A Few Words about a Friend

It's odd how some stuff stays with you. At a party a few days ago I was asked to say a few words about a friend. I'm usually good with speeches but not ones that I'm unprepared for so I had no idea of what to say. Another friend told me how they thought it was lousy. They were right. She said that I could have done better and should do it over, even if it I did it in Japanese. I laughed it off but for some reason it's weighed on my mind. Maybe I'm a perfectionist but later on I thought of a haiku to replace the speech:

旅人に
なり、もう美味いブランデー。
楽しくてね

New Style of Poetry

I am working on a new style of poetry. This summer I have been inspired by poets from Rwanda and Somalia and my own relative's spoken word. The funny thing is that in some ways I'm going back to a similar way I originally wrote-without form and only occasionally noticing the rhyme.

For the last year I have been working on different form poetry styles, such as sonnets, tanka, and haikus, etc. I will still write some form poetry for mental exercise but now my attention has shifted to free verse. To put it simply instead of looking at it on paper I am examining how it sounds listening to. I'm excited to see where this will go.

"Line"

I have finally been able to make it to a chapbook reading at The Last Bookstore. Once again I am inspired to work with the flow of words. Here is a quick draft I created today, I might publish the finished poem later if I remember.

Line

The line is there in front,

segment extending horizontally.

Colors a monotone yellow, yet a myriad with the blending of red and orange.

Straight it starts, yet it grows into a half-sphere.

This sunset glows with warmth.

This sunset glows with hope.

Hate - a poem

I just visited my friend's blog and it made me realize that I haven't posted one of my poems on here for a while. Here is an old short thinking poem of mine, "Hate".
Hate
I Hate You!
It’s your fault too.

Yet, with time it all seems minor.
Why even bother?
--------------------
(Version 2)
I Hate You!
It’s your fault too.

Why must we burn so intensely?
...when it's the hottest flame that cools most quick?

How did we start fighting over matters, that time
shows are not the effort we spent?

I am working on a book project idea that I've had since I saw Neruda's book of love poems. Mine will have 50 Love and Break-up poems. I have chosen about half so far, but about a quarter of those I will probably edit or drop so... In fact the slightly newer poem I was initially going to post I decided to save for the project and perhaps edit. Worst, I don't write love poems that often, but I plan on having fun with this so wish me luck everyone.

I want a break up!

I guess not everyone can just say the words. I found this interesting site to help them out, ibreakup.net. I haven't used it but just the idea makes me chuckle. Of course who knows I may need it one day!

I wrote a random poem on the site.

"Break up"
This must end.

Relationships need to split,

time goes on and suddenly that's it.

How can it be said?

...so these problems could be put to bed?

Just as when we began:

Searching for the words, but

need advice on how to start on this subject and break the ice.

Give All To Love

A friend suggested I read Ralph W. Emerson's "Give All To Love". I think she was trying to give me advice about something but the point escapes me for the moment. Maybe it's something I'll get later on when I have more time. However, since it's in the public domain I thought I would share it and you readers, who might appreciate it and may understand the underlying meanings. It's not my favorite of Emerson's poems but it's okay.

Give all to love;

Obey thy heart;

Friends, kindred, days,

Estate, good fame,

Plans, credit, and the muse;

Nothing refuse.

'Tis a brave master,

Let it have scope,

Follow it utterly,

Hope beyond hope;

High and more high,

It dives into noon,

With wing unspent,

Untold intent;

But 'tis a god,

Knows its own path,

And the outlets of the sky.

'Tis not for the mean,

It requireth courage stout,

Souls above doubt,

Valor unbending;

Such 'twill reward,

They shall return

More than they were,

And ever ascending.

Leave all for love;—

Yet, hear me, yet,

One word more thy heart behoved,

One pulse more of firm endeavor,

Keep thee to-day,

To-morrow, for ever,

Free as an Arab

Of thy beloved.

Cling with life to the maid;

But when the surprise,

Vague shadow of surmise,

Flits across her bosom young

Of a joy apart from thee,

Free be she, fancy-free,

Do not thou detain a hem,

Nor the palest rose she flung

From her summer diadem.

Though thou loved her as thyself,

As a self of purer clay,

Tho' her parting dims the day,

Stealing grace from all alive,

Heartily know,

When half-gods go,

The gods arrive.

Lioness

My friend recently told me that she thought that she had never been anyone's muse. In reality she has been a great force and example to me and others. I had written an acrostic poem I was going to give her on her birthday but maybe I'll give this one to her instead.

Lioness

Lioness,

We hear you roar.

You, ready to change our desolate future.

Past battles, fiercely fought, show on your face blending dark and light in a unique culture.

We who care worry and to ourselves murmur.

You bare your teeth in a snarl or smile.

Which do would we prefer?

Will you wear down taking on the world?

There in a hint of weakness in your eyes,

vulnerability of care.

Will you cry?

Seems unlikely as your beauty and strength carries on.

When you bear your claws we stare in awe.

That's when we decide we are ready to prop you up if you fall.

Hermit

There are times when you have a revelation.

Mine, is to be a hermit.

Plain and simple. The quite life is for me.

I will only let animals be my company.

Don't worry friends and family I will not really become a hermit (yet). I am just writing a poem.

Woman in the Glass Box

I was talking to a friend the other day and mentioned that they reminded me of a poem or story I had read. When I tried to look for it I found out there are several movies and art pieces with a similar name but could not find the poem I thought I read. So maybe it was a work I had either started or thought of and never did. Anyway here is the poem I created yesterday in honor of the poem/story that never was and the one who inspired it:

"Lady Behind the Glass"

'Do not touch!' The sign is as easily ignored as the fingers that smudge the surface-

of the glass box.

Eyes focus on every move, ignoring all but-

what lies in, the behind the glass.

Men feel a sick excitement while they watch her, unnoticed, go through her routine, their gazes unnoticed.
only to have the pace of heartbeats quicken when she meets his eyes and he draws out her smile-

She,the lady in the glass box.

Finally as lust fills his body and his head is lost in the sparkles of her eyes he smashes the box-

Freeing the one in the glass prison

Soon they are in each others arms while nary he notice his own soul sucked away, Only his body is left in-

the shattered cage in which "love" slept.

Two hands for Burger!

Burger commercials are starting to annoy me. I can't believe how many show people eating a burger with both hands-even some small enough to eat with a pinkie and thumb. The reason I think this annoys me is because I actually really like burgers (and anything sandwich-like). Most big chains however have the worst burgers. Burger stands are almost uniformly better than franchises. Of course there are exceptions however I would stand by the statement.
Somehow I ended up writing a quick poem about the ads.

Burger Ad
Pointless ad,
You of illusions and images with faults.
We may partake,
due to convenience's sake.
Don't take credit.
You have no idea, how long I considered walking away from it.