Zombie
Undead hordes descend
Pomegranite flesh ripping
We run in blind fear
***
Nuclear
Bombs into snowflakes
Shrapnel falls as winter rain
Sirens call for sun
4 years ago
12.8.10
23.3.10
16.12.09
Biology Class
Altruistic, autistic, animalistic, obscene
Eagles and lemurs, giant pandas: sixteen
Genomes and acids, silt, sand, and clay
Infants and implants, fish hatch in a day!
Systems and stem cells, cancer and rot
The test is tomorrow, am I ready or not?
Eagles and lemurs, giant pandas: sixteen
Genomes and acids, silt, sand, and clay
Infants and implants, fish hatch in a day!
Systems and stem cells, cancer and rot
The test is tomorrow, am I ready or not?
Saw You Again
Like hieroglyphics you can read,
My very thoughts which supersede.
And back to my memory you lead,
Half-forgotten fires you still feed.
I'll open feelings just a crack,
Such old transgressions to unpack.
We both did things we can't take back,
I'd put our dreams back on the rack.
I've become savvy to your game.
See, through the years you've stayed the same,
And yet, with one one smile you still tame.
Oh Honey, please, just say my name.
My very thoughts which supersede.
And back to my memory you lead,
Half-forgotten fires you still feed.
I'll open feelings just a crack,
Such old transgressions to unpack.
We both did things we can't take back,
I'd put our dreams back on the rack.
I've become savvy to your game.
See, through the years you've stayed the same,
And yet, with one one smile you still tame.
Oh Honey, please, just say my name.
27.8.09
Response to "On Buffy and Harry Potter, Heroics, and Why BtVS should have ended at S5"
This was my response to Leah of Sound Passing Through Sudden Rightnesses' August 24th essay.
I agree on most of your points and I too found the gaping plot hole of the lack of a third slayer irritating.
However, on your other point of Buffy's detachment in seasons 6 and 7, I would argue that while it bothered me in it's own way, Buffy's turn to cold anti-hero made her (in some ways) more relatable to the viewer. We cannot all be heroes, and by holding more of an anti-hero status, Buffy becomes more realistic in her new role - that of soldier and commander. Especially in season 7, Buffy is caught in a war between good and evil. I think it shows a loss of innocence on her part that this warfare with the demonic element creates in her the coldness necessary for warfare.
A similar transformation can be seen in reverse in the character of Charles Gunn in Angel. When he is first introduced in the series, he and his gang are steeped in constant warfare with the local vampires - creating a cold and ruthless attitude in Gunn. However, once he starts to work full time with Angel Investigations, he becomes increasingly warm and open-minded. I would argue that this transformation is not so much caused by the positive influences of Angel et al, but rather as a result of release from the constant stress of war and sacrifices one must make as a commander.
As for the comparison with Harry Potter, I fully agree that up to the end of season 5, they follow the same hero's story arc. However, in criticism of Rowling's ending to the Harry Potter series, I thought that it was too perfect. It's nice that Harry could save the world from the Big Bad, marry the girl, and live happily ever after - but it is far from realistic. It is a sanitized to the point of making the costs of war non-existent in the long term.
On the other hand, BtVS explores the role of the hero beyond the crowning moment of glory. Once Buffy in brought back in season 6, she discovers that her work will never be done: that there won't be a happily ever after. I would argue that she does not grow as a person in terms of heroism or self-sacrifice, but she learns how to teach, how to lead, and that life isn't fair - that the good guys can't come out unscathed. It is through this that she can continue her work, even though both she and the audience know that it will be a long and hard journey yet to come. Up until season 5, few major character deaths in BtVS were permanent in nature (Jenny Calendar being a notable exception), and thus less meaningful. However, through the permanent deaths of characters, it forces the other characters to adapt and grow in ways that are never adequately examined in Harry Potter.
Harry does not grow from the losses of Cedric or Sirius. He becomes moody, he likes to scream "Cedric's dead" and cry, but I'm hard pressed to find how he grows as a person. Then, in Deathly Hallows, the deaths of beloved characters like Snape, Remus, Tonks, Fred, Dobby, Moody, etc. seem to be skimmed over. Even the death of Dumbledore seems to inspire much in the way of character growth beyond a bit of angst.
