar, & off we went home…. where we were greeted by a very unhappy cat. I got the dog & cat separated, & quieted down enough for all of us to get to sleep….
For the next day and a half, I tried to find a place for the dog, unsuccessfully, while acting as simultaneous animal trainer, referee, and apologist to a cat for subjecting her to such an outrage. She was NOT pleased, to be sure, thought the pup was ecstatic… and therefore boisterous. This, it seems where the law of unintended consequence steps in, you see….
I was a responsible dog owner while he was with us, meaning I walked him at least twice, or three times a day…. As it turns out, walking a boisterous puppy, with no training of how to behave on a leash, is a physical strain on the parts of my body that are not capable of such wear and tear any longer…. By Monday morning, I was in sheer agony, with my lower back and hip on fire, causing spasms and anguish in the other muscles, to the point I could not get out of bed, at all. To my undying embarrassment, I had to call my daughter to come rescue me. and the dog & cat….
I’ve dragged this out about as far as possible, with not much more to go, so, I’ll merely say at this point, this was an act of compassion, for which I am paying a heavy price, with some rather intimidating implications for the future, given my reaction to the strain. I have been unable to write, or sit, or stand, or even lie down for long, without pain interrupting with sharp complaints. It will pass, with rest and the right approach, but, it’s slow, and, damn, it hurts. But, I did the right thing, and the dog, now with a pet rescue organization who will find him a good home, will be a much happier dog. So be it. I’ll take the pain as part of the duty, and be fine with it….
Since that’s probably the longest intro to a Pearl, ever, let’s get to the rest of it, which I’ve been working on for over a week. It’s all fresh, complete with a new poem, and I hope y’all enjoy the output…. Let’s do this, before I forget how….
Shall we pearl?….
“Few, if any, children survive to their teens.
Most surrender to the vague but murderous pressure of adult conformity.”
~~ Maya Angelou ~~
********************************
Go figure, eh?…. It’s both a great performance of a iconic piece of music, and, a pearl of virtual wisdom, with a message….
********************************
Mozart Requiem
********************************
********************************
********************************
“The disappearance of a sense of responsibility
is the most far-reaching consequence of submission to authority.”
~~ Stanley Milgram ~~
“Collective responsibility brings a lowering of moral standards.”
~~ Freeman Dyson ~~
“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
~~ Stanislaw Lem ~~
The three quotes you see above are an example of why I pearl, at all. Each of them is a statement which essentially says the same thing, yet each is distilled, and presented, in such a way the wisdom contained is made clear by its simplicity. Together, they bring to the reader a concept I hold to be the single most critical failure of the American people, and the primary reason they have become willing, if unwitting, slaves….
When beginning this Pearl, I’d intended to produce a considerable rant, if only to show myself I still can do so. The physical constraints I’m currently experiencing has prevented such an event, as I am still in considerable pain when sitting before the computer. So, I’m going to do us all a small favor, and leave today’s lesson at that. I’ll add two more pearls. The first, from our old friend Albert, is echoed by my own feelings on the matter of government sponsored killing, which is made possible by the above clearly cowardly abrogation of honor by most of the American public. Albert states what ought to be a common feeling, and, is not….
“He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.” — Albert Einstein
Lastly, I give you Emily, for, in spite of how bad things are, or how bad they get, for some reason, I cannot seem to give up hoping we can pull it off, and survive the consequences of our own idiocy… Maybe we will, maybe we won’t; the hope doesn’t seem to want to die….
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea,
Yet never in extremity
It asked a crumb of me.
~~ Emily Dickenson ~~
********************************
Bulletin
Patterns exist to bring sanity, if illusory, at best;
follicular, reality seems to slip and slide.
Still, formal insanity consistently fails the ultimate test,
why place faith in answers. from which truth can hide?
Following the music brings us back in good time;
forever seemingly retreats from relevance.
Crazy, time stands still with yet another innovative rhyme,
no burgeoning intentions for sale, to shimmy. or dance.
Folly sits easily upon this brow;
fateful and afraid, entropy bows in shame.
Into the river of time, slowly, forgetful of how
courage gives strength, no matter the game.
Capricious, the muse demands obedient attention
at risk of exhibiting true durance vile.
Bereft, single copies sit unused, despite all intention;
while singular examples of fate pass at the stile.
Seminal events bring their own weight;
no scale necessary, no guessing by eye, or hand.
Only one lesson to learn, just pay the freight;
the music is playing, and you’re part of the band.
~~ gigoid ~~
8/6/2016
********************************
Naked Pearls
Life at Large
*********
“From hence, ye beauties, undeceived
Know one false step is ne’er retrieved
And be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts is lawful prize,
Not all that glisters gold.”
~~ Thomas Gray ~~
~~ Elegy To A Favourite Cat Drowned In A Bowl Of Goldfishes ~~
*********
“Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.”
~~ Scott Adams, maybe ~~
*********
“Everything has two handles,
–one by which it may be borne;
another by which it cannot.”
~~ Epictetus — Enchiridion, xliii ~~
*********
“Be entirely tolerant or not at all;
follow the good path or the evil one.
To stand at the crossroads requires more strength than you possess.”
~~ Heinrich Heine ~~
*********
“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
~~ Hanlon’s Razor ~~
*********
“Do not speak of what men deserve.
For we each of us deserve everything,
every luxury that was ever piled in the tombs of the dead Kings,
and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger.
Have we not eaten while another starved?
Will you punish us for that?
Will you reward us for the virtue of starving while others ate?
No man earns punishment, no man earns reward.
Free your mind of the idea of *deserving*, of *earning*,
and you will begin to be able to think.”
~~ Odo, The Prison Letters ~~
~~ Ursula LeGuin, “The Dispossessed” ~~
*********
“Do not settle for less than the best your own excellence can command.”
~~ Anne McCaffrey ~~
*********
“It ain’t over until it’s over.”
~~ Casey Stengel ~~
*********
“When the way comes to an end, then change
– having changed, you pass through.”
~~ I Ching ~~
*********
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In spite of all the handicaps faced, it’s done. I’m going to post it, so I can say I’m still blogging…. sort of. I’ll be back again, though, with my back in the state it’s in, it’s hard to say when that may happen. I can’t promise it will, but, the odds are as good as they ever were, so, we’ll all have to live with the ambiguity for a time. See y’all then, mes amis, with more expulsion of angst, I’m sure…. You may count on that…..
“Don’t embarrass us.”
“Have I ever?”
~~ Buckaroo Banzai and Perfect Tommy ~~
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 