posted 01-08-2001 09:53 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lansky:
there's some rhythm for ya, dragongirl. almost iamb...

---

Thanks, I've enjoyed your poem.

I have to admit that I haven't read a lot of the poems in this thread, I have trouble concentrating when I see large/long chunks of words in front of me (main reason why I didn't check back for so long). But I promise I'll read as many poems as I can handle.

I've realised that I haven't included any of my own poems...so here's one.(It's my first successful poem. It's short & I wrote it early last year. I've actually written other ones before that, but I've sort of let my imagination go & they turned out all weird - not ones I'm proud of.)

It's untitled, I couldn't think of a suitable name.

寒竹屋后聚
宿鸟比翼飞
独酌谁与伴
月满夜星空

posted 01-08-2001 09:55 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by khouriana:
batgirl--If/when they fix this damn computer, I'm gonna print out all of your stuff,and call it my best Christmas present!

You and Lansky and dragon just rule, OK?

Happy New Year!

---

posted 01-09-2001 12:36 AM            

at least i played the game
it had been awhile
since i had played my cards
guess he was
in the same situation
but he walked away
in the middle of the game
dreaming of the perfect deck
my deck isn't perfect
far from it
in fact,
she's a little worn
around the edges
a little tired of being played
but i went ahead and played.
maybe next time i'll win
maybe next time i'll finish the game
guess this time
i'll have to gather up
the tattered cards he left
and try to find somebody
willing to play all the way

posted 01-10-2001 05:28 PM            

Grape is a shade of purple
It's also a kind of fruit
You can freeze 'em and eat 'em
Or mash 'em and make wine
Whatever way works for you
Grapes as fruit are fine!

posted 01-10-2001 10:29 PM            

you met your dream
then decided
that she wasn't your style
but looking back
on our whirlwind romance
i would say, "yes"
to you
again
because you were worth it
worth every tear i cry now

posted 01-11-2001 12:50 PM            

dragon--- (phonetically) ding how, shay shay

Julie--more, OK? Nobody can eat just one...

psichick-- maybe that'll bring grape back?

posted 01-11-2001 01:10 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by khouriana:
batgirl---We love them because we all know exactly what that "bumpy ride" feels like.

dragon--- (phonetically) ding how, shay shay

Julie--more, OK? Nobody can eat just one...

psichick-- maybe that'll bring grape back?

Lansky--still out there, or busy in preproduction for the sp?

---

posted 01-12-2001 12:25 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by khouriana:
psi---I knew it was like a post card...I just meant that maybe, since people are reading this thread again, using the name would bring grape back, is all.

---

posted 01-12-2001 01:25 AM            

Cinderyed and bloodynosed
freezing frozen fraught

I seem to remember
exactly

what time it is.

And all I ask

one ball of string,

weathered, ravelling in the back
bin of Goodwill, it will
serve

the purpose

black Tevas, safety-pinned at
the straps, a Louisville
Slugger. We drive on with
what we抳e
got---

Wait. My bad. I didn抰
notice the
kitana

buried in an umbrella-rack of bent
ski-poles and quad-canes,

right next to the

bowling-
gloves...

Throw away the script. This
falls out better than I could
devise. Oh, wait, was that
mu Outside Voice? Subtract
my fatalistic slant, just
tie the yarn into a
knot around one
support beam of
fourth-level
parking. Watch
for the cops, and don抰
stop till
I say.

You can lead them up here.

No point in calling
the papers. They抳e
all been bought out
through the voice-
mailbox before
we were born. I never
expected them to
give me any more
credence than
waterfront
junkie ramblings
without
proof

The TV news
will swarm

Afterward,

goggling

at the steaming
longhorn
bowling ball I

thrust
into the
camera by its
septum-ring,

still spouting
from the
neck...

posted 01-12-2001 01:01 PM            

Lansky- thank you

posted 01-12-2001 04:18 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by khouriana:
psi---Silly rabbit! Forgive what?

Lansky- thank you

Julie---thank you

---

posted 01-13-2001 12:26 AM            

distant lonely
wandering stars
my mind makes them
miniscule lights
when they are several suns
burning my flesh
every day
i am restructured
cells falling off my body

i am water running
from every pore
releasing my life
onto other life
thus changing life
for all of us
dirt is just dried
feces blowing
in the wind

i am fire burning
in every vein
my lit blood
triggers explosions
on the ends of my fingertips
the heat rises
in circular orbit
pulsing through me
wandering like lonely travellers

such shame for myself
i am ashamed of myself
seperated and congealed
into clotting rotting
flesh.
why such segregation
from other
bodies?
thus i try to mold

these shining star eyes
with feet planted in
their potting soil
wonder why the head
and the feet
are so seperate
in their wants
yet connected by life
in the middle

this is my curse
this is my desire
but emotions expire
as life does
as i will

posted 01-13-2001 12:32 AM            

i'm sorry to impose, but i remember being in that position. we're taught to not think about ourselves, but why shouldn't we when we're the ones left alone to toss in bed while all the people we cared for sleep?

posted 01-13-2001 01:16 PM            

And, no matter how dark it is now, the light will come...believe in yourself. And your writing.

posted 01-13-2001 01:31 PM            

JulieMallen, as always, you are very kind.