Contrastingly, in BtVS, the death of Joyce makes Buffy become more mature, the death of Tara results in Evil!Willow and eventually results in Willow and the rest of the Scoobies being forced to examine their reliance on magic (useful as in season 7, they will have to find tools besides magic to battle The First), and the death of Spike shows both Spike's full commitment to the side of good and that Buffy will let the man she loves die for the greater good.
I think seasons 6 and 7 of BtVS could be argued to have deeper themes of tragedy, loss of innocence, and finding strength through loss.
*
I agree on most of your points and I too found the gaping plot hole of the lack of a third slayer irritating.
However, on your other point of Buffy's detachment in seasons 6 and 7, I would argue that while it bothered me in it's own way, Buffy's turn to cold anti-hero made her (in some ways) more relatable to the viewer. We cannot all be heroes, and by holding more of an anti-hero status, Buffy becomes more realistic in her new role - that of soldier and commander. Especially in season 7, Buffy is caught in a war between good and evil. I think it shows a loss of innocence on her part that this warfare with the demonic element creates in her the coldness necessary for warfare.
A similar transformation can be seen in reverse in the character of Charles Gunn in Angel. When he is first introduced in the series, he and his gang are steeped in constant warfare with the local vampires - creating a cold and ruthless attitude in Gunn. However, once he starts to work full time with Angel Investigations, he becomes increasingly warm and open-minded. I would argue that this transformation is not so much caused by the positive influences of Angel et al, but rather as a result of release from the constant stress of war and sacrifices one must make as a commander.
As for the comparison with Harry Potter, I fully agree that up to the end of season 5, they follow the same hero's story arc. However, in criticism of Rowling's ending to the Harry Potter series, I thought that it was too perfect. It's nice that Harry could save the world from the Big Bad, marry the girl, and live happily ever after - but it is far from realistic. It is a sanitized to the point of making the costs of war non-existent in the long term.
On the other hand, BtVS explores the role of the hero beyond the crowning moment of glory. Once Buffy in brought back in season 6, she discovers that her work will never be done: that there won't be a happily ever after. I would argue that she does not grow as a person in terms of heroism or self-sacrifice, but she learns how to teach, how to lead, and that life isn't fair - that the good guys can't come out unscathed. It is through this that she can continue her work, even though both she and the audience know that it will be a long and hard journey yet to come. Up until season 5, few major character deaths in BtVS were permanent in nature (Jenny Calendar being a notable exception), and thus less meaningful. However, through the permanent deaths of characters, it forces the other characters to adapt and grow in ways that are never adequately examined in Harry Potter.
Harry does not grow from the losses of Cedric or Sirius. He becomes moody, he likes to scream "Cedric's dead" and cry, but I'm hard pressed to find how he grows as a person. Then, in Deathly Hallows, the deaths of beloved characters like Snape, Remus, Tonks, Fred, Dobby, Moody, etc. seem to be skimmed over. Even the death of Dumbledore seems to inspire much in the way of character growth beyond a bit of angst.
Contrastingly, in BtVS, the death of Joyce makes Buffy become more mature, the death of Tara results in Evil!Willow and eventually results in Willow and the rest of the Scoobies being forced to examine their reliance on magic (useful as in season 7, they will have to find tools besides magic to battle The First), and the death of Spike shows both Spike's full commitment to the side of good and that Buffy will let the man she loves die for the greater good.
I think seasons 6 and 7 of BtVS could be argued to have deeper themes of tragedy, loss of innocence, and finding strength through loss.
16.8.09
10.8.09
24.7.09
23.7.09
Harry Potter and ... Alan Rickman
Finally got to go see it last night with my friend Mark. Pretty good. As usual, I was watching primarily for Severus. My friends say "eww! Creepy fangirl! Snape is like greasy and old. He's like 50" but I say "Not so, my friends! Not so. In canon he's only 38 when he died... which is only a couple decades too old fo me... you're just thinking he's over forty because of the actor playing him". It is usually at this point that my friends tell me I'm obsessed or back away slowly. Psssh.
They're probably just jealous that their favourite character isn't played by the fabulous Mr. Alan Rickman. He's in a surprising number of my favourite films (Sweeney Todd, Perfume, Love Actually), most recently being that I watched Snowcake. It was brilliant. It had glitter, Alan Rickman mistaking people for prostitutes, and songs by the Stereophonics. Can one ask for more in cinema?
