Alone

How deep is a grave?

A six-foot shaft in the soundless earth.

A bleeding turf.

A fill.

Then soon, just a deep seamed scar

On a lone green hill.

Our Children Will Accuse Us

How much responsibility will we bare? Will we be able to forever get away with ignorance as a defense for our inaction? Should we not demand more for ourselves? For our children? The following is a short preview for the film "nos enfants nous accuseront." It's in French and English and subtitled. Heartbreaking, but worth the watch.

The Essence

Myths are things which never happened but always are.
~Sallustius

Poor Marie

The guillotine drops.

I fall into a deep abyss.

Darkness envelopes
My aching head.

The Aftermath

I feel like I'm taking a real hiatus from my blog this month. Life is a chaotic frenzy and I'm convinced that they no longer make days with the same number of hours as they once did. Like everything else, they're cheaping out in that department. I did take time on Saturday, however, to throw on my Fluevogs and a feather boa. Hey, if a girl can't wear a boa on Valentine's day, when can she? And then I went to check out Hugfest. It was definitely a feel good, pay it forward sort of event. I'm not bragging or anything, but I certainly got my share. Perhaps it's not "the magic bullet" that will solve all the world's problems, but there certainly weren't any grumpy people lurking about and smiles and laughter seemed to abound. So go ahead, find someone and give him or her a hug. Bonus points if you don't know the person. You might just make somebody's day.

The Undoing

Dampness penetrates the bones. Dirt refuses to wash away. At night memory explores my skin, roaming about while I sleep. The sea comes to take me for its own, the roaring thunder deafening my thoughts. I wake, face down in a swamp, lungs burning with the smell of earth. I can't escape. Nothing releases me...not death in dreaming, not waking. This is how I become undone by a smell, a word, a place, a thought...

Perspective is Everything

Clod and Pebble

"Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor for itself hath any care,
But for another gives its ease,
And builds a heaven in hell's despair."

So sung a little clod of clay,
Trodden with the cattle's feet;
But a pebble of the brook
Warbled out these meters meet:

"Love seeketh only Self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another's loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven's despite."

~Blake

Delusional Interludes

I shall ride the wisp of the wind over the mountains and far across the ocean to the echoes within your heart. I will softly whisper in your dreams and you will wake and wonder what it was that you had heard.

The Scream

We did not choose death, but neither did we fully embrace life. We lingered in the shadows of mediocrity, afraid to show our faces for who we truly were. It was in this state of putridity that we began our slow decay.

When I am Dead

When I am dead and nervous hands have thrust
My body downward into careless dust;
I think the grave cannot suffice to hold
My spirit 'prisoned in the sunless mold!
Some subtle memory of you shall be
A resurrection of the life of me.
Yea, I shall be, because I love you so,
The speechless spirit of all things that grow.
You shall not touch a flower but it shall be
Like a caress upon the cheek of me.
I shall be patient in the common grass,
That I may feel your foot fall when you pass.
I shall be kind as rain and pure as dew,
A loving spirit 'round the life of you.
When your soft cheeks by perfumed winds
are fanned,
'Twill be my kiss ~ and you will understand.
But when some sultry, storm bleared sun has set,
I will be lightning if you dare forget.

~John G Neihandt

I Love Paris Anytime

I thought I'd post this picture for JBelle over at Notes from the 'Kan EWA as she recently disclosed that she is head over heals crazy about Paris. I must admit that prior to my first visit, I was determined that I would not like Paris quite so much as everyone else. It seemed to be everyone's FAVORITE city, and so many large cities are just that and not much more. How much different could it actually be? But then I arrived and saw this. How could I not fall in love? There really is something undeniably magic about Paris.

The Royal Saga Continues

A brief continuation of the Segolene Royal saga...apparently French Comedian Gerald Dahan called Ms Royal on Wednesday pretending to be Jean Charest, premier of Quebec. Of course snippets of this conversation have since hit the air. Dahan jokingly compares Royal's comments on Quebec to suggesting independence for Corsica to which Segolene allegedly replies, "The French people wouldn't be opposed to the idea..." laughs and then adds, "Don't repeat that, though -- it would cause another incident in France. It's a secret." Royal conveniently left the next day for a trip to the French Antilles and has not been available for comment. Segolene's handlers really need to get a handle on their candidate.

Segolene royal
Uploaded by Ghjuva_FPL

Lessons in International Diplomacy

On Monday, one of the leading French presidential contenders, Segolene Royal, told Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair (for those who are unaware of Canadian politics, he is leader of the separatist party in Quebec) that she endorses "the sovereignty of Quebec." Although this may be sweet news to the ears of many Quebecois separatists, it does raise a few issues. First, Ms Royal, has made comments with little or no comprehension of Canadian history, and second, her insensitivity to Canadian internal affairs has now opened the door for Canadians to comment on the internal affairs of France.

Now on many Canadian minds are the regions of France with very distinct cultures, languages and ethnic groups, groups that are fighting to keep their distinct culture intact, protect their traditional languages, and in some cases also have separatist movements. The two that come to my mind are Normandy and Brittany.

Normandy has a long history as a distinct political entity going all the way back to the Viking era. In fact, the fiefdom of Normandy was created for the Viking leader Rollo. Rollo had besieged Paris, but in 911 entered into a vassalage to the King of the West Franks and in this manner legally gained the territory he had formally conquered. The Vikings intermarried the locals and adapted the Gallo Romantic language and became known as the Normans a mixture of Scandinavians, Hiberno-Norse, Orcadians, Anglo-Danish and indigenous Gauls. Since then, this region has been tossed back and forth between England and France, yet they have fervently held onto their language, unique culture and cuisine.

Brittany is another region of France that was a former independent kingdom. It is considered one of the six Celtic nations. Despite its history of being pummled about in wars and loosing its independence, Breton has remained the language of the entire population. This is also despite active efforts by France (through laws and economic pressures) to stamp out this language. In fact, at the beginning of the 20th century, it was forbidden to "spit on the ground, and to speak Breton."

Please note that I am in no way endorsing separitist movements in these areas, I am simply making a point that perhaps Ms Royal should take a closer look at similar political terrain back home before putting her nose into affairs that are frankly none of her business.

For further info on this political gaffe, check out the following articles:
Harper rebukes Segolene Royal for comments on Quebec sovereignty
Vive la Normandie libre!
Maybe Segolene Royal is not ready for the world stage just yet