Lansky thanks for your poems.

batgirl3780, thanks again... ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

posted 01-13-2001 01:52 PM            

Lord...
Your silent Warriors come to me
Like sun rays beaming through the blinds on my windows
They penetrate the boundries of time
With their words of bravery
Do they know how special they are?
Can you bless them for me today!
Silence no longer has it's hold on me
For I am no longer alone in my pain
For you have sent them to comfort
To relate like only like minds can
This creativity that flows from our veins
Misunderstood by so many
You used the modern machine to bring us all together...
Not by chance but by the Hand of Light
Oh, Blessed Creator that you are
Help us to follow the morning star
To fill your world with light and love
How thankful I am for these warriors from above~

posted 01-13-2001 01:59 PM            

I just hope that you do. I think a lot of people don't post on these boards, because of all of the petty bickering and posturing that's going on...but they still read your work. And I just KNOW that it brings a smile to their hearts.

As it does to mine. Have a great weekend...they probably going to kick me off this machine soon, but I'll talk at ya next week?

(thank you for the poem.)

posted 01-13-2001 05:09 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by khouriana:
batgirl---We love them because we all know exactly what that "bumpy ride" feels like.

dragon--- (phonetically) ding how, shay shay

Julie--more, OK? Nobody can eat just one...

psichick-- maybe that'll bring grape back?

Lansky--still out there, or busy in preproduction for the sp?

---

It took me a while to realise what you just said, but I got it finally, & you are welcome!

Did I forget to translate/explain my poem? I meant to. I've got to, to truly share it don't I? So here goes, but I warn you before hand that no translation will do any poem justice, the poem will simply lose part of its beauty/meaning/etc, especially when translating between languages of cultures that are very different from each other, you'll see what I mean. But I'll try...

1st sentence: 寒竹屋后聚
Winter bamboos crowd behind my house

2nd sentence: 宿鸟比翼飞
Nesting birds fly wing to wing

3rd sentence: 独酌谁与伴
Drinking alone who will accompany me?

4th sentence: 月满夜星空
The full moon fills the starry sky

At firstly you may say "WTF is this?"
On the surface it may look very mediocre & typical, it may look like a landscape poem, but then if you look closely (also having a good knowledge of the Chinese culture, idioms & literature/poetry), you'll see certain symbolism in it.

In the 1st sentence, the "winter bamboos" sometimes symbolise friends, this is not an obvious symbol, but in the 2nd sentence, "birds fly wing to wing", this always symbolise lovers. It's made famous by the Tang poet, Bai Ju Yi, who wrote "Chang Hen Ge" (song of regrets) about the love affair between the last emperor of the Tang Dynasty & his favourite concubine, Yang Gui Fei (1 of the 4 most beautiful women in Chinese history).

3rd sentence, fairly obvious (although I don't drink much), but in Chinese literature/poetry, drinking or wine usually refer to the drowning of sorrows.
I'm also kind of refering to 1 of my favourite poems (I'll post it later), it's called "Yue Xia Du Zhuo" (drinking alone under the moon) by famous Tang poet, Li Bai. It's sort of about loneliness/freedom/etc.

4th sentence, the full moon almost always symbolise a united family. The Chinese have this "Moon Festival" that you may have heard of, it's on the 15th August of the lunar year. It's when family members HAVE to be together, it's sort of like Thanksgiving, but there's nothing religious about it.

So what was I on about?
As I said I wrote it after a heartbreak & it was about loneliness. But then why do I have all these symbols of togetherness? Actually at the time I was seeing groups of friends, lovers & family members being happily together, I just felt like they were really rubbing it in my face. There I was, trying to forget, but everywhere I go I was reminded.

I think I made this really obvious in the 3rd sentence, when I asked who can accompany me in this time of sorrow & loneliness, as I looked up, all I had was the moon, & it just had to be full, symbolising togetherness.

posted 01-13-2001 05:25 PM            

<<<<Grape good to see you back on your own thread! did you ever see the little grape soda poem someone made for you ? ;-)

<<<<<Khouriana
You make me feel so special!
I hope you have a great weekend!
Keep the poetry coming all!!
Love to all you creative beauty's!

posted 01-13-2001 06:46 PM            

silent all these years--Tori Amos

excuse me
but can i be you for awhile?
my dog won't bite
if you sit real still
i've got the anti-christ in the kitchen
yellin at me again
yeah i can hear that
been saved again by the garbage truck
i got something to say, you know
but nothing comes
yes, i know what you think of me
you never shut up
yeah i can hear that

but what if i'm a mermaid in these
jeans of his with her name still on it
hey but i don't care because
sometimes i said sometimes i hear my voice
and it's been here
silent all these years

so you found a girl who thinks
really deep thoughts
what's so amazing about
really deep thoughts
boy you best pray that i bleed real soon
how's that thought for you?
my scream got lost in a paper cup
do you think there's a heaven where the screams have gone?
i've got 25 bucks and a cracker
do you think that's enough
to get us there?

but what if i'm a mermaid in these
jeans of his with her name still on it
hey but i don't care because
sometimes i said sometimes i hear my voice
and it's been here
silent all these years

years go by
will i still be waiting
for somebody else to understand?
years go by
if i'm stripped of my beauty
and the orange clouds raining
in my head
years go by while i choke on my tears
until finally there's nothing left
one more casualty you know
we're too easy easy easy
well i love the way we communicate
your eyes focus on my funny lip shape
lets hear what you think of my now
but baby don't look up
the sky is falling
your mother shows up in a nasty dress
and it's your turn now to stand
where i stand
with everybody lookin at you
you take hold of my hand
yeah i can hear them

posted 01-13-2001 08:14 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by JulieMallen:
<<<<<<<Dragongirl you always write with such beauty!
I have been meaning to ask you about the beautiful drawing on the PGL female thread!
That picture is beautiful is it a hand drawn picture of you?
And thank you so much for giving a lesson along with your beautiful poem what a lovley way for me and others to learn with one with so much knowledge!

---

Thank you. You are welcome. I really wanted to share my appreciation for Chinese literature & poetry, I feel truly lucky that I can read & appreciate the Chinese language. (lots of my friends, who are also immigrants, started to forget their native language, personally I think it's a shame, because they could've been enlightened by both cultures)

As for the picture, it's 1 of the covers of a series of Kung Fu comics I've been buying. (it's not me, are you dissapointed? It's an idealised pic of me...I'll look just like it if I lose a few pounds & learn kung fu... ) Actually, that picture is what attracted me to this series, (usually they are long & costly, so I'm not keen on collecting them), it is actually No. 5 in the series of just over 30 (there are still new ones coming out). I took 1 look at it & really, really liked that picture, everything about it, the girl, (her hair), the style (it's sort of a water colour, but it's black & white & grey, very Chinese).

Plus, the comic is an adaptation of this really famous kung fu novel "She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan" (sort of translates to "Story of the hero who shot the eagle" but it sounds better in Chinese. It may have been "hawk" or "falcon" instead of "eagle", but my zoology is a little rusty), by this really famous kung fu novelist, Jin Yong. He's 1 of the 3 most famous kung fu novelists in Hong Kong, this was his first kung ku novel, & it made him famous. & The girl in the picture is the female lead, Huang Rong.

Kung Fu novel is a really big genre in China, it's full of heroes & villains & yes, kung fu. They are usually set in ancient times, so you can see their alluring qualities. All those "friendship, trust & integrity"! (There's actually plenty more, like honour, but I won't ellaborate) If you've seen the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", that would be an adaptation of a typical above average kung fu novel, the only difference is that there were more sex scenes in the movie (the Chinese are conservative people!).

The kung fu novels are often turned into movies, TV series & comics. I think this is my favourite genre, I started reading them since I was about 10 years old, I really have to thank those books for not letting me forget the Chinese language & also opening my eyes to a side of my culture I never understood before. (hey, I was only 10!)

posted 01-13-2001 08:40 PM            

I wanted to say that, when you mentioned that "people around you didn't know how to be honest", I've encountered similar problems. I used to feel that people were all hypocrites & dishonest. But then I realised, this is just the way the world is, there are no absolutes & there is always a balance between action & consequence, there are 2 sides (or more) to every story & there is the good existing side by side with the bad. You cannot cut out the side you didn't like & just leave things the way you wanted them, it's physically impossible.

Then I realised, besides the bad qualities people may have, they also have good qualities, & by my previous definition, I was also a hypocrite. From then on, I tried only to perfect myself, because this is the only person/thing that I could change. By being as true to myself as possible I'd be happier, & there's nothing more precious than happiness, but not everyone realises this (yet).

posted 01-13-2001 09:02 PM            

月下独酌 - (唐) 李白

花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲，
举杯邀明月，对影成三人。
月既不解酒，影徒随我身，
暂伴月将影，行乐需及春。
我歌月徘徊，我舞影零乱，
醒时同交欢，醉后各分散。
永结无情游，相期藐云汉。

Translation:

Drinking Alone Underneath The Moon - (Tang) Li Bai

posted 01-13-2001 09:29 PM            

We must be posting pretty much back to back because your post came after the one I wrote to you first.
Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today...
If I am upset it is because I am not accepting some person place or thing exactly how it is today.
And I will find no peace until I do.
This comes from the Big Book from the AA meetings that I go to.
Now all I have to do is learn how to apply this wisdom from my head to my heart.
The longest journey any of us ever makes
Admitance is in the head acceptance is in the heart.
Today I admit I am the only one I can ever change accepting that will bring peace~
Thanks again for all your comfort and beauty!
Have a great weekend.
I'll work on staying in that reality thing, something I have bucked all of my life.
Old habits die hard!

posted 01-13-2001 10:01 PM            

I'd also like to add, it's Ok to feel whatever you feel, for we are also not perfect. Sometimes the only phrase keeping me sane is "I am not a Saint".

Goodnight & have a great weekend.

(ummm...it's only afternoon here in Sydney)