They're probably just jealous that their favourite character isn't played by the fabulous Mr. Alan Rickman. He's in a surprising number of my favourite films (Sweeney Todd, Perfume, Love Actually), most recently being that I watched Snowcake. It was brilliant. It had glitter, Alan Rickman mistaking people for prostitutes, and songs by the Stereophonics. Can one ask for more in cinema?
24.6.09
23.6.09
Mannequin
I see you standing in the window
I walk by, I see you everyday
Are you immortal in that window,
Or will you slowly fade away?
I see you standing in the window
I wonder what is it that you see?
You stare so blankly out the window,
Or are you staring back at me?
I see you standing in the window
Your smile's as constant as can be
But are you happy in that window?
Or are you longing to be free?
I see you standing in that window
I walk by, I see you everyday
I see you standing in the window
How come you don't come out to play?
I walk by, I see you everyday
Are you immortal in that window,
Or will you slowly fade away?
I see you standing in the window
I wonder what is it that you see?
You stare so blankly out the window,
Or are you staring back at me?
I see you standing in the window
Your smile's as constant as can be
But are you happy in that window?
Or are you longing to be free?
I see you standing in that window
I walk by, I see you everyday
I see you standing in the window
How come you don't come out to play?
Valentine
Blood soaked, wine soaked,
curled silk spirals,
streaked with gold,
atop emerald spiked pillars.
Regally, mysteriously they sit
whispering and hissing
to this impatient flower.
Our world cannot turn
as fast as is desired.
The jade spikes pierce
and yet support my dreams.
The handsomes drift by,
this flower, unnoticed, sheds a tear
Crumpled I lie until I am alone.
The tears feed the stem 'til next year.
curled silk spirals,
streaked with gold,
atop emerald spiked pillars.
Regally, mysteriously they sit
whispering and hissing
to this impatient flower.
Our world cannot turn
as fast as is desired.
The jade spikes pierce
and yet support my dreams.
The handsomes drift by,
this flower, unnoticed, sheds a tear
Crumpled I lie until I am alone.
The tears feed the stem 'til next year.
Seduction
Follow my voice,
Give me your hand,
Follow my footsteps in the sand,
And I'll lead you into the garden.
Hear the waves rush through the breeze,
Feel the salt against your skin,
Follow my laughter into sin,
And we'll dance among the swells.
Trace the moonlight on my hair,
Feel the fabric on my hips,
Taste the passion on your lips,
And feel our souls drift out to sea.
Smell the parfum on my neck,
Pull me closer until my hair's against your cheek,
Kiss my open mouth before I speak,
And dance the night among the waves.
Give me your hand,
Follow my footsteps in the sand,
And I'll lead you into the garden.
Hear the waves rush through the breeze,
Feel the salt against your skin,
Follow my laughter into sin,
And we'll dance among the swells.
Trace the moonlight on my hair,
Feel the fabric on my hips,
Taste the passion on your lips,
And feel our souls drift out to sea.
Smell the parfum on my neck,
Pull me closer until my hair's against your cheek,
Kiss my open mouth before I speak,
And dance the night among the waves.
Insanity
Muttering and sneaking,
Down quiet corridors come leaking
The most hidden of my secret thoughts.
The voices just keep talking,
Or am I the one who's squawking?
My mind writhes in tainted knots.
Is it the marble which is swirling,
Or my perspective which is twirling,
In a world which stays the same?
To try to stop the madness is to try in vain.
Am I simply a loony, or am I the one who's sane?
Oh why do I possess a mind I cannot tame?
Down quiet corridors come leaking
The most hidden of my secret thoughts.
The voices just keep talking,
Or am I the one who's squawking?
My mind writhes in tainted knots.
Is it the marble which is swirling,
Or my perspective which is twirling,
In a world which stays the same?
To try to stop the madness is to try in vain.
Am I simply a loony, or am I the one who's sane?
Oh why do I possess a mind I cannot tame?
Bogeyman
Reaching out from darkness,
Shadow faded soul,
Scraping at the shutters,
Fangs pulled in smile drole.
He sees you when you're sleeping.
We try to stay awake.
Our fear's an icy blanket,
Because it's our lives that he will take.
The grown-ups cannot see him.
They say it's just bad dreams.
But they can't smell his rancid odour,
They can't her the muffled screams!
He's hiding in the wardrobe.
He's waiting for the night.
The wardrobe's pushing open.
Oh teddy, hold me tight!
Shadow faded soul,
Scraping at the shutters,
Fangs pulled in smile drole.
He sees you when you're sleeping.
We try to stay awake.
Our fear's an icy blanket,
Because it's our lives that he will take.
The grown-ups cannot see him.
They say it's just bad dreams.
But they can't smell his rancid odour,
They can't her the muffled screams!
He's hiding in the wardrobe.
He's waiting for the night.
The wardrobe's pushing open.
Oh teddy, hold me tight!
The Snow Fall
Silver foil glittering down
Winds howl around me
Chasing the moon.
Darkness closing in,
The silver shines light,
Filtering out the soud.
Standing in the hourglass,
Protective shell.
The grey quilt of sky,
bubbles to life.
Silver foil tumbling down,
Softening the view.
Winds howl around me
Chasing the moon.
Darkness closing in,
The silver shines light,
Filtering out the soud.
Standing in the hourglass,
Protective shell.
The grey quilt of sky,
bubbles to life.
Silver foil tumbling down,
Softening the view.
Cold Showers
Guilty thoughts
Condensed on the mirror
Ice pouring down
Piercing bullets of relief
The ongoing battle
The demon in my brain
Secrets in Pandora's box
The omitted routine
Just a step behind the curtain
I try to hide the stains
Condensed on the mirror
Ice pouring down
Piercing bullets of relief
The ongoing battle
The demon in my brain
Secrets in Pandora's box
The omitted routine
Just a step behind the curtain
I try to hide the stains
Snow Fairies
Blue and silver fairies
Dancing in the moonlight.
Miles above the treetops,
Within the mist the fairy lovers twirl.
Leaping from feather haven,
Tumbling gracefully down,
Locked in their eternal dance.
Icy souls in powdered globe,
the fall to earth from heavenly home.
Like one the lovers move and twirl.
Magic turned to crystals,
Crystals turned to glass
Shattered in the moonlight.
Spread around the world,
Snow falling on my head.
Dancing in the moonlight.
Miles above the treetops,
Within the mist the fairy lovers twirl.
Leaping from feather haven,
Tumbling gracefully down,
Locked in their eternal dance.
Icy souls in powdered globe,
the fall to earth from heavenly home.
Like one the lovers move and twirl.
Magic turned to crystals,
Crystals turned to glass
Shattered in the moonlight.
Spread around the world,
Snow falling on my head.
Pastural Longings
Peppered skies over April winds;
Beneath our feet the sweet decay;
Scragged grass fields long forgot;
The lonely gardens bloom by day.
Frosty dew clings to the hills;
Blue crocus blooms against the grey;
The flock bleats softly by our side;
Sweet dreamings drift through musty hay.
Beneath our feet the sweet decay;
Scragged grass fields long forgot;
The lonely gardens bloom by day.
Frosty dew clings to the hills;
Blue crocus blooms against the grey;
The flock bleats softly by our side;
Sweet dreamings drift through musty hay.
A Lousy Rhyming Poem about a Bloke... ooer
You're my misplaced attraction,
You're the taste in every dream,
You slip through the refraction,
You're my figure in the steam.
You're my restlessness at night,
You sneak your way across my mind.
You're the one to press me tight,
You always leave me in a bind.
You stir a passion in my soul,
You're the whisper in my ear.
You're the one to make me whole,
You're the one that isn't here.
You're the taste in every dream,
You slip through the refraction,
You're my figure in the steam.
You're my restlessness at night,
You sneak your way across my mind.
You're the one to press me tight,
You always leave me in a bind.
You stir a passion in my soul,
You're the whisper in my ear.
You're the one to make me whole,
You're the one that isn't here.
An expression of love (unfinished)
In my dreams I heard your autumn voice,
That musky pitch of spice and corn surrounds all time.
Your salted taste infuses my mind’s palette,
Your lips like fresh apples, your hair like wine.
That musky pitch of spice and corn surrounds all time.
Your salted taste infuses my mind’s palette,
Your lips like fresh apples, your hair like wine.